Photos by Shevaun Williams
One’s style is an outward expression of inner creativity. Miuccia Prada said, “What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today, when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language.” We rounded up eight of Oklahoma City’s most en vogue residents and allowed them to dress themselves in a way that best highlighted their own distinctive looks. Voilà!
Lestari Kusumawardani was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia. She moved to Oklahoma City to attend the University of Central Oklahoma, and began her professional path at an advertising agency, which launched her career in marketing. In her free time, she loves attending local art performances, trying new coffee shops around town and exploring local cuisines.
Style Q&A
Where are your favorite places to shop?
All the vintage shops around town, Thrown Design & Wine and Balliets are some of my fave places.
Who are some of your fashion icons?
Laura Kim and Giovanna B. Engelbert.
How does your style reflect your personality or life experiences?
As the marketing lead at Oklahoma City Ballet, I am constantly surrounded by beautiful things — people, music and arts in general. It inspires me to experiment with fashion, hairstyle and accessories, and allows myself to morph into different styles of clothing based on my mood.
What is your favorite outfit you’ve ever worn?
The 3D flower dress I wore to OKCMOA’s Bubbles and Blooms.
What is your best piece of style advice for others?
To be confident and comfortable in your outfit selection. Don’t let trends determine your style. Wear what you love!
Please describe the outfit you are wearing in your shoot.
I wore a Mac Duggal pleated charmeuse cape dress in chartreuse, with a high ponytail adorned by bows and Esperance roses from A Date with Iris, with vintage earrings and necklace courtesy of Roger Herrera, and Manolo Blahnik cobalt blue Hangisi heels.
Christopher Lloyd is the CEO at Flight, with experience in the marketing and advertising industry, as well as the film industry. A Heartland Emmy-winning producer with a passion for growth, he serves several arts and community organizations, including the Oklahoma City Ballet, Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, Allied Arts and Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, among others.
Erik Salazar is the Flight Standards Budget Execution Manager for the Federal Aviation Administration. With over 20 years of federal service at the FAA, Erik manages an annual budget of just over $1 billion. He currently serves on multiple non-profit boards, including OKC Museum of Art, OKC Philharmonic Foundation and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.
Style Q&A
Where are your favorite places to shop?
Christopher: J. Crew / Instagram
Erik: J. Crew / Zara / Mizzen+Main / Cayman’s / Q Clothier / Etsy
Who are some of your fashion icons?
Christopher: Timothée Chalamet, Harry Styles, David Beckham.
Erik: Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford, Dan Levy.
How does your style reflect your personality or life experiences?
Christopher: Style is a reflection of personality, values and life experience. I think my fashion style demonstrates my confidence and self-assurance while also communicating a level of professionalism and leadership. I pay a lot of attention to details, but also want a hint of boldness that demonstrates my life as a creative. I love to support smaller designers and embrace innovation in textures and patterns.
Erik: One of my favorite quotes from Hollywood fashion designer Edith Head, who was featured in an amazing exhibition at the OKC Museum of Art last summer, is: “You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it.” That quote really stuck out to me because it emphasizes that how you present yourself can significantly influence your opportunities and the way others perceive you. I believe my personal style reflects my desire to be taken seriously and professionally, and symbolizes my aspirations to continue improving and succeeding.
What is your favorite outfit you’ve ever worn?
Christopher: Warm and Wonderful came out with a men’s version of the black sheep sweater made popular by Princess Diana. Right now, I love pairing that with a crisp white collared shirt, stylish jeans and a pair of Manolo Blahnik loafers.
Erik: I can’t think of a single favorite outfit, but my favorite go-to outfit for many occasions is a pair of dark fitted jeans, a nice solid crew neck shirt, blazer and loafers. It looks polished, is super easy to put together and [feels] comfortable. I have a pair of loafers that are made from vintage Kilim rugs, and I always get so many compliments when I wear them; they are made by Artemis Design Co. I also like to add a fun brooch for a pop of color or interest. It usually gives others something to talk about when they first walk up to me.
What is your best piece of style advice for others?
Christopher: Workplace and social dynamics are ever-evolving, so plan to fit the environment both in comfort and in statement. Adaptability is incredibly important in presenting a respectful yet meaningful look.
Erik: Don’t be afraid to mix and match high-end and low-end clothing. One statement piece can elevate an entire outfit and make you feel special. I’d much rather be over-dressed for a function than under-dressed.
Please describe the outfit you are wearing in your shoot
Christopher: Open Road to the Universe (@orttu_official) jacket, Tom Ford pants, Christian Louboutin shoes, Tiffany & Co. ring and lab grown diamond ring, bracelet and necklace. This outfit combines individuality with beauty, quality, imagination and a sense of optimism. Oh, and plenty of sparkle.
Erik: Zara red velvet blazer, Ralph Lauren black denim pants, Express black button-down shirt, Hermés H Belt, vintage leopard brooch, Christian Louboutin leopard print shoes. This outfit combines my love for statement shoes and a fun brooch to add interest.
Alice Stella Thomas-Kelsey was born in Malaysia, where she spent much of her upbringing. She studied at IFTC International Academy of Fashion and Design, an extension of Paris American Academy. After graduating top of her class, she went on to design for the Royal Family of Malaysia and has been designing ever since; taking inspiration from the various countries she’d lived in.
She now resides in Oklahoma, which sparked the inspiration for her latest collections: based on local wildlife, and created with materials from local suppliers. She was trained more toward couture, but since moving to Oklahoma has fallen in love with the landscape and wildlife, finding a more organic source of inspiration.
Style Q&A
Where are your favorite places to shop?
I don’t shop much locally — I prefer to shop while traveling to gain more inspiration. Although most components of my designs are locally sourced from farms or shed and collected.
Who are some of your fashion icons?
Coco Chanel — a classic icon with a lot of confidence, a sense of style and she never let a garment wear her. Issey Miyake, for his use of color and geometry, creating structured pieces that simultaneously flow. Finally, my mother. She always dressed well no matter where she was going, influencing my love for color and fashion through traditional saris.
How does your style reflect your personality or life experiences?
My style empowers me. I like to push the boundaries, especially in Oklahoma. I believe that the world really is your runway and you shouldn’t hold back just because you aren’t in a fashion capital; make it one.
What is your favorite outfit you’ve ever worn?
My own designs, mainly felted pieces because I am proud of the recognition I have received for these designs. It is an honor and a dream come true to have so many people enjoy my designs as much as I do. It gave me the opportunity to be featured in several well-known magazines and make many good friends along the way.
What is your best piece of style advice for others?
Be brave enough to wear something different; enjoy standing out from the crowd. Remember that people’s opinions don’t matter. Be seen, be inspired and inspire others to take risks. Fashion is a powerful tool for empowerment, not just an everyday outfit.
Please describe the outfit you are wearing in your shoot.
Pink and red felted wrap. Pearls — a staple piece of jewelry, always worn from grocery stores to fashion shows. Trippen shoes — unique and comfortable, I always get questions about them. In fashion, of course style is important, but comfort is also crucial when we spend so much time on our feet.
Lindsay and Whitney are identical twin sisters and creators of TheDoubleTakeGirls fashion blog and social media accounts. These best friends (and moms of two daughters each) love spending time styling outfits and finding the best fashion deals to share with their followers. During college and early years in the workforce, people often complimented their style and asked how they found such great wardrobe items without spending a fortune. TheDoubleTakeGirls.com was created in 2012 as a way to not only document their day-to-day outfits but also share style inspiration along with tips for dressing your best while on a budget.
Style Q&A
Where are your favorite places to shop?
We both love mixing affordable pieces with higher-end options. We enjoy shopping at retailers like Dillard’s, Nordstrom, Loft, Walmart (their new collections created by fashion designer Brandon Maxwell are amazing), Kendra Scott, Anthropologie and Ann Taylor. We also like to shop at local stores like Habit and Balliets. BC Clark Jewelers is our favorite place to find jewelry and one-of-a-kind home accents.
Who are some of your fashion icons?
Audrey Hepburn has always been a fashion icon for both of us. Her elegant and sophisticated style was influenced by her upbringing and years of ballet. This has always intrigued us as we both trained in ballet for nearly 15 years. Her signature looks included classic silhouettes, ballet flats, patterns of stripes and gingham, trench coats and silk scarves, which are all elements we love and embrace in both of our personal styles.
How does your style reflect your personality or life experiences?
As young girls we loved crafts like needlepoint, painting, beading, knitting and much more. We were always sketching dress designs and even dreamed of having our own line of clothing. Our incredible mom knew how much we both wanted to learn how to sew, and she found a Swiss seamstress to help teach us. She taught us so many important skills, and we had so much fun creating dresses, skirts, vests and more that we enjoyed wearing. It definitely grew our love for wearing colorful prints and classic patterns, as well as understanding shape and proportions. Although we didn’t become fashion designers, we love that our blog gives us a platform for sharing a wide variety of styles and outfit pairings. Overall, our twin style has remained pretty consistent over the last two decades and is best described as casual chic.
What is your favorite outfit you’ve ever worn?
It’s difficult to narrow down a favorite outfit, but we both agreed one of our top outfit memories was when Kate Spade dressed us for the Spring / Summer presentation at New York Fashion Week. The event was held in Grand Central Station at the iconic Grand Central Oyster Bar. A variety of spirited jazz music filled the space that was decorated with the most stunning greenery and floral arches. The models perfectly styled the stunning Kate Spade ensembles. Lindsay wore a bright red dress with delicate black embroidery, and Whitney wore a black floral midi dress featuring flutter sleeves and banded waist. They provided us with perfectly coordinated Kate Spade bags and shoes to wear as well — it was such an honor to wear such beautiful pieces designed by Deborah Lloyd. It’s definitely an experience we will never forget.
What is your best piece of style advice for others?
We both agree that you should wear what makes you feel comfortable and confident, and excites you to get dressed in the morning. Life is too short to wear boring clothes! Helping women with stylish yet affordable outfit ideas was the reason we started our style blog nearly 13 years ago, and we still love it.
Please describe the outfit you are wearing in your shoot.
Whitney: I am styling a classic floor-length evening gown from Dillard’s. I love the mermaid silhouette paired with the chiffon puff sleeves. It features a small train and bold print. The classic black and white floral will be in style for years to come. To accessorize the look, I am wearing a delicate gold necklace paired with mother-of-pearl statement earrings with rhinestone edging from Kendra Scott. No look is complete without our signature bright pink lip color. We both have worn this color for years, and we always get asked about it.
Lindsay: I always love a classic black and white pairing, so as soon as I saw this one-shouldered dress by Betsy & Adam featuring a mermaid silhouette, I knew it would be perfect for the occasion. The oversized white satin bow and edging draped across the bodice adds an elegant look. I selected a chic gold and pearl cuff bracelet along with Kendra Scott gold and rhinestone dangle earrings to complete the look. The shoes, although not visible, feature gold brocade and a hint of sparkle.
Born and raised on the north side of OKC, Korey J. Éakers is an African American non-profit director, youth mentor, designer, actor, model, writer, high school track & field All-American and state champion, as well as a collegiate 4x all-American and 2x national champion. A passion for creating a positive influence as well as increasing Black representation in media led Éakers to create Grand Gentlemen Inc., a local non-profit that mentors Black youth, and to become an executive producer for Mad Dreams Cinema.
Style Q&A
Where are your favorite places to shop?
For suits, I only wear my brand — Grand Gentlemen Supply Co. — and I’m working on more casual designs, like polos, chinos and leather jackets. I also love Ralph Lauren and Nike.
Who are some of your fashion icons?
Sydney Poitier, Steve McQueen, Harry Belafonte, James Dean, Malcolm X, Donald Glover and some fictional guys: Don Draper, Jay Gatsby, Chalky White.
How does your style reflect your personality or life experiences?
I’m really inspired by Civil Rights leaders of the ’60s; wearing a tailored suit makes me feel powerful like them. I hope to make that kind of social impact one day as well.
What is your favorite outfit you’ve ever worn?
Made a custom suit for my 30th birthday. A burgundy three-piece, Harris tweed joint. It was inspired by the show “Peaky Blinders” — it was a real hit.
What is your best piece of style advice for others?
Imagine you the coolest, most confident version of yourself, and then start dressing like that. But be authentic and comfortable.
Please describe the outfit you are wearing in your shoot.
I am wearing a three-piece charcoal tweed Grand Gentlemen Supply Co. suit, with a Ralph Lauren Oxford shirt and knit tie, black leather Carrucci shoes.
Cindi Shelby has had a lifelong interest in fashion and has made a deeply fulfilling career out of it. After graduating from OU, she went to work at iconic OKC boutique Ruth Meyers. She became the buyer and vice president and ultimately purchased the store, which she closed in January 2017. She has continued styling women with several lines of clothing that she has represented. Cindi is currently working for Lela Rose and Pearl by Lela Rose.
Cindi says this is one of her favorite chapters in her 40+ career. Not only does she work one-on-one with clients she adores, but she also coaches all new stylists joining Pearl from around the country. Cindi also serves as head of the Pearl Product Panel, providing feedback from clients and stylists nationwide to Lela and the design team.
Style Q&A
Where are your favorite places to shop?
I have always only worn clothes I sell.
Who are some of your fashion icons?
French women always! From Catherine Deneuve and Isabelle Huppert to Ines de la Fressange and more recently influencer Daphné Moreau, they are effortlessly chic and have that je ne sais quoi.
How does your style reflect your personality or life experiences?
Clearly, I’m a total francophile, so that is reflected in my style. And second, I truly love fashion, so it’s a joy to dress every day.
What is your favorite outfit you’ve ever worn?
This is almost impossible to answer, I’ve had so many favorites. But one that comes to mind is a Bill Blass suit I had in the early ’90s. It was a beautiful hot pink with a bright yellow 4-ply silk halter. Sounds kind of awful, but really was so beautiful; I felt great in it.
What is your best piece of style advice for others?
Keep a closet current with everything you wear and enjoy — purge, donate, give away everything else. It feels fantastic. Please don’t misunderstand; I’m not saying to get rid of old pieces simply because they are old, just edit out the pieces you never wear.
Buy whatever you fall in love with, even if there isn’t a specific occasion. Something always comes up and then you don’t have to panic shop, which can result in mistakes. And don’t buy if you’re not 100% sure, walk away and sleep on it. If you don’t keep thinking about it, that’s a good indication to pass.
Please describe the outfit you are wearing in your shoot.
I’m wearing the Enchanted print in a stretch crepe de chine sheath from Lela Rose Collection. The earrings are Lele Sadoughi and the shoes are Manolo Blahnik. I’ve had the opera-length leather gloves forever and they’re Portolano.