My Style: Kenya Hunt
Photo: Trendy Crew — Courtesy of Kenya Style
What are the rules, if any, in the way you dress?
When it comes to clothes, I’m a bit of an anti-rules kind of girl. I think people should generally wear what makes them happy (within reason), but I have personally become a serious stickler for fit and tailoring. If it’s wrong, it can make an expensive garment look so cheap, and if it’s right, it can make an inexpensive piece look really high-end. I often take my jeans and trousers to a tailor because I refuse to be that girl with the weird gap at the waistline or bunch of fabric at the crotch. And I like my sweater and jacket armholes high.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
I check the weather and then decide accordingly. If it’s grey out, I go for bright colour or something with a little shine to it.
Which city has the best-dressed women?
For the longest time, I thought it was Paris. I relate (or should I say aspire?) to that unaffected style of dressing most. That effortlessness that is quietly chic and yet completely sexy. It’s not trend based. But since I’ve moved to London, I’ve grown to appreciate how bold and adventurous English women are with their clothes. They have a very loud, creative approach to personal style that has definitely influenced me.
Please describe your style in three words.
One dramatic element.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
I’d say following trends over your instinct.
Do you believe in role models?
Absolutely. They’re the people who inspire us to want to evolve as humans, and be better. The idea of role models too often has a negative connotation to it. I think a lot of Americans tend to think of lame, puritanical behavioural restrictions when we think of role models.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Cashmere and cashmere. I love silk and cotton too.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
It depends on the day and my mood — but I’m usually bold when it comes to footwear. I often like to wear flashy, provocative shoes to throw off an otherwise respectable outfit. Case in point: I got married in a pair of glittery Miu Miu's encrusted with giant crystals that offset a vaguely traditional dress.
Celebrities and style...
Can make for some very entertaining blog reading when it’s bad (Katie Price, Britney Spears, Latoya Jackson) and inspiring, memorable moments when it’s good (Sofia Coppola at Cannes in '04, Lauryn Hill at the VMA Awards in '98).
A woman should always look like...
She’s comfortable in her own skin.
Who taught you what you know about style?
A number of women: my mom, my sister and my dear friend Ronnie, who is one of the chicest women I know.
Your biggest regret is...
I’ve worn a lot of regrettable things over the years and, frankly, I wish I had just saved the money. When I got my first entry-level magazine job, I’d go to all of these fast fashion stores and buy whatever just because I could. And then it would all end up in the trash six months later. So when I look back on that, I wish I had put that money towards one beautiful coat that I could still wear today, rather than 20 cheap dresses.
The three essential things a woman should know about style are...
It works best when you use it as an extension of who you are. Diana Vreeland said it well: “The only real elegance is in the mind.”
What is the first thing you notice on a woman
Her shoes. My eyes always go to the feet first.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
Not at all. I think this point goes back to the fit of the clothes. You could be wearing the most body-con mini-dress on the planet, but if it fits well, you can get through the day without having to tug and pull on it. It might even feel like a second skin. And when it comes to shoes, I think flats can make as strong a statement as stilettos.
The best word of advice you have ever heard?
Another Diana Vreeland quote: “Too much good taste can be boring.”
