Interview with Summer Cleveland, Visual Director for Urban Outfitters
How do you describe your personal style?
Modern, eclectic, usually in a pretty neutral palette. I like to have a little irony in my outfitting. I like to combine unexpected pieces. Classic with bohemian, feminine with edgy, designer with thrift finds. I think people should be open to many different styles and the combination of them. I don’t want to have a one-note style. Keep it clean, keep it pretty, mix it up, combine the unexpected and have fun.
How do you put your look together?
I travel a lot for work and often live out of a suitcase two-to-three days a week. That keeps me buying separates that can look good in a lot of different combinations. It’s also easiest to work with greys, blacks, whites, and crème because they can be dressed up or down quickly depending on where you’re going. I wish I could say I dressed for comfort, but most of my jeans and shoes would argue against that.
What influences your style?
I follow a lot of blogs—I have to in my line of work. I also follow fashion Instagrams for daily fixes when I travel and I reference great style from the 70s through old magazines and online.
What places in Ann Arbor do you like to shop, espcially locally-owned places?
I’m really excited about the Anthropologie that’s coming to Ann Arbor. I also love the GetUp Vintage store on State St. and have shopped there for years. American Apparel is great for fashion basics and Footprints is a good staple shoe store in town.
