Style Profile
Anna Brown, an LSU graduate from Slidell, moved to Shreveport with her fiancé over two years ago and works in the legal field. As a member of several organizations, including the Shreveport Bar Association and the Young Lawyer Division, she spends most of her time volunteering for organizations that are important to her. After next summer, Brown will begin her career in litigation in Shreveport-Bossier City and said she looks forward to sporting her favorite “power outfits.”
Q: How would you describe your personal style? brown: Classically trendy. Typically, I like to keep my clothing in classic silhouettes and stay away from anything too trendy. However, I do like to pull in some aspects of what’s currently on trend to liven up the classics, whether it be in the styling, fabric/ material or color scheme. For instance, instead of just wearing a classic string of pearls, I bought this great costume statement pearl necklace to add a little pop of trend my work wardrobe.
Q: Who inspires your style? brown: Bloggers! One of the greatest things about the social media age is the endless amount fashion inspiration that’s at your fingertips for free! I love getting inspiration from bloggers because, for the most part, they’re regular people like you and me. They shop at places that are easily accessible. So, it’s easy to find the same pieces. Plus, it’s nice to see how regular, working women style themselves without any Photoshop retouching.
Q&A
Q: Where is the best place to find clothes for petites? brown: Being only 5 feet tall, the biggest difficulty I face is finding things that fit me well. Biggest piece of advice: Find a great seamstress/tailor. Tailoring can make an inexpensive piece of clothing look like a million bucks when it fits as if it was made especially for you. However, two places I love to shop are Ann Taylor and Nordstrom. Both have a great selection of petite style clothing that is young and vibrant, which sometimes doesn’t require any hemming or altering.
Q: How does fashion effect your career? brown: Being an attorney, it’s really easy to get caught in the rut of the same ol’ plain, boring black or navy suit. It can be difficult finding the balance of dressing professionally but still maintaining a sense of style. However, I’m a firm believer it can be done! Professional doesn’t have to mean boring or colorless. One of my favorite ways to dress up a suit is a silk scarf or a piece of statement jewelry. Also, having a great blouse is a sophisticated way to give a pop of color to a suit.
Q: Do you have a power suit or outfit? brown: My current favorite ‘power outfit’ is an Ann Taylor Serendipity Peplum Sheath Dress. For the most part, the fit is very classic, but the peplum adds a trendy aspect that I find super flattering for my figure. The dress is a deep red, which is a signature color of mine. I love to pair it with a pair of black patent leather d’Orsay pumps and a black blazer for work, and then, after work, the dress easily transitions into an evening dress by taking off the blazer.
Q: Are there any interesting faux pas of the courtroom? brown: I would say the biggest faux pas for women in the courtroom is showing too much skin. As a female attorney, you can still be stylish, fierce and sophisticated without showing too much (i.e., short skirts, lowcut blouse). That’s why I love the classics. They can be effortlessly sexy and still leaves things up to the imagination.
Q: What do you get complimented on the most? brown: Lately, I’ve been receiving a lot of compliments on my costume jewelry. I really love the trend of statement necklaces, and I’ve been collecting them here and there. They can really transform an entire outfit. Also, I’ve been getting a lot of compliments on my engagement ring. It was beautifully designed by fiance with the help of the wonderful people at Sid Potts Fine Jewelry in Shreveport.
Q: For the holiday season do you tend to be more festive and fun with your attire? brown: Yes! I love sparkle for the holiday season. One trend I’m looking to incorporate with some of my classic attire is the sequin legging! I think it’s a great dressy alternative to a sequin mini skirt. Can’t wait to try it out this holiday season!
Know someone stylish? Email brittany@theforumnews.com with more information. We might select you or your person of interest to feature in an upcoming issue of CityLife.
Brittany White is the art director for The Forum and CityLife magazines.
She has been a personal stylist for years and has contributed her style tips to local photo shoots and fashion shows.
