Style Counsel: Kelsey Wing

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Occupation: Manager, Mannequin Boutique; Stylist
Her style: Vintage but not retro


Kelsey Wing
Kelsey Wing

Photograph by Annette Navarro

Wearing vintage seems tricky. How do you keep things modern and not costume-y?
I don’t want people to know if I’m wearing vintage or current. I just mix it all up. I love big ’90s tops, and I’ll stick them with a current pant, like leather. I always say don’t go literal vintage. If you want to get a dress, make it modern with a different shoe.

Your posts on Mannequin’s Instagram show you styling many of the shop’s donations on yourself. You look like you’re having so much fun.
[Once, we got] a big donation of Escada trouser pants. They were all slightly different, and I stayed late that night trying them all on. As soon as I posted my pictures, a few of my main, younger customers came in here asking, “Where are those pants?”

What else makes your stylist Spidey sense tingle?
I love vintage bags. The shape and detail are incredible. They’re so unique and they just don’t make them like that anymore.

For some people, vintage means the Mad Men era. You have a different take.
I always look accidentally ’80s, but I don’t mind. I just got a big white coat. I’ve been wearing my hair in a high ponytail. Leather, fur, and Doc Martens—you can walk through snow and puddles in them, they look amazing and last forever.

Us rank and file dressers look to stylists for inspiration. Who inspires you?
I get inspired by young people and really old people. There’s an Instagram called Advanced Style, which is all women 65 and up. It’s my favorite. They’re at a point in their lives where they’re so confident, and they’ll wear huge hats and capes. My favorite compliment ever was when someone told me I look like a punk version of Iris Apfel.

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