Stylish Person: Ashley Kilcher

Meet Ashley Kilcher. Ashley is owner of Roe Wolfe, a unique lifestyle, boutique concept in Mendota Heights. Roe Wolfe is much more than just an amazingly chic, high-end women's boutique. The shop also provides makeup services, home accents, and art by local talent. With seven years of make-up experience, over 20 runway shows {both local and at New York Fashion Week}, and various magazine covers under her belt, it's no wonder why we covet Ashley's cabin chic style. 1. How did you come up with the name Roe Wolfe?

Roe Wolfe is an image that represents a piece of every woman.  She is timid, graceful and humble like the Roe (a species of deer). Yet she is confident, intelligent and loyal like the Wolf.

2. What made you decide to blend beauty, ambiance, and fashion?

I have worked as a freelance makeup artist for over 7 years, and have done lots of work in the fashion industry. It felt natural to finally blend the two together.  The cozy feel of the store also called for great pieces from local artists, classic Pendleton blankets and comforting candles.

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3. How would you describe your personal style?

I have a very eclectic wardrobe, but if I had to put a name on it I would say my favorite look is "cabin chic".   I love comfy sweaters, boots, button ups and layering.  In the spring and summer I wear lots of bohemian pieces like floor length maxi skirts and dresses, flowy tops and leather sandals.

4.  What are a few essentials every woman should have in their closet?

First off, a great fitting pair of skinny jeans is a necessity.  I think crop length are the most versatile as you can wear them though all seasons.  In the fall with sneakers or booties, in the winter you can tuck them in to a pair of boots, spring with a great pair of wedges or flats, and in the summer with sandals and flip flops!  Get a solid dark wash and they are easy to dress up or down.

Next I think a solid colored classic cardigan.  It's great to have a piece you can throw on when the weather changes throughout the day, and the layering options can help you get more outfit options out of your existing wardrobe.

Lastly would be a neutral colored button up.  Again, a great layering piece to mix and match with your wardrobe. If you get a light fabric, it can be multi seasonal as well.  In the summer I love to wear mine over my maxi dresses, tied at the waist or untucked with shorts for a comfy "boyfriend" look.  For fall and winter, the layering options are infinite! These three essentials are classic pieces that can be paired with your trendy pieces for years of wear.

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5.  How do you like to spend your weekends?

In the summertime I enjoy spending time up north on the lake.  Nothing beats floating aimlessly in a lake with your loved ones and friends (queue "Pontoon" by Little Big Town). I love hanging out with my husband and our girls in the backyard playing baseball and riding our bikes to the local ice cream shop.  Right now I'm dreaming of bonfires on chilly nights, heading up to my aunt's farm for good food, family time and hanging out with my hubby in the deer stand, and of course the big pile of leaves at the bottom of the slide that is sure to bring lots of laughs and smiles in the coming months.  What can I say... I love fall!

6.  What adds pep to your step?

Starbucks.  Enough said .

Stylish Person: Kate Arends

Meet Kate Arends, a graphic designer for Design Cue, the creative mind behind the style blog, Wit & Delight and an inspiring tastemaker.  As a young professional in her twenties, it seems as though Kate has done it all.  She has made quite the name for herself in the fashion and design social media world, with over 725,000 Pinterest followers and over 150,000 Wit & Delight visitors each month! Currently, Style-Architects has teamed up with Kate on branding projects for e-commerce retail clients.  She’s thoughtful and sweet, but don’t get the wrong impression, she’s not too soft – she’s got sass and a bit of “bad girl” in her as well.  We caught up with the talented Kate Arends {who looked chic as always, rocking her signature high-top bun} to chat about her style, her passions and her blog. How would you describe your personal style?

I never try too hard when it comes to my style.  If I feel good in something, I wear it.  I’m not very girly, and I’m not a sap.

What style tips do you have for us?

You should have fun with fashion and wear what you want – it doesn’t matter what other people think if you feel good in it.  If you don’t look comfortable in something, you won’t look or feel good in in it.

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Are there any fashion trends you are embracing this season?

I believe in trends because I think they're exciting and about living in the present moment, but style is timeless.  Anything can be trendy; it’s about how you interpret it.

What adds pep to your step?

Gangster rap. Oh! And I run. Running is what keeps me normal.  If I’m not running, I’m not myself.  I love traveling and I love new experiences.

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What have you learned about yourself and life, thus far?

Having relationships with people outside of work is really important.  You should get outside of your comfort zone in order to really live life to the fullest.  I think you need a variety of interests, experiences and passions to be a well-rounded person.

How do you spend your spare time?

Oh my, what free time? No, I read all the time and I listen to music.

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What was the last book you read?

50 Shades of Grey. And before that, The Shape of Design, Steve Jobs Biography and I Was Told There'd be Cake.

How did you get into social media and how did you make it work so well for you?

I started Wit & Delight in late 2009 when I was feeling the need to stay inspired.  I love graphic design, but I’ve always been passionate about fashion. I had something to say and I wanted a platform to say it.

Images by Melissa Oholendt.

Stylish Person: Eliesa Johnson

Meet Eliesa Johnson.  Eliesa is a local photographer and the owner of not one, but four different photography businesses in Minneapolis.  Her businesses include wedding photography companies, Photogen Inc. and Rivets and Roses; commercial photography company, ELIESA; and photography consulting company LOVEe Consults.  When does this inspiring {and lovely} lady sleep!?  We had the same question, so we caught up with Eliesa to discuss how she got her drive, where she gets inspiration and what she does with her free time {the little that she has, that is!}. Who are your favorite photographers (fashion or otherwise)? Richard Avedon, Mario Testino, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Ellen Von Unwerth are some of my all-time favorites and all of these photographers have been very influential to my industry.

Where do you turn for inspiration? As much as I love the Internet and blogs, sometimes I feel very overwhelmed searching online for inspiration. I always prefer grabbing a cup of coffee and sitting in a bookstore that has a great selection of editorials. I will just sit and page through magazines until I find about 5 that I think I'm most inspired by. I usually bring them into the studio and create a wall-of-inspiration from tears I've selected. I love editorials from different countries - they take more risk with their imagery. I also love looking back in history to iconic images and thinking about the photographers’ process and how they created that image. Was it thought out and produced or were they simply in the right place at the right time?

How would you describe your personality in 5 words? Thoughtful, Authentic, Passionate, Nerdy and Driven

How do you spend your Saturdays? 50% of the time, I'm probably photographing a wedding on a Saturday. Whenever I do have a weekend free, they are almost sacred to me and I try to make the most of them! Ideally, that would include sleeping in, going on an adventure, eating some good food and sharing it with those close to me.

What adds pep to your step? I'm a big believer in momentum, in life, business and art. I'm the type of person who will put myself out there and work very hard to make my ideas happen and come to life. I love to experience things and share them with the world. I also love taking risks - it moves you forward.

What is your favorite aspect of your job? I really have the best job in the word. My goal day in and day out is to inspire people, whether that be a bride looking at her wedding photos or a reader looking in the pages of a magazine. This is a great honor and something I am so grateful for. I also absolutely love and adore my crew - they make work so much fun!

What is your favorite hangout in the Twin Cities? The 112 Eatery is my favorite restaurant, hands down. I'm also a fan of the new Urban Bean coffee shop on Lyndale and 24th - it's a little creative hub with an amazing atmosphere to chill or work out of.

Stylish Person: Mathew Janczewski

At Style-Architects we believe that truly great work comes from being passionate about what you do.  Mathew Janczewski's passion for dance has translated into inspiring work as the Artistic Director of ARENA Dances.  Upon graduating from college, Mathew followed his passion for dance to make his dream a reality when he founded the company, ARENA Dances.  We are currently working with Mathew on ARENA’s 5^th Annual Benefit fashion show, ARENA Bikini, so we sat down with him to learn about what inspires him, what drives his passion and how it translates into his style. How would you describe your personal style? Pretty simple and relaxed, but when I get to dress up I like to really go for it. As a choreographer, I spend a lot of time in the modern dance rehearsal attire, which people may think are my pajamas. So when I get to dress up I love wearing a suit and tie. I tend to try and follow trends {as I am a magazine whore}, but blend them into traditional, simple looks.

Favorite designers, stores, or fashion lines? Hmm.

Designers: Kirk Miller, Alistair Carr and Kim Jones.

Stores: Martin Patrick3, B Consignment, Armani Exchange, H&M and the Salvation Army.

Fashion Lines: Things I cannot afford, but love to look at—Bally, Dolce Gabbana, Pringle and Burberry.

Who are your style icons? Gene Kelly, Cary Grant and James Dean.

Where are we likely to find you when you aren't dancing? Oh, boy, I am always working. I tend to frequent Dunn Bros. on Loring Park or any Spyhouse. If I have some time to go out and enjoy drinks with friends I am at Jetset, Thom Pham's or Brad Street.

Where do you find inspiration? Everywhere around me— from experiences out on the street, people out and about, to magazines, art galleries, and movies.

In effort to raise money for ARENA Dances, the company is putting on its 5^th Annual Benefit, ARENA Bikini, featuring a swimwear fashion show and dance performances.  The benefit will be held Saturday, March 24 from 8 p.m. till 12 a.m. at the Calhoun Beach Club.  For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the ARENA Bikini website.  VIP ticket packages that include access to the VIP lounge are available by contacting arenadances@gmail.com.