Are there any style icons that you particularly admire?

I must say that, while I’ve never tried to emulate anyone else’s look completely, there are always those women who I can turn to for inspiration. I may not dress exactly like them, but there’s something about the way they look or the way they use clothing that hits home for me.

I thought it would be fun for Caitlin and I to share a few of our favorites.

I grew up watching old movies, so it should come as no surprise that a few of my favorite style icons are the old movie stars Audrey Hepburn, Jean Seberg and Katharine Hepburn. While I love so many older actresses, these ladies really blended masculine details into their wardrobes at a time when frilly, feminine silhouettes were popular. I love the idea of mixing together two seemingly disparate styles to create a unique look. The collared shirt with peg leg pants and loafers is one of my favorite looks, paired with a fun scarf or a pretty necklace. Style is so much about our individuality, and to me, these ladies really nailed it. They were unique individuals, so of course they remain style icons today!

My favorite eras for fashion are the 1930s and the 1960s, so is it any wonder that the stunning Faye Dunaway’s portrayal of Bonnie Parker in the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde hits all the right notes for me? Her classic combination of sweater, scarf, and beret is all you really need to look good, I think. Then there is the captivating Danish-born actress and muse to Jean-Luc Godard, Anna Karina. Her simple 60s style was always so perfectly intriguing, and I love that it always brought attention to her, not to the clothes. Natalie Wood is another favorite 60s icon. So poised and polished, but never overdone. And for a more modern icon, I’ve always loved Sofia Coppola. She has the effortless, offhand glamor thing down.

I suppose that, overall, I love when women use clothes to give a sense of who they are. The clothes don’t speak for themselves, even when they’re absolutely beautiful.

What about you? I’m especially curious if the icons you admire have changed over time (mine have)? Are they celebrities, old movie stars, artists, humanitarians, or anyone else?

It’s interesting to think about what you wear consistently and why. Is there something about the way that it makes you feel? And what does that say about you?

Sometimes these patterns in the way we dress are called signatures. I think that, in some ways, they’re the truest expression of how we like to feel about ourselves. They’re the things we turn to again and again.

One of my signatures is definitely the silk scarf. I have a big collection and, weather permitting, I wear them instead of jewelry most of the time. I like that they’re a classic item that not many younger women wear. I like that they’re colorful and have some amazing prints, so they’re easy to mix into a simple outfit. And I like that they draw attention to the face.

But most of all, I like that they make me feel classic.

If you’ve never thought about it, take some time to notice how you dress for the next week or so. What do you gravitate towards most often? What things do you like to wear? Do you do a little something that makes you feel unique?

Let’s hear from Caitlin:

“One of my style signatures is my hair. I am a hair chameleon! I love to have different hair styles and mix it up often. My hair grows quickly, so I can cut it without waiting a long time for it to grow out. Because of this, I feel like I can make crazy choices and know it won’t last forever. I’m drawn to this idea of hair as an accessory, just like you might be drawn to wearing vintage brooches.

Of course, I feel like I have other style signatures such as my love for stripes. I have to hold myself back from making impulse purchases just because stripes are involved.”

(This picture is from our Quilt Market set up, when Caitlin was sticking random things on her head. She doesn’t usually have random veils on her head.)