Growing up in Louisville, Claudia Coffey attended Assumption High School, Indiana University for her undergrad degree in Journalism and Political Science and received her graduate degree from Georgetown in Washington DC. She believes that all those years of wearing a uniform really inspired her to get into fashion when she could actually wear real clothes. When Coffey was a teenager she remembers how excited she would get when her mom would buy her the Spring and Fall issues of Vogue. Coffey says she “would tear out the pages she liked and put them in a folder or on a cork board” She and her mother would then scour all the stores they could to try to duplicate the look. Coffey is now one of the nominees for The Voice Tribune’s Best Dressed.
What motivates you style wise?
“I have two distinctly different styles in my closet. My work wear is described as classic chic. I really have to dress for the camera and that means making sure I wear bright color, simple lines and no distracting jewelry. You want people to look at your face not your clothes. I adore Diane Sawyer's style on TV. She defines effortless elegance. Off camera, I really like to play it down and be simpler. I have to dress up every day so it’s nice to be more laid back. Off camera, I'm wearing Adriano Goldschmied jeans. LTD nation makes such wonderfully comfortably. T-shirts, a simple tote from Lambskin and of course you'd have to pry me away from my open toe pumps. I love Katie Holmes' laid back style. She always looks good without looking too made up but she's polished. ”
What can you tell me about your recent work with Dress for Success Louisville?
“I am so inspired by what Dress for Success Louisville does for women. They help around 70 women a month that are referred to them. Its one thing to finally get a job interview but to be prepared inside and out is where Dress for Success comes in. They give women the job training skills they need, help them prep for interviews and help style them head to toe so they feel like a million bucks when they go in for interviews. I dropped off several suits this week and had a chance to meet the women that they serve directly. To see the look on the women's faces when they step out of the dressing room looking like they are interview ready is amazing. They just glow; you see them brimming with confidence. It’s just an amazing organization. And they are so successful they really need a bigger space and are currently looking for help with that initiative. ”
What are your favorite things in your closet?
“Stuart Weitzman open toe pumps, Genetic Denim jeans, Kenneth Cole fall yellow trench, Suede and leather booties by Mark and James by Badgley Mischka. I have two St John Suits that were given to me as gifts... I often feel like I should put a pad lock on my closet. ”
You can catch Coffey and her classic chic work fashions on WHAS 11 News at 4:00 p.m as the anchor at 4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday starting September 12, 2011.
Photograph Courtesy of Claudia Coffey.
