My Style: Leaf Greener
Portrait: Modemajeure // Additional photos: Roy Zhang // David Nyanzi — Courtesy of Leaf Greener
Please describe your style in three words.
Follow my mood.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Spending too much time getting dressed.
Do you believe in role models?
Not really, but I do respect them.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Chanel tweed, Loro Piana cashmere, Fox Brothers flannel, and Loewe leather.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
Wearing too much of the 80’s in one outfit.
Which city has the best-dressed women?
Paris, Shanghai, and New York.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
I think I'm both. I love wearing something traditional with a twist, like an evening gown with tassel slippers or a Chanel tweed jacket with a PJ shirt. I enjoy keeping a balance between conservative and bold.
What are the rules in the way you dress?
I have to be comfortable in what I'm wearing at any given time.
Celebrities and style...
Could they be as cool as they were back in the 1970’s?
Name one garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
Sunglasses are definitely my thing, as well as dresses from Mr Alaïa. Also, any piece from Helmut Lang made in the 1990’s, and the collections Nicolas Ghesquière made for Balenciaga.
A woman should always look like…
She is having a little bit of fun.
Who taught you what you know about style?
My parents. My mother used to tell me that true style comes from the experiences of life and also from having a free spirit. And my father gave me freedom to pursue it, to choose whatever I wanted to learn, such as painting and fashion design, dancing, and playing the piano. In China it is very rare to have these kind of parents. So for me, style comes from the soul.
How do you select your clothing every morning?
I just follow my mood. Whatever I feel like wearing, I will wear it.
What is your biggest regret?
Once I followed the advice of one of my friends, and he told me to plan my daily outfits during fashion week before packing. I don’t do that anymore. If I don’t follow my mood when deciding what to wear, I will end up looking out of place and I won't be myself anymore. So now I just pack everything I like to wear before the day I leave for travel. I get to wear something spontaneously every morning during fashion weeks, which is fun. I like playing with my outfits, not planning them.
The three essential things a woman should know about style are…
Listen to the weather: being cold is not chic. Follow your heart: do not dress to please men. Don’t be afraid of getting older; wearing something that properly matches your age is an elegant gesture.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
Not really. I’m spontaneous in this as well. I don’t buy things because they are on trend or in season. I buy things for what I love, and for longevity - what I believe I could wear for a long time.
We will never see you wearing...
Never say never. But I don’t think I'll be wearing Crocs anytime soon.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
Josep Font, the creative director for Delpozo. The fabrics, the silhouettes, the cutting, the craftsmanship... I adore everything about this Spanish brand; every piece looks so divine, almost like couture.
Who is the most stylish person you have ever seen?
Caroline de Maigret, Shala Monroque, Lee Radziwill, Phoebe Philo, Haider Ackermann, Lapo Elkann, and Keith Richards. I always enjoy observing how stylish men are wearing their clothes. It’s so inspired. They always wear things for a practical reason.
What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
Her eyes.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
A pink cashmere sweater with a cream contrast Peter Pan collar and hand embroidered details; a birthday gift made by my boyfriend Carl Gustaf.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
My mirror.
Which designer never fails to impress you?
Miuccia Prada. She keeps rocking and her brand is beyond fashion.
One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to is…
A well-made coat. The fine cutting and the great fabric of a good coat make it a piece that a woman can wear forever.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
Not at all. Comfort is the foundation of style.
Who would you like to recommend for My Style?
Caroline Issa. She is a publisher for Tank Magazine, a stylist, a designer, and a close friend. Her personality is so charming, and she has the ability to bring whatever she is wearing to shine—absolutely chic.
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
“The most beautiful clothes that can dress a woman are the arms of the man she loves.” — Yves Saint Laurent
