Above all, style is an incredibly personal thing. The irony is that we pick up a lot from those around us. The personal can so quickly become the interpersonal. So why not take a few fashioncues from some of your stylish fellow Baton Rougeans? For our annual Fashion Issue, 225 quizzed local young professionals to find out what makes their sartorial selves tick.
Randal Gomez
Director of Business Development, Woodlake Addiction Recovery Center
23 Instagram:@randalmckay
Who is your style icon?
Past? Bridgette Bardot. Present? The Olsen twins.
What do you wear for a night on the town?
Skinny jeans, a great top, loads of statement jewelry and always heels. The bigger the better.
How was your style evolved?
In school I wore a lot of patterns and color. Now my wardrobe is more of a neutral palette.
What are your fall essentials?
Boyfriend jeans, leather and fur combos, and high-waisted, exaggerated flares. They make everyone’s legs look amazing.
Where do you find fashion inspiration?
Nerdboyfriend.tumblr.com is a fun place to start.
What was your style like in college?
I worked both at The Gap and Hot Topic, which is probably where I got comfortable combining the clean look with emo/punk accents— think Bright Eyes and Cursive. I would go between band T-shirts with a studded belt and tight jeans to khakis and button-downs. These days, for professionalism as a composer, I go more for slim and clean lines, often with gingham
or plaid.
Any fashion pet peeves?
I don’t wear anything with a logo. Unless I’m repping LSU Ultimate. I coach the team.
Sydney Stevens
Communications Coordinator, XDesign
23 Twitter:@sstev23 Instagram:@sydstevens
What fashion faux pas do guys make that you can’t stand?
Whenever they have a shirt tucked in and the belt loops are exposed but there’s no belt. That’s the worst. Also, I think the belt color should match the shoe color.
What item of clothing can you not go without?
Scarves! I wear them year-round. I treat it like a necklace, so I throw one on if I’m wearing a plain shirt.
What are your fall essentials?
Definitely dark denim, boot-cut jeans by Just USA—they sell them at Rodeo Boutique—with heels or boots.
What celebrities inspire your wardrobe?
I look to Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake for that laid-back-but-put-together style.
What’s the most important fashion statement?
The main stylistic point for me is the shoes. I love wearing my brown loafers, but a good pair of Chukka boots or lace-up suede shoes can really take your first impression to the next level. There is something to be said about those subtle attention-grabbers
What are your fall essentials?
It’s still hot, so you need to purchase a pair of non-khaki or non-white-colored shorts—but nothing too bright. Look for colored crewnecks and V-neck shirts, too, but nothing with too many graphics. Chukka boots and a great pair of loafers will get you a long way. Also, since it is tailgating season, it won’t hurt to purchase some tasteful yellow shorts.
