arts&life

fashion

Street Style

This month:
Erika Bocknek

Jodi Feld

Columnist

Name: Erika Bocknek, 37
Where: Spotted at a Thread event in
n
West Bloomfield
City of residence: Farmington Hills s
Profession: Assistant professor of
counseling psychology, Wayne State e
University
What are you wearing? I am wearing
ng
an Isabella Oliver dress from A Pea in
the Pod. I’m three months pregnant
and this is actually my first outing in
n
it — I think the tag might still be on
n it!
My shoes are new this season from the
BCBG store. My bracelet is Gorjana,
from Nordstrom. One of my necklaces
ces
is of my [two] kids’ initials. We got it t at
Stone’s and I’ve worn it every single
day since I got it. It’s in rose gold,
which I really love. I don’t remember r
where I got my choker; I just really like
ike
it. I also consider my hair an accessory.
ory. I’ve
been dyeing the underside since 2009
09 and it’s
been every shade of purple and pink.
k. I started
dyeing it after I defended my dissertation.
tation. I
had a very “untethered” feeling afterwards,
rwards,
and I happened to be going to my hairdresser
airdresser
that day. I wanted something bold — maybe a
drastic cut or something — and she suggested
dyeing my hair. She had all of these fun colors
and since Cyndi Lauper’s always been
en my spiri-
tual animal, I decided to dye it. It’s really become
part of who I am. I find it empowering
ng that I
am a professional and a mother, but t I can still
s, even on a
express myself with my hair. Besides,
drab day, it’s just a fun accessory to add to all my
outfits.

ught about
Describe your style: I’ve never thought
ink it’s
defining my style before, but I do think
y. Like, not
important to be present for your day.
seen in my pajamas, but dressed for my event.
nds or work
Whether that be lunch with my friends
or a play date, I see getting dressed up as show-
m really
ing respect for myself. Right now, I’m

30

July 27 • 2017

jn

ab
about form and func-
t tion. I like to wear what
m
makes me feel good. I
wan
want my clothes to be fun,
too. My life
but accessible,
acc
life; it’s about
isn’t a celebrity
ce
I think I am also
work and play.
p
When I’m not pregnant,
feminine. Whe
my style is always
alway really girly. I like
having a pretty piece
pie or two in my closet
me up. I have a really
that I can use to perk m
beautiful pair of Alice + Olivia
Oli wide-legged, high-
waisted, blue silk pants. I feel really confident in
them paired with a black bodysuit, or I have a
ballet wrap sweater that I also love to wear with
I love the feminin-
them. And I love high heels.
h
live in New York and I
ity of them. I used to liv
would walk blocks and blocks in them. They
gave me “Barbie feet,” but I just love them.

What inspires you: I really love how fashion can say
something about who a person is or how they feel. Not
everybody is meant for the same style,
so I really appreci-
s
ate authentic style — people who a are confident in what
they are wearing and not just a hanger
for the newest
han
pictures of celebrities like
trend. I love thinking about old pic
Audrey Hepburn. She was so tailored
tailor and feminine. Or
Katharine Hepburn with her wide leg pants and inspired
menswear. Even Ali MacGraw and the American bohe-
mian, ’70s thing she did. For me, shopping
sh
is a creative
exercise — it’s energizing for me lik
like coffee. I’m very inter-
w
ested in people and I try to notice what
they’re wearing.
I’ve lived in lots of different places — New York, D.C., New
Orleans — but Detroit is one of my fa
favorite places to people
watch. There’s so much courage and individuality
i
in Detroit.
That’s what inspires me.

What’s something no one knows about
abo you: When I was
a kid, I really wanted to be a fashion des
designer, and I used to
sketch designs on this little set that my mom bought for me.
Eventually, other passions took over and I’m not in a creative
field anymore, but last year I taught myself
my
to sew. I’ve started
buying fabric and making clothes for m
my daughter. One day, if
and when I have time, maybe I’ll pursue that passion again. •

