Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Clothing Lines: Armani, Missoni, Versace, Valentino, and Donna Karan.
Shoe Brands: Missoni, Christian Louboutin, and Jimmy Choo.
Handbag Designer: Stella McCartney.
Fashion Mantra: Fashion doesn’t have to be high-priced to look good. As long as it’s the right proportion and right look, it doesn’t matter what the brand is.
Local Boutiques: Marta’s Boutique, Laurie Solet, Esther, and Vie.
Opinion of Fashion Today: I would like to see it go back to the glamour and elegance of the ’20s and ’40s. A lot of fashion today is more geared toward the younger generation, and it’s hard sometimes for more mature women to find clothes.
Local Restaurants: Oceano Bistro, Tony’s, and Paul Manno’s Cafe.
Best-Kept St. Louis Secret: Peppe’s Apt. 2 restaurant.
Weekend Getaways: Chicago, Florida, San Francisco, or New York.
Vacations: Cruises—somewhere on a beach—or going to New York to see shows.
Music on Her iPod: Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, and Broadway show tunes.
Fashion Magazines: Elle, Vogue, and accessory and eyewear magazines.
TV Shows: The Voice and Dancing with the Stars.
Artists: Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Claude Monet.
Rule of Design: Style is a matter of attitude. Have fun.
Advice: Whatever passion you have in life, just go for it. Take a risk. Go to people you respect, who can mentor you, and always do your research.
SPECTACULAR SPECS
A model since age 17, Zamler is an expert on fashion, especially accessories. When she and her husband, Steve, were in their late forties and needed reading glasses, they discovered that the selection of stylish nonprescription reading glasses was dismal. So in 2002, they started a wholesale reading-glasses business, learning the ins and outs of the industry. Then, last year, the Zamlers decided St. Louis needed a one-stop shop for stylish reading glasses. In October, the couple opened Elegant Eyewear (736 N. New Ballas, 314-995-9768), which they say is the nation’s largest reading-eyewear store and one of only four stores of its kind in the U.S. The store—which carries reading glasses, sunglass readers, and sunglasses—features a selection that includes glam, colorful frames with Swarovski crystals and eco-friendly readers with olive-wood frames.
