I have admired my best friend’s style for many years and finally decided to sit down and have a conversation about her sense of style. Anna Povalinsky is a style influencer, publisher of Reklama Magazine and Newspaper, a wife, a mother, and a grandmother of three. So let’s get right into it!

Irene: How would you describe your style? What makes an outfit truly yours?

Anna: Over the years my style has evolved. For a long time I was into the classic looks, but now I mix my styles. The perfect look for me is a mix of classic sporty looks. For me this is a perfect look on the go. I always have a lot to do and I want to be ready for anything and still look great. I would not call my look at leisure, which is far more casual. I call it sporty chic. Overall, I don’t box myself to a particular style. I believe that every occasion demands a new look. I rarely wear a piece the way it was originally designed. Whether it’s a dress or a blouse, I tend to always add something of my own to make it a unique one of a kind piece. I always ask myself, “What can I add? What can I change?” The perfect touch is always spontaneous, of course. It really just comes to me. The other thing that I do is I never throw away anything from my wardrobe. As time goes by, what’s old is new again. Every piece waits it's time to be brought back and be worn. I often pull my old pieces back into my life and mix them in with the new pieces that I just bought. The design combination is always stunning, unique, and fashionable.

Irene: How do you dress on a typical weekday?

Anna: I believe that your hair is the most important part of your look! It gives you confidence and enhances your beauty. For me, my hair always needs to be perfect, it sets the tone for the entire look. Once my hair is ready to go, on a typical day I find myself always wearing a white shirt. I change the style of the shirts, but they are always white. The white shirt always gives you a fresh crisp look. The white color represents life in my eyes. For me, it’s like a shot of espresso in the morning. I mix white shirts with jeans or leggings. It is also a perfect background for your fabulous accessories like jewelry and scarves. I find that a white shirt makes me feel and look alive. A white shirt is light. It’s the beginning of a new bright day.

Irene: What do you want your style to say about who you are? Who inspires you, and why?

Anna: I want it to say that I’m my own individual. I am unique. I am authentic. I have my own “signature” as to what I choose to wear. In fact, I really don’t like to copy anyone. I don’t have any “idols” because I am my own stylist. The way I dress, it's all about me. I inspire myself.

 Irene: What is your favorite accessory and why?

 Anna: It’s an easy answer. Scarves are the perfect fashion accessories for me. With a scarf, you will always make a statement about your personality and your fashion style. With a scarf and scarf lockets, I can create many unique looks that instantly change your attire. Scarves immediately change and uplift your mood. In my eyes, scarves are a symbol of the celebration of life.

Irene: When shopping to create the perfect capsule wardrobe, what would your top pieces be? How have you built your forever wardrobe?

 Anna: For me capsule wardrobe is all about the importance of wardrobe essentials for effortless style. The main center stage of my looks is aways around my face and it always requires accessories. They will always change your look. My top pieces are scarves, belts and gloves, preferably 7 or 8 pieces of each. I tend to have more tops and sweaters than bottoms, you can change them often. I also would need a couple of jeans that work with everything in my closet and are seasonless. I also love skirts that flatter my body and classic trousers that are incredibly versatile for all types of situations.

Irene: What would your advice be to someone who isn’t naturally so confident with color?

 Anna: Stick with black and white. It is always classy, and it is always in style. You can never go wrong with this combination. Invest in buying accessories such as scarves, it will make any outfit look even more beautiful.

Irene: What advice do you have for putting outfits together?

Anna: I find that color coordination is very important when you put outfits together. I always use three color families: earth tones which are warm and inviting including tans, browns, greens and orange, the purple family which are plum, mauve, lavender, pink and wine, and finally a red and blue palette which also includes gray. And of course you can’t ever go wrong with black or white or a combination of two.

Irene: If you could raid anyone’s closet, who would it be?

Anna: My own.

Irene: What does the future of fashion look like?

 Anna: I really believe that classics will merge with sportswear. The trend has already started, and it will for sure continue. It's a beautiful and elegant combination when you combine classy pieces with sportswear. Baby Boomers want to look younger. In order to do that, a combination of “classics and sportswear” is a must. Our lives are always busy, nobody wants to retire or give up their youth. Flexibility is a key. Women will choose to look classy even when they wear sneakers. The look of sneakers have been revolutionized by the designers. It is not the shoe you wear to the gym. They are stylish and beautiful. But most importantly they are comfortable. You can do much more in sneakers than in high heels during the day. That’s where I really see the trends going.

Irene: Despite COVID-19, did you still keep your style?

 Anna: At first, I was angry, but then I realized that life must go on. So I chose to continue with my daily fashion routine. I continued everyday with my style routine, did my hair, and dressed up. Even though I didn’t go anywhere and stayed home, I followed my routine for myself to feel good. I did it for myself. I believe it is very important to continue with your routine. It doesn’t matter that nobody sees you. It is not about them. It is about you. My routine made me feel good everyday. I’m 60 years old. I always try to look fabulous and be in style. Being the business owner, a very active grandmother of three, people often ask me, “How are you a grandmother? You don’t even look like one. What's your secret?” “There is no secret. Amongst my busy day, I still find time to choose myself. Eating feel-good foods, moving your body, taking care of your skin, following my style routine, and loving life is the key to looking fabulous at any age.”

Irene: What fashion advice would you give to your granddaughter?

Anna: Be individual and always be yourself. Don't worry what other people think. Be bold and don’t be afraid to find your own personal style. Love life.

 

 

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