Fashionable People: Ali’s Real-Life Style
I had the pleasure of spending time with Ali McNally while working on a House Tour of her New Orleans home, and the Toronto native is as gracious as she is gorgeous. And what a powerhouse! In addition to doing all the buying for Neon Heart—the boutique she owns with her husband Chris Scheurich—Ali is a fashion stylist, model, and frontwoman for the pop band YYZ. The girl has style for miles, so I asked her to share her take on fashion with us. This is what she had to say…
Your very favorite outfit: That changes depending on the weather, my mood, and how body-confident I’m feeling. Generally, whatever it is, it will be comfortable though.
The #1 item from your fashion wish list: There is a crazy faux fur coat by a young London designer named Clio Peppiatt that I desperately want.
The TV or movie character’s wardrobe you’d steal in a minute: Little Edie from (the 1976 documentary) Grey Gardens has always been a huge fashion inspiration to me.
Your best bargain find ever: I once found a well-loved vintage 70s Gucci bag at a thrift shop for a few dollars. That was a brilliant find.
Three things from your closet you couldn’t live without:
1. Black, high waisted skinny jeans from Acne Studios
2. My vintage 80s quilted Chanel bag
3. Sunglasses. Right now I’m loving my pair of Wolves sunnies from Valley Eyewear, a brand we sell at our shop Neon Heart.
The item you no longer have but wish you did: Luckily, I don’t really miss any of the items I’ve gotten rid of over the years. I guess that means I’m a good editor?
Most fashionable friend and why: I think my sister Diana (a graphic designer and illustrator) and my friend Mari Santos (a writer for xoVain) have great style. They never look like they try too hard, and each have their own inherent ‘thing’ going on. I admire that about them.
Your typical work “uniform”: I wear a lot of black at work because it looks smart. So black jeans, tops, dresses, jumpers…these are my go-tos. And because I work as a fashion stylist it is important to me to be comfortable, have a lot of pockets, and not feel like anything is hanging out.
FAVORITES:
IRL shop: I miss Liberty in London. I did a lot of damage to my credit card at that place over the years. It’s beautiful.
Online shop: I love browsing Net-a-Porter. Everything is laid out and photographed so well. They are great at what they do.
Makeup brand: I don’t wear a lot of makeup other than a red lip. I’m much more into skin care. I swear by Radical Skincare’s Skin Perfecting Screen SPF 30 and Bite Beauty’s Agave Lip Mask.
Haircare brand: I don’t really use any hair products save shampooing and conditioning a couple times a week. I alternate between Avalon Organics and Giovanni because they are sulphate-free.
Best jeans: Acne Studios jeans, hands down. I’ve been loyal to them for years.
Coolest sneakers: At the moment, I only like really classic styles like Converse Chuck Taylor’s. And only the high tops.
Signature scent: Vivienne Westwood’s Boudoir.
Go-to source for style inspiration: Real people, on the street. Fashion magazines and blogs are great but I love to see how people express themselves through their clothing on an everyday basis, in real life.
As a stylist, who do you most want to work with? Do you have a dream gig?
I wouldn’t say I have a definitive “dream gig,” per se. As long as I am meeting and working with fellow like-minded creatives, I am happy. I generally just enjoy the collaborative process and producing work the whole team can be proud of.
What has been your most exciting styling job to date?
Back when I started out assisting, I would get literal palpitations; I was so worried I would mess up on big jobs. I remember being particularly petrified when we were shooting Brad Pitt for the cover of Entertainment Weekly. Also there was a Hugo Boss campaign where I was scared I was out of my depth. But they are all worthwhile learning experiences and now I just take each job as it comes and try to enjoy it.
