Street-style bloggers, magazine editors and fashion designers alike idolize the flame-red haired fashion fiend, Taylor Tomasi Hill. Artistic Director at Moda Operandi, the online luxury retailer curating tomorrow’s runway styles before they are available in the market, Hill’s journey with the fashion world epitomizes what it is like to be a style-maker. As Artistic Director at the innovative Moda Operandi, she is responsible for styling shoots, curating the M’O experience, and integrating the M’O magazine into the e-commerce platform. If the avid fashionista is to ever wonder what’s the IT trend for spring-summer 2013, let alone the forecasted fall fashions, she’ll wish for a hint from Hill.
Prior to joining the M’O dream team, Hill worked as the Style and Accessories director at Marie Claire, where her iconic status took center stage as her fashionable vision took center stage. Instead of the runway shows, audiences admired her style; some even speculate her timeless elegance is muse to Prabal Gurung. Before Marie Claire, she spent four years as Accessories Director at Teen Vogue. Taylor studied Industrial Design at Pratt Institute and began her career as an accessories assistant at w magazine.
During her most recent visit to Kuwait, we managed to squeeze in a few moments with the red-haired fashionality. Presenting us with her season’s picks for the New Year, here’s Taylor Tomasi Hill.
How would you describe your style?
Describing style is difficult because I never want to pigeonhole myself. I don’t want to say that my style isn’t feminine because tomorrow I might be in a floral dress and pumps. I don’t want to say that I’m edgy because I love preppy staples and basics. At the end of the day, I wear what catches my eye, as well as classic basics, and I have an obsession with well-tailored jackets.
How do you get inspiration for your style?
I can get inspiration from almost anything; my travels, art, and men and women on the street. Seeing new places and meeting new people is a great way to change your perspective.
Who or what has been your greatest fashion influence?
My first boss at W magazine, Carmen Borgonovo. She taught me to be true to myself and stay focused on my goals. Carmen also happens to be the chicest and most beautiful woman I have ever known.
Who are your favorite emerging designers, and what is it that you love about them?
I love Patricia Viera, Josh Goot, J.W. Anderson, and the Isolda sisters. Patricia is a master of her craft and works with leather like nobody’s business! Josh Goot is the perfect mix of urbanity and luxury. His silhouettes are chic and edgy, but not too serious. J.W. Anderson is the new kid on the London fashion scene. He designs for a very cool girl; I love his androgynous take on womenswear and playful ideas. The Isolda sisters create gorgeous hand-painted prints of Brazilian fruits and flowers on feminine silhouettes.
Every fashionality has as a style obsession, what’s yours?
Balenciaga all the way. I am a total junkie.
Do you follow any fashion blogs? If so, what are they and which would you recommend?
I have to be loyal to Tommy Ton’s Jak & Jil. He was one of originators of this street-style craze, and I’m always inspired by his images. Now that I’ve worked with him so often, I’m even more impressed that his site is where it all started!
What item of clothing (if any) do you wish that people wore more often?
A harem jean; I really think they are underexposed. Drop crotch, skinny leg—you can’t go wrong!
To be stylish is to be fashionable. True or False and why?
I don’t think style has anything to do with fashion. Plenty of very stylish people wear nothing more than a white T-shirt and black jeans everyday. Really, I think it’s relative. You don’t need to wear head-to-toe designer looks to be stylish. Before I could afford to wear designer clothing, I shopped at The Salvation Army. I know that’s not considered “fashionable,” but I think it was stylish. Or at least I thought it was stylish.
