Wilmington soprano favors vintage style with an NYC attitude
WHO: Sharin Apostolou MacPherson, 36, of Wilmington, soprano.
WHY: If all the world’s a stage, Sharin Apostolou MacPherson hits her mark every time in attire that is stately, sexy and sassy, all in perfect measure.
HER STYLE: “Vintage meets Boho meets New York.”
WEARING, at OperaDelaware in Wilmington:
FIRST OUTFIT — BCBG Max Azria navy blue high-low cotton dress; Leg Avenue tights from Trashy Diva; Børn leather mid-calf boots —“brand new!”— found in a consignment shop in Albuquerque, New Mexico; gold and diamond earrings, probably from Greece, that her mother gave her “because I was obsessed with them;” handmade Mexican Huichol necklace from the Sinaloa region purchased at shoperatic.com/vendor/claudia-chapa/; engagement ring and band purchased at McCary’s in Shreveport, Louisiana, when she and her husband Ryan MacPherson were doing one of their first shows together; silver ring purchased in Lombok, Indonesia, on their honeymoon.
SECOND OUTFIT — Red jumpsuit from Miss Candyfloss; black metal chandelier earrings from H&M; black and maroon glass beaded necklace “handmade by my best friend for my 21st birthday. It's my good luck necklace. I wear it for auditions all the time;” black honeycomb beaded bracelet, a gift when she was in college; silver copper and onyx ring handmade by an artisan and purchased on the street in New York, “I wish I knew his name;” polka dot black suede pony hair pumps by Lulu Townsend, purchased at the Darling Boutique in Charlottesville, Virginia.
THIRD OUTFIT — Trashy Diva peacock Mandarin-collared cocktail dress in black rayon crepe de chine with embroidery and sequins; black elastic with gold-toned metal hardware cinch belt; Nine West leather pumps with a rubber lug sole.
McPherson's husband was featured in Style Files in 2016
WHERE SHE SHOPS: “Consignment and second-hand stores are my favorite place to shop. Whenever I travel for work, I check them out. Designer Consigner in Hockessin is lovely.”
HOW SHE SHOPS: “I like the sport of shopping. I often shop socially with another person, as a plus-one. My husband Ryan is a terrific shopping partner.”
FASHION ICON(S): The cabaret artist, burlesque dancer and costume designer Dita Von Teese “is incredible. Also, the older ladies of New York City who wear what they want and don’t abide by anyone’s rules. They are not afraid of bright color and mixing patterns. They look amazing.”
FAVORITE DESIGNER LABELS: Trashy Diva, Miss Candyfloss and Nanette LePore.
MOST RECENT PURCHASE: “I just replaced a pair of shoes, Betty Page peep-toe pumps that I bought at a second-hand store in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I found another pair in my size on Poshmark and snapped them up. The soles have barely been scratched.”
OLDEST ITEMS IN HER CLOSET: “I have a T-shirt I have worn since I was in kindergarten that has the names of everyone in my elementary school on it. I still wear it, though it fits quite differently than it did then. I also have a pinstripe suit from the 1940s that I bought in Portland, Oregon, and a 1930s cream-colored cocktail dress I found in San Francisco. It feels like crepe paper but I don’t what the actual fabric is.”
MANE, MANICURE AND MAKEUP: “I have a stylist, Emma Orr, who goes back and forth between Wilmington and Philadelphia. I also visit Ouidad Salon in New York, which specializes in curly hair.” She does her own nails and “usually” applies makeup before leaving the house. “My favorite lipstick in the entire world is Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick. I must have 20 tubes of it, one for every purse. I also love Dior mascara.” She fills in her brows with Clinique brow powder or “cheap eyebrow pencil.” She’s a fan of tinted moisturizer, Bare Minerals or Sephora.
BEST FOOT FORWARD: “I am a shoe person but I hate flipflops. Your feet get so dirty.”
FAVORITE COLOR: Turquoise, “although I wear a lot of red and black.”
FAVORITE FRAGRANCE: Jasmin by Le Labo.
WORTH THE SPLURGE: A great bra. “I went to a specialty bra shop, got measured, and it was life changing. A Chantelle bra is worth every penny. You look thinner and walk taller.”
NOT WORTH THE SPLURGE: “Anything super trendy.”
FAVORITE FASHION RESOURCE: Instagram.
WISH I HADN’T BOUGHT IT: “Shoes that I can wear for only 10 minutes before I feel like I want to saw my feet off.”
THE GREAT PANTYHOSE DEBATE: “I am for them if it’s below 70 degrees.”
Greenville jewelry expert favors classic, comfy styles
ORGANIZATION TIPS: “My closet is color coded, starting with white and cream. Cocktail dresses and gowns are in their own bags, by color and fabric. Shoes are in drawers by color. I have T-shirts for the gym and sleeping, and T-shirts for going out. It shows how Type A I am.”
FASHION NO-NO: “Pajamas on an airplane makes me insane. But the worst is people who wear clothes that don’t fit. Just go a size bigger.”
BEST CELEBRITY HAIR: Blake Lively, “amazing, beautiful blonde hair.”
GO-TO OUTFIT ON SATURDAY NIGHT: A Trashy Diva vintage-inspired dress with a cute pair of heels, big earrings and a clutch bag “that fits my phone, credit card, a little cash and a lipstick. With a sweater because I am always cold.”
FASHION EVOLUTION: “My dad worked in textiles in New York’s Garment District and I worked for him. My mother was a fashion designer and a stay-at-home mom. I’ve always loved bold choices, wide-legged pants and very structured clothing. It’s important to understand and work with your shape.”
THOUGHTS ON AGING: “Being a performer, I think women should be given more space to age gracefully. We need more Sophia Lorens, more Helen Mirrens. Or at least women who walk around like they are Sophia Loren or Helen Mirren. I think getting older is beautiful and should be celebrated in women as it is in men.”
INDISPENSABLE WARDROBE ITEM: “A great-fitting little black dress. I have maybe six of them, in the arsenal, ready to go.”
ACE ACCESSORY: “A wide cinch belt.”
PANTS OR SKIRTS? Skirts.
HEELS OR FLATS? Heels.
DIAMONDS OR PEARLS? Diamonds.
WHY FASHION IS IMPORTANT: “It’s a reflection of who we are, part of our self expression. Putting on something beautiful or meaningful can change how we feel. If more people did that, it could change the world. If we all love ourselves a little bit more we can love others more.”
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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