My Style: Ashley Glasson
Photo: Courtesy of Ashley Glasson
Is comfort an enemy of style?
No. I live in California, and comfort, to me, doesn’t mean you’re leaving the house in sweatpants. There is a quote from Karl Lagerfeld that haunts me every time I think that leaving the house in them would be acceptable: "Sweatpants are a sign of defeat. You lost control of your life so you bought some sweatpants". And hello, Birkenstocks are back.
Please describe your style in three words.
Casual, classic, and neutral. (I consider leopard a neutral, just to be clear).
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Wearing clothes that don’t fit properly.
Do you believe in role models?
I think I do.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Cotton, leather and anything soft.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
Probably.
Which city has the best-dressed women?
I want to say Paris, but I have never been. I bet everyone says Paris.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
If we are talking about style, conservative — although I am not really a conservative person.
What are the rules in the way you dress?
I have to feel comfortable, and I won’t leave the house without mascara on.
Celebrities and style...
Is something that depends on the stylist.
Name one garment/accessory that you can never have enough of.
Ankle boots. Every season I end up buying more Rag & Bone Newbury boots.
A woman should always look like…
However she feels like.
Who taught you what you know about style?
At first, probably my mother. She loved Moschino, Donna Karan and Gucci when I was growing up. She had this incredible baby blue sequin Donna Karan outfit — (sounds terrible when I say it out loud, but I assure you it was the coolest outfit in the 90’s) — that stands out the most in my memory. Very Cindy Crawford back then. She also used to tear pages from Vogue and other fashion magazines and put them in folders.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
My go-to outfit is a pair of J Brand skinny jeans, a LNA tee and my custom leather jacket. But, if it is over 70 degrees and sunny, I will be wearing jean shorts.
What is your biggest regret?
Fashion regret? Not buying this leopard A.P.C. jacket when I had the chance. I have searched the internet far and wide…nothing. I’m convinced it never actually existed. It was so expensive that I never pulled my wallet out. One evening when I was sitting at home, my friend Fiona texted me to say that she was at a party where some lucky lady was wearing this A.P.C. leopard coat and had bought it at their sample sale for $100. This story still haunts me — fashion trauma.
The three essential things a woman should know about style are…
That's a hard one! Effortlessness, being comfortable in your clothing choices and less is usually more.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
Yes, I go to Zara way too many times a week. I can’t help it.
We will never see you wearing...
A maxi dress. I’m too short and they make me feel even shorter. Well, I just don’t like them all together.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
I don’t know about new, but I have been following Victoria Beckham from fashion week to fashion week, and every season it gets better. I think she has great personal style and it translates to her apparel in a very ‘runway to real life’ way. I am also following Aussie brand, Zimmermann. They have the best swimsuits — period.
Who is the most stylish person you have ever seen?
Jane Birkin.
What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
Her hair and then her eyebrows.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
My Balenciaga carry on bag (never leave for the airport without it), my custom LNA leather jackets and all of my Oliver Peoples optical glasses — can’t see the world without them.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
Kate Moss, as boring and cliché as it may sound. I want to see her closet full of leopard prints and stripes.
Which fashion house never fails to impress you?
Rag & Bone, it's the definition of wearable fashion.
One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to is…
Her coat. And get a tailor — jackets should fit properly.
Who would you like to recommend for My Style?
Lauren Alexander, my twin sister and creative director of her company LNA Clothing, and her partner, April Leight.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
Be nice. You can always be mean later, but once you’ve been mean to someone, they won’t believe the nice anymore. So be nice, be nice until it’s time to stop being nice.
