Best Dressed 2014

Styling by Helene Sayad, Hair: Brandie Marsden, Make-up: Shaheera Bhutto

Susan Barrett

Barrett is a fashion advocate, collector, and curator. After serving as executive director of the World Chess Hall of Fame, where she conceived of the renowned “A Queen Within” exhibit, she launched Barrett Barrera, which places the work of avant-garde fashion designers in art-museum and gallery exhibitions. “People often say, ‘I love what you’re wearing, but I could never pull that off,’” she says. “It’s just clothes. You have to have fun with it and own it.”

Style Icon: Audrey Hepburn. "I also love looking at the personal styles of designers and stylists," she says.

Style Evolution: "I’m more pulled together probably, but I hope I still have some rebellion."

Favorite Fall Looks: Layering and outerwear. "There’s more room for drama. You have to edit more in the summer."

Trends She Hates: Corporate sameness and lack of individuality. “I hate the watering down of fashion,” she says. “People need to go for it more.”

Oldest Thing in Her Closet: A vintage Bill Blass raincoat. “I got it at least 25 years go,” she says. “I wear it all the time—I could never give that up.”

Biggest Style Mistake: “My friends give me a hard time about putting argyle socks in my hair when I was a freshman in high school.”

---

Atul Kamra

If you need some tips, Kamra is your man. Wells Fargo Advisors’ head of advice has a colorful, dapper sense of style that gives him a refined yet accessible elegance. His own source of fashion inspiration? His wife, Anjali, the designer behind St. Louis–based fashion line Rungolee.

Influences: "My wife Angali has one of the sharpest eyes for color," he says.

Fashion Evolution: “My style has become less formal and more colorful and playful,” he says.

Style Perspective: “Once I embraced the notion of layering color and texture,” he says, “that’s when I really changed what I wore and howI dressed.”

Clothing Strategy: “I dress for the moment,” he says. “I’m willing to take risks, but I rarely plan on what I’m going to wear.”

---

Zoe Robinson

An icon on the local restaurant scene, Robinson is known for her elegant style and striking beauty. Her most recent endeavor, Bar Les Frères, reflects her sophisticated taste. “With my restaurants, I like to create interesting environments that transport people and make the experience memorable,” she says. “With my style and how I treat people, I try to do the same.”

Style Icon: Coco Chanel

Must-Haves: "My hair is a huge part of who I am style-wise," she says.

Style Perspective: “I grew up with two older sisters, and all we did was play dress-up,” she says. “So I’ve had a sense of style since I was very young.”

Style Evolution: "I went through a vintage phase at one point, and I wore splashier clothes when I was younger," she says.

Favorite Fall Fashion: Cashmere and fur

Oldest Thing in Her Closet: A vintage leopard-print swing coat

Go-To Color: “Black, because it’s classic,” she says. “And at my job, if I spill a glass of red wine, you won’t be able to notice.”

---

Ronald Roberts

As vice president of new business development and project management at development company McCormack Baron Salazar, Roberts finds himself in a lot of different settings, from the boardroom to the community. “My style has to be flexible and appropriate for the environment,” he says.

Style Icon: André 3000. “I grew up when hip-hop was really taking form,” Roberts says.

Trends He Hates: Skinny jeans on men and pants that hang below the waist. “I like a more traditional look, with a touch of flair,” he says of his overall style.

Developing a Style Point of View: "I started thinking more about what I wore when I started college," he explains. "I went to Morehouse, a historically black college in Atlanta with some very notable alumni, and I was very impressed by the way students there presented themselves."

Biggest Style Mistake: “When I was figuring things out during my freshman year of college, I had trouble coordinating suit pants with other parts of my wardrobe,” he says. “Eventually, I figured it out.”

Favorite Fall Looks: "Scarves are one of my favorite things to wear all year," he says. "I also like sweaters and layering."

---

Sam Melendez

As a trainer, Melendez spends much of his time inspiring people at the gym. But at home, he finds inspiration in painting. Melendez creates abstract art with vibrant hues—an aesthetic that carries over into what he wears. The native of Puerto Rico says his heritage has influenced him in numerous ways. “I like wearing funky pants like they do there, but I tone it down with basics,” he says. “I also like using bright colors in my paintings, but interestingly,my wardrobe is a bit darker.”

Style Icon: His dad

Style Evolution: "I’ve cleaned it up a bit," he explains. "I used to wear a lot of tees with graphic designs, but my style now is a little more refined."

Style Perspective: “Since I’ve been a personal trainer, wearing gym clothes all day, I’ve had more of a desire to have fun with fashion,” he says.

Favorite Look: “I love the rugged, distressed look,” he says, “especially for shoes.”

Favorite Fall Looks: Light scarves, jeans, boots, long-sleeved shirts

Biggest Style Mistake: Neon colors. “I cringe at it now, and I wasn’t even a big fan of it back then,” he says, “but I wore it because it was the trend.”

---

Emily Elbert

Before acquiring Byrd Designer Consignment Boutique in May 2013, Elbert had a career in politics. But after she moved back to St. Louis from L.A., she says, her style evolved. “Fashion is definitely an art form in the way pieces are created and designed, and in how individuals develop their style,” Elbert says. “I don’t think I would have made that connection several years ago. ”

Style Icon: Cate Blanchette. "Locally, I love Zoe Robinson’s and Susan Sherman’s style," she says.

Style Development: "I was definitely a late bloomer," she explains. "It wasn’t until my 30s when I moved to L.A. that I started become very style conscious."

Style Personality: "I’m not very loyal to a particular look," she explains. "I love mixing patterns, like a leopard print skirt with a striped shirt."

Favorite Fall Looks: Skinny jeans with tall boots, structured blouses, blazers, and fedoras and wool hats

Influences: “I love midcentury modern and contemporary art and interiors,” she says. “That definitely carries over into fashion.”

Oldest Thing in Her Closet: Vintage Chanel heels that she bought a decade ago

Newest Thing in Her Closet: A vintage Alexander McQueen black embellished jacket from Decades in L.A.

Favorite Trends: Menswear, loafers, and designer sneakers. "If you have a strong sense of style, what you wear is timeless," she says.

---

Ben Poremba

Growing up in Israel, Poremba developed a passion for food from his mother, a pro-fessional chef. Since moving to St. Louis, Poremba has made his own culinary mark, running spots including Salume Beddu, Olio, Elaia, and The Dining District. With so many ventures, his look has to be both comfortable and stylish. Skif International designer Nina Ganci creates much of his clothing, basing the designs on Poremba’s trademark item: his chef’s jacket.

Style Personality: “I like kind of a derelict look,” he says. “I love layers and clothes that are not fully perfect.”

Fashion Evolution: “I experiment a lot. I used to wear things like three-piece suits and bowties,” he says.

Biggest Style Mistake: “I’ve been known to wear nice shoes in the kitchen—never a good idea,” he says.

Favorite Fall Looks: "Fall is the best season for clothes—and food," he says. "I love scarves, vests, and jackets."

Most Hated Trends: Cropped pants for men.

---

Dan Ferry

“My motto, in style and in life, is ‘Never enough,’” says Ferry, a financial advisor. At the office, he often wears well-tailored suits and bow ties. Outside the office, it’s cowboy all the way. “I’m not an introvert, and my sense of style is always making a statement,” he says, “but all within the bounds of good taste.”

Style Personality: "I wore a tie every day for 50 years, and I’ve always had a strong sense of style," he says. "It’s where my daughters get it from."

Fashion Evolution: “Dress has become more relaxed in the past 15 to 20 years,” he says. “I wear more bright colors and soft fabrics.”

Fall Fashion: "Fall is my favorite season," he explains. "I love wearing western boots and colorful sport clothes. Spring and fall are the best times of year to show off your clothes."

Oldest Thing in His Closet: A lamb shearling coat. “I’ve had it for 20 years, and it gets softer over time,” he says. “People always take notice when I wear it.”

Advice on Trends: “There are more choices out there for men now than ever,” he says. “It can be difficult to account for one’s taste—it can definitely be overdone.”

---

Paula Reed

After working as a corporate attorney years ago, Reed shifted to doing pro bono work to help low-income clients recover from alcohol addiction. She’s now getting into family law as well, advocatingfor same-sex marriage rights. “I live my life to be of service for both my family and the community,”she says, “and that’s what makes me truly happy.”

Style Icons: Sharon Stone, Jane Birkin, Angelina Jolie, Olivia Palermo

Style Strategy: "I mix a lot of high and low," she explains. "I know the silhouettes that work well for me, and I’ll often pair things like costume jewelry from H&M with a piece from Chanel. I don’t buy anything really that’s middle of the road."

Fashion Evolution: “I grew up in California, so I was a beach girl—I always had a bikini in my car,” she says. “When I went to law school, I started realizing I needed to do something more with my style.”

Influence: Her mood. “I can’t pick an outfit the night before,” she says. “How I dress depends on how I feel that day and where I am.”

Favorite Look: “I love a woman who can pull off a great pantsuit,” she says.

Biggest Style Mistakes: "Tube tops, A-line dresses, and very tight pants in my disco days," she says.

Oldest Things in Her Closet: A wool, high-waisted pencil skirt and her first Chanel bag she bought when she was 21

Most Hated Trends: "I don’t like when people overadorn themselves," she says.

---

Marilu Knode

The executive director of Laumeier Sculpture Park, Knode has helped curate art around the world and is passionate about preserving artists’ creativity. “I might not always understand the aesthetic, but I get the logic,” she says. “It’s the same with fashion. I try to inject a little humor into my wardrobe.”

Style Icon: “I once saw Ann Goldstein, the former director of the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, wear a dress over pants,” she says. “That profoundly influenced me.”

Style Personality: "I like professional with a bit of humor, which I feel like reflects who I am," she says. "You have to have fun with what you do. Don’t be afraid to be a bit wacky."

Oldest Thing in Her Closet: An unstructured blue Michael Kors jacket that she bought 15 years ago

Style Evolution: "Every year, I buy new staples and play around with my closet," she says. "I love the connection between art and fashion."

Favorite Fall Looks: Boots and outerwear

Biggest Style Mistakes: “The worst thing I can do is wear skirts that hit above the knee,” she says. “I also used to cut my own hair, which was definitely a mistake.”

Trends She Hates: Shorts that are too short

Favorite St. Louis Hangouts: "I live in University City, so I like to support the neighborhood," she says. "I’m loving United Provisions right now."

Favorite Accessory: Her glasses