You may have seen her style mentioned on Sea of Shoes, or lusted after her fabulously stylish handmade masterpiece accessories – the ever fashionable blogger The Glamourai warrants major props for her unique and inspirational style. Hailing from Austin, Texas and now settled in New York City, she currently spends her time in a variety of fashionably creative pursuits, be it as a freelance stylist, creating one-of-a-kind costume jewelry (available at Etsy!), or at her day job designing for a high-end fashion house. Read on to find the inspiration glamourai-style.

Describe your trademark look.
Decadent, but never undone. I love mixing prints, colors, textures, volume, eras… but always in a way that isn’t overwhelming to the eye. It is exacting, but never precise, and completely dependent on my mood. I can’t ever plan in advance, but whatever I wear, it’s always topped with massive jewellery, lots of rings, and serious sunglasses. Deep down, I’m just a young lady who likes to dress like an eccentric 80-year-old (which I actually can’t wait to be!).

Where do you find inspiration?
I am an image junkie, so I’m constantly looking outside myself – on the streets of New York, on the internet, in magazines and movies. I take equally from fashion and décor, and often think of the perfect outfit as having the same elements as the perfect room.

What are your favourite places to shop?
Although my favourite clothes are generally vintage, I don’t really have any one go-to spot; I’m more interested in shopping as adventure. Usually I just stumble upon the things I love, perhaps at an antique store or flea market, or simply by taking a moment to wander into a shop I’ve never been in before. I buy pieces that make me crazy; there’s no exact science to it, more like a guttural reaction. I like the idea of having a closet filled only with ‘love-level’ pieces. But sometimes statement items do need simpler separates to bounce off of; for those wardrobe-filler needs I’ll hit the high street. For great shoes, I’m a Barney’s girl – I plan my life around their warehouse sales!

Favourite style icons?
Iris Apfel and Edie Beale. Two women with inimitable style, who happily ignored everyone else’s preconceptions of what is stylish or sexy, and created their own whimsical, magical looks. They both possessed the rare strength of spirit to literally be their own bird. That sort of bravery begets true glamour.

What are you listening to lately?
Eartha Kitt’s ‘Old Fashioned Girl’ is my favourite song.

Can’t live without?
Kimonos! Seriously, I buy them like mad; they’re art pieces and have so many uses. I wear them as evening coats when I have to do black-tie, as chic housecoats when I’m futzing about my flat, over swimsuits for the beach, and just about everywhere in between.

Most beloved items and finds?
- A vintage gold & navy striped jacket that fits like couture, with burnt-orange silk lining and beaded cuffs. I could wear it every day. Every time I shop, my goal is to find something as perfect, but so far it’s not been beat.
- Nude suede Giuseppe Zanotti wedges. Because they match my skin tone perfectly, they go with everything. The wedge means I can walk in them all day & night, and they are exceptionally well made; I’ve worn them for years, but it doesn’t show.

Favourite haunts and hangouts?
Beacon’s Closet in Williamsburg is a fun place to treasure hunt with friends. It’s the first place I recommend when people ask where to find deals in New York. They have an enormous selection of second-hand and vintage clothes & accessories, and the merchandise is better edited than your average thrift shop, but not much more expensive.

You might not know…
I am a classically trained painter, and I believe it is this discipline that taught me how to dress. When I was very young, before I was allowed to graduate to painting in color (for years I had been limited to tonal work in white and raw umber oils), my instructor threw 100 pieces of fabric on the floor – solids, prints, different weaves, knits, etc. I had to sort them in order by tone, ignoring the ‘tricks’ in texture or pattern. Only once I was able to do this perfectly was I deemed ‘ready for color.’ More than anything else in my entire life, I think it is this exercise that laid the foundation for my personal style.

Dig her style? Check out her blog at The Glamourai.