My Style: Natasha Koifman
Photo: Courtesy of Natasha Koifman
How do you select your clothing every morning?
My shoes always dictate my outfit for the day. I always start with my shoes and work my way up.
Please describe your style in three words.
Black, classic, with an edge.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
Not thinking about your mood first; I always dress for how I feel.
Do you believe in role models?
Role models help us raise the bar. I always make sure to surround myself with people who inspire me.
What are your favourite fabrics?
There is nothing better than black leather. It makes up half my wardrobe!
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
No matter the trend du jour, individuality is key. Personally, the only style trend you won’t ever see me wearing is anything that hits me mid-calf.
Which city has the best-dressed women?
New York. Anything goes in New York. The women there are so confident and creative. The more confident you are in what you wear, the better you look.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Conservatively bold.
What are the rules, if any, in the way you dress?
I love to wear dark colours. I get to have fun with colour through my shoes and handbags (which also gives me a reason to buy more shoes and bags!)
Celebrities and style...
Go hand-in-hand with the likes of Rachel Zoe.
One garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
Hermès Birkin bags and skulls. I am obsessed with skulls. I’m lucky my favourite designers, such as Alexander McQueen, share this obsession. I also just purchased a Damien Hirst diamond signed screen print.
A woman should always look like...
She is going to meet her love. Coco Chanel said that; I think it’s fantastic.
Who taught you what you know about style?
My knowledge of style has come through trial and error and learning to accept my body. A little bit of Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar didn’t hurt.
Your biggest regret is...
I have some fashion regrets, but they have lessened over the years as the prevalence of Internet shopping has emerged. Now I can think a little longer before I buy and can prevent bad impulse buys. Net-a-porter is my best friend, who I connect with every day.
The three essential things a woman should know about style are...
What she feels the most confident in. What she looks best in. What she gets the most compliments in.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
Online shopping. It has become a daily ritual.
We will never see you wearing...
Colour. I only incorporate colour into my outfits through my shoes and handbags. I have been known to buy multiple versions of a pair of shoes or a handbag if I find one that I love.
Which new designers do you follow and why?
Not new designers, but I absolutely LOVE Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Celine, and Greta Constantine, and Thomas Wylde for accessories.
The most stylish person you have ever seen...
Essie Weingarten, the incredible woman behind the successful Essie nail polish brand. I met her for the first time last year. Her outfit, her shoes, her handbag, her nails; even the way she spoke exuded style and sophistication.
What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
When looking from the ground up, her shoes; from the top down, her smile.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
My Alexander McQueen handbag and shoe collection, my Alan Anderson jewellery, my beloved Birkins, and select Chanel pieces I can’t live without. I can’t forget my precious Thomas Wylde skull handbag.
The one image that defined your approach to style...
The image of Jackie Onassis when she stepped out in ankle-length white pants, a black top, and a black sweater around her neck. Classic, sophisticated, and timeless.
Which designer never fails to impress you?
Alexander McQueen and Chanel. I continue to fall in love with both designers, season after season, and they never fail to impress. It’s the perfect relationship.
One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to is...
Her shoes.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
It doesn’t have to be. Style is all about being comfortable and confident in what you are wearing.
Who would you like to see next in My Style?
Charles Khabouth, the man behind INK Entertainment. He has a Jean Paul Gaultier collection to die for. Even I’m jealous.
The best word of advice you have ever heard?
Stay true to yourself. Being yourself makes you more amazing than trying to be someone else, in style, at work, in life. Stay yourself and be true.
