We’re back with another style session from someone who I think you’ll relate to easily, Aimee Reiff. I love doing these because I really love hearing how other people approach style and getting dressed. Even though I’ve known and followed Aimee on IG for several years, I learned so much from reading her responses to my prompts below. I hope you enjoy getting to know Aimee!
Tell us a little about you
I was born in Northern California and raised in the country on a monarch butterfly farm. The charm of our small town made me never want to leave and my husband and I, along with our pup Ollie, settled down in the valley’s farmland where we both grew up. I’m an enneagram 2 who loves people with a good sense of humor, if we can laugh together, we’ll be friends. Making new friends, hosting parties, and deep conversations are my bread and butter. You’ll find me on the dance floor until last call, I love traveling, and a little-known fact about me is that I actually love video games! I’m a fashion content creator, a hobby florist, book lover, gardener, artist, Christian and amatuer writer. I want to spend my life creating beautiful things, with others, for others and to inspire everyone to discover joy in all they create.
Tell us about your journey with your own personal style
Fashion has always been a large part of my life. My love for it and consumerism worked together early to make me quite a shopaholic until one day when I filled 6 huge trash bags full of clothes and shoes I never wore. I had been limited in my style to whatever cheap treasures I found on the sale rack and friends hand-me-down pieces I couldn’t pass up because they were free. My personal style essentially boiled down to other people’s castoffs. But the closet purge changed me. I started shopping more thoughtfully, focusing on basics and taking inspiration from well dressed women in my life and I steadily built a wardrobe that was less aspirational and more true to my lifestyle. As I started posting my outfits and shared hundreds of style ideas online, what started on Instagram as a creative outlet turned into a job for me in 2020 and documenting my style because of my job has had a huge influence on its evolution. Self expression is the essence of fashion, and in that is an innate boldness and creativity that I’ve always found so comforting as an artist and I feel at home when I’m pushing the boundaries of style discovery. Having given myself time to explore, make mistakes, learn and practice my personal style, I am the most content with my closet I’ve ever been.
How would you describe your style
Though I’m still refining it all the time, right now I would describe it as finding the balance between casual and elevated or relaxed and elegant. I love finding a combination that feels lived-in, classic and timeless with a modern fresh take either in a pop of unexpected color or fun silhouette. My style is a mix of feminine and masculine also and I adore an unusual combo like trainers with a dress or an oversized blazer with shorts. As someone who wants to be different but still stay out of the spotlight, I think my style represents who I am pretty well!
Your ideal fall uniform
I’m all about flexible Fall dressing here in Northern CA where it’s best to dress in layers and thankfully that is my style HEAVEN. On the bottom - a pair of dark denim with loafers or chelsea boots. I love an eye-catching 3rd or 4th piece when layering, I’ll first focus on a simple t-shirt base (for comfort and function if it warms up unexpectedly) before adding an open button down or oversized jacket. The cherry on top to my favorite Fall uniform is a sweater over the shoulders. I love to bring in a delicious texture, pattern or color here, it’s such a simple addition but it has the ability to set apart an outfit to feel instantly chic. And of course an AA bag over my shoulder!
Your Favorite AA Bags
My AA slings are my emotional support bags at this point, I take them everywhere! When I fly, I keep one inside my personal item and it’s where I keep my passport and/or wallet so I always know where they are and I can pull out the bag to wear when I land. It’s also the ideal bag for me because I walk a lot, I don’t have time to lug a heavier bag and my sling holds all I need. I love that I never have to give much thought to styling my AA slings because they pair so well with my style and I’ve never owned an easier bag to grab before running out the door! The ones I reach for most are the Chocolate Suede, Espresso Croco (coming back soon!), Latte, and also the Sisal Market Tote.
I hope you enjoyed hearing from Aimee!! Here are a couple of recent posts, in case you missed them. :)
The Case for Mules & Clogs in Early Fall
A little life update before we get into shoes: our baby girl is here, and we are all doing wonderfully. I’m so grateful to be on the other side of the waiting and settling into this very new chapter, even if I’m still figuring out what exactly “settling in” looks like. I’ll share more when I’m ready, but for now, I’m very happy to be here.
Thank you for having me Abby! Xx