My Style: Meghan Folsom
Photo: Courtesy of Meghan Folsom
The most stylish person you have ever seen...
My former boss at Harper’s Bazaar, stylist extraordinaire, Melanie Ward.
Please describe your style in three words.
Classic, yet eclectic.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Wearing clothing that doesn’t fit properly for the sake of trends.
Do you believe in role models?
Yes, if they are not reality TV stars.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Silk, cotton, linen.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
I still really can’t wrap my mind around the shorts and tights combination. I’m originally from the South and can be a little bit old-fashioned about appropriateness and functionality.
Which city has the best-dressed women?
New York City, of course!
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Depends on the day and the season. I wear black all winter and move into wild, colourful prints when the weather warms. I am often bold with my accessory choices.
What are the rules, if any, in the way you dress?
I am very sensitive to proportion and fit. I have a curvy figure and want to always accentuate at least one of my features but never too many at once.
Celebrities and style...
Don’t usually mix well without the help of a great stylist!
One garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
It’s a toss up between shoes and jewels. That’s why I started a showroom!
A woman should always look like...
She is happy.
Who taught you what you know about style?
My mother, Marsha Folsom played a huge role. She is a beautiful, confident, and ambitious Southern woman who dresses with elegance and flair. I wear a lot of her clothing from when she was First Lady of Alabama in the 90's. She has a purple unsheared lamb coat that I am still mustering the courage to wear!
How do you select your clothing every morning?
Some days it’s whatever is lying around at my boyfriend’s house. Other days, it’s a long process of trial and error from my bottomless, disorganised closet. When I get to work I pile on my clients’ accessories.
Your biggest regret is...
I’ll confess — it’s turning down two invitations to be a débutante! (Not quitting my job at Vogue).
The three essential things a woman should know about style are...
Dress confidently, don’t follow trends, find a good tailor.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
I am obsessed with going off the beaten path to find clothing and accessories. When I get to a new city, I maniacally search Google and the phone book for the best charity shops. After working as a stylist for years, I’m addicted to the hunt.
We will never see you wearing...
Open toed boots. WTF!
Which new designers do you admire and why?
I am always on the hunt to find under-the-radar designers who have yet to emerge and gain mainstream attention. I also love the designers who have managed to be commercially successful while still maintaining their roots in the avant-garde. Martin Margiela and Maria Cornejo are favourites.
What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
Her spirit. I love it when a woman is effortlessly chic and confident.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
My grandmother’s dresses from when she was First Lady of Alabama in the 1940’s. Martin Margiela boots.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
Brigitte Bardot on the beach.
Which designer never fails to impress you?
My boyfriend, Garrick Ambrose. He is an extremely talented architect and designer. His way of seeing the world inspires me every day. He approaches design problems with simple, stylish solutions that are elegant and beautiful.
One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to is...
Her bra. It’s important to get 'the girls' into position so that your clothing fits properly and you feel confident and sexy.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
No way! Have you ever seen a woman walk down the street in gorgeous, high-heeled shoes that don’t fit her? It’s pretty funny! Even so, Americans, stop wearing your pyjamas in public!
Who would you like to see next in My Style?
Garrick Ambrose, a young architect who has impeccable style and a strong, fresh design aesthetic that the world should see!
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
When I was leaving his house, my grandfather John always told me, “Don’t be good, be careful.”
