This year's slate of St. Louisans deemed Fashion Originals includes three pairs: husband and wife, best friends and sisters. What's truly unique about this sextuplet is that each of them managed to describe their relationships and their style as something we can express only as yin and yang. These are not opposites, but complementary elements. Each person had signs of drama and pragmatism, color and Stoicism, the abstract and the realist. One of the sisters joked that the other was 60 percent realist but 40 percent abstract as in "I can't even believe she's trying to pull that off."
SARAH KRAMER, 34, MARRIED TO JASSEN JOHNSON, 31, ST. LOUIS
Jassen, owner of Renaissance Development Associates developing Midtown Alley Neighborhood
Describe Sarah's style: She's eclectic. That's the first thing that comes to mind. Whenever she's out shopping with friends, she always amazes people because she'll take something that they think looks awful, but she'll put it on and it looks great. She's confident, too. If she wasn't she wouldn't be able to pull some of her clothes off.
Describe your style: I wear a uniform of jeans and a jacket no matter what the occasion. When I put on khakis I look like a big dork.
What's he wearing: A jacket from Zara, tie and vest from Banana Republic, dress shirt from Brooks Brothers, jeans from the Gap, a Kenneth Cole watch, Ray Ban prescription glasses, his favorite Ferragamo belt with a horse bit buckle and Robert Wayne shoes from Neiman Marcus.
Sarah, director of communications and charitable giving for Pfizer
Describe Jassen's style: Jassen has a uniform, but he loves layers and jackets and cool shoes. And he always dresses up, even on a Saturday afternoon. He never ever likes to look sloppy. I have a few pairs of sweat pants, and he's threatened to burn them. He's actually plans out his outfits every day. He wore a suit to school the first day of first grade, so he's very ... um ... thoughtful about what he wears.
Describe your style: I like to stand out, so I want things that no one else will have. I don't buy outfits, ever. I buy different pieces here and there and put them together. Basically, I wake up and throw stuff on. One time at my junior prom, someone wore the same purple dress as me, and I was devastated. It scarred me.
What's she wearing: Red ruffled coat by Samuel Dong from Anatomy of Style, St. Louis; Max Azria shoes from Saks Fifth Avenue, costume jewelry from Nordstrom and A.G. jeans. Her wedding ring was designed by Jassen; the other ring was a gift from him.
JACOB LAWS, 27, WEST COUNTY, AND BEST FRIEND SYDNEY EISENSTEIN, 22, TOWN AND COUNTRY
Jacob, senior designer for Cure Design Group
Describe Sydney: Bag lady chic ... no, really she's always well put together even when she doesn't try. She's kind of effortlessly striking — 95 percent of the time. When she's in public, she likes to look good for her hubbie (Jacob and Sydney joke that they are gay husband and wife, which only fuels Sydney's grandmother's speculation that Jacob is not really gay).
How long have you known each other: We were Muny kids together, so about 15 years.
Describe your style: Tailoring is everything, even if something is off-the-rack, it can look like $1 million with tailoring.
What's he wearing: Dondup jeans, Etro shirt, Ben Sherman tuxedo jacket, Brooks Brothers pocket square, J. Crew tie, Prada belt, Gucci loafers and his grandfather's vintage gold watch ("I was wearing the big gold watch before the gold watch was cool," he said. Sydney retorts, "And I was friends with Jacob before Jacob was cool.")
Sydney, self-proclaimed vagabond on hiatus from New York fashion internships, she works part-time at Laurie Solet boutique
Describe Jacob's style: I'm thinking eclectically polished. Is that a term? He's always combining something new, and he really takes care of himself. He looks good, which makes me look good.
What's your style philosophy: Don't be boring or predictable and stay true to your own style no matter what the trends are. I don't really care what other people think, and I always have a little black go-to dress, and when it comes to heels, the higher the better. Oh, and it's always better to be overdressed than underdressed.
What's she wearing: As usual, Sydney borrows from her mom's couture closet, wearing a Gucci by Tom Ford dress, Mui Mui shoes trimmed in python, Van Clef vintage pearls and a Chanel bracelet.
SISTERS MARIANNA "MARI" DAVIS, 34, OF FLORISSANT, AND MALENE "LANI" DAVIS, 32, OF ATLANTA
Mari, co-owner and designer of Iram-Inal Designs (the two sister's nicknames backward)
Describe Lani's style: She's fly always ever since she was little. She wanted to wear makeup and heels too early and all that. She's chic and funky and bold. She altered the outfit she's wearing today, like this morning, by attaching those sleeves.
Why did you two become jewelry designers: It was Lani's idea. I graduated with a degree in biology from the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and she graduated with a degree in law from Syracuse University. We did jewelry as a creative outlet because school was so stressful and one day she was like, "We can do this for real."
So biology inspires some of your jewelry: Yes, the piece Lani is wearing today looks like chlorophyll, but she hates it when I talk science.
What's she wearing: Earrings and recycled jersey necklace from Iram-Inal Designs, Lane Bryant boots and an Old Navy dress.
Lani, co-owner and chief designer of Iram-Inal Designs, iidesigns.com
Describe Mari's style: She's very free with fashion and loves to combine pops of color. We both believe that bigger is better when it comes to jewelry. Our preference is to make a statement and be on the edge of style. Our mother is our inspiration because she always wore big, bold jewelry.
Describe your style: I own a lot of black, and I like to mix thrift items and vintage clothes with artistic pieces.
How do you combine your styles into jewelry: We both fine tune each other, and so far it's been two years in business full-time, and it's good.
What's your style philosophy: We don't believe that you have to spend a lot of money to look good. All of our items are under $100, and we are big believers in eco-friendly and recycled materials.
What's she wearing: An eco-friendly recycled palm wood Cereja necklace from Iram-Inal Designs, a modified dress from Target with new sleeves, boots from Target and plum leggings. And Lani cut her own hair, she says, "I'm a true DIYer."
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