My Style: Rosa Alpert
Photo: Inho Ko — Courtesy Rosa Alpert
The one image that defined your approach to style...
Audrey Hepburn in her Capri pants. It makes me try all of the diet supplements at once.
Please describe your style in three words.
Eclectic, whatever fits me in the morning and lasts me through the day. Somehow it still comes out chic.
What is the biggest mistake one can make when getting dressed?
To concentrate on the matching accessories.
Do you believe in role models?
Yes I do. They rarely come in fashion, but they do sometimes. My role models are Paralympians.
What are your favourite fabrics?
Linen and crêpe de Chine.
Are there any style combinations that you object to?
Hard to say. I should see it and object.
Which city has the best-dressed women?
A bit of Seoul, a bit of Paris, a bit of Moscow, but none of them leads.
Would you say that you are conservative or bold?
Bold for sure. My waist size is bigger than any conservative style is made for, and my neck is too short for Chanel jackets.
What are the rules, if any, in the way you dress?
No rules, just fun and fantasy. I fantasise the night before how I would look in this. In my fantasies I am usually 21, and then I live my fantasy in the morning with a bit of the age correction.
Celebrities and style...
It does not always coincide because their style is dictated by Rachel Zoe. :)
One garment/accessory that you can never have enough of?
Lingerie.
A woman should always look like...
She did not put much effort in her style.
Who taught you what you know about style?
Not my parents. Maybe it was my aunt who used to make her own clothes and always looked fabulous.
Your biggest regret is...
That I don’t have enough money to help every disabled child in the world.
The three essential things a woman should know about style are...
Age does not matter. Size does not matter (up to size 14). You can wear anything as long as it looks fab.
Do you have any shopping rituals?
Guilt—I always spend money out of guilt towards my fellow retailers. Spontaneity — I never leave the shop with an 'I have to think about this' line. I don’t try on things; I visualise everything myself. The shops have the most cruel mirrors. I never go shopping with my girlfriends.
We will never see you wearing...
A proper tennis player uniform, regretfully so.
Which new designers do you admire and why?
I don’t follow any designers. I follow fashion and style.
The most stylish person you have ever seen...
My aunt, myself, and maybe Tilda Swinton.
What is the first thing you notice on a woman?
Eyes and smile. You can be a doll, but unhappy dolls never contribute to the style masterpieces.
What are the most treasured items in your wardrobe?
My 15-year-old dress by an Australian designer, Deborah Hill, and my seven-year-old top from Akira.
Which designer never fails to impress you?
Akira, Jean Paul Knott, Zambesi.
One article of clothing that a woman needs to pay close attention to is...
Her lingerie.
Is comfort an enemy of style?
Not necessarily. I have the whole section in my wardrobe which is home wear, and it’s quite stylish.
Who would you like to see next in My Style?
Tilda Swinton.
The best word of advice you have ever heard?
Be yourself.
