Wilmington exec prefers unpredictable, but ladylike, style
WHO: Anne E. Eidschun, 67, of Wilmington, director, Griswold Home Care.
WHY: She was nominated by Lise Monty, who says: “Anne puts 100 percent into all that she does, including her demanding job and her involvement with Wilmington Rotary Club, which she has served as president. This can-do attitude applies to her fashion sense, too, which relies on quality classic looks, each paired with an accessory that makes a statement.”
HER STYLE: Unpredictable. “I change my look so I don’t get bored with myself. I love to put colors together that don’t go together ordinarily. I have been known to put on red high heels.”
WEARING, at Michael Christopher in Greenville:
FIRST OUTFIT — Turquoise ankle length cotton pants from Bree Ana in Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey; powder blue/periwinkle top purchased in Morristown, New Jersey, while visiting for her 50-year high school reunion; turquoise lace scarf from Chico’s; two-strand pearl necklace purchased at Lexington, Virginia, street fair; royal blue necklace and bracelet she sewed herself from tiny beads; pale blue earrings by Swarovski, a gift from her sister when she became president of Wilmington Rotary in 2012; turquoise flats from Payless; shaded bag that transitions from pale purple to light blue purchased at Onni, a small shop in Ocean City, New Jersey.
SECOND OUTFIT — Black Clara Sunwoo dress with matching jacket purchased at Morgan’s in Wilmington; black high heels from Macy’s; gold-tone faux jeweled purse from Morgan’s; red flower she made herself (“I used to have a company called Annie Laurie. It was all about flowers that had clips instead of pins that would ruin your outfit”); Drop Swarovski earrings purchased at the Swarovski shop at Philadelphia International Airport; faux diamond necklace purchased at Macy’s; stretch faux diamond bracelets from Swarovski shop in Toms River, New Jersey.
THIRD OUTFIT — Long, angled camel colored suede skirt from the Birch Store in Keene Valley, New York; cream colored sweater with gold threads purchased at a small shop in Smithville Village in Absecon, New Jersey; patent cream heels purchased at Macy’s; necklace with faux center diamond center purchased at Bree Ana; long, dangling earrings from Francesca’s in Greenville; colorful silk and beaded purse, purchased 30 years ago at Bonwit Tellers in Short Hills, New Jersey.
BONUS OUTFIT: Black Clara Sunwoo pants; black and gray high suede boots from Marshalls; light turquoise shell from Chico’s (“I have these in every color. Definitely a must in the wardrobe”; turquoise and black reversible raincoat cape; blue stone and silver chunky earrings from Peter Kate in Greenville; hot pink umbrella.
WHERE SHE SHOPS: She prefers smaller shops and boutiques, such as Jacques Ferber in Greenville, “where there isn’t too much inventory to sift through." For classics, The Country Store in Greenville. Chico’s and Talbots. Also the Savvy Resale Store in Talleyville that is run by the Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition. "I’ve also had good luck at Dress Barn, finding things that are colorful and not too expensive. I like Ann Taylor, although I was disappointed to learn there is no real Ann Taylor. I take a road trip every year traveling about 2,500 miles over two weeks and stay overnight in at least six small towns. First thing I do is take a walk in the town and buy something so I am supporting a small business.”
FASHION ICON: Jackie Kennedy.
FAVORITE DESIGNER LABEL: St. John.
MOST RECENT PURCHASE: A cape-style raincoat in Ocean City, New Jersey, in the Flanders Hotel gift shop. “It was a wow.”
OLDEST ITEM IN HER CLOSET: “Adorable flats, a moccasin with a fur bow, that I bought 30 years ago on Madison Avenue in New York. I also have several dresses that are 30 years old that I still wear.”
MANE, MANICURE, AND MAKEUP: “I go to Michael Christopher’s, where I get my hair cut every four weeks.” For her manicure, she relies on Diamond Nails on Route 202 in North Wilmington. She puts on makeup before she leaves the house 95 percent of the time. “The other 5 percent is when I run into people I know. Kristina Ruggerio at Michael Christopher introduced me to a MICA Beauty gel eyeliner that is really great. Since I started working with her I can put my makeup on in 10 minutes. I don’t know what took me so long.”
STORY: Wilmington dancer favors retro style
STORY: Marketing exec will wear anything except boring
BEST FOOT FORWARD: “I am a shoe person. Shoes are very necessary. Purses, too.”
FAVORITE COLOR: Royal blue. “I have blue eyes.”
STYLE SIGNATURE: Clip-on flowers. “I have even put them on my shoes.”
FAVORITE FRAGRANCE: She no longer wears scents. “I gave away about 20 bottles of very expensive perfume when I learned it was giving me migraine headaches.”
WORTH THE SPLURGE: “Something that makes people say ‘wow.’”
NOT WORTH THE SPLURGE: “Anything that is not appropriate for my age.”
WISH I HADN’T BOUGHT IT: Rings and other jewelry she doesn’t need. “Someone said she liked my peridot birthstone ring and I gave it to her. I bought myself an amethyst ring with diamonds after I was divorced. Now, I would rather have the money.”
FASHION NO-NO: “When I see someone wearing something that is obviously not the right size. They tell themselves they are a Size 8 when they are really a 14.”
THE GREAT PANTYHOSE DEBATE: “I love pantyhose and the professionalism they represent. I have worn Talbot stockings for 30 years. They have great support.”
INDISPENSABLE WARDROBE ITEM: A white, button-down fleece. “It compliments my hair and makeup—and it’s warm.”
ACE ACCESSORY: Heavy silver Kameleon rings from Harris Jewelers with interchangeable stones. “They are really fun. I also like scarves because they can change an outfit in two seconds.”
GO-TO OUTFIT ON SATURDAY NIGHT: “A great black dress with a necklace and earrings. I’d wear either heels or some cute black flats I got in Las Vegas that sparkle.”
FASHION EVOLUTION: “I grew up in a conservative family, in the days of Lady Bug dresses. I didn’t get into fashion until I got into banking and I was working in New York and began to notice how other people were dressing. With my first paycheck, I went to Bergdorf Goodman and bought a dress for $106, a really big deal. It was an ivory, straight-line dress with short sleeves and chocolate brown bodice with a piece of metal jewelry sewn on it.”
PANTS OR SKIRTS? Pants, “preferably cropped above the ankle. It used to be skirts and suits.”
HEELS OR FLATS? Flats.
DIAMONDS OR PEARLS? Pearls.
WHY FASHION IS IMPORTANT: “Dressing well makes me feel good and adds to my confidence. If I feel good I am going to project a positive feeling.”
Style Files runs weekly in Sundaylife. To suggest someone stylish to feature—your coworker, teacher, friend, relative or even yourself—please send information to stylefiles@delawareonline.com and include contact information. Pictures are super, too. Reach Eileen Smith Dallabrida at esmith@smithreports.com