Glamorous models may give us ideas about what’s hot and what’s not, but the people that determine whether those looks stick are the everyday men and women who incorporate the pieces into their day-to-day style.
For Julie Kent, artistic director of The Washington Ballet (the season opener is Sept. 26-30), and Sharon Bulova, chairman of Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, fashion came to the forefront as a result of their careers. As a ballet dancer, Kent let her dancer body speak for itself as she lived in a leotard, never focusing on clothing unless it was worn to and from the studio. While running for office, Bulova was encouraged to wear bright colors so that she would catch the eye of the voter.
Despite representing a company and a county, respectively, Kent and Bulova stress to not sacrifice comfort for style, emphasizing that someone should love how they feel in clothing, not let the clothing wear them, and embrace who they are beneath it all. Both women also agree that their careers positively impacted their style, giving room for growth and embracing their true self.
Though they have similar views on career and fashion, their sense of style differs. Kent described her fashion sense as “ballerina”, explaining that her “favorite color is cashmere” and saying that she draws inspiration from Audrey Hepburn. She likes looking at romantic luxury gowns from designers like Marchesa, but lives in brands like Uniqlo and J.Crew.
Bulova, on the other hand, feels most confident in a power suit with pops of bright color sans pricey labels. She’s inspired by the “tailored, yet friendly” style of Princess Diana and Jackie Kennedy.
Though the fashion industry has certainly evolved over the years, there are still some things that these women would like to see changed:
Bulova wishes to see more variety in design when it comes to slacks and pants. And for women who rock the power suit, she wants to see a world that isn’t so black-and-white.
Kent craves to see the same sustainability in fashion that she sees in the brand Hania New York. “Luxury should have a conscience, not just profitability,” says Kent.
