Photographed against a backdrop of buildings and streetscapes, nine women bring their personal style to the grace and grit of downtown St. Louis. Classic, vintage, glamorous fashion, and more—it’s all here to give you inspiration for your own wardrobe.
Photography by Judd Demaline
Paige Renfrew, 25
Elementary school teacher, The College School
How did you develop your sense of style? I have always loved clothes, but I think my mom has really influenced my style.
In what way? She let me pick out my clothes. It didn't matter how funky they looked together; she just wanted me to pick the stuff I wanted. It always ended up being the stuff with the most patterns and the most color, and I still think that’s pretty true today.
How does that love for the unique play out in your wardrobe now? I have a minor in studio art, so I gravitate towards pieces that look like art, like they could be hanging up on my wall. I have a lot of hand-drawn pieces from artists. I think it adds a fun element to clothing, and it’s a great conversation piece.
How do you find these artists and designers? Through social media—I’m a good navigator of Instagram and Pinterest—but I’ve also found some really cool pieces while traveling. That blue coat [seen in the photo]... My uncle lives in a small town in the south of France, and we were sitting at lunch. I saw the coat from down the street. I could just see it the entire time we were eating. I said, ‘That’s where I’m going afterward.’
What are some of your tips for scouring the internet? If you find an artist that you love, or you find a clothing brand that you love, look through their following list.
Is there someone in the public eye whose style you admire? It’s more like a group of people. I look at Scandinavian fashion. I would also say a big style icon for me is Paloma Wool. It’s a brand, but she’s also a person. She’s pretty amazing.
Are you a vintage clothing shopper? No, I wish I were, but I think I don’t have the patience for it. I do like buying vintage from people who curate it. I think there’s something really special about that.
Photographed at the Central Library
Coat: purchased in France / Skirt: thrifted / Boots: Camper / Socks: Darner
Photography by Judd Demaline
Lily Kiti, 22
Owner, Lily Kiti Studio
Where do you sell the vintage clothes that you find? Instagram; I used to do drops on my website, and I have a studio in The Grove.
How do you describe your style? I think my style is pretty minimal—it’s very simple—but I like to mix it up with fun pieces, add a fun bag.
Where do you do most of your shopping? Most of my closet is thrifted.
How did you develop your interest in thrifting? I did it when I was younger, and I was really good at it. I was [thrifting] with a friend, and we started a Depop together and it went really well. Then I went off to college and I forgot about it. And then COVID hit, and I was, like, What am I going to do? So I picked it back up and started doing this thing called the Quarantine-y Collection, which was trying to refresh the feeling of still getting ready even if we were just running errands.
Where do you like to thrift in the St. Louis area? I love the Goodwill in U. City. That’s a really good one. There’s one in Crestwood that’s pretty good too. St. Vincent [de Paul Thrift Stores] is good.
Can you give us tips for how to shop vintage or how to thrift? Go in with a color scheme: What colors are attractive to you? What materials? I love silk. I love linen. I love denim. Make sure all the zippers are functional. I don’t do any reworking—I just sell the clothes as they are—so I always have to make sure that the buttons are intact and that the zippers work.
How do you develop your eye for clothes? I grab inspiration from all types of places. It could be a store, or it could be a restaurant. I love the little details, and I see details everywhere.
Did you study fashion or design? I went to a business fashion school in New York City. It’s called LIM College.
Do you have a dream job or dream career within the industry that you’re working toward? I think doing styling on set for movies and shows would be sick. I think doing set design would be sick, too, because I love furniture as well.
Where does someone who is young and sophisticated and knows a lot about fashion and design go for fun in St. Louis? I love Brennan’s in the Central West End. I love this new place on Cherokee called ’ssippi. The people that they bring in…it’s just very interesting to see. Brennan’s is a little bit more sophisticated, and ’ssippi is a little bit more New York–ish, hipsterish. The people-watching there is fun.
Photographed at The Orpheum Theatre
Top: thrifted / Skirt: thrifted / Heels: Amina Muaddi / Handbag: Gucci
Photography by Judd Demaline
Maria Teresa Marafioti, 76
Retired surgical technologist
What do clothes mean to you? I have always loved fashion. I grew up in a little town in the province of Buenos Aires [Argentina] with my aunt and my uncle, and they were always very fashionable. Every weekend they would go to the club and always wear nice clothes, the makeup, the red lipstick, and I was, like, ‘Oh my God, that is so beautiful.’
What influences what you wear now? My style depends on how I feel, my mood.
On what occasion would you wear the red-and-black ensemble in your picture? The red brings me life, brings me love. My signature is red lipstick. I always have red lipstick—Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, or Dior. Even when I used to scrub for surgery, before putting on my mask, I would put on lipstick, and everyone would laugh. But I always say, ‘Never leave home without it.’
Tell us a little bit about your shopping habits. I never shop online. I don’t like it. I like to feel [the fabric], and I need to try it on and see how it looks. I like to go with friends, most of the time to Frontenac.
How has your style changed since you stopped working? I love fashion, and I always like to go out [looking] nice. I don't care if it’s the supermarket or Walgreens; it’s nice jeans and a top. I also love high heels. If you want to be elegant, you need to wear high heels.
What’s your secret to being comfortable in high heels? Me duelen los pies mucho. My feet hurt a lot. [Laughs] I wear Jimmy Choos that are so high! I try, even though I’m getting old.
Who are some of your favorite designers, and are you looking for something special for fall? I love Valentino. I like Armani because it’s classy. Right now I’m looking for a nice pair of ankle-height boots.
Whose style do you admire? I love Carolina Herrera. She’s so classy and elegant and simple.
Do you wear her clothes? I have one blouse; I would like to have something else. Here, just now, Neiman’s is starting to bring in some Carolina Herrera.
Do you like to shop when you’re traveling? I love that, but I have to do it behind my husband’s back. I send him to the hotel for a little nap and I run to some places.
Photographed at Laclede's Landing Metrolink station
Blouse: Max Mara / Trousers: Nouvelle, Palm Beach / Heels: Prada
Photography by Judd Demaline
Stephanie Kolman, 48
Artist; architectural design consultant
Tell me about the dress you’re wearing in the photo. I bought it at a store called Market in Highland Park Village in Dallas. I didn’t really have a reason to buy it, except that it stood out to me. It has such a fabulous look. I’ve worn it with the sheath and a blazer and then [with] the organza that makes it a little more formal.
How do you describe your style? I enjoy classic lines and silhouettes, but I look for things that have unique detailing and an unusual or a more modern take on it.
What can we find you in on a daily basis? I go to dresses a lot, because I find that they are the most flattering for my body type. I like a nice cinched-waist dress. I feel like it makes an outfit really easy to put together. If ’m not going to [wear] a dress, I would say jeans and a cute jacket. Not necessarily a blazer but a jacket that adds the finished look to an outfit.
Why do you love fashion? Even though I studied architecture, I always wanted to be a fashion designer. I used to make paper dolls and sew clothing and design clothing just for fun. It’s not only an artistic expression; I think of it as transformative. I love the idea of costumes and dressing to a certain era.
Do you buy vintage? I don’t ever buy vintage, but I have a lot of pieces that were my grandmother’s and my mom’s that have been passed on to me. I love incorporating some of the purses and especially jewelry. I love pulling vintage jewelry pieces to add to the juxtaposition of a more modern outfit.
Are you shopping for something in particular right now? I’m looking for the next “it” boot, because I feel like that makes the outfit for fall.
Do you have a favorite work of architecture? I love different styles of architecture, the same way that I love different styles of clothing. I have a favorite for each genre. I love Le Corbusier for early Modernism, and I love historical French architecture, too.
Photographed at Citygarden
Dress: Kamperett / Shoes: Aquazzura / Earrings: Chanel / Cuff: Alexis Bittar / Tennis bracelet: Genovese Jewelers
Photography by Judd Demaline
Olivia Cupp, 26
Owner/designer, MindFlowers
What do you sell at Mind Flowers? Our tagline is “Laser-cut home décor and accessories to power your flower.” It’s all very ’60s/’70s-inspired acrylic home goods. It’s super-loud and colorful.
How did you get started? I went to school at Columbia in Chicago for fashion design. In my last year, I had to take five-week mini courses that are very off the wall, and one of them was laser cutting. When my final collection came around, I laser cut all of the accessories, and a bunch of people said, “I would buy these; you should sell them.” Before I even graduated college, I met my partner, and he helped me develop my brand.
Tell me about your interest in that ’60s/’70s retro look. My parents listened to ’60s and ’70s music and just loved that culture. My mom was very much into disco and country-folk music and my dad was very much like the Steven Hyde character of That ’70s Show. I got a little bit of everything, and it surrounded me my whole life. When I started to dive into fashion, I was inspired by ’60s/’70s fashion because it’s just so unapologetically loud—everyone was really making a statement.
Where did you buy your outfit? What does it say about you and your personality? I got the jumpsuit thrifting. The shirt is from a small business based in the UK. Being a small business owner, I try to support as many small businesses and small artists and creators as possible. Shoes are a little more difficult for me, because I only wear platform shoes.
Why is that? That’s a great question. [Laughs] One day I [put on a pair of] platform tennis shoes, and it was the first time that I felt like myself. I struggled a bit my freshman year of college to figure out who I was stylistically, especially coming from St. Louis. I went to a private high school and arts weren't really the focus.
You felt the power of clothes to transform and give confidence? That’s the main reason I went into fashion. I was always that kid who wore weird things and weird for St. Louis—for the private school St. Louis space—because obviously other people were wearing those things. But for the people I was surrounded by, it was always odd. It was because my interest was fashion, so I always looked at clothes as the most unique way of self-expression.
If you could dress for a particular era or movie or character, who would that be? A character that I really love is Megan Draper from Mad Men but in the later years. Specific decade? I struggle with this, because I love vintage clothes; however, they didn’t really perfect or realize the need for stretch in clothing. I love the Woodstock era, when bell bottoms and crop tops and matching sets started to come about.
In 10 years, what would you like to be doing professionally? I would love to design clothing. [Our business] is lateral to that because it’s accessories, so it’s still in the fashion space. I would like to focus on sustainability. We’re in the process of starting a recycling program for our plastics so that we can recycle everything and be 100 percent zero waste.
Do you think about what you’re going to wear, or is that an in-the-moment decision? Unfortunately, because I sit at a desk all day, I feel like lately I've been prioritizing comfort. I save my bigger looks for when I go out, although I’m trying to change that to give everything in my closet a fighting chance.
Photographed at AT&T Building
Jumpsuit: thrifted / Shirt: Saturday by Megan Ellaby / Boots: Jeffrey Campbell / Accessories: Mindflowers
Photography by Judd Demaline
Jenelle Lovings, 38
Interior designer, Jenelle Lovings Design Studio
How does your work as an interior designer influence the way you dress? When I’m designing interiors, it’s like I’m putting together an outfit. A lot of the trends that you see in fashion are seen in design. Fashion always influences my interiors.
How does getting dressed mirror the design of a room? I would probably start off with a main focal piece, very similar to what I wore [for the photo shoot]. I have a really impactful jacket-dress, but how is everything going to live around it? A sofa is going to be the most impactful thing you have in a space, mainly because of the scale. So when you’re thinking about the scale of something and it has a really lush material, like a bouclé, for instance, how does everything else build around it? You’re going to bring in patterns and textures and even add bits of reflectivity, whether that’s in metallics or a mirror that really makes it stand out. It’s the same way we build an outfit.
How do you dress to meet clients? We’re artists. It’s where that professionalism and the artistry and creativity meet. I’ll still be very professional, but I won't be as conservative as [I would be] in corporate America. I’m not necessarily buttoned up to the collar or anything like that. I love to play with patterns. I want my outfit to reflect the style that I represent in décor. I love neutrals. I like a lot of classic pieces, things that are timeless, but also very put together.
Who are some of your favorite designers? Everybody loves Kelly Wearstler. I think she is amazing when it comes to scale; fun textures and patterns and shapes are always interesting and unique. I’m always looking for things that are unexpected. I always seem to find pieces that I love and that end up working with my existing pieces.
I'm wondering how you stay inspired, in your career or in creativity in general. Travel is probably the biggest inspiration for me. You can see things in books, but to be able to see them in real life and experience them…tomorrow I leave to go to Greece and Italy, so a lot of inspiration.
You have relatively recently moved back to St. Louis. How are you finding the creative scene here? I’m trying to get into the creative scene here, but I still work for the company that I worked for in Phoenix. I work from home, so it doesn’t really give me the opportunity as of right now to get out and explore and really become a part of the design community. I’m working on it, and it’s definitely a goal. My mom and I have been renovating a condo for me, and I literally just moved in last week.
Is there a style or project that you’d like to work on in St. Louis? There’s a lot of older commercial buildings that are being renovated…where the first floor is retail, the upstairs is usually residential apartments or some type of live/workspace. I would love to be a part of those projects, mainly because you do get the historic side but you’re doing something that a lot of people can experience.
Back to fashion: Is there a particular fashion item that you have your eye on for fall? I always have my eye on coats. Fall is where I thrive. I think it’s the layering. You get so many opportunities to put pieces together.
You seem drawn to accessories. Is that something that you’re always wanting to incorporate into whatever you're wearing? For sure. I just love being able to tie the whole thing together [with accessories].
Photographed on the rooftop at 419 N. 9th Street
Jacket: Asos / Shoes: Sam Edelman / Handbag: Louis Vuitton / Glasses: Warby Parker / Belt + Gloves: Amazon
Photography by Judd Demaline
Heather Nelson, 43
Stylist, Precious Jewelry, Neiman Marcus St. Louis
How does your job affect how you get dressed for the day? I have to be professional in my dress. I choose to be approachable, but with a presence and definitely confidence. My position has opened the doors to learning more about designers.
Who are some of your favorite designers? Definitely Ralph Lauren. I think my fashion influence has always come from the land where I grew up and the cool cowboy who raised me: my dad. That’s where my heart is. Another designer is Johanna Ortiz. Camilla. I love Kobi Halperin. Definitely Farm Rio. I love Etro. It reminds me of something that my dad would like.
Where is your farm? In Cuba, Missouri.
Did your family farm a particular crop? No, we just lived in the country. My parents had a house on the same property as my grandparents. My grandpa had a farm. He bred horses, and every day we went out to feed the cows and the pigs and the chickens.
You work in fine jewelry and you’re surrounded by beautiful clothes. Are you tempted to shop all the time? Definitely tempted to buy, but I am also very particular about what I like...so when I do really love something, I will get it. I’m definitely tempted, of course, mostly by jewelry.
What role does jewelry play in creating an ensemble? It’s the most important thing. I think that jewelry brings a whole different look to an outfit and it's interesting how so many clients don't realize what an impact it has on pulling together a look. A big statement earring with the right dress is what brings it all together. Or everybody’s kind of stacking their earrings right now, wearing three or four and maybe a little ear cuff. People can put on a diamond tennis necklace with a pair of denim shorts, and it works. Jewelry is very personal. It’s more personal than clothing.
What advice do you have for someone who wants to start buying jewelry? I think you have to get something that you love, and then you have to wear it. Just put it on. There's no rule about jewelry. You just have to put it on.
Is there anyone in the public eye whose style you admire? I’m a huge Elvis fan, and my family’s always been really big Elvis fans. He came from nothing; he had no money—but it was always really important to him to be pulled together, to have a presence and to be stylish.
What can you tell me about your decision-making process behind the outfit you wore for the shoot? As soon as I got home, I went to dinner with my husband. I took off my outfit and put on this long black cotton dress—a $20 dress, and I don’t even know where I got it, maybe Target—and I felt like I looked prettier than I did earlier. I have a really hard time preplanning my outfits.
A lot of people are reluctant to wear hats. What’s your secret? It’s kind of a little confidence thing; it shows that I’m confident and I think it’s definitely a statement piece. And my dad always wore hats, so anytime I’m around him, I’m, like, Do you like my hat? Does it look cool?
Photographed in the alleyway behind Thaxton Speakeasy
Jacket: AS by DF / Top: Alice and Olivia / Skirt: Johnny Was / Belt: Vintage Ralph Lauren / Fedora: Janessa Leoné / Earrings: Paul Morelli / Necklaces: Roberto Coin, Coomi, Lowell Hays, Paul Morelli / Rings: Katey Brunini Jewels, Monica Rich Kosann / Cuff: Vendorafa
Photography by Judd Demaline
Angela Taylor, 49
Manicurist, Tommy’s Spalon; Human Resource Partner, Amazon
How did you develop your interest in fashion? According to my mom, it started when I was 3 or 4. I used to pull out magazines and sit on the floor and point to clothes. My grandmother was always shopping for me and buying me the cutest things. My grandmother and my grandfather…they were the cutest, most well-dressed people. I think I just picked it up.
How do you describe your style? Modern with a twist. I love fun.
Is dressing up a part of your everyday routine? It’s part of the deal. I love getting dressed. I guess my motto is “It takes the same amount of time to put on something that’s not so appealing as something that is appealing.” It takes no less effort. You put on a pair of pants. Why not put on a fun pair of pants?
How do you stay current with fashion? I’m always looking online to see what’s in style. I don’t necessarily follow trends; I like to wear things that make me feel good. If it happens to be current, I’m OK with that. I look at celebrities; who doesn’t? My crushes right now are Tilda Swinton—love her!—and Jodie Turner-Smith. So fun, so full of color.
What do you have your eye on for fall? I’ve already bought them. I was in Seattle on business a couple of weeks ago and bought the coolest camouflage drawstring Christian Louboutin boots.
What do you do with clothes once you’ve had them for a few years? Do you hold onto them? Bags I never really give away, but I will call the Salvation Army, and I will just give things away. I just did a Salvation haul earlier this year. If I haven’t worn something in a while and I’m kind of over it and I want to clean out my closet, I will just give it away.
What inspired you to choose the outfit that you wore for the shoot? I was online looking at the pants. I kept coming back to them. I was, like, How could I rework them? How can I wear this? I went to Zara in Seattle, and I thought, That blazer will be awesome with those pants. When you asked me about this opportunity, I wanted to express my personality. Anybody that knows me knows that I like to wear fun pieces.
What’s in style for nails right now? Believe it or not, the French manicure is making a bit of a comeback. I love a good French manicure. That’s one of my specialties. My lines are so crisp. I can freehand a French so well. I’m also a shimmer girl. Everything has to have a little gloss to it. Nails have become the same as shoes and handbags; on the runway, it’s all about your nails, your bag, and your shoes.
Photographed at 1201 Lewis Street
Blazer: Zara / Trousers: Nasty Gal / Heels: Christian Louboutin / Rings: Alexander McQueen, Kendra Scott / Earrings: Simone I. Smith
Photography by Judd Demaline
Gina Genovese Tramelli, 53
Assistant Vice Chancellor of Special Events and University Ceremonies, Washington University in St. Louis
How do you think about clothes when you’re getting ready for the day? When I’m at an event where I’m close to leadership and there’s a lot of photography, I try to always wear black. That stems from my days as a wedding planner: You want to blend in, because a lot of times, I’m caught on camera. I also bring layers. I want to make sure I look professional, so often layers and jackets work well. I always come with at least two or three pairs of shoes, because my feet start to hurt. I like to wear. You know, confidence is a big part of my job. During showtime, I wear heels, but a lot of times we’re out in the field setting up for things like commencement, or we might have a big tent going up and I might start in jeans and boots or, if it’s really hot, in flip-flops and then transition into a more professional outfit.
There’s a lot for you to think about. What are some of your favorite wardrobe pieces? I love Jackie O. I love classic, traditional clothing. Very simple, classic [styles] like she wore. I have found that Tory Burch heels and boots are very comfortable. I have a really comfortable pair of Caleres heels that my daughter got for me when she worked for Caleres. They’re super high. I’m only 5 feet tall, so they make me taller and confident and I can wear them all day.
What about Jackie O’s style is so inspiring to you? I’ve always been obsessed with her look. Even when I got married, I wanted my wedding look to resemble something that she would have worn, although it was very different from what she wore on her wedding day. I like long gloves. I like the classic A-line. I love big sunglasses. She was a little person, too. So I like the big sunglasses on a little person.
Tell me about your sunglasses. How many pairs did you try on before you found the right frames? I had a pair that went missing, and it took me a while to find something similar, but I knew the minute I put them on that they were the right ones.
Have your daughters influenced how you think about clothes? Oh yes! Daughters always give honest feedback, which is very helpful. My older daughter studied fashion and now works at The RealReal in Chicago. She guides both me and my other daughter. I recently lost my dearest friend in the world, and there were very few things, very few large or important purchases, that I bought without her approval. She had an incredible sense of style, and she always went with me to pick out really important dresses for special occasions.
Is there something for the fall that you have your eye on? I just graduated from Wash U. law school. As a gift to myself, I want to get a new Gucci bag, so I’m keeping my eye out. Three of my four children are still in college, so I don't always have a huge budget for shopping.
At the photoshoot, you mentioned that you tend to twirl your gold necklace while working. Is that a staple piece for you? I grew up the daughter of a jeweler, but I never like to wear too much. I like to keep it simple. My husband picked out my ring on his own, and I have a few gifts from my husband and my parents that I just really love and tend to wear. You noticed me in my pearls [when we first met]. My parents gave me my pearls. I wore them on my wedding day and on a lot of important days in my life.
Photographed at 500 N. Spring Avenue
Dress: Staud / Handbag: Louis Vuitton / Sunglasses: Gucci / Jewelry: Genovese Jewelers
Special thanks to:
HAIR & MAKEUP: Julie Dietrich
PHOTO ASSISTANTS: Theo Welling & Brian Verbarg
