Style Sense: Heidi Kallett

Posted by The Editorial Desk / Thursday, November 24th, 2011

Hello, shoppers!

This special Thanksgiving installment of Style Sense is about Heidi Kallett, president and CEO of The Dandelion Patch with stores in Reston, Vienna, Leesburg and Georgetown — and a fifth location to open at National Harbor early next year.

We were excited to see how the super-busy entrepreneur and mom manages to always go from event to event with a megawatt smile and enviable style.  And Kallett was kind enough to share the code — mainly, stay classy.

Q. How would you describe your fashion sense?

A. Very easily I am Charlotte from ‘Sex and the City.‘ I like the finer things in life, but I’m far more of a traditionalist than a fashionista. I like styles that span years as opposed to up to the minute. A woman’s figure is gorgeous; she doesn’t need to show a ton of skin to be beautiful.

Q. Does your fashion sense reflect that of your stores?

A. Very much so, yes. Our brand is very much a Charlotte brand. I’m a walking, living, breathing testimony to the styles you would find at The Dandelion Patch.

Q. What designers do you like best?

A. Elie Tahari, Tory Burch, Kate Spade, Nanette Lepore.

Q. What fashion item can’t you live without?

A. My pearl earrings, I wear them almost every day and they go with everything; they’re never inappropriate and never go out of style. I got them from my husband on our wedding day.

Q. What’s a trend you live by?

A. I’m always cold. I love a long boot; it keeps me warm and stylish at the same time. You can dress them up and down.

Q. What’s a trend you hate?

A. Showing your undergarments; they’re called undergarments for a reason. In the summer in particular, I think bra straps should be hidden.

Q. When did you first get into fashion?

A. Isn’t every girl into fashion? Clearly, when I was young. I think I’m slightly different in my fashion idols are slightly different than most: Jackie O, Audrey Hepburn. I’ve always admired exquisite taste, and it comes so naturally to them.

Q. Favorite fashion quote?

A. Coco Chanel: “A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.”

Q. Of your fashion models, who exemplifies style the most?

A. Jackie O. Grace Kelly is another one. Princess Diana.

Q. What’s a fashion mantra that you disagree with?

A. I disagree with the saying ‘If you’ve got it, flaunt it’ … leave something to the imagination.

Thanks, Heidi. Here’s to keeping it classy.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

– Lexie Ramage

Tags: "Sex and the City", Audrey Hepburn, Coco Chanel, Elie Tahari, Grace Kelly, Heidi Kallett, Jackie O, Kate Spade, Lexie Ramage, Nanette Lepore, Northern Virginia, Northern Virginia Magazine, NoVA, nova mag, Princess Diana, S.W.A.G., Style Sense, The Dandelion Patch, Tory Burch