FASHION MUSES, FREEDOM + FINDING YOURSELF WITH BAILLE BENEMELIS
Style and fashion are not just for consumption—ask Baille Benemelis. We sat down with the high-fashionista at the Dupont Circle outpost of the popular eatery chain Colada Shop to discuss how she uses her relentless style evolution to own every space and why everyone, guided by intentionality and purpose, can achieve the same. She also offers some notes on elevating minimalism.
Bespoke Notes: How would you describe your style?
Baille Benemelis: I describe my style as feminine, edgy, and juxtaposing. I love lace, leather, and feminine pleats. I love red and the combination of red, white, and black, and I love a blue and white print. There are so many things I gravitate towards, and that helps me put pieces together in a different way. I can take the lace and keep it feminine, or I can put the leather with the spikes, or the lace with the spikes and make this juxtaposing feminine style with more edge.
Bespoke Notes: How can creatives use style, expressed through fashion choices, to shape their identity?
B.B.: They can start by identifying a few of their fashion muses. What are the things they like about that person? What are the things they like about their style? What about that person inspires them? That gives them a starting point: “This is who I feel like is me; this embodies the image I want to portray to the rest of the world.”
And it's okay to enlist the help of a professional stylist and say, “I want to perfect my image, I want to perfect my style, and I want to be the best [representation] of myself.” Just because someone is creative doesn't mean they're creative in all aspects of their life. [They can take] the pressure off themselves and get a person they trust to be a partner to help them make sure they're getting what they want from their style.
It's also important that [your style] matches your lifestyle; that's when you'll get the most out of your wardrobe. If you go into your wardrobe and think, “I have nothing to wear,” you haven't intentionally thought about the pieces you have. You can't wear them in multiple ways. You may own fabrics that don't make sense for you and what you need day-to-day.
Bespoke Notes: Where should one look for inspiration on their style journey?
B.B.: You can get inspiration anywhere. Do you love film? Do you love street style? What magazines do you like? Try to look for inspiration everywhere. Find a style blog—and don't be afraid to document that with a screenshot or pin. Look in some unexpected areas, too. If you're constantly watching movies, get a different medium. That’s what’s so great about TikTok, Instagram, and the internet: there’s so much inspiration. Sometimes, it can be overwhelming, but keep an open mind and look at all those things, especially if you're trying something new.
Bespoke Notes: Does having a better sense of your style unlock your creativity?
B.B.: I don’t feel it unlocks your creativity, but it will give you the confidence to reach your full potential. You feel good when you look good; you'll be more confident when you know what you want to put into the world. With that, you'll attract the right people and be free to do your best work.
Bespoke Notes: What about fashion makes it essential to “self”?
B.B.: It helps you see you and helps the world see you. Your style will consistently evolve. We don't stay the same as people, and we should consistently think, “Who am I?” “What do I want to say to the world?” and “What do I want people to see about me?” I think that helps attract clients, friends, and people who are similar in [mindset], from whom you can get inspiration. That’s what we want most in life: people around us and things to come to us that most embody who we are and what we want to be and do.
Bespoke Notes: People often choose a minimalist style because it’s safe, which can be limiting. How do you make minimalism feel dynamic and personal?
B.B.: The two [important] things with minimalism are accessories and good tailoring. Some of the best outfits are very simple. But you'll look frumpy if you don't have good tailoring, and that's with any style. Patterns can disguise some things, but when you're more minimalistic, you must ensure good quality and tailoring. You must ensure the fit is perfect when you don't have a bold pattern to distract the eye. Then, you can add a pop of color with an accessory, like a great shoe or watch that draws your eye.
Bespoke Notes: How do you overcome fear when exploring your style?
B.B.: Be bold and take risks. If there's something you want to try, try it. There's no harm. I've done it most with my hair; it has consistently changed, and that's been my “season of things.”
Bespoke Notes: Should everyone have a “home base” for their style?
B.B.: People have staples, and if you rely on that staple to be recognizable, that doesn't mean you can't keep that staple and change something else. Some people rely on a particular haircut, lip color, or shoe, but you can always change other aspects of yourself and keep your signature [look]. People like Anna Wintour, she's got her glasses and her bangs and wears necklaces and floral dresses—that's all so iconic to her. Still, she could change her style and keep those glasses and her haircut, yet what is so recognizable about her stays true.
Bespoke Notes: What’s the best approach to matching your style to different professional and personal contexts?
B.B.: I struggled with this in my youth by thinking I could wear a sequin dress, put a blazer on it, and go to work. You have to know your audience.
For a creative person, that can be different when we're not willing to compromise who we are, no matter what. You have to know the level of acceptance in every situation. That comes with age—knowing what you can do and where you can be yourself. I can wear an edgy ear cuff, blazer, and fun accessories and be office-appropriate. Your choices signal, “She's different and a little out of the box.” I think that makes other people comfortable doing the same thing. We have come very far in the corporate world. People can be themselves more, still look professional, and be taken seriously.
Some of it is timing. If you're going in for an interview, understand the setting. We must be true to ourselves and determine whether we will be happiest in that setting—whether we can truly be who we want to be or whether a client will hire us if we’re not aligned with them in a certain way [stylistically].
Also, think about how to dress for networking. What is your end goal? Why are you networking? Most of the time, we're networking for professional purposes. Remember who your client is and dress how you believe they need to see you. If you're a photographer looking for clients, make sure your style fits your photography style. Whatever your job is, what does that person want to see? How can you portray who you are, what your business is, what your unique style is, and how does that bring work to you?
Follow Baille on Instagram @baillekg.