Signature style
Classic with a bit of an edge—layered on top here and there when the mood strikes me.
Current obsession
Cashmere hoodies and sweaters. They aren’t bulky but offer plenty of warmth, and they pretty much work with everything.
Playing dress-up
My favorite splurge [was] a green Mac Duggal tulle gown. I would wear that dress every day if I lived in a fairy tale.
No fast fashion
I prefer to invest in solidly constructed classic pieces that don’t go out of style and hopefully will last a long time. A fun tee or strappy top still shows up, but I am more intentional about what I purchase now.
Favorite vintage item
My dad’s Army-issue jacket from his time in the service in the late ’60s. I wore it onstage this past fall while performing with The Rock Orchestra’s “Chicago” show at The Grand. It fit the vibe and gave me an added connection to the era of the music we were doing.
Fashion faux purge
I had a gorgeous pair of authentic leather cowboy boots handmade in Texas—the kind that gets better with age. They were accidentally given away in a 2000s closet purge. As a performer and sometimes gal-about-town, I almost always find a time to wear something again—or give it to someone else to wear.
Dressing in character
In theater, [it’s] generally up to a costume designer. But I try to help steer that look if I can. When designing for others, I listen to what they feel they need in terms of character and, more importantly, what’s comfortable for them. …I have some cool dresses I’ve kept from City Theater Company shows. One of my favorites is an off-the-rack fine-wale corduroy dress with a bird pattern, which I wore in James Joyce’s “The Dead.” I have a red sequin gown that I wore in two different shows— “Cabaret” and “Gypsy”—and a beautiful “Little Red Riding Hood” outfit that was made for me like 20 years ago when we did “Into the Woods.”
Singer vs. street style
My go-to onstage is usually a little dress over jeans—I am very much a ’90s child—with boots or orange T-strap heels. A dress is my favorite thing to wear onstage because it’s one-stop shopping. Onstage and off, if I am wearing heels, I am a fan of a solid heel. It’s important to feel good about what you wear when you perform. Your outfit should fit well and be comfortable so you can move well in it and do what you are there to do—without worrying about your clothes. But bonus points if they photograph well.
Favorite fashion era
There are so many. I am probably most into the 1920s flapper vibe but love the pulled-together head-to-toe looks of the 1940s and the California It Girl looks of the 1970s. The 1990s grunge-meets-punk-rock looks of my teens. And I wish everyone still wore hats.
Basic bling
I love costume jewelry, but lately I have been sticking with a less-is-more approach: wedding rings, an Elsa Peretti heart necklace from Tiffany, and no-name small silver hoop earrings. I’m a sucker for hoop earrings, and you can’t ever go wrong with a strand of pearls.
Never leave home without
Sunglasses. I never feel like I have enough.
Where to shop local
Greenville and Grass Roots in Newark. You can always find something fantastic at both, whether it’s clothes or accessories or a gift.
Designer go-to
Maeve is my favorite dress designer. Their clothes always fit just right, with consistent sizing, and they’re well-made. For classic, you can’t go wrong with Calvin Klein or Ralph Lauren. Maybe boring, but always reliable. I hate the constant look of logos everywhere—I’m a person, not a billboard. That said, I’m living in classic Gap logo hoodies this year, and you can’t go wrong with a good Coach bag.
Style icon
Audrey Hepburn, always and forever. She’s so eternally chic, from the gamine to the soigné. I wholeheartedly co-opt her famous quote, “Life is a party. Dress for it.”
If money were no object, you’d own:
A Chanel suit. I’d buy as many as I could fit into my closet.
Beauty regimen
Mascara, and I am trying to get back into lipstick. Lately, I like Clarins’ lip stain.
A well-dressed person
Anyone who dresses for themselves and not for other people. Personal style should be fun and fit who you are inside. Play around. Take risks. Enjoy yourself. But when you find what works best for you, stick with that and build out from there.
Related: Wilmington University Professor Kimberly Richardson Shares Her Top Style Picks
