Anna doesn’t believe in rules when it comes to fashion. Her style, which she succinctly describes as “chic,” is inspired by her travels, everyday, and her penchant for constant reinvention. Her position as a buyer for our women’s accessories enables her to source fresh ideas, materials, colors, and textures daily, but Anna shops first for versatility and quality. Here, she shares her favorite holiday trends, encourages us to think of accessories as the easiest expressions of our own personal styles, and describes accessible ways to sport the bolder trends.

How do you incorporate accessories into your everyday life?

I love layering necklaces and enjoy a great arm party. Accessories are a great way for people to push their personal style, and they can be like icing on the cake of a great outfit. Adding or subtracting accessories to your outfit can completely change the look of your ensemble, and this is especially the case with bold trends like animal prints and neon colors. If a snakeskin blouse or neon pant is too much for you, you can still incorporate this trend easily into your wardrobe with accessories.

What are some of your favorite trends for holiday?

One of my favorite holiday trends for this year is the “Mad Men” ‘60s glam, which has been huge over the past year. For holiday, designers went with lots of lace and sequins, like Rachel Roy’s ribbon lace dress. Red is another holiday staple, and I am a fan of the orange-red hue on Schumacher’s dazzling pants. I don’t see either trend going away but they will be reinterpreted for spring; ‘60s glam will take on a more sporty feel and red will fade into to a coral.

Which items items from the store will you wear over the holidays?

The black beaded Joie top is one of my favorite items in the store right now (that will soon make its way into my closet). It’s a great item for this time of year because it has enough sparkle for the holidays—but throw a black blazer over it, and it’s a great year-round top.

Who is your favorite emerging designer for spring?

Rebecca Zemans, who is a native Chicagoan and an artist in every sense of the word. Formally trained at the University of Michigan as a metalsmith, she creates mixed media sculptures and her work is chic and timeless. What I love so much about her jewelry collection is that each necklace, cuff, earring, etc. feels like a miniature work of art. The majority of her collection is made out of hammered metals, so no two pieces ever look the same. You can find her work at Mark Shale in spring.

What sources of inspiration did you see popping up across runways for spring?

Nature was been a big theme of many of the spring collections. One of my favorite translations of this comes from Moschino’s Cheap and Chic line. From a vegetable watercolor print blouse to a black and white print skirt with a wheat bow, I have never seen food look so fashionable!

What considerations do you make when you’re looking at a new line of accessories?

Versatility and craftsmanship are two big things that I take into consideration. Versatility is important because accessories should be adaptable and interchangeable within your wardrobe; accessories should be able to stand the test of time. The quality of accessories makes a huge difference in its appearance. Just like clothing, if the idea is good but the construction is bad, the piece will never look good.


-- As told to Marissa Muller, Marketing Coordinator