But ask her about the shimmering chandelier earrings dusting her shoulders and she’s quick to offer the down-to-earth fashion advice she’s known for. “These babies set me back half a rent payment, but they were definitely worth it,” says Halifax native with a smile. “That's what I always recommend. You need investment pieces you can always fall back on.”
Styling is Leslie-Anne's passion and she's recently launched L.A. Enterprises, a new company where she works one on one with clients to hone their personal style. The California native also wears many other hats, working as the senior make-up artist at CTV, a make-up artist for Bobbi Brown at Holt Renfrew and as a director of local productions and musical theatre. Leslie-Anne recently took a quick break to sit down with Ottawa At Home and dish about the hottest trends in spring fashion, her personal favs and why this city needs to shake off its dowdy image.
A-HA MOMENT
"As a stylist, it’s all about instant gratification, especially if it’s a hands-on job with hair, make-up and clothes. You can transform someone within an hour and they can see a big difference. It’s very satisfying and a real high. So, while I know I didn’t split the atom or help that sick baby, at least I can say I helped a friend with her nerdy computer style and now she’s a hot divorced mom. That’s a good thing. I helped her feel good about herself and that’s my favourite part."
ALL THAT JAZZ
"It's always been my dream to put on my dancing shoes some day and play a murderess from Chicago."
CLASSIC BEAUTY
"My style icon is Audrey Hepburn because she perpetuated an image that walked, talked and breathed beauty and grace throughout her lifetime."
MUST HAVE ITEMS
"I definitely love the creamy concealer from Bobbi Brown – Oprah wears it and it’s a great product for coverage. I could also never be without a good bra and one of my favourite places is BraChic in Westboro. I’m also never without a cool pair of sunglasses – I always have three to five pairs set up in order in my glove compartment. And I don’t like to wear a lot of a strong fragrance because I’m close to people when I’m working. So, I love a good body wash. Right now I really like Dove Cream Oil Body Wash – I’m very girlie and I love how it smells."
FASHION FAVS
"Azzedine Alaia is one of my favourite designers – I liked a lot of his stuff back in the late 80s and early 90s, because I think he was one of the first male designers to really celebrate the female form. A lot of the retro resurgence we’re seeing today is recognition of that work, especially with the use of Lycra and stretch in fabrics. We’re seeing it at Reitman’s with their comfort fit line in their professional pants all the way to the French designers, who years ago never would have anything with a sporty feel to it. I also really like Dolce and Gabbana, Balenciaga for their bags and Chanel is also always a classic. I tend to like more European designers, but I do like Americans Michael Kors and Calvin Klein quite a bit."
CURVES ARE IN
"I am really excited that this season men look like men and women really look like women. I think it’s the first year in my lifetime that we’re seeing femininity so vastly celebrated. The shapes that are out this year are absolutely phenomenal – whether you’re picking something with a nod back to the late 80s with a form-fitting silhouette or you’re going to find a beautiful sheath that hits the knee or a little below."
BRIGHT FUTURE
"We’re seeing a lot of yellow and orange this season, plus poolside blues and a lot of pattern. But if you’re not a pattern person, you can just add a colourful scarf to your solids. This spring, you just need a cool bags and a great colourful purse and that’s your art piece. And accessories are still huge and everyone will be wearing cardigans this year. It’s such a versatile piece and can flatter any figure. Plus it’s a simple way to add colour. Why not pick up a little tangerine cardigan for a song at any one of the outlets, add a purse in another colour and change the shoe with a stacked heel and you’ve transformed your old clothes. It’s very easy to do and you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on it."
ENOUGH ALREADY
"I think everyone is really sick of seeing the skinny jean. They’re tough for most people to wear and even Kate Moss has started to shy away from them. I’ll be really happy to see skinny jeans go away. That whole 80s-ispired acid-wash skinny jeans with heels is just a little too street-walker for me. It’s either giving you a muffin top or a 14-year-old boy has the same pants. Not flattering at all."
BACK TO BASICS
"In your wardrobe you should have at least one pair of black pants that suit your figure. If you already have those, try a white or beige pair. You should also pick up a skirt with flare to it because that cut pretty much flatters everyone – from A-line to a full-on 50s look. You can also make it look more high-waisted by adding a sash or belt and that shows off your waist. Plus look for one novelty skirt, a cardigan and a romantic blouse."
SHOP TIL YOU DROP
"Holt Renfrew is absolutely my favourite store in Ottawa because it’s really the only high-end retailer in Canada. It sets the pace for everyone else. I’d love to just walk in there and buy everything I see. But I also like to shop on a budget, especially Winners, Reitman's, Aldo for accessories, La Femme Carriere outlet in College Square.."
SAY NO TO FRUMP
"I think we see a forced conservatism here in Ottawa. When you sit down and talk with people, I don’t find that they are conservative at all. They’re dying to get out of the black and they’re grasping for something unique. They don’t want to look like everyone else. Yes, there’s a certain amount of sleepiness here, but I think everyone has style, they just need a little direction. And the weather doesn’t help. Just because we’re in the second coldest capital in the world, does that mean Ottawa has a right to be frumpy? I don’t think so."
