Style Idols: Tinsley Mortimer

THE TINZ. Tinsley Mortimer - born Tinsley Randoph Mercer - has been one of my top style idol's for many years. For those that don't know her, she is the premier NYC socialite known for her trademark blonde curls and girlish style. The Tinz is also quite popular overseas as she designs a handbag line for Japanese designer Samantah Thavasa, as well as her own clothing line, Riccimie. I've always loved how she maintains a fun and feminine yet fashion forward look. I've dissected the main elements of how to obtain Tinsley's much photographed style.

If not anything else Tinsley is the ultimate girly girl - and she is definitely not afraid of a bright pink dress. Whether it is a skin tight Herve Leger or a floaty Versace gown, pink is the go to color when going out on the town.

If one does not wear pink - wear something that goes with pink, which is basically anything! Tinsley gets alot of use out of her neon pink Jimmy Choo strappy sandals and Samantha Thavasa pink cluthches and uses them to brighten up any outfit.

Tinsley always makes an effort to keep things cheerful. Blue is dashed with lime, magenta cut with mint, among many others. She even seems to color coordinate a contrast with sister Daphne. It's easy to incorporate into any wardrobe - brighten up basics with splashes of turqoise, chartreuse, and lemony gold.

When sharp angles and strong shoulders came into fashion I initially avoided them as I didn't favour the masculine overtones they had. Tinsley takes these shapes and makes them her own and softens them with lace and structural bows and ruffles.

Floral patterns in bold colors are often favored by the gotham city social. In this case she keeps accessories neutral in dark shades or metallic neutrals.

The thing that she is perhaps most famous for is her long luscious blonde ringlets! Now she often softens straight hair with a tiara of plaits. I love this to do this look, especially when the weather is hot and humid. Though she has been wearing her her more straight for the last while - the curls will not be forgotten. I remember reading how her stylist does them years ago:

1. take one strands of hair and wrap them around a 1 inch curling iron

2. hold for 40 seconds and release each curl slowly.

3. when entire head is done and curls have cooled, flip head upside down and spray with flexible hold hair spray.

and viola! I hope that you enjoyed looking at the classy and colorful style of Miss Mortimer. I think there are elements of Tinsley's style that can be adopted by all of us...especially when wanting to break out of black. Tinsely inspires a more flashy and fun fashion world!