on't underestimate the power of a coat. Jennifer Ward certainly doesn't. "In the wintertime, I feel like your coat is really your outfit. It's what people are going to see you in." We certainly noticed the 25-year-old BCBG Max Azria sales associate in her black-and-white houndstooth, only one of many "great dress coats" in the Perry Hall resident's closet.
Powder-blue acrylic knit 213 dress. Black perforated patent leather belt. Black and camel bugle bead multi-strand necklace. Black tights. Black leather ankle boots. Black leather hobo handbag with silver studs. Urban Rock collection ring.
The coat came from Bebe. The belt, boots and ring came from the BCBG Max Azria store. She found her dress at Star Won, her necklace at H&M; and her handbag at Metropark.
"I guess you could say I shop every day that I work. I go shopping outside the store about twice a month. I'll usually start online with a mission of what I want, like something from a magazine. ... I'll find the brand, and I'll find out what stores carry that brand, and then I'll find out if they carry what I want."
"I wear dresses a lot more than separates. What I like to do is take a dress and then funk it up with boots or a different belt. I'll wear long, layered necklaces over the top of it. I'll find a way to wear the dress where it's not just straight off the hanger. I love to wear lace and leather together; something very feminine with something very hard-edged."
"I love, love, love belts. ... I have a few that will make my outfit really feminine looking, and I have a few that will make it a little punk. ... I love colored hosiery, and I love textured hosiery."
"Wearing low-rise jeans that are too small for you, so there are love handles hanging out. I guess a major 'don't' is wearing anything that does not fit you – too small or too big. ... And Ugg boots. I HATE Ugg boots."