I am excited to share the ensemble I styled for my strut—and, fortunately not fall—down the runway at the Eileen Fisher fashion show! If you missed the on-stage interview, I break it down—and my outfit—for you, below.

Eileen Fisher: Why did you choose your outfit?

Emma Grady: I’m obsessed with Eileen Fisher’s peplum top, it’s on trend yet timeless and classic. I paired it with a classic black pencil skirt and cinched the look with an obi belt - a spring fashion staple that is versatile and will look fabulous with dresses this summer!

EF: You are well known for your ability to create timeless looks using
vintage and new garments. In a trend driven world, how hard is it to
be an original and to create your own look?

EG: Fashion Trends come and go—and not to be corny—but classic and timeless fashion will always be in style. I search for what I call timeless trends, anything that I’d wear in ten years. The peplum top is a great example of that, it’s on-trend yet classic. I keep my look fresh and modern with accessories, like Gretchen jones statement jewelry.

This past week I braved the snowstorm to go out and support my friend and mentor Olivia Zaleski’s father’s foundation, The Dream Project, for their benefit at Museo del Barrio in New York.

It was inspiring to hear about how Olivia’s father started laying the groundwork for the project more than twenty years ago, when he bought a house down in the Dominic Republic. Today, the foundation supports the education of more than 3,000 children a year at a surprisingly low cost. Read more at the Dream Project website, here.

I’m wearing some of my favorite pieces: green and lavender earrings (flea market find), a green velvet purse (vintage), and a Banana Republic LBD that I purchased at Housing Works, obviously.

I’m gonna’ go ahead and be the first to point out that I bear a stark resemblance to the white sheet behind me—it’s okay, you can call me “Casper”—but, nevertheless, I was stoked to have the opportunity to wear this woven suede Zac Posen dress to Suzanne Rae’s fashion show at New York Fashion Week.

VIEW SLIDESHOW: Suzanne Rae Fall Winter 2013 

Zac Posen has been one of my favorite designers for a long time. His dresses are way above my budget, so I was excited—more like ecstatic—to find this dress in mint condition at a Housing Works thrift store for $40. Seriously.

I’m wearing this Zac Posen dress with a vintage fur hat, thrifted brown leather boots, and a timeless—no pun intended—gold watch found at a flea market.

More: New York Fashion Week / Styled By Emma

Photo by Starre Vartan.

Copyright © 2013 Past Fashion Future. All rights reserved.

Let’s be honest: I’ve always dreamed of being on Vanity Fair’s International Best Dressed List. I never thought I would have the chance at this point in my life!

It would be pretty cool for affordable, vintage fashion to reign supreme on the list!

Will you please help me win VF’s Best-Dressed Challenge and vote for my style, above? I’m wearing an $18 vintage Neiman Marcus gown to opening night of the NYC Ballet, Fall 2012.

1. VOTE, HERE.

And since I want to increase my chances of having my vintage style being spotted, I also submited this photo of me wearing a $25 flea market dress to the Christie’s Green Auction.

2. VOTE, HERE.

P.S. You can submit a look, too. If you do, tweet me the link—@EMMAGRADY--and I will vote for you!

Happy New Years Eve! I want to thank all of you for reading Past Fashion Future and sharing my love for classic and timeless style. I am working on the next big venture for Past Fashion Future and vintage fashion and I will be announcing it very soon—so, keep tuned!

On New Year’s Eve I wore a vintage headband (Market Publique), a Banana Republic LBD (Housing Works), vintage earrings, a new Diane von Furstenberg clutch (a gift from the lil sis), and no name secondhand leather brown boots found via a thrift store (I can’t remember when or where I found them).

More Fashion Photos: Styled By Emma

My Anne Boleyn Halloweeen Costume: I had the opportunity to wear an amazing—if I do say so myself—Isaac Mizrahi dress that I found at Housing Works for $10. Seriously. I built my costume—view more pics on @PastFashionFuture’s Instagram—around the dress and thought it would suit Anne Boleyn or Marie Antoinette. I didn’t want to deal with the whole mound of hair thing so I opted for the ill-fated wife of ol’ Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn.

I found a porcelain “B” at a craft shop, painted it with gold nail polish, and attached it to a vintage necklace with an earring. The crown necklace was necessary to get the point across and it’s now decorating a shelf in my room, my justification for purchasing a cheap, plastic crown. I’d prefer gold (let’s be honest), but I lack the lineage—to my knowledge, at least.

More Fashion Photos: Styled By Emma

Copyright © 2012 Past Fashion Future. All rights reserved.

On the red carpet at the New York City Ballet Fall 2012 opening night—Valentino designed the costumes for one night only!

More Fashion Photos: Styled By Emma