What the Team at People Style Wears to Work

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Whether it's Rosie Huntington-Whitley's latest airport ensemble or Ciara's front row Fashion Week outfit, People Style has long established itself as an authority on celebrity fashion (both on and off the red carpet). And although readers can count on the publication's expertise all year long, awards season is when the website really shines. Just before the Oscars this weekend, we asked staffers at the New York office about their favorite stylists, trends, and the best Academy Award dresses of all time.

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Andrea Lavinthal, Beauty and Style Director, is wearing an Elizabeth and James jacket, a Babaton blouse, Paige Denim leather pants, Pour La Victoire heels, a Lulu Frost necklace, Alex Mika, Sarah Chloe, and vintage rings, Electric Picks, Cartier, and Mizuki bracelets, and a Chanel watch.

What's the most-worn item in your closet?
My gold Vans. I have a dozen pairs of slip-on Vans, but the metallic ones go with everything.

What's your work uniform?
Leather pants or skinny jeans with a blazer and booties.

Which celebrity are you most excited to watch during awards season?
I appreciate stars like J.Lo who really go all out with their look. It’s hard not to get red carpet fatigue by the time the Oscars roll around, so we rely on a handful of celebs to keep things exciting.

What's your favorite celebrity award show ensemble of all time?
Kate Hudson in Alexander McQueen at the 2013 Golden Globes. It had a Victorian-meets-gothic vibe with the most gorgeous gold embellishments. And I loved that she did minimal hair and makeup to keep the focus on the dress.

What's one clothing item you own that you could never get rid of?
My bat mitzvah dress. I designed it myself and the high-low hem was inspired by Stephanie Seymour’s wedding dress in the "November Rain" video.

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Jackie Fields, Beauty Editor, is wearing a French Connection sweater, AG jeans, a Nixon watch, a David Yurman necklace, Calvin Klein boots, Fendi, Fallon, Giles & Brother, and Henri Bendel bracelets, and Gucci and Elizabeth & James rings.
What are three beauty products you swear by?
This is the hardest question I have ever been asked. Body scrub, lip balm — I am super picky; I test rigorously and only the best make it into my bag — and fragrances. That's my beauty obsession; I have a separate vanity with roughly 55. When it’s bitter cold I wear Dior Patchouli Imperial.

Which celebrity do you think has the best style right now?
Gabrielle Union is my style spirit animal.

Where do you look for fashion inspiration?
When it comes to fashion, I am influenced less by things I see and more by thing I hear. Songs, beats, and lyrics, are what inspire me. If I don’t feel like I can move —dance!— in what I am wearing, then it’s truly not for me.

What's one clothing item you own that you could never get rid of?
My Rodarte "Radarte" hoodie. When I can’t be bothered to pull together a look, this piece still makes me feel cool.

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Brittany Talarico, Senior Style Editor, is wearing a Topshop jumpsuit, a Sarah Magid necklace as a belt, a Sarah Magid pendant, Lele Sadoughi bracelets, Catbird rings, a Chanel bag, and Jimmy Choo shoes.

How would you describe your personal style?
Trend curious. I don't shy away from wearing popular pieces (I'm currently experimenting with ways to style my Adidas Stan Smith sneakers, I like overalls, etc.), and I'm not shy to admit that I've purchased a Kendall + Kylie crop top. But I won’t splurge on something just because it's trendy. That's what Forever 21 is for. I save up for investment pieces, like a great pair of shoes or an amazing bag.

Which celebrity do you think has the best style right now?
Street style is a tie between Kendall Jenner and Olivia Palermo, but I would die for Blake Lively’s coat and shoe collection. I also love the risks Emma Watson takes on the red carpet.

What's your work uniform?
My work-style superlative would probably be "Most Likely to Need a Bathroom Buddy," because I love wearing jumpsuits in the office, even if they aren't always convenient. I also believe you can make a chambray shirt work with anything. I love mixing up my denim button downs with a leather miniskirt or flare jeans.

What's one thing most people might not know about working at People?
Award show nights are like the Super Bowl. So much energy. So many snacks. We also have team members who have a sixth sense for identifying Fashion Faceoffs. It's fascinating.

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Ben Ronne, Senior Director of Product, is wearing a Martin Greenfield for Gilt suit, a Uniqlo shirt, a Freemans Sporting Club tie, a Filson belt, Happy Laundry socks, a Vapid Blonde pocket square, an heirloom wedding ring, a Maratac watch, and Alden shoes.

What's the most-worn item in your closet?
Right now, it’s my 6" wheat Timberland boots. I wear them on every dog walk, brunch or errand.

Which celebrity do you think has the best style right now?
Idris Elba. His formal and off-duty styles really strike a balance between handsome and streetwise.

What's one style lesson you've picked up since working at People?
Don’t be afraid to mix it up. I’ve tried dressing a bit more casual on Fridays and have gotten a really good response.

What's your favorite celebrity award show ensemble of all time?
J.Lo and Puff Daddy at the 2000 VMAs. Stylish, thuggish and coordinated — just my speed.

Who would you swap wardrobes with in a heartbeat (living or dead)?
Steve McQueen. Impeccable suits, effortless casual wear, and authentic denim and workwear. Yes.

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Sarah Ball, Fashion Market Editor, is wearing a Banana Republic top, an Aritzia skirt, a Paige Novick earpiece, Roland Mouret shoes, a BARE ring, and Airel Gordon and Shylee Rose Bracelets.

Which celebrity do you think has the best style right now?
I love Emma Roberts because she's not afraid to take a risk and try trends, which I can really appreciate it. I also love Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner. Monica Rose (their stylist) has really been killing it lately — they just feel fresh and always fun to watch.

What's one style lesson you've picked up since working at People?
Layers! You never know what kind of weather you'll get in the building. Oh, and also the half tuck. Figuring out how to wear something loose and comfortable is key when there are just way too many sweets around the office!

Which celebrity are you most excited to watch during awards season?
This season, Alicia Vikander for sure. She has such an innate sense of style and I feel like she's really blooming into a fashion star. I also really love Rooney Mara. She's not afraid to take risks for fashion on the red carpet. I love them both because they don't necessarily opt for the obvious or classic "red carpet dress," which is refreshing and cool.

What's your favorite celebrity award show ensemble of all time?
Michelle Williams at the Oscars 2006 in Vera Wang. I love everything about this. The color of the dress with her complexion and hair color and then the lip color — so stunning. I love the raw-edged chiffon ruffles and the necklace. The entire look is just so beautiful and has a vintage old Hollywood feel, which I'm obsessed with.

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Catherine Kast, Style Editor, is wearing a Kit + Ace tee, a Vince sweater, a Mara Hoffman cape, Urban Outfitters pants, Shashi earrings, a Banana Republic bangle, an Alexis Bittar necklace, an Anna Sheffield and her own signet ring, and Sam Edelman boots.

How would you describe your personal style?
I imagine myself as one of the Heathers but a little more polished (and with a better attitude, obviously). I love big blazers, flippy skirts, and voluminous hair pulled back with a gigantic barrette.

What's the most-worn item in your closet?
I wear J.Crew Pixie pants pretty much once a week, but really my custom Anna Sheffield engagement ring is on 24/7. It's the most precious thing I own!

Where do you look for fashion inspiration?
Red carpet stylists are really fun to follow on Insta, not only for BTS shots of stars but since they see all the collections up close, they tend to post detail shots of amazing accessories and designs you can’t get elsewhere. Kate Young is one of the best; I love seeing what she’s done with Dakota Johnson. I also follow a ton of models — Suki Waterhouse is my fave. I want her hair and all her outerwear.

Which celebrity do you think has the best style right now?
Julianne Moore. She’s a redhead who isn’t afraid to rock hues from every part of the color wheel, which isn’t to say she doesn’t look fabulous in black. I’m not talking only about her gowns. When her stylist Leslie Fremar posted this pic of her on the street in NYC, I bookmarked it because she is that much of an icon.

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Alex Apatoff, Deputy Style Director, is wearing a Cuyana dress, Aquazurra shoes, Dana Rebecca Designs and Mark & Graham necklaces, Lana Jewelry and Melissa Joy Manning earrings, Izaskun Zabala for Lou & Grey, Sseko, Kate Spade, Saint Laurent, and Stella McCartney layered bracelets, and Monique Van Blitter, PeoplexGilt, Ariel Gordon, and Lorraine Schwartz rings.

What's your work uniform?
A black A-line dress, black heels, a bunch of bracelets, and wet hair twisted into a bun because I just can't get up early enough to do something with it.

What's one thing most people might not know about working at People?
We don't actually get to go to the Oscars! We're all at our desks wearing our comfiest jeans mainlining Reese's cups and frantically trying to get content up. Super-glam!

Which celebrity are you most excited to watch during awards season?
Rihanna! Even when I hate it, I love it. She can pull off anything and I love how much fun she appears to be having.

Which celebrity do you think has the best style right now?
It's weird to be so envious of a teenager's personal style, but I think Kiernan Shipka almost never gets it wrong on the red carpet. For street style, I think Gigi Hadid is doing great things with weird clothes at the moment.

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