It feels like eons ago that I first spotted Nara Smith on my Instagram feed. One quick follow later, and I was captivated. As a woman of color with German heritage myself, seeing someone with a similar background—and such effortless style—felt inspiring and grounding. Her makeup, her fashion, her lifestyle, her relationship with Lucky Blue Smith—everything about her drew me in. She was an It girl a few years ago and still is today.
From the early days, Smith had a loyal following, but she also had this mystique about her. Every now and then, she'd drop a Q&A, share a glimpse of her kids, open up about her journey with eczema (something I've always admired her honesty about), or take us behind-the-scenes of a photoshoot, but mostly, she remained elusive. So, you can imagine my excitement when she started showing up on my feed even more, this time with her iconic cooking videos. Her content has continued to evolve, giving us a deeper look at her style. And as a fashion lover, I'm here for it. One moment she's in the kitchen in a Miu Miu dress; the next, she's attending fashion week in Burberry, or exploring the city streets in Saint Laurent.
For our latest cover story, editorial director Lauren Eggertsen dressed Smith to the nines in Schiaparelli, Ferragamo, Dolce Gabbana, Khaite, and more coveted designers—it's peak fashion. Seeing those looks, I knew I had to find ways to recreate them for everyday life, as they featured some of the chicest trends—embossed leather, leopard print, and knee-high boots, to name a few. Dive into the story below to see how I captured the essence of Smith's style from the shoot.
The second that fall started, I made a full-on Pinterest board dedicated to leopard-print outfits I wanted to style using my own wardrobe. When I saw Smith dressed head-to-toe in leopard-print Dolce Gabbana, I knew this was my moment to lean in. When searching for leopard coats online, there were so many good options to choose from, but this one I found on Shopbop was the perfect match. It ticked all the boxes: cozy enough for trips to my chilly hometown over the holidays, oversize for that cool Dolce Gabbana vibe, and under $1000. I loved the matching beret on Smith, but to dial down the drama (at least just a touch!) I went for this Free People hat. Though it wasn't the same exact color or material, it still added that extra oomph to the look. Styled with Staud knee-high boots and sheer tights, I felt like I'd captured Smith's chic, elevated look perfectly.
In L.A., winter is more a state of mind than an actual season. That's why I was immediately drawn to Smith’s cropped Ferragamo coat; it's the ideal piece for our version of "cold." While I love a knee-length wool coat, one with a little less fabric is all I really needed and is better suited for the mild SoCal chill. The red satin scarf was the perfect pop against the black-on-black look.
Lauren's choice of Schiaparelli for Smith was nothing short of showstopping. The croc-embossed leather was *chef's kiss*, and I instantly knew I needed a similar vibe in my own wardrobe. I searched high and low to find the perfect inspired-by set to style. I came across this Mango jacket-and-pants combo and it blew me away. The Schiaparelli look featured a pair of thigh-high boots for a maximalist flair, but I went for these pants for a more everyday-friendly situation. And, of course, I had to add a matching bag like the look called for.
