Lifestyle magazine Southern Living has unleashed it latest listicle, this time honoring the 50 best-dressed Southerners. The editors proclaimed that "personal style isn't just about clothes" and searched high, low and sometimes online to find the folks who had the freshest looks in our favorite part of the country. Eight Texans made the cut.
The two Dallasites on the list are Cristina Lynch and Virginia Savage McAlester. Lynch owns Mi Golondrina, a line of clothing, bedding and jewelry rich with Mexican heritage. She gets style inspiration from her mother, from whom she always loved to borrow traditional Mexican clothing. Her mom also taught her not to worry too much about what people think.
McAlester, a historic preservationist and author of A Field Guide to American Houses, says she is heavily influenced by Coco Chanel, who not only designed timeless clothing — and introduced the world to the little black dress — but also ran a business during a time when few women did.
Austin nabbed three spots — four if you count the one-two musical punch that is Jamestown Revival. The duo, Jonathan Clay and Zach Chance, go for "traditionally rugged" with a hint of "classic gentleman" in their style. They count Robert Redford and Paul Newman among their style icons. Swoon.
What is it about Austin guys and Robert Redford? Joshua Bingaman, founder of Helm Boots, appreciates the actor's ability to adapt to changing styles over time. Bingaman also notes that style is "who you are as a person, and what you wear is a translation of that."
Southern Living recently declared Camille Styles is a blogger to watch in 2015, so we aren't too shocked to see her name on this list as well. She admires the late Oscar de la Renta, who encouraged people to find their own personal style versus simply wearing what is fashionable. Styles chooses clothes that are flattering over what is trendy.
Another gal yanked from the bloggers-to-watch list is Caroline Harper Knapp. This polished mom, and author of House of Harper, says that the women of New York taught her that less could really be more. They also taught her to always be confident in your own skin, which she had to put into practice after her family recently relocated to Houston.
Houston's second nod: Alba Huerta, owner of Julep Bar, who says her Lucchese boot collection is precious to her. She told SL that "trends are set by those who set themselves apart from the rest, and that is good advice for fashion and anything else."
You can check out the rest of the fashionable 50 here.
Dallas' Virginia Savage McAlester.
