Lewes coach prefers chic, casual attire
WHO: Allison Griffith Sullivan, 38, of Lewes, softball coach at Cape Henlopen High School
WHY: She was nominated by Karen Brennan, South Moon Under manager, who says: “Allison is always up on trends, a social butterfly who is very attractive and truly enjoys fashion.”
HER STYLE: Chic and casual, “but I also like to dress up.”
WEARING, out and about in Rehoboth Beach:
FIRST OUTFIT: Free People cotton Stella dress; Nine West black heels; House of Harlow sunburst necklace in black leather; South Moon Under gold-and-black chandelier earrings; House of Harlow gold ring.
SECOND OUTFIT: Warm and fuzzy Neely cold shoulder gray sweater; Nordstrom plaid infinity scarf; vintage Destroyed Denim jeans, “an awesome Marshalls find"; Michael Kors gold wrist watch; Baublebar gold chandelier earrings with blue-and-brown drops; Jennifer Zeuner monogrammed gold lattice necklace; Chinese Laundry Brown booties.
THIRD OUTFIT: Free People printed bell-sleeve top, “Saturday night Bohemian style"; Gap black denim jeans with zip detail; Vanessa Mooney black velvet teardrop choker; Kendra Scott black drop earrings; SBICCA black fold-over vegan booties.
WHERE SHE SHOPS: “South Moon Under is my favorite, although I also shop at Nordstrom, Nordstrom Rack and Marshalls.”
HOW SHE SHOPS: Shopping is fun, a social occasion she shares with friends. “One of my favorite things to do is to go to Christiana Mall, shop all day, have lunch at Cheesecake Factory and make a day of it.”
FASHION ICONS: Karen Brennan, a Style Files alum, is “my fashionista.” Virginia Griffith, her mother, is a lifelong inspiration.
FAVORITE DESIGNER LABELS: Free People, Joe’s Jeans, Abbeline, Frye Boots and Chinese Laundry.
MOST RECENT PURCHASE: An Abbeline top and a pair of leopard print jeans from South Moon Under.
OLDEST ITEM IN HER CLOSET: A black turtleneck that she has owned for 10 years. “It’s often cold at school and I like to layer.”
MANE, MANICURE AND MAKEUP: For her hair, she relies on Nina Southworth at Artistic Designs Day Spa and Salon in Lewes; for manicures, it’s Cartino Nails and Spa in Rehoboth. Makeup is a must: NARS blush, Clinique foundation and Buxom lip color.
UNDERFOOT: “I have a few favorite booties, but clothes are way more my thing than shoes.”
FAVORITE COLOR: Black.
FAVORITE FRAGRANCE: Coco Mademoiselle by Chanel.
FAVORITE FASHION BLOG: “Cosmo is what I look at the most.”
FASHION NO-NO: “Picking out other people’s flaws. Women should uplift other women and compliment them on what is good about what they are wearing.”
BEST CELEBRITY HAIR: Carrie Underwood.
WORTH THE SPLURGE: A gold initial necklace by Jennifer Zeuner.
NOT WORTH THE SPLURGE: “Everything is worth the splurge.”
WISH I HADN’T BOUGHT IT: “I am short and every once in a while I will buy a pair of jeans that are too long for me to tuck into boots.”
GO-TO OUTFIT ON SATURDAY NIGHT: Black skinny jeans, a floral and lace net top, Chinese Laundry black booties and a choker necklace. “If I am going somewhere special, it takes me two hours to get ready, including hair.”
ORGANIZATION TIPS: “I go through my closet once a year and completely purge it. I wind up with trash bags full of clothes that I will donate or pass on to friends. I also have a spot in my closet reserved for my most recent purchases.”
THE GREAT PANTYHOSE DEBATE: “I am for them because I am really pale.”
INDISPENSABLE WARDROBE ITEM: A black, long-sleeve open-back shirt from Free People.
FASHION EVOLUTION: “I have to give a shoutout to my mom. She is always dressed up and on trend. She is there in the back of my head saying, ‘Allison, put your lipstick on.’”
ACE ACCESSORIES: Her black House of Harlow necklace and gold Michael Kors watch.
PANTS OR SKIRTS? Pants.
HEELS OR FLATS? Heels.
DIAMONDS OR PEARLS? Diamonds.
WHY FASHION IS IMPORTANT: “Dressing well makes us feel good about ourselves in a world where there are lots of negative things going on. You put on a great shirt and say, ‘Wow, this look good.’ It gives us confidence.”
Style Files runsweekly in Sunday Life. To suggest someone stylish to feature — your co-worker, 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.