My Style: Monica Rich Kosann
Photo: Courtesy of Monica Rich Kosann
How do you select your clothing every morning?
I usually start with the shoes. Heels if I need to feel powerful, flats for a creative day.
Please describe your style in three words.
Timeless, elegant, modern.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
A woman needs to develop her own style. Every woman looks different and we should embrace this!
Do you believe in role models?
Most definitely. Aspiration is a good thing.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Leather and cashmere.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
No, as long as a woman can carry it.
Which city has the best-dressed women?
I am a New Yorker… but most certainly I have to say Paris.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
In business I am bold, in my personal life conservative.
What are the rules in the way you dress?
Jewellery, jewellery, jewellery. Never leave home without it.
Celebrities and style...
Don't always go together.
Name one garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
Black leather pants, a great blazer, my charm bracelet and lockets! Lockets are sexy.
A woman should always look like...
She's ready for anything!
Who taught you what you know about style?
Old movies, I love watching the classic ones. Traveling, museums… My European parents took me to museums as soon as I could walk. Also, fashion magazines, I can't get enough of them!
What is your biggest regret?
I don't believe in regrets, it just slows you down.
The three essential things a woman should know about style are...
Own a good pair of black pants, white shirt, and an amazing charm bracelet… and you are all set!
Do you have any shopping rituals?
Yes! I love to shop, and then shop some more!
We will never see you wearing...
High platform shoes.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
I wear a lot of The Row; those girls are very talented. I do like Céline and Stella McCartney. They all create very beautiful pieces that make me feel good about myself. I also own five Roland Mouret dresses, and I feel very sexy in them!
Who is the most stylish person you have ever seen?
My daughters, they amaze me. They are so effortless in whatever they wear and always look so put together in such a cool way.
What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
Her jewellery.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
My charm bracelet and my wedding band. I wear them both everyday.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
I adore Richard Avedon's photo of Dovima and the elephants. The grace of Dovima and the incredible grace of the elephants just illustrates that style is all about how you carry yourself!
Which fashion house never fails to impress you?
As I mentioned above, The Row. Azzedine Alaia is also amazing; you can tell from his dresses that he loves women!
One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to is...
Her undergarments.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
Not at all. I feel very comfortable in anything I wear, otherwise I don't wear it.
Who would you like to recommend for My Style?
My daughters Danielle and Laura, they are the founders of The New Potato, an amazing website devoted to lifestyle and food — and we all need that!
The best words of advice you have ever heard?
Carpe diem.
