Deal Saver - brought to you by the Charlotte Observer

0 comments
  • Print
  • Order Reprints
  • Share Share

TV fashion host Roe mixes designer brands, affordability

By Jenn Harris
Los Angeles Times
  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2013/03/20/19/08/10R3cE.Em.138.jpeg|214
    Brian van der Brug - MCT
     
  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2013/03/20/19/08/dgWiN.Em.138.jpeg|476
    Brian van der Brug - MCT
     
  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2013/03/20/19/08/CTYkM.Em.138.jpeg|199
    Brian van der Brug - MCT
     
  • http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smedia/2013/03/20/19/08/i0nka.Em.138.jpeg|203
    Brian van der Brug - MCT
     

LOS ANGELES It’s no surprise that Louise Roe, the 31-year-old model, fashion journalist and new host of NBC’s “Fashion Star,” has transformed an entire room of her West Hollywood home into her own personal closet space. It’s a small room, decorated with pictures of her family, where she plays dress-up amid racks of shoes, dresses, handbags and an impressive collection of costume jewelry.

On a day in late February, Roe has all of her Oscar week outfits neatly organized on a rack. White and black pairs of Jimmy Choo heels, a yellow pair of Steve Madden heels and a pair of print Carvelas are laid out at the foot of one rack. An acid yellow bag sits next to a purple faux-crocodile clutch by Heather Belle and a week’s worth of accessories.

It’s a fashion lover’s paradise, and Roe is queen of the kingdom.

She navigates her closet like a well-organized small department store. A large rack of shoes displays studded heels, animal print flats, cap-toe heels and stilettos in bright pink and yellow and teal. A prized pair of bronze metallic sneakers sits on the floor, saved for when “I’m feeling like a rock star,” she says. Fashion books are tucked under a small end table covered with jewelry. Rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets of every style are wrapped around a jewelry stand. She stops to point out pyramid bangles by Lia Sophia. Headpieces from Urban Outfitters and American Eagle litter the top of the table.

Roe wears watercolor print trousers from her friend’s label Fennes d’Armes, a poppy-colored top by Express and purple shoes by Carvela. She likes to support smaller designers rather than exclusively wearing big names, and her outfit is the perfect expression of the way she mixes designer labels with affordable brands for a look that’s on trend but attainable.

“My personal style is very bright, and I don’t know if that’s because, well, wearing bright colors makes me feel happier than wearing just black,” says Roe as she fiddles with her oversized Kimberly McDonald ring. She admires the way Kate Bosworth, Miranda Kerr and Olivia Palermo dress and looks up to designers Diane von Furstenberg, Tory Burch and Rachel Roy.

When it comes to beauty, Roe keeps it simple. Her favorite products include Lancome brightening serum, a Makeup Forever brow pencil and Maybelline mascara. “I’ve used it since I was probably too young to even wear mascara,” Roe jokes. She favors one fragrance – See by Chloe – because “It makes me think of Paris.”

Roe is into prints at the moment, especially Mary Katrantzou, Peter Pilotto and Holly Fulton out of London, and she cites the 1970s as her main style inspiration.

“I love that era of quite boho but bold, everything from like Bianca Jagger’s white wedding suit to Lauren Hutton in cut-off jeans or Farrah Fawcett in high-waisted paints. … I just love all that.” To this day, Roe keeps a scrapbook she fills with pictures she rips out of her favorite fashion magazines.

Roe brought her love of prints and colors to her “Fashion Star” wardrobe, which she styled herself with help from Daniel Musto, wardrobe stylist for the show. She replaced original host Elle McPherson when the show started its second season March 8, and viewers can expect to see brightly colored gowns, prints and even a Tibi suit. Her favorite is a dress with acrylic fins she’ll wear on the show’s finale May 10 – a dress she describes as “epic.”

“Fashion Star” is just one of Roe’s endeavors. She is also a designer for Stylistpicks.com and has just come out with her fourth season of handbags and shoes for the line, her favorite being an acid yellow bag. “I want to eat it, it’s come out so beautifully,” Roe said of the bag.

Once “Fashion Star’s” season ends, fans can see more of Roe on a new weekly show with the Style Network called “Pop Style,” slated to premiere in April. She’ll join co-host Jeannie Mai for the network’s first live show, focused on pop culture and fashion news.

“It’s a little bit of ‘The Soup’ meets ‘Fashion Police’ meets like a smidge of ‘Ellen’ with a little bit of the ‘Sports Center’ idea thrown in,” Roe says.


Hide Comments

This affects comments on all stories.

Cancel OK

The Charlotte Observer welcomes your comments on news of the day. The more voices engaged in conversation, the better for us all, but do keep it civil. Please refrain from profanity, obscenity, spam, name-calling or attacking others for their views.   Read more

Quick Job Search
Salary Databases
Your 2 Cents
Share your opinion with our Partners
Learn More