Enduring Style

As a full time blogger, I very often get asked the question: “What are some of the highlights in your career that keep you going?”

Last night was definitely one of them. The highly respected luxury house of St. John asked that I hold a conversation with The Zoe Report about “Enduring Style.” I was not only honored and humbled by the fact that St. John would request for my view on the discussion but it also posed the question: “What is the key enduring style?” I gave this topic some very serious thought.

So, what is the key enduring style? To give you a small insight into our conversation, I’ve provided my answer at the end of this post.

St. John Houndstooth Print Silk Blouse {$595, ℅} // St. John Collection Leather Trim Micro Textured Knit Blazer {$1,495, ℅} // Prada Bag // Valentino Pumps {$1,095} //Reformation Black Cropped Pants {similar pair here & here}

Photos by Felicia Lasala

Brought to you by St. John

What is the key enduring style? I feel as though enduring style is a blend of influences. To imagine the way you want your style evolve and endure, you have to understand what it is that you want your style to say about you. When you make selections to build your wardrobe, you are subconsciously pulling from images in your mind as to what you want to exude on the outside. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I feel completely overwhelmed with different emotions and ideas as to how I want to be perceieved; thoughts on how I want to be seen. Photos from my favorite fashion icons, magazine editorials, images from the 1950′s, 60s and 70s . . . they all rush into my mind and in an instant I feel inspired, confused and determined all at the same time. It’s very easy to get wrapped up in current trends or to think of yourself as having classic, timeless style, but it isn’t always the case. As I continuously strive to attain this notion of enduring style I feel as though there are 3 keys to achieving this goal. #1. Who are women that I think have enduring style? When I go shopping, decorate my home, or do anything to style my life, I will ask: “What would Audrey do?” or “What couch would Grace select?” I keep in mind the iconic men and women, figures, pieces of art or other forms of inspiration and shape my choices around what I think they would do. #2. What are the two words I think about when I think about my personal style? Every person is a brand, therefore everyone has 2 words that would describe their brand. What are your two words? When you go shopping, when you decorate, cook or speak . . . keep these two words in mind so that you do not steer away from achieving your objective of creating a solid, branded sense of style. Lastly, #3. When I look at photos of women whom I believe have enduring style it isn’t always about the exact clothes they are wearing, yet the feeling I get when I look at them. This is actually the entire premise behind the name of my blog as well. “Dior” is not representative of the brand Dior, but the feeling you get when you think of the name Dior. Or the feeling you get when you think of something beautiful, stylish, chic, or timeless. A photo of a woman that I see as having enduring style is a photo that takes you breathe away, and you are left with the guessing game of when that exact photo was taken. For example, a stylish Olivia Palermo photo may look as though it could have been taken in the 1960s while a photo of Jacqueline Kennedy looks like it was taken in 2014. This is because the style of the photos, the style in the photos, endures the test of time. Take a look at past photos of yourself and study them. Which photos are you most attracted to? Why? Take note about what you were wearing and how you felt when the photo was taken and try to recreate it time and time again.