The Creatives: An Interview with Elisabeth Harris

Like so many of the styling gals who are featured in Creatives posts, Elisabeth and I go way back to before she studied documentary film at Vassar College and forged a stellar career in the documentary film industry. I knew her as a scrappy 15 year old, smart as a whip with pluck and ambition to spare who ended up shepherding docs on topics including Arafat & Sharon, 9/11, The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Paul McCartney, which have aired on The Discovery Channel, NBC, ABC, and PBS. She has worked as a field producer on "48 Hours" at CBS News. Her award winning independent film "The Hermit Of Manana" has traveled to numerous film festivals.  She also produced the independent feature documentary “My Mother’s Garden” which toured major festivals and aired on MSNBC.  And she had the great privilege of working on CBS tributes to both Walter Cronkite and Ted Kennedy.  Elisabeth produced a two-hour CBS documentary special, and best selling DVD, called "Elvis By The Presleys" and most recently has been a director & producer for the PBS show “History Detectives.”  When she is not the doing the heavily lifting of film producing, she is a gal about town, every bit the urban style guru. 

What do you see trending in fashion now?

The skinny jean with knee high boots trend doesn't seem to be going away and I am fine with that.  But now that spring is here I've been seeing a lot of sandals and colored jeans, sometimes with the cuff rolled up, circa 1993.  The jury is out on the cuff rolling.    I've also been seeing a lot of really large, chunky colorful necklaces which look great.

When was the last time you had a fashion epiphany?

I just bought another pair of boots with heels that I was afraid to wear because I had a feeling they would be really painful by the end of the day but my feet felt great all day long and I felt like the shoe gods were smiling down on me.  Maybe comfort and style can live in harmony after all?

What is your favorite High brand? And your low brand? How do you mix high and low?

I have a black pinstriped jacket from Elie Tahari with red silk cuffs that I am in love with.  I dress it down with Lucky jeans and boots.

What is your go-to uniform for a day of work? The weekend?

My best pair of jeans, boots, fitted jacket, and scarf.  And most importantly layers - because my offices are either freezing cold or steamy hot, depending on the day, so I have to always be prepared for both!  Also, as a freelancer, I see a broad range in wardrobe: I find that women in smaller, more independent production offices dress casually while in some of the more corporate offices I've worked in, women tend to go all out with heels and dresses.    The weekend - I like wear some crazier things I might not wear to work like silver polka dots or rainbow striped tights.

What is your favorite ILR piece and why?

I love the leather wrap cuff.   It is right up my alley of grownup tom-boy style and the color choices are perfect!

Who are your style icons?

Gwen Stefani, Twiggy, Michelle Obama

What are you living in these days?

Yellow Anthropologie jeans  and some new short brown boots.