OverDressed for Life

Ezra Miranda. (See below for Ezra’s comments on what he’s wearing.)

I met Ezra Miranda several years ago at the 944 magazine launch party. Covering the event for SFBaystyle, I was dashing about getting quotes and snapping photos when, in a paused moment, Ezra approached and very politely complimented me on my outfit (a brown 1950s full-skirt party dress with brown suede peep-toe shoes from the 1930s). He commented that my look was refreshing in a sea of sameness (I’m paraphrasing). That really meant a lot to me as sometimes not fitting in with the crowd can feel uncomfortable.

Clothing has always been a huge part of my life. My parents raised me to go to church and, at the age of five, I had to put on a suit and tie every Saturday. It wasn’t something that I looked forward to, but I appreciated it.  I had to learn how to iron my own clothes, tie my own tie, and shine my shoes. Growing up with two sisters and a family filled with well-dressed aunts, who read Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue for breakfast, I was bound to fall in love with fashion and clothing. But I have to say it was during my time working for Ralph Lauren that I learned so much about the world of men’s and women’s clothing. Ralph Lauren was a more like a university for business and fashion. It really guided me in how clothing works and all the little details that go into a garment. I had to dress well. That was my job. I loved dressing people. If you looked at most of my clients outfits, you can tell it had my signature all over it.

I love this question! My style ranges from High End Fashion all the way to Street Wear. It really depends on the day and the event. The past couple of years I’ve really fallen in love with the way the Italians do it. The men have such an effortless look that they make the suit look comfortable. Sprezzatura (studied nonchalance) would be the word to describe it. I love wearing dress shoes, a suit and a tie, but you might also see me in a pair of Jordan 1’s with jeans and a blazer. I would say the best dressed people are the ones who don’t have just one look but multiple styles. I try to do that.

My parents have always been my inspiration. They’ve inspired my work ethic, my manners, and the way I dress. Watching them get dressed for a night out or a family party was the best. My mother always had the last word with what my dad would wear. But inspiration is in everything for me from music and artwork, to design and old films.

Dressing well brings out the best in people. Everything from your body language to you posture to how you speak changes when you’re dressed well. I’ve always appreciated the effort people put into what they wear. It’s says a lot about that person. Theres also a bit of a thrill when someone comes up to you and says, “Hey, that’s a great look …”.

Learn what fits best for your body. Many times when someone puts something on that actually fits them correctly they feel uncomfortable. That’s the problem –  too many people “just want to be comfortable.” Stay away from that word and you’ll dress better every day. Start with basics. Buy yourself a navy blazer, a good pair of fitted jeans, a white pocket square, and dress shoes. Work your way up into purchasing a navy or grey suit. Learn how to tie a tie. You would be surprised at how many men still don’t have a clue on how to tie a tie. The biggest answers I hear from men or women who don’t dress up is because:  my work place is casual  – why should I wear heels? –  I just want to be comfortable. If you want to be successful you have to look successful. Make that first impression count.

I’ve stayed in touch with a few of my previous clients from Ralph Lauren and have worked with new faces since then. I also work with a couple of boutiques here in San Francisco to train new employees on selling mens clothing. Working in fashion retail you really have to identify with your clients.  I remember during my time selling clothing, I wanted to make it easy for my clients to shop. I was able to do that by learning as much about them as possible. Once I knew what fit them best and what style they wanted to bring out, I did the shopping and put the outfits together for them. They just came in for the fitting. Again, it always comes down to the fit of the garment.

I could get in trouble with this question! Lets talk about shoes first. I lived in Puerto Rico for about a year, and the one thing I can say is that the women from Puerto Rico always wore their best. Heels were like sneakers to them. I loved it. I think women should pay attention to the shoes they wear. There are shoes that really compliment a lady’s figure. If it’s pumps, then do it. I’m honestly not a huge fan of flats. But that’s just me. Yes it would be nice to see more women wear a dress or a skirt, but that’s not really what we see in San Francisco. We see a lot of jeans on women, flats, and a “fun shirt.” I feel like Lululemon (yoga clothes) has become an outfit that women look forward to wearing on the weekend rather than a summer dress or winter coat. The one thing that women have over men is that they can wear everything made for women as well as mens clothing! How amazing is it to see a lady in an evening dress at one event and then wear a three-piece suit at the next. Why not be sexy, creative? Confidence starts with what we wear.

Yves Saint Laurent is my all time favorite designer. He was so ahead of his time giving fashion and women a taste of his mind. The man introduced the tuxedo suit for women! Even today many designers are influenced by the way he made his clothing. I have a few pieces from his men’s collection and the craftsmanship is unmatched. He was a pioneer in the fashion world and his work will always live on.

My Scarf and Gloves.

I chose to mix in a bit of Casual Italian Country.

Denim- Double RL

Dress Shirt- Purple Label Ralph Lauren

Knit Tie- Paul Stuart

Linen Pocket Square- Ralph Lauren

Double Breasted Sport Coat- Vintage

Scarf- Ralph Lauren

Leather Gloves- Hickey Freeman

If you’re putting together a fall look, try fitted denim jeans with a sport coat. Consider shades such as brown, burgundy and olive-green. You can go with or without a tie, but I’ve always been a huge fan of the knit tie. There’s something special about the way the knot looks on a dress shirt. Fall/Winter is the season of skill. It’s the time people pull off different ways of layering an outfit. One accessory, such as a scarf or gloves, can really make the difference to your look.

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