Bio
OccupationArt Director and Contributor at Vogue and L'Officiel
If you don’t know who Erica Pelosini Leeman is, then you’ve been sleeping under a fashion rock. She’s an extroverted Italian stylist, editor and creative director with a penchant for bed-head hair and couture clothing. The pint-sized style star known for her eclectic fashion mix and incredible modelling skills, which should come as no surprise as she was modelling for the likes of Giorgio Armani from the time she was five. We’ve been drooling over Erica’s crush-worthy styles for a while now, so naturally, we were over the moon when she allowed us into her home to see what exactly inspires her style.
Q&A
How do you start your day off?
I always wake up very early and I love to enjoy the sunshine. I also have to deal with a lot of things from Europe. Normally, what I love to do is start my day with green juice, I swim in the pool when I can, I take a shower and then I start my day. I have breakfast, answer e-mails etc. I do really love to get my coffee or matcha from Alfreds. I go there every morning.
What’s going on in the background when you are getting ready?
It depends on the occasion. For my work, I have to be glammed or dressed up. When I travel, I always have tons of clothing with me. In LA, I like to be more casual with denim shorts and t-shirts with heels. I’m very in the moment. It depends on my mood. I don’t believe too much in trends.
You never leave home without…
I really do love my Kelly vintage bags. I also really do love denim jackets; you can wear them with a dress, or with a sports look. I also never leave home without my cashmere.
What are your closet essentials?
Shoes are very important to me. Almost all the shoe designers are very close friends of mine. For example, my wedding there was a situation, where I had Brian Atwood and Giuseppe Zanotti designing my wedding shoes, but then I had to go to Aquazarra because I grew up with them and then I had Nicholas Kirkwood and Casadei there. LA kind of converted me to flat and sports shoes. I never go middle. I always go flat or high heels.
What is your biggest fashion regret?
I don’t think I have one. I seriously don’t think I have one.
You always splurge on, and you always save on…
I don’t really save. I wish I saved. I splurge on shoes. Even though my friends are shoe designers, I love collecting shoes. I don’t even wear them. I just like to have them.
What inspires your style most?
My travelling. I see architecture, markets, art, lifestyle, and costumes. Every time I travel to a place, I find something I want to add to my collection. I’m also inspired by where I lived. In Italy, it’s very loud – very Versace and Cavalli. So when I lived in Italy, I was the full on Dolce & Gabbana, more Italian style. Moving to Paris, made me more ‘je ne sais quoi’, a little less perfect and less loud; more black and mono-colour. Moving to LA made me more laidback and into street wear. I carry influences from all of these places that I lived.
What is your #1 style tip?
Be yourself and be comfortable in what you’re wearing. Every individual has their own style and comfort level depending on their body type and what makes them feel good.
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