Sophisticated with a dash of swagger— these local trendsetters prove that style is indeed a state of mind.
With the mantra of “It’s already yours,” Leslie Nicole Roberson is used to pursuing her dreams with a passion—and the entrepreneur, mother and Army veteran has done just that as the principal and creative director of The Velvet Collection, a Hyde Park-based luxury linen rental provider that offers more than 500 styles to help elevate event tablescapes to the grandest of visions. Now, as she launches Velvet Collection Interiors, the Rockford native and Bronzeville resident shares some of the ways she maintains her eye-catching personal style.
CS Women Of Style 2022: Leslie Nicole Roberson, Amy Kartheiser, Lisa Gasparian, Kia Smith
WAKE-UP TIME: 7AM
DOPPELGÄNGER: CORTNEY HALL FROM NBC CHICAGO
NEMESIS: MOSQUITOES
ESCAPE: THE BEACH
WEAKNESS: MY FRENCHIE, THURGOOD MARSHALL
MY AESTHETIC: CHIC
UNIFORM: MODEL LOOK: JEANS AND WHITE T-SHIRT, BLACK HEELS AND RED LIPSTICK
CHERISHED ACCESSORY: GOLD BROOCH FROM MY GRANDMOTHER
YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH: LOVE AND CHOCOLATE ALMONDS
WORKOUT: YOGA
LAST MEAL: TACOS AND GUAC
MOVIE: WAITING TO EXHALE
MENTOR: I'VE NEVER HAD ONE.
STYLE ICON: CARRIE BRADSHAW
SHOES: LOUIS VUITTON
LIPSTICK: MAC RUBY WOO
BEST ADVICE: LIVE LIFE UNAPOLOGETICALLY.
PHILANTHROPY: MENTORING UNDERPRIVILEGED STUDENTS
MANTRA: IT’S ALREADY YOURS (USUALLY WHEN I’M TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING).
CURRENT OBSESSION: VISITING NEW ICE CREAM SHOPS
APP: CALM
COCKTAIL: WHISKEY SOUR
SOULMATE: THIS IS A THING?
SKINCARE ESSENTIAL: WATER AND MOISTURIZER (AND SPF)
ZODIAC: LIBRA
BEDTIME: EEEK—WHEN I FALL ASLEEP
BEDSIDE READING: GOOGLE; I USUALLY LOOK UP ALL THE THINGS IN MY HEAD UNTIL I FALL ASLEEP.
THEME SONG TO YOUR LIFE: “THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND,” THE THEME SONG OF THE GOLDEN GIRLS
BAG: HERMÈS (ONE DAY)
SIGNATURE SCENT: DIOR J'ADORE EAU DE PARFUM
Photography by: PHOTO BY JAMES GUSTIN/FIG MEDIA
