Girl got some serious style
(Credit: Mark "The Cobrasnake" Hunter)
She styled Jeffrey Sebelia's BOXeight runway show—remember those spats?—and when she wasn't backstage with the models, she was accompanying TV host Cat Deeley, her number-one client. Kuris, who lives in Brentwood, also styles singer Joss Stone when she is in L.A., and helps out Teen Vogue every once in a while.
Sound glamorous? Maybe. But as Kuris explains, being a baby fashionista isn't just about hanging out at the shows. There are plenty of 5 a.m. start times to contend with!
Where are you from?
I was born in Texas and then I moved to Turkey when I was six months old, and lived in Istanbul. Then we moved to south Texas when I was eight, and I moved to L.A. when I was 18, to study at FIDM.
What was fashion like in Texas?
Very safe. Lots of Abercrombie and Frankie B and Juicy Couture and Ugg boots. It's not a very fashion-forward place. I was always the outcast.
We like outcasts. Why were you one?
I was just wearing stuff that nobody else would. I started collecting shoes when I was 10. Funky shoes—everything from yellow patent-leather Doc Martens to the six-inch Buffalo platform the Spice Girls would wear.
How did you get into styling?
I interned for Michael Holdaway [a celebrity stylist who's worked with Christina Applegate, Snoop Dogg, Giovanni Ribisi and Elijah Wood] for two years while I was studying at FIDM. I went on to work with other stylists including Jessica Paster [Jessica Simpson] and Annie Jagger [Natasha Bedingfield, Lindsay Lohan]. After interning for three years and absorbing as much as possible, I finally went off on my own and started looking for jobs.
What was the first fashion show you ever styled?
It was for L.A. Fashion Week, when I was 18. It was for these New York designers, Gaelyn & Cianfarani, who were totally against harming animals. Their line was really great, very unique.
Tell us about styling Cat Deeley.
When it comes to styling her for the show ["So You Think You Can Dance"], I use a lot of vintage pieces. I get some of them from this really great store...but I can't tell you where it is.
Why not?
It's my trade secret!
What are your favorite stores when you are shopping for yourself?
I like Creatures of Comfort on Melrose because they have a lot of Parisian and Japanese designers. They also have a great selection of Repettos ballet flats. I am obsessed with Repettos. I also shop at Scout and Satine, and the regulars like Barneys and Neiman Marcus .
What about for vintage?
I love Jet Rag—they have that dollar sale on the weekends. And then there is The Way We Wore on La Brea, which is great.
Who is your biggest style inspiration?
My dad, Yakup, is my style icon. He lives in Turkey. And he has always had the most impeccable taste. He owns vintage, never-worn Armani. He is the type of person who will regularly leave the house in a three-piece suit with a monocle. I actually used to be embarrassed to walk around with him. But now I realize I inherited many of his fashion quirks. I love wearing bow ties, for example.
Bow ties?
I really like bow ties, although it is not really a trend most women have grasped yet. I wear them all the time.
Who are the best dressed celebrities, in your opinion?
I love Sienna Miller. And Keira Knightley, and Natalie Portman. They are classy, beautiful women who prove that you can be completely covered up and still look so sexy and so chic. That's truly an inspiration to me. I feel like the more you cover up, the more beautiful it is. A turtle neck or a shirt buttoned up all the way to the top—that's class.
Not many women in L.A. seem to agree with the less-is-more thing.
I know!
How would you describe your own style?
During the day I wear vintage tees with skinny jeans and Repettos. But if I am going to an event, I try and make more of a statement. I like to tell a story with what I am wearing.
