Katystyle: Fall 2012

Katy Robbins, one of my dearest friends, has obliged to be Volatizing the Esters’ personal stylist, giving us her educated and fashion forward picks each season. Katy and I met in acting class in LA. We were scene partners and I must say, we did some of our best work together but alas, she was destined to be a stylist. She styled me for my 1st Broadway opening night for The Boy from Oz in vintage Ungaro- apropos for a musical about Peter Allen largely set in the 70s-the girl knows her stuff. That’s what friends are for.

Hailing from Nashville where she is considered Country Music Royalty (her father is Kent Robbins, who wrote a myriad of hits for the likes of The Judds and Trisha Yearwood), Katy splits her time between NY and Nashville. The go-to girl for celebrities from coast to coast, Katy’s styling roster includes Hollywood heavies Tina Fey, Scarlett Johanssen, Laura Linney and Jimmy Fallon, and rock and country stars Debbie Harry, Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert, to name a few. I should know. Between shows in my former life, I used to assist Katy on set- we had a blast. The silly string shoot with Mr. Fallon was a personal favorite. She has worked with some of the world’s most elite photographers including Arthur Elgort, Andrew Eccles and Nigel Parry (not the Nigel from ANTP, the really famous one).

Yeah she loves clothes, but more importantly, Katy is all about fit and personal style. She learned the importance of both on her first gig, interning for Patricia Field on Sex and the City. “I refuse to put anyone in something that looks bad on their body, no matter how fabulous it is. What I do is about people and making my clients look and feel their best.” Her looks are tried and true as she has seen them in the flesh, on her clients and knows they stand up to the try-on test. I can’t wait to showcase Katy’s looks throughout the year. Her fall looks include some high end pieces that she promises are worth the splurge.

one. Helmut Lang Plum Leather Leggings
two. NARS Blush in Orgasm
three. Sparkly DVF Sweater
four. Sonya Renee Pyrite Earrings
five. See by Chloe Fold Over Suede Boot
six. Topshop Little Plum Dress
seven. NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Club Mix
eight. Vince Vintage Leather Scuba Jacket
nine. Stuart Weitzman Saucy Pump

Piece by Piece-Katy Robbins

Plum is my favorite color for fall.  It’s been my favorite since last fall, but this year there are a lot more plum options out there.  Finally, everyone’s catching on.

one. For the best of the best leather leggings, it’s Helmut Lang – and they’re plum!
two. Okay – so I’m late to the game on this one.  It’s a long time cult favorite and really that perfect flush of cheek color.
three. This sparkly Diane von Furstenberg sweater is perfect with the best of the best Helmut Lang plum leather leggings
four. My favorite earrings – so versatile. Pyrite – fool’s gold is definitely not for fools.
five. Best boots of the season – the 3 inch heel is a great height – and they look amazing.  Not your basic black boot.  They make every outfit more interesting.
six. Instead of an LBD for Fall, it’s an LPD – Little Plum Dress by Topshop
seven. A lip pencil, lipstick and gloss combo. “Club Mix” goes very well with, you guessed it, plum!
eight. This is the best leather jacket I’ve seen in the last few years – yes I’ve been searching for the perfect leather jacket for that long.
nine. The Stuart Weitzman “Saucy” pump – as close to comfy as you can get in an almost 5 inch heel.  The bordeaux color works beautifully with my fave plum pieces. Also great in black.

Full disclosure: Domaine du Grapillon d’Or is a wine I used to sell when I worked for a small French importer.  I loved it so much that I stocked up my own tiny makeshift cellar (basically a box that doubles as a side table) with the 2005 vintage- a stellar year across the board and heaven in the Rhone Valley.  The 2010 is showing beautifully.

I love this wine because I think it has a distinct femininity.  It is a pretty wine- unusual for a Gigondas.  Its earthy and masculine notes of smoky plum, dark fruit, black licorice and black pepper are offset by a subtle floral hint of rose and its smooth, velvety texture.  The winemaker Celine, is afterall a woman- probably why the wine shows so gracefully.  This Southern Rhone blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre is organic to boot and perfect with fall dishes including your thanksgiving bird. A well-crafted Gigondas is always a great alternative to its pricier neighbor, Chateauneuf du Pape.

A pretty plum wine for these pretty plum looks.

Domaine du Grapillon d’Or 2010, $23.99

{ Photo of Katy Robbins by Amy Dickerson }

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