Photography provided by Eleanor Leftwich
There are few closets as full of fabulous finds as that of style icon Eleanor Leftwich. Her 15,000+ Instagram followers flock to see her latest vintage finds, snag style tips and drool over the latest looks. The trendsetter’s highly anticipated passion project, the Eleanor Leftwich Collection, launches this spring. With this line of high-quality wardrobe staples made from Italian fabrics, Leftwich is bringing her signature “uniform” to her loyal devotees. Here, we chat with the fashionista about her debut line, finding a go-to look and the art of vintage shopping.
Who is Eleanor Leftwich and what inspired you to start sharing on Instagram?
I was inspired to start sharing on Instagram after I had my fourth child and felt like I needed a creative outlet that wasn’t necessarily related to my career or motherhood. Between managing our multigenerational family farm operation and four young children, it felt like a mini escape in my day that was just for me.
Eleanor Leftwich was originally created to share my joy of getting dressed every day, but soon morphed into a platform to help others find the confidence to wear what they want despite expectations. I believe everyone should have a daily uniform and it’s important to me to showcase brands, businesses and designers that are inspiring the fashion and design space through quality and craftsmanship.
When did your love of fashion start?
At a very young age! I was wearing ties as a second grader, pantsuits in middle school and leather pencil skirts in high school. I’ve always marched to the beat of my own drum and I’ve been fortunate to have others admire it instead of ridicule it. The women in my family, especially my grandmother and mother, were always well-dressed and looked effortless, so I had role models at a very young age.
You talk a lot about your “uniform.” What is it and how can fashionistas find theirs?
I’m a strong believer in people finding their uniform and more or less sticking to it. A uniform is simply something you feel great in. Once you find that, buy it in multiple colors. For instance, in the summer, my uniform is a long flowy dress, oftentimes with flat sandals, gold hoops and a straw hat. On the mornings that I’m rushing to get out the door (which is most!), I’m able to easily get dressed knowing I can quickly throw on a combination and not only look put together but feel comfortable.
What are three staples everyone should have in their closet?
Confidence is my number one. With the right attitude, you can pull off anything and, while it’s cliché, the best dressed woman is always the one with self-assurance. As far as specific pieces, I can always justify a great coat having lived in Minnesota my entire life, and you can never go wrong with quality denim and a classic white collared shirt.
Do you have any tips for finding beautiful pieces at good prices?
I truly love the thrill of the hunt. I’m always looking for that next great piece, and Instagram has definitely helped connect me to vintage dealers around the world. I also credit my finds to relationship shopping. At some of the boutiques I shop, I’ve known the owners for years if not decades at this point. Over time, they’ve gotten to know my taste, so when a fantastic piece comes in that they know I’ll love, they let me know.
I also try to shop off-season — and therefore during sales — for those eventual events that could pop up on the calendar. I never seem to find something when I’m actually looking for it. My husband would say that I’m excessively prepared for any type of occasion, but I live by the adage, “Don’t worry, just care and be prepared,” which I most definitely am!
Lastly, get an excellent tailor. Don’t be stuck on size; many designer pieces have generous seam allowances allowing a wider range than just what’s on the tag. Tailors on Blake in St. Louis Park is my go-to and I can’t recommend them enough.
Where are your favorite places to shop?
Locally, I love June Resale. Owner Daune Stinson gets some epic pieces. A couple of years ago, I purchased a Zuhair Murad custom ball skirt that I had reworked by 7th Bone Tailoring to be more wearable. We had so much extra fabric that we were able to make a matching top. I think it originally cost more than $75,000, and I bought it for $2,000. Daune showed it to me first because she knew I’d appreciate the haute couture piece. And, despite having absolutely nowhere to wear it, I knew it was a must-have even if just for my daughters one day.
Other places that I frequent include Shrimpton Couture, a vintage dealer out of Toronto with an immense collection and the expertise to match, as well as the Classified Vintage, which is owned by two lovely women from the United Kingdom. I have pretty detailed lists on my website and Instagram highlights of my favorite retail, resale and vintage boutiques. I’m passionate about sharing great people and businesses in this space with others!
What can we expect from Eleanor Leftwich Collection?
When my Instagram page began gaining some traction, I still wanted to ensure I was being genuine about my recommendations; therefore, I don’t currently support ads or sponsorships. “Never say never” is another motto of mine, but at this time, I want anything I post about to simply be because I love it.
However, the entrepreneur in me thought I was missing an opportunity by not capitalizing on what is an incredibly thoughtful and engaged audience; thus, Eleanor Leftwich Collection was born. I’d always dreamt of being more involved in fashion, but my career path took me a different direction. As I turn 40, it’s been a lovely surprise to turn a dream into reality.
This first collection launching in late spring features pieces that I love — part of my uniform, you could say. It’ll showcase six styles: four dresses, a pair of pants, and a shirt in various Italian fabrics, all produced in Chicago. The line will be available on my website and I’m in conversations with a number of retailers. I’m already looking to fall and sourcing cashmeres, knits and wool, and considering patterns.
Whenever I’m contemplating a risk, my mom always asks me, “What’s the worst-case scenario and is it livable?” With this launch, the worst-case scenario would be that friends and family get great samples I force them to wear and I go back exclusively to my day job — a very livable outcome indeed. So here we go.
