Created: Oct 03, 2014 08:00 AM (Updated: Oct 03, 2014 08:01 AM)
Shiona Turini: One of my favourite pieces for any woman’s wardrobe is a white blazer. It’s fresher and chicer than basic black, and brightens up a look without that typical ‘pop of colour’. I wore this blazer with a cropped top from Ferragamo (which has also become one of my signature pieces), and a snakeskin printed skirt.
It could be argued that style, just like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. Bermudian Shiona Turini is one person that many would argue has an exorbitant amount of good taste.
The fashion market director for Cosmopolitan magazine has been snapped by paparazzi outside Fashion Weeks in Paris, New York and Milan. She’s also been featured on Fashion Bomb Daily, Fashionati and The Cut’s best-dressed lists. She shared some of her favourite looks with The Royal Gazette’s Lifestyle section.
How would you describe your style?
My style is always evolving, but to simplify it I would have to say it’s balanced. I’m not overly feminine or sexy and, while I love men’s wear influenced pieces like blazers and button-ups, my style definitely isn’t masculine. I love a crop top, leather accents, anything with a high waist. I’m more concerned with dressing for my body than wearing something just because it’s ‘on trend’.
How do you typically piece together an outfit?
It’s difficult for me to plan an outfit in advance, which always makes packing a nightmare. I usually start with one central piece that I want to wear, often it’s shoes, and dress around that. Once I decide what that item is, it’s hard for me to change my mind. Which is why I’m usually overdressed for certain occasions or wearing a bare leg when it’s freezing cold.
What does fashion overall mean to you? Why do you feel it’s important/essential?
I’ve made a career in the fashion industry, so it’s definitely something I’m passionate about. It’s not just about what I’m going to wear every day, it’s a deeper experience for me. Being able to interact with designers, see what inspires them, investigate the construction and craftsmanship of a bag, learn about the history and legacy of a fashion house — it’s experiences like those that make me passionate about fashion and style. It’s such a creative field, and such an exciting industry, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
What would you say is your biggest tip for pulling together an outfit?
Always dress for your body and your personal taste and not for anyone else’s. While it’s fun to experiment, you have to be true to your own personal style.
Shiona Turini: This was one of my favourite outfits from Fashion Week. It included so many things that I love — a suit, snakeskin and white. I’m often found wearing a cropped shirt or a bralet, but try and balance it out with more demure pieces so that it still looks sophisticated. This outfit reminded me of a modern-day Michelle Pfeiffer as Elvira in Scarface. I love the clothing of tough, strong women who can still be sexy.
Shiona Turini: I don’t usually wear yellow, but I was obsessed with this men’s Burberry sweater (which I paired with a skirt from Zara) for NY Fashion Week a few seasons ago. My style has evolved a bit, and I would never wear this outfit now. I prefer a longer skirt length and stick to neutrals and darker pieces but I am still a fan of borrowing from the boys and integrating items intended for men into my wardrobe.
Shiona Turini: This was one of my favourite outfits from Fashion Week. It included so many things that I love — a suit, snakeskin and white. I’m often found wearing a cropped shirt or a bralet, but try and balance it out with more demure pieces so that it still looks sophisticated. This outfit reminded me of a modern-day Michelle Pfeiffer as Elvira in Scarface. I love the clothing of tough, strong women who can still be sexy.
Shiona Turini: This picture was taken in Milan a few seasons ago. What I loved most about this Stella McCartney dress was how easy it was to wear. It didn’t need a ton of jewellery, and it still looked elegant with a fun printed shoe.
Shiona Turini: I’m a big fan of tonal dressing, sticking with a theme or one colour palette. It was natural to pair a leather army green pencil skirt with a Camo sweater and overload it with one of my staples, gold jewellery.
Shiona Turini: I’m a big fan of tonal dressing, sticking with a theme or one colour palette. It was natural to pair a leather army green pencil skirt with a Camo sweater and overload it with one of my staples, gold jewellery.
Shiona Turini: For this and other outfits I tried to keep everything pretty basic and minimal so that it didn’t clash with the animal prints.
Shiona Turini: For this and other outfits I tried to keep everything pretty basic and minimal so that it didn’t clash with the leopard prints.
Shiona Turini: This outfit is probably one of the most important items I’ve ever worn. It featured the names of unarmed men who have died because of public brutality or have been victims of racially-charged crimes. It’s important for me to use my platform to shed light on issues and topics that I’m passionate about. I wanted to highlight the fact that these men have not been forgotten, and that we as a community are still fighting for justice. I was proud to make this statement, especially during Fashion Week, which is such an important time of year for my industry.
Shiona Turini: It’s rare to find a picture of me wearing jeans but what was most important about this outfit was that the top was designed by a Bermudian designer, Juliana Gibbons. It’s completely backless, the fabric feels like second skin, and I received so many compliments.
Shiona Turini: This image is actually from the September issue of Cosmo. Each editor was tasked with wearing one of their favourite fall trends in their own way. Leopard is one of my favourite prints so it will always be in style for me. Even though the skirt and jacket could be considered an overload of leopard, I made sure the print was in the same colour family and kept everything else toned down.
