By her own estimate, Vogue editor-turned-fashion-entrepreneur Emily Holt, 37, wears about 45 percent of her New York closet here in San Francisco. “I work from home now, so it's a lot of flats, jeans and sweaters," she says with a shrug in her cozy Ocean Beach home.
Holt sports Warby Parker sunglasses ("I think the brand has a great sense of humor!") with a Dries Van Noten top.
But lest you think the Bay Area native, who returned home from Manhattan last year, has totally swapped her high fashion sensibility for California casual, note that even Holt's easy pieces bear a decidedly haute provenance (Shoes of Prey calf hair sandals; 3x1 jeans; Adam Lippes sweaters). Holt likes to think of herself as “stealth chic," an enthusiast of the cerebral, discreet refinement that distinguishes West Coast style makers.
Holt, who is known for talking with her hands, adorns her wrists and fingers with a gold, braided Aurelie Bidermann cuff, Shinola watch, her mother's original wedding ring, and a favorite Delfina Delettrez Fendi lip and pearl ring.
She is a resident fashion consultant for a range of local businesses (visionary organization SFMade and luxury experience start-up IfOnly.com are happy clients), and, next year, she plans to open her own fashion and lifestyle store, where we can try on $10 trinkets and luxury camel coats under the same roof. “Fashion should be fun, not intimidating," Holt offers. We'll be there, in our own easy and, of course, carefully curated separates.
"I love a loafer and a monogram. They're very back-to-school," Holt says of her Cole Haan pair.
Styling tip
Wear the things that you love more than once! There is NO shame in repeating looks. Think about some of the chicest women in fashion, they stick to a uniform. I have a black, long sleeved dress by J Brand that is just perfect in every way, and when I was working in New York, I wore it at least once a week. And guess what, no one noticed. The good news and bad news is that no one is paying as close attention to you as you think, or at least they rarely are.
"I'll put my initials on anything that's not nailed down." Including but not limited to a Rag & Bone jacket, Gucci tote, and Mother denim shirt.
Color her happy
Navy and black
Holt lusted over this pair of Dolce and Gabbana farfalle chandeliers, which combine her three favorite things: pasta, big earrings, and Italian flare. The red clutch is Anya Hindmarch and a cherished, personalized memento from her former Vogue colleagues.
Local love
March on Sacramento for home and kitchen; MAC Modern Appealing Clothing on Hayes for clothes; Metier on Laguna for jewelry
Beauty rites
Tatcha Indigo Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder exfoliant followed by Joanna Vargas cleanser and Vitamin C serum from Credo
Inspiration point
Marin headlands, Sausalito, the Presidio
Study break
Andytown for coffee in Outer Sunset, Jane on Larkin, Tommy's Mexican, Bar Tartine
One word to describe the Bay Area?
Connected
"I don't smoke marijuana, but Willie Nelson is my spirit animal. And I'd totally vote for him for president, which is why I picked up this sign at the Alameda flea market."
Holt's DIY collage includes a poster she picked up at Book/Shop in Oakland, vintage souvenir flags from the Statue of Liberty and Alcatraz, a Rolling Stones record from Paris, old photographs of Seal Rocks and the Cliff House, and a yellowed note that her grandpa wrote to her grandma when they were in high school in 1932. "The record player was my mom's wedding gift to my dad and I'm obsessed with playing it."
