Closet Visit : Deborah Kaplan

Deborah Kaplan is a screen writer who lives with her husband, lovely daughter (one more on the way! ) and their dog "Monkey" in Beverly Hills.

Heather told me "Jeana, you've got to do Deb's closet.", and Clare said Deb is one of her style heros. Needless to say, I was so curious. When I finally visited her closet, I was like "Forget, Carry Bradshaw!". I was dying over her amazing Marni collection (you all know how I feel about Marni). If I didn't have to do the photo shoot, I would have had spend the whole day trying on everything in her closet. I asked Deb to show me her favorites and it was not easy. There were so many amazing things in her collection that she loves (how do you chose between your babies?!). I loved how she treats them like precious art pieces in a closet and I could see her LUCKY daughters wearing them in 20 years.

Deb was so photogenic and natural in front of the camera. I kept saying "Are you sure you are not a model?". She is one beautiful woman with brains.



Describe your style.
Eclectic and a sucker for drama. I love a big collar, a huge accessory. As I get older, I'm moving towards quality over quantity. And every year I vow to transition to some sort of "uniform dressing", but there are so many beautiful things out there... how can you possibly??

Which Fashion blogs & magazines do you read?
I read The Cut pretty much every day. Wayne Tippets Street Style Aesthetic. I'm also enjoying NAAG, Agyness Deyn's new-ish blog. On paper -- the classics: Vogue, Bazaar, W ...



Do you have your favorite Etsy sellers you'd like to share?
I hate to give up my best Etsy source but I'm crazy about The Feather Feet Beat. Her shop is listed under "smoobage" -- she has made a ton of feather earrings for me. Her combinations are wild and since I don't have pierced ears, they're also light and comfortable enough to wear all day. I browse on Archive Vintage -- before I was a mom I had lots of time to comb through racks at vintage stores but that's an activity from a former life now.



What are your favorite place to shop?
Barney's, Creatures Of Comfort ... I dream of going to the new Lanvin boutique in N.Y.C. but it's a very expensive dream so I'm putting it aside for the time being.

Does your little girl play dress up in your closet?
She loves to put on my shoes and jewelry... I'm so reluctant to get rid of things I no longer wear -- I'm saving everything for my daughters. When YSL first launched the Muse bag, you could get it embossed -- I put Keaton's initials on it instead of mine so it could be hers one day. My mom saved nothing, so I'm clearly running in the other direction!



Which items are your most favorite things in your closet?
My Risto Galaxy dress, a black corseted Vivienne Westwood, and the gold Hermes Medor my husband bought me. They don't produce it in gold any longer so I'm very protective of it. I also have this ridiculously huge Ann Demeulemeester black sweater with ribbon ties that I refuse to part with. It looks like a ratty old muppet and is completely unflattering but it's the coziest thing I own.



Who are your style icons?
Cate Blanchett, Talitha Getty, Jane Birkin, Loulou de la Falaise

Current trend you like, current trend you dislike.
Happy to welcome back wide-legged trousers. As far as dislikes go, I'd like to say "to each his own"... but I could live without formal shorts and those dresses that could pass for shirts. I'm content with being able to bend over and pick up my keys without showing everyone my name and address.


Can you give us smart shopping advice?
Can you give me smart shopping advice?
Okay, the only thing I've really figured out is that you needn't buy anything in L.A. until it goes on sale. It doesn't get cold enough to wear winter or warm enough to wear summer until sale season begins anyway... Also if you find pants that look outstanding on you, buy two and have one tailored for heels and one for flats. Leesa Evans, my brilliant costume designer friend, taught me that one!



Who are your favorite designers?
Dries, Maison Martin Margiela, Marni, Isabel Marant ... I am waiting not-so-patiently for the Vivienne Westwood store to open. Her clothes definitely suit me. Sadly, I'm always attracted to items that look good on boyish figures (which I don't have) and I don't think I'll ever learn my lesson -- I should probably wear Westwood more often. I also really love Tsumori Chisato, Risto Bimbiloski and I just bought my first piece of Suno. Their prints are really fun... For shoes, I love LD Tuttle, Rachel Comey, Margiela and my Swedish Hasbeens. I have a great collection of Clare Vivier clutches and think Jerome Dreyfus also makes very smart bags.



Do you have any items you've been eyeing for fall?
I would be thrilled to own a Celine luggage tote but it feels really extravagant right now. I'm shopping my closet this fall, to be honest, but ask me again when the Celine resort collection comes in. It's breathtaking!!

Where do you find inspiration for your work.
I eavesdrop, I read a lot of books, I bake. I get a lot of my best ideas in the shower.



Thank you, Deb!!

* More photos on my Flickr
* If you missed last closet visits : Kathryn Bentley, Bo Carney, Clare Vivier, Heather Taylor