Last updated : Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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Erin Gates: a Blogger with Vision

Credit: Michael Piazza

Sometimes the best inspiration we can get is from our fellow fashionistas. Erin Gates, interior designer and the creator of Elements of Style spoke to us about her background in fashion and her favorite trends this season.

Background
My semester abroad I actually spent in Manhattan. I petitioned to join this program that my college had never been a part of and I got an internship in Manhattan and lived there. It was the most amazing six months of my life, probably still to date. I was a stylist intern for Joseph Abboud and I had the opportunity to work with editors, do photo shoots, dress models and work with public relations people – so after leaving I thought, ‘I'm moving to New York!’ It was such an awesome experience. The other people I was living with interned at SNL and I went to tapings and after parties and I thought that was what New York is like. Unfortunately, when I returned the following summer and interned at Donna Karan I cried every single day. It was very "Devil Wears Prada", very backstabby. Men's wear wasn't as cutthroat. I was living off Ramen Noodles and I couldn't do anything because I didn't have much money. After I graduated from college, some of my best girlfriends were moving to Boston and so I thought I'd give it a shot. And I love it. Boston is easier to be a big fish in a small pond. I'm very happy.

Favorite Fall Trends
The perfect-fitting black blazer! I went to Paris a few months ago and every single girl had one, but they were tailored perfectly. Buy one at Banana Republic and take it to the tailor and have it made to fit you. The little shrunken motorcycle jackets – love! Floral dresses layered with sweaters and tights and booties. Color-wise, I love purples and all the rich hues they are coming out with.

Fond of the ‘40s ?
I don't like the trend when it looks like a costume, but pairing a ‘40s style blouse with jeans and heels – I love that. Again, mixing something that has a throwback vintage look with casual or modern pieces is great. When it's all one look I don't ever like that with any trend. But I think there's a lot of vintage going on and I love it if it's done right.

Investment Dressing
I just invested in a really amazing fitted little black dress – which shockingly I didn't have. It’s Diane von Furstenberg and it fits me perfectly! They aren’t cheap, but I will invest in a printed DVF wrap dress and I will not look back. Again that little black blazer is definitely something to spend money on and flat, knee high boots, I will be spending on those. I generally don't spend a lot of money on shoes with heels because in Boston with cobblestones they get destroyed! For winter I would invest in a piece of leopard something as well - shoes, maybe a bag.

Best Boots
Loeffler Randall – amazing investment, but I’ve found some really great ones by BCBG Girls. Coach has some really nice styles out right now as well. I just tried an over-the-knee pair of boots, but I didn't get them; I choked! If I lived in New York I could get away with them no sweat, but here I think ‘do I look ridiculous?’ Now I think I should have bought them!

You Are What You Wear
If I were any piece of clothing I would be a Chanel jacket. It never goes out of style, it’s eternally classic and it looks good with jeans, dressed, up- it's versatile but beautiful. Or I'd probably be a DVF dress! Seriously, it's like my signature piece. I don't know which one is more me … DVF looks great on so many body types and you can experiment with fun prints and color. You can wear it to a wedding or to the office. If I could only have one piece of clothing that would be what I'd buy.

More on Erin Gates:
Interior Designer Q&A: Erin Gates
The Many Elements of Erin Gates
An Inside Look: Erin Gates' Boston Condo

For more on fashion, go to the Style Guide.

 

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