The Black Swan

Alexa Winner

So what do you get when you put me with a celebrity stylist who has stunning model looks? Here's the answer... in part. 

I say in part because there's really two chapters of this story. Chapter one is such a great variety of looks. Yes, I have pictures that are less dramatic and perhaps more "real". When I met Alexa Winner, I knew this was going to be different- the fun kind of different. This was going to get interesting.

Alexa, as a stylist is used to putting together looks for celebs, individuals and models on modeling shoots as well as clothing lines (some big ones at that). She's used to being behind the camera, prodding people to do things they may feel a little uncomfortable doing. Having the spotlight in front of the camera, her boldness to get the right shot comes through. She was more than willing to position herself in places 99.9% of people wouldn't dare. We did find out how far we could push it. Laying on the railing at NYU's 1 Washington Square North where they have faculty offices and classrooms, unintentionally timed when classes happen to be getting out? No problem. Only in New York will people just walk by as if it's just another day in the City. Except for the occasional gawking male. Can we really blame him?  

Alexa Winner Graces NYU Campus

Credits for all images  below.

We were thinking (her idea) that our last shot of the day would be in the fountain at Washington Square Park. Let's just say that the two of us together are like throwing a match on gasoline, both more than willing to throw caution to the wind. We never got that fountain shot... didn't need to. But I digress, that falls under the Chapter 2 part of the story for tomorrow. 

A Parsons grad in Integrated Design, she understands so many aspects of the industry. An artist. Her shoes were black, she wanted them gold- so she spraypainted them. I dare say it would take a little previous hands-on experience to do that confidently knowing it would be a good outcome. Her talent is obvious and she's in high demand. I personally think she should be in high demand in front of the camera as well.

Alexa Winner

Alexa had read that I inevitably have word-association with people I spend a little time with and profile, so she asked what hers would be. Black Swan. Why? First, she has this beautiful long neck that you can't help but notice. A "Black" Swan because, as highlighted in "Swan Lake", they're extremely rare. Rare she is. The wonderful refreshing kind. I thought it was fitting and she took to it as well.

One of the many beauties of Alexa Winner

Dress: Rolando Santana
Gold Cuff: Stephen Mikhail
Headband: Made by Alexa
Shoes: Bordello (Spraypainted gold by Alexa)
Stylist: Alexa Winner of course!

Wonderful time but we're far from done. In tomorrow's Black Swan-Chapter 2, we found out just how far we could push it before we (somewhat humorously) found out how far is too-far.

Click here for The Black Swan (Chapter 2)...

Ashley Lambert

As soon as I met Ashley, I couldn't take my eyes off her. She's obviously beautiful but has great energy. Her expressiveness and personality really shines through in images. I'm constantly amazed at how much someone tells about themselves simply through small nuances in their face and eyes. It's a window to the soul.

Ahh. Summer is here and the sundresses are out. There's something wonderful, natural and attractive about the simplicity of a sundress. This shot of Ashley is pure visible pleasure of her ease and comfort. I'm typically not a fan of flats but they are de rigueur here. Fortunately, these are stylish and quite attractive. A long way from flip-flops which I must admit I abhor since they ruin an otherwise great look.

An interesting topic of conversation revolved around of all things, sports. Ashley played college soccer. Having played college and professional golf in a former life myself, talk of dedication, hard-work and competition flowed. It's one of those things that you have to have experienced to truly understand. I will say she has great balance in life and really gets it.

Ashley Lambert is the new generation in the fashion industry. Recently getting her degree in Fashion Marketing, she's worked behind the scenes on countless fashion shows. Unless you're in the industry its hard to appreciate the complexity of a runway show. Organized chaos. Months of preparation and planning and an untold number of people involved that converge for a couple hour window of final preparation for a show that may last all of 15 minutes. Something unexpected always goes wrong in the final moments that takes a cool head to work through. It takes a special personality and demeanor to organize a show from beginning to end. Ashley does it very well. I only wish she wan't backstage so we could see her stylish charm!

Boston Sophisticate

A while ago I received an email that said, "I absolutely love your site, your point of view and what your doing. You're someone I really would like to meet. Can we make that happen?". Genuine flattery getting you everywhere, my response was "Of course!".

Spending my fair share of time in Boston, Amy Patt and I finally firmed up plans to get together. As I was about to walk into our meeting place, I glanced across the street and someone caught my attention. Realize I am always looking for someone to catch my eye; that said, it doesn't happen as often as you may think. Just the right style and intangibles are rare.

As I was looking over, that very tall, well-dressed beautiful blonde waved at me. I thought, could this be Amy? Sure enough, as she made her way across the intersection she said, "Michael!?". That was my introduction. From there, things moved fast. I was going to get coffee but there was a line. No problem. Amy whispered over to one of the people working there and a coffee was immediately in my hands. That's just how Amy is.

Amy is one of those people that just seems to know and make friends with everyone. Someone I instantly adored. A personality that is a vortex and brings you into her orbit. She's in perpetual motion. Constantly talking with people either in person or on the phone. If there's a brief lull, she checks her messages and returns emails. Among other things, she's a connector, a networker. Need something? She knows who to go to get things done.

Previously married and now a single mother of two, life has been constantly evolving. Five years ago she began to get involved in the sparse Boston fashion scene. Being a networker, logical planner and social, she started a high-end event planning, fashion consulting and promotion company. It took off. Just a couple of weeks ago she held a sold-out event with 700 people that included a runway show. From the people I spoke with who attended, it was a huge success. The once desolate Boston fashion scene is now thriving with an average of two shows a week. They've come a long way. Did Amy Patt have something to do with it? I have to think her energy and enthusiasm only helped. The degree is impossible to quantify but they don't call her "the fashion lady" for nothing.

Amy's evolution is continuing on to more and larger opportunities. She recently became the Boston correspondent for Black-Tie Magazine and has a blog called the "Boston Sophisticate" that covers a wide array of her experiences and views of the fashion and social scene as well as thoughts on her own life.

The biggest opportunity Amy now has is she is becoming the General Manager for World Model Pros and World Model Magazine. For the modeling agency, she has begun scouting new talent and will be traveling to Croatia later in the summer to establish an international office. Things are moving fast for Amy Patt. She has the energy, the personality and the talent to pull it off. In fact, I don't think she'll let anything stop her. This is going to be fun to watch!

Style definitely has a story.

Her look: Amy is very thoughtfully well-put together and accessorized . White jeans and a white top with a navy jacket cinched at the waste. The navy framing her face was a good choice to balance and bring contrast to the white and highlight her lighter skin and hair. The clothing and bag are from a nifty Boston boutique called Terrida (they have mens as well- I checked!). The stylish heels are Max Azria and sunglasses by Dolce & Gabanna.

Elena Kollarova

I can play word-association with almost everyone I've ever profiled. Elena Kollarova is Regal.

Bulgarian born and raised, Elena is now in college pursuing a Marine Biology degree at Suffolk University. I'm no dummy (others may argue differently) but I'm not sure I could have survive through college in marine biology. "Thanks for coming but this probably is not your calling" is what I would have heard after another dismal grade.

We've established two clear things about Elena: she's beautiful and smarter than many (most) of us. Did I mention she's a sweetheart too? Stunning, magnificent, elegant, intelligent and a great personality. Total package. People I like... in my never-ending hopes that I can get some through osmosis (my token biology term).

Elena's been modeling and walking the runways and is now poised to really break-out with her modeling career. Even more obvious to me since I had such a hard time choosing which image to go with-  all incredible. Ahh, those steely blue eyes. Perhaps I'll put another one in... if I can make up my mind which.

Anyone who reads this site with any regularity knows that I feel style is about more than how someone looks or dresses. There are so many intangibles to have style, a classic style- that it would be hard to categorize them. It comes from the inside-out. There's simply no faking it. It's transparent.

Having had a varied conversation after taking these shots on Bulgaria, America, marine biology, her trip to Maine in August for school and SCUBA diving- my first instinct was correct. This gal has style and she lives it. Whether Elena is on the cover of every fashion magazine in the world, finds her place working in and near the water or chooses some unknown path, I'm confident she'll do it... regally.

Natalie King

When she was growing up, all she wanted to do was be in the fashion and magazine business. Using her resourcefulness and passionate energy, she started writing freelance in college. Her Senior year, it all started to come together.

Natalie King is not just another pretty face. When she decides her destination, its just a matter of time before she gets there.

Born in North Carolina, her mother remarried when she was eight. Her step-father was a Boston native, so the family relocated. Always having the split contrast of the urban Northeast and the slower paced Outer Banks, she finds her balance in enjoying the best of both worlds. Whether its due to cultural geography, family upbringing or just an innate sense of style, Natalie has an elegant balance about her.

That Senior year in Boston, she attended a charity event that's always been an annual ritual. As a motivated aspiring writer, she arranged an interview with a well known boutique owner. Serendipitously, earlier at the event Natalie had been seated at the same table of a woman she felt oddly gravitated to. Her mannerisms, the way she spoke, dressed and carried herself. Asking someone else at the table who this lady was, she learned it was the owner and editor of Upscale Living magazine.

Following the formalities, Natalie sat down to do her interview with the boutique owner. As the stars aligned, the editor knew the boutique owner and sat down with them during the interview. One can imagine the self-pressure she immediately felt as this editor, who she naturally liked, sat watching. This was a moment to be professional and impressive. She was.

Following the interview, the editor asked who she was working for. Natalie explained she was working freelance and was in her last year of college. In a matter of fact way the editor said, "you're going to work with me now".

Starting as a freelance contributor to the magazine, Natalie did all she could to learn different aspects of the business, even volunteering to work as an unpaid intern for photographers so she could see a bit more through their eyes. Time went on and her passion pointed her down the path. Fast-forward three years later, Natalie King is the editor of Upscale Living magazine.

Upscale Living is what you may imagine. It's primary audience is the affluent and everything is done in a way that target-market would expect. From the glossy pages to editorials on travel, resorts, interior design, properties and fashion, it's high-end luxury.

Natalie's beauty blind to no one, she routinely gets recruited to model for editorials for the magazine. Early on she had trepidation about modeling and understandably so. She's serious and driven at work, the last thing she wanted was to have modeling undermine her role as a writer. Fortunately for all involved, it hasn't sidetracked her. We get to see her editorial prowess as well as her gorgeous looks.

Always passionate about fashion, she's a throw-back to what a few of us feel ought to be. Classic style. Our personal similarities and outlook were quickly apparent to us both. Classic movies, dress, etiquette, style. The dress she's wearing in the above image is vintage and timeless. It's simply the natural thing to do. It's nice to know we're not alone in this abyss of shabby "comfort".

Natalie is now exploring her passion for interior design. As the magazine frequently editorializes on design and designers, perhaps it was just a matter of time. I have a feeling she's going to be very good at it. Graceful personal style emanates though all mediums and it certainly does for Natalie King.