Talk about all things fashion, our new partnership takes fashion to the next level! Our own contributing fashion writer Aricia Symes-Elmer sat down with Northshore Mall’s Simon Style Setter®, Tara Antonucci. This spunky Salem resident is ready to share all the stylish, seasonal trends from the Mall, along with some tips and tricks. Watch the video or read the Q&A below to meet Tara.
Q: Why don’t we start by you telling us a bit about yourself?
A: I’m a Revere native, living in gorgeous Salem, MA. I went to Merrimack College for my undergrad, and graduate school at Suffolk in Boston. My life is amazing. I spend my days as the Marketing Director & Assistant Manager of wonderful bridal and special occasion boutique, Bella Sera Bridal & Lorraine Roy in Danvers. My spare time is all about fashion blogging, attending events and traveling around to local, and not-so-local, spots with my husband.
Q: I’m sure people are wondering exactly what a Simon Style Setter® is -Â?can give us some more detail about what you do?
A: For me, being the Northshore Mall Simon Style Setter means doing what I do best – shopping, putting “wearable” looks together from my favorite stores at Northshore Mall, and writing about it weekly – it’s that simple! I also attend mall events, and new store openings so I can share the latest fashion and beauty trends at a moment’s notice, giving my readers up-to-date information about all things style! All items featured in my blog are readily available at Northshore Mall.
Q: As a Style Setter, I’m curious about your mission? I know for me, I want every woman to enjoy getting dressed and find fashions that complement by building a wardrobe and investing in the right pieces. What do you hope to bring to your followers?
A: My mission is similar, Aricia. I believe that every woman can look and feel beautiful if she is dressed in the right clothes that flatter her body (hence the name of my blog: StyleFlattery). Style is personal, but with knowledge and a few simple tricks, every woman can feel gorgeous and confident in the clothes she chooses.
Q: As a stylist, I often help women work through wardrobe issues, I’m interested to hear what type of issues you plan to address in your blog?
A: You will find a wide range of content in my blogs. Whether it is how-to-find the perfect dress or jeans to flatter your body, or how-to-wear your favorite little black dress in many different ways, I like to problem-solve. I also like to address the heart of many women’s style issues – the “problem area.” We all have some area of our body that we deem as our least favorite, but there are so many ways in which fashion can help with this. I try to address all of these issues in my weekly blogs.
Q. Inspiration comes from so many different places -Â?from street style to ad campaigns. Where do you get your fashion inspiration?
A: I get my fashion inspiration from everywhere! Just the other day, a beautiful young woman walked into Starbucks with a fabulous long pleated skirt – and boom – inspiration hit! I read fashion magazines, watch style television shows, keep track of my favorite stores and find new inspiration on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. But, most of my style inspiration comes fromÂ…and I’m not just saying this because I’m the Style Setter at the Northshore MallÂ…the store windows and fabulous customer-service oriented employees at Northshore Mall. You will literally find me here for hours putting looks together for my blogs with the help of many store managers and employees. I will find one article of clothing or item that will inspire an entire blog, and then I am off and running!
Q: And what about working with the Northshore Mall? You are surrounded by beautiful clothes and products all the time. How do you pick and choose which stores and pieces to feature in your blog posts?
A:This is the most difficult part of my job, and it is sometimes hard to focus! It’s so badÂ… sometimes I get style-distracted! In order for me to actually get a blog written every week, I must focus! I try to be fair by visiting each clothing store in the mall, and include them in a blog. To be honest, each store in this mall has something to offer my readers – whether it is clothes, accessories or shoes – I can walk into any store at Northshore Mall and find something I like – which is dangerous and wonderful all at the same time!
Q: You know the mall better than the average visitor. We have to ask, what is your favorite store here and why?
A: My weakness is White House | Black Market. The designers for WHBM really know their stuff. They are magicians that know exactly how to dress and flatter a women’s body, AND coordinate accessories to go perfectly with every stitch of clothing in the store…it’s one-stop-shopping at its best. Also, the quality of their clothing is amazing; I have a pair of pants from a few seasons ago that are still a part of my wardrobe today; WHBM clothes are a great investment to make. Plus, not unlike many women I know, I have a tendency to be drawn to certain colors. For me, black and white with a pop of color are always classicsÂ…it’s just so me! And finally, they have extraordinary customer service. If I pick out a few items I like, I can guarantee that the staff will also find some other beautiful and flattering items to try without me even asking!
Q: Sitting next to you, you clearly have a strong sense of style, what is your favorite trend for this fall?
A: I am a big fan of prints (simple prints are very in this fall). I love hounds tooth, pinstripes and checkers. No doubt, my favorite fall 2013 outfit will be a print skirt with a solid top, great accent necklace and over-the-knee boots. Peplum dresses are still one of my favorite trends this season. They are flattering and sexy, just like the one in the September/October issue! Also, I’m absolutely in love with large statement necklaces; they completely transform outfits! Instead of buying many different dresses, buy one or two this season and pair with different fun necklaces (like the black one from the September/October issue). Transform from “day” to “night” with the close of a clasp!
Q: What can we expect from you in the upcoming months?
A:I will be covering upcoming Northshore Mall events, writing some great how-to’s and finding flattering pieces for every woman, and of course doing my best to be style-distracted because that always leads to more interesting future blogs!
To see what styles Tara is currently craving and to learn more about her, follow her on twitter.com/styleflattery and facebook.com/SimonStyleSetter.
To learn more from style expert Aricia Symes-Elmer, founder of Shift Your Style, and contributing fashion writer for Northshore Magazine, visit her website www.timetoshiftyourstyle.com, follow her on twitter @shiftyourstyle or visit facebook.com/TimetoShiftYourStyle