This year, Wearables looked in-house for help putting together our September fashion spread. It just so happens that one of our Advertising Specialty Institute colleagues is an avid fashion blogger in her spare time. Anna Kiriluk eagerly took on the challenge of curating and coordinating the apparel pieces for the 2017 Fashion Guidebook. I spoke with Anna to learn more about how she chose the garments and where she draws her style inspiration.

Q: How long have you worked at ASI, and what is your role here?

Anna Kiriluk: I’ve been working here for almost two years. Currently, I work as an optimizer for ESP products in the EIT department.

Q: What sparked your love of fashion and style?

AK: I’ve always had some level of love for fashion, but I didn’t start being truly passionate about it until high school. Through those awkward teenage years, I learned that how you dress is so important. Clothing and your overall sense of style can display your creativity, confidence and mood. Putting together outfits and trying different color and pattern combinations is one of my favorite things to do.

Q: How did you go about choosing the garments we used in the Wearables fashion photoshoot?

AK: This was actually more challenging than I thought it would be because of all the apparel suppliers there are. Once I understood the look and general editorial concept, I first went to the suppliers I was familiar with. After combing through their current catalogs, I did a more general search. After quite a bit of scrolling, if I found something that could work, I would look through the rest of the catalog as well.  I did get stuck a couple of times, and the Wearables team was able to give me some direction. It took a while, but it also was so fun trying to find the right garments to match the vision of the shoot and my translation of it.

Q: What was your favorite find?

AK: My favorite has to be the off-the-shoulder dress (1922821) from Dollar Days (asi/50287). The neckline is very on trend, and the colors were gorgeous. Merging a summer silhouette with warm autumn colors is a great way to transition into the fall season.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your fashion blog Style by Ginger?

AK: I’ve always been a natural teacher and love to talk about all things fashion. In college, I discovered some fashion blogs that were beautiful, from the magazine-level photography to the designer clothes and a seemingly endless closet. Looking at those women, I felt inspired to launch my own blog for women on a limited budget who aren’t totally sure of their style. My goal is to help women feel and look amazing. I tend to post outfit ideas or pieces I love at the moment. I’m still trying to develop my voice, so I think of my blog as a constant work in progress.

Q: How would you describe your personal style?

AK: Classy with a bit of edge. Most of my wardrobe consists of classic pieces in neutral colors, but I like to keep things current with a trendy shoe or edgy print. 

Q: What tips do you have for an industry decorator or distributor who wants to offer clients trendier, stand-out apparel?

AK: Keep an eye on what you see people wearing on social media. This is such a great resource that can reach a lot of different clients. Another tip would be to think about longevity. Classic prints like stripes, polka dots, florals and even gingham are great to add to simple silhouettes because they will last season to season. Lastly, just get creative. Balance simple decoration with unique and unusual embellishment to appeal to a wide range of clients.

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