The Editors The Editors | August 31, 2021 | Style & Beauty, Feature,
Sophisticated with a dash of swagger— these local trendsetters prove that style is indeed a state of mind.
ASHLEY MEYERS
Ashley Meyers launched her personal styling business, Main Line Fashionista (mainlinefashionista.com), in 2014 when she saw a need for fashion help beyond special occasions. In the years since, Meyers has branched out as a brand ambassador for QVC and charts her bohochic looks—found at her favorite suburban boutiques, of course—on her popular Instagram. From personal shopping to closet edits, Meyers says that she wants to help women and men look pulled together for life’s everyday moments, even running errands.
Tell us about the name of your company—what makes Main Line style so distinctive?
Main Line Fashionista still makes me giggle when I hear the name. Honestly, it was a nickname my family and friends called me. I am a fifth-generation Main Line girl and the style here has many looks, but it always carries a prestigious quality. One with value, thought and a part of something special.
Describe your personal style.
Colorful, thoughtful and budget friendly. Before I walk out the door, I check to make sure I have something on that has a great story—whether it’s a piece of jewelry my grandmother handed down to me or an item I got thrift shopping with my mom or a top I bought while on vacation. I don’t buy clothes; I collect them. And that mindset has always made my outfits stand out.
What’s it like working as an on-air personality for QVC?
QVC is truly a special place. I love being an ambassador and on-air guest host for several brands. It’s all about making the product come to life by sharing its story and legacy. And there’s nothing like going on live national television. Anything can happen!
What’s your best piece of style advice?
It’s all about trying new things season after season. The best place to start is with accessories. Add a cool new piece of jewelry or handbag. And then work your way into trying new clothing items. Have fun, and tomorrow is always another day to try again!
NILÉ LIVINGSTON
Wielding a background in public art, Nilé Livingston (nilelivingston.com) has created vibrant works for The Colored Girls Museum and Philadelphia International Airport and will collab with Mural Arts Philadelphia once again for a virtual mural to support the city’s bid to bring the FIFA World Cup to Philly. During the day, you’ll find her at Creative Repute, LLC, the graphic design and website development agency she founded in 2017. Here, she talks about her aesthetic in both art and fashion.
Does work imitate life for you in the way of personal style?
Yes, one hundred percent. As an artist, you learn a lot about color psychology and how different colors can affect people’s feelings depending on their culture. For example, the color yellow can inspire friendliness, so I might be more drawn to selecting a clothing item with yellow in it if I’m meeting new people.
How would you describe your art aesthetic?
I love expressive things—things that drip and splatter with color. So, my aesthetic is usually bright and colorful. Some would say eclectic. I like to layer things and leave breathing space in my work so the viewer can use their imagination to connect with it in their own intrinsic way.
As noted on your website’s bio, how does that aesthetic intersect with ‘the continued consideration of the Black and brown communities to which I am connected’?
Many of my mentors have been some of the Black and brown artists and community leaders in Philadelphia, like my late grandfather Walter R. Livingston Jr., who was a notable architect. They taught me a great sense of pride in my history and background, which is a significant part of who I am today. It also just makes me want to ensure that I am preserving the history and considering that continuum.
Any favorite pieces of clothing?
The oldest T-shirt I have is a Star Wars T-shirt from middle school. I’m not a huge Star Wars fan, but I’ve had that shirt for so many years. It’s still comfortable even though it’s on its last thread.
What’s one fashion item that you absolutely couldn’t live without?
Sneakers. Jordans and Converse mostly. They are comfortable and make me feel ready for anything.
MARCIA PERRY DIX
With a career spanning nearly 30 years in advertising and a new chamber initiative championing Black-owned businesses in Pennsylvania, Marcia Perry Dix’s (pmg.media) straightforward approach to style—”Always dress your best and never leave the house looking a hot mess”—has served her well. Dix talks more about launching the chamber and her growing wardrobe of golf gear.
Describe your work style.
First of all, I love shopping! I would describe my work style as tailored, classic and feminine with a splash of color. The closest celebrity that I would liken my work style to would be Kristin Davis in her role as Charlotte from Sex and the City.
Tell us about Perry Media Group.
We are a full-service boutique advertising agency that gets what consumers want. I’ve been in media, marketing, public relations and advertising for 27 years and truly understand how to scratch below the surface to reach the community with a message. Connecting to the community is more than a mathematical equation… it’s about having an authentic understanding of your target audience’s lifestyle and being able to communicate to them in an organic way.
You and your husband recently launched the PA Chamber for Black-Owned Business. What inspired this initiative?
We are both entrepreneurs. David Dix, my husband, is a political strategist and analyst and founded Luminous Strategies 11 years ago. I’ve been an entrepreneur and on my own for seven years now. We stand strong and committed to small businesses achieving the American Dream; however, the pandemic exposed a huge hole in our country and Commonwealth for Black-owned businesses just like us. We felt that we didn’t have a shared voice across Pennsylvania. PACBOB will serve as that voice for Black business owners and especially for business industries that serve on the frontlines in our communities.
Do you have any fashion vices?
There is an entire section of my closet dedicated to my golf clothes and shoes. I just started playing about a year ago and I don’t even know how to keep score yet, but I can hit the ball straight (which I think is all that matters). My husband is my golf coach and I always like to look cute when we play together. Playing golf together is the ultimate date.
ANNE MCCOLLUM
In May, Anne McCollum was appointed as the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts’ (pafa.org) first female chair of the board of trustees in its 216-year history. A full slate of fall happenings, including an October retrospective for Joan Semmel and the black-tie Bacchanal fundraiser in November, means that McCollum will be dressed to impress in one of her favorite silk scarves as she greets museumgoers in her new role.
What are some of your top initiatives in this new role at PAFA?
I am passionate about continuing to expand and diversify our college, permanent collection and exhibitions as a cornerstone of our vision; PAFA is an inclusive, creative community of artists and audiences seeking education, inspiration, representation and dialogue. We are uniquely positioned to continue to deepen and strengthen PAFA as the art institution that promotes the life cycle of the artist.
What is your work style?
In my early career years, Armani suits were my body armor; as I gained confidence and influence, I made more feminine and playful choices. There are three constants: fabulous shoes, a great handbag and silk scarves.
Does life imitate art when it comes to fashion?
Lines between life, fashion and art? In my mind, it is an active dialogue.
What’s your first fashion memory?
A royal blue velvet dress winter coat with a white mink collar and matching muff. I wore it to my first Philadelphia cultural outing with my father, the Pennsylvania Ballet dancing The Nutcracker.
Style advice you live by?
Try on all the dresses. That phrase has followed me into the workplace and PAFA, too, as I favor considering all the ideas and options on the table for a thorough review before making a decision. Utilizing that process in the dressing room and in the boardroom eliminates regrets, builds confidence in the process, and allows one to zero in on the right decision.
Photography by: PHOTO BY MEGAN TIDMORE PHOTOGRAPHY; CLOTHING BY REVIVALS BOUTIQUE;HAIR AND MAKEUP BY HEATHER VELLNERHAIR AND MAKEUP BY HEATHER VELLNER; PHOTO BY MICHAEL MIELCARZ; PHIL KRAMER PHOTO; COURTESY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS