A Guide to Quality, Taste and Style by Tim Gunn, Kate Maloney Page B
Authors: Tim Gunn, Kate Maloney
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her sublime grandness. There is an aura about her that goes beyond her bloodline and her celebrity. She exudes an elegance and a confidence that is overpowering.
Signature Look
To be blunt, the doyenne is about power. Hers is a look that underscores the doyenne’s place in the world and, accordingly and not surprisingly, this can cause others to writhe—and shrink—in their seats. Suits suit the doyenne, but not any ol’ suit. The Yves Saint Laurent power suit of the ’70s is the classical centerpiece of the doyenne’s wardrobe.
If you aspire to this look, keep your friends close and your enemies closer! This is the hyper-polished, utterly correct, dress-to-the-nines look that must be executed from sun-up till bedtime. It requires an extraordinary commitment—not a once a week flirtation—otherwise you run the risk of people thinking you’re a drag queen!
ITALIAN AND COMPLICATED
The Women of Antonioni and Fellini
Here’s where you can get your Sophia Loren fix, along with the likes of Claudia Cardinale and Monica Vitti. For Antonioni and Fellini, women are often dominant and full of style and sexuality. And teased hair. Even in the murk-filled world of Antonioni’s
Il Grido
, the women smolder.As one of them lives in a hut, that’s really saying something. Think of them trudging through the marshy lowlands of the Po River Valley, glaring at the empty beach in Rimini, or silently sailing around the cold waters of Sicily. You, too, can achieve their sexy brand of despair. Don’t let the fact that you wear a size 14 and are from Guyana dictate your ability to wear this Mediterranean look. Anyone can don a curvaceous black skirt and a belted wool cardigan.
Signature Look
The key look here is all about hair and eyelashes. Both of them should be prodigious. An ample bosom is suggested, but not required. Think about a thin camisole or slip underneath a fitted skirt or housedress. This is womanhood straining to break free from her bonds—or her peasant top.
POWER BROKERS
Martha Stewart—Vanessa Redgrave—Oprah Winfrey
We would be remiss if we were not to address a high-powered executive of style, and who better than Martha Stewart. One of this book’s key messages is, “own your look,” and, indeed, Martha does. A former fashion model turned style guru
par excellence
, Martha Stewart epitomizes casual elegance. Whether she’s gathering eggs in the chicken coop, planting an herb garden, or baking a soufflé, she’s appropriately garbed. Tweeds, flannels, and cottons are her mainstay. And other than black-tie benefits (or court appearances), she prefers a pant paired with a blouson top. Some attribute Martha’s clear viewof her style self as emanating from her modeling days, but we maintain that the elements of quality, taste, and style that govern her lifestyle determine her fashion. After all, what is fashion without lifestyle and vice versa?
Vanessa Redgave, from
Blow-Up
on, managed to retain her steely reserve while being a red-hot mama. There is something in the tension between her patrician beauty and carriage and her obvious sensuality. She has managed to maintain this beautifully—she does not shy away from aging, but rather embraces it and dresses accordingly. Her clothes are luxurious and structured—they befit a woman her age while not aging her at all.
Oprah Winfrey is a prime example of someone who always looks polished. Her hair, makeup, and all of her clothing are exquisite—she gleams! The way this look is attained is by wearing well-cut, beautifully designed, gorgeous fabrics.
Signature Look
This is a look that stresses quality over quantity—well-structured, tailored, and in the most sumptuous fabrics you can afford. These are women, not girls throwing an evening’s outfit together.
The Blind Spot
: It’s important to note that there is a difference between homage and parody. While we encourage you to draw inspiration from
Signature Look
To be blunt, the doyenne is about power. Hers is a look that underscores the doyenne’s place in the world and, accordingly and not surprisingly, this can cause others to writhe—and shrink—in their seats. Suits suit the doyenne, but not any ol’ suit. The Yves Saint Laurent power suit of the ’70s is the classical centerpiece of the doyenne’s wardrobe.
If you aspire to this look, keep your friends close and your enemies closer! This is the hyper-polished, utterly correct, dress-to-the-nines look that must be executed from sun-up till bedtime. It requires an extraordinary commitment—not a once a week flirtation—otherwise you run the risk of people thinking you’re a drag queen!
ITALIAN AND COMPLICATED
The Women of Antonioni and Fellini
Here’s where you can get your Sophia Loren fix, along with the likes of Claudia Cardinale and Monica Vitti. For Antonioni and Fellini, women are often dominant and full of style and sexuality. And teased hair. Even in the murk-filled world of Antonioni’s
Il Grido
, the women smolder.As one of them lives in a hut, that’s really saying something. Think of them trudging through the marshy lowlands of the Po River Valley, glaring at the empty beach in Rimini, or silently sailing around the cold waters of Sicily. You, too, can achieve their sexy brand of despair. Don’t let the fact that you wear a size 14 and are from Guyana dictate your ability to wear this Mediterranean look. Anyone can don a curvaceous black skirt and a belted wool cardigan.
Signature Look
The key look here is all about hair and eyelashes. Both of them should be prodigious. An ample bosom is suggested, but not required. Think about a thin camisole or slip underneath a fitted skirt or housedress. This is womanhood straining to break free from her bonds—or her peasant top.
POWER BROKERS
Martha Stewart—Vanessa Redgrave—Oprah Winfrey
We would be remiss if we were not to address a high-powered executive of style, and who better than Martha Stewart. One of this book’s key messages is, “own your look,” and, indeed, Martha does. A former fashion model turned style guru
par excellence
, Martha Stewart epitomizes casual elegance. Whether she’s gathering eggs in the chicken coop, planting an herb garden, or baking a soufflé, she’s appropriately garbed. Tweeds, flannels, and cottons are her mainstay. And other than black-tie benefits (or court appearances), she prefers a pant paired with a blouson top. Some attribute Martha’s clear viewof her style self as emanating from her modeling days, but we maintain that the elements of quality, taste, and style that govern her lifestyle determine her fashion. After all, what is fashion without lifestyle and vice versa?
Vanessa Redgave, from
Blow-Up
on, managed to retain her steely reserve while being a red-hot mama. There is something in the tension between her patrician beauty and carriage and her obvious sensuality. She has managed to maintain this beautifully—she does not shy away from aging, but rather embraces it and dresses accordingly. Her clothes are luxurious and structured—they befit a woman her age while not aging her at all.
Oprah Winfrey is a prime example of someone who always looks polished. Her hair, makeup, and all of her clothing are exquisite—she gleams! The way this look is attained is by wearing well-cut, beautifully designed, gorgeous fabrics.
Signature Look
This is a look that stresses quality over quantity—well-structured, tailored, and in the most sumptuous fabrics you can afford. These are women, not girls throwing an evening’s outfit together.
The Blind Spot
: It’s important to note that there is a difference between homage and parody. While we encourage you to draw inspiration from
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