How Elaine Turner updates the iconic Audrey Hepburn look for today's woman-on-the-go

When Elaine Turner isn’t in the design studio or visiting New York fashion editors about her collections, she can often be found at PTA meetings, dinner with her family and maybe, a cocktail with her best gal pals. It’s not a one-look-fits-all life, so Turner shops her own closet, pulling together stylish and classic ensembles, adding pieces from her namesake collections.

For fall 2011, Turner looked to Audrey Hepburn and the breathtaking city of Paris for design inspiration and the result is a sophisticated collection of pumps, flats, boots, shooties, clutches, totes and satchels for every occasion. The new collection, combined with Turner’s favorites from her own wardrobe, provides an excellent primer for some of fall’s most wearably luxe trends.

With Hepburn as a muse, Turner certainly didn’t lack for any material to work with. A still from the film Funny Face prompted Turner to interpret Hepburn’s pencil skirt, black cardigan and white collared shirt for the modern woman. Turner latched onto the menswear trend that she loves and recreated the style.

“I updated this look by wearing a chic menswear inspired jacket, a black pencil skirt and I added a new 1940s-inspired tie-front blouse that's all the rage right now. It's feminine and youthful,” Turner explains. “I added an on-trend, yet classic satchel bag in saddle ostrich and a pop of glam with the Piper pump in an animal hair calf print. This gives it an unexpected appeal.”

Not every occasion calls for something tailored. The easy way Hepburn slipped into a pair cigarette pants, a white oxford shirt and ballet flats, on and off movie sets, showed women how to look pulled together without a lot of fuss. It’s a style Turner finds immensely appealing.

“It is a look iconic to Audrey and everyone has these basic staples already in their wardrobe. I thought it would be a great outfit to showcase on how to update this clean, classic look,” Turner says. “I added a fun, printed Charlotte Tarantola cardigan (available at Elaine Turner boutiques) and a glittery, sequin ballet flat in an animal print.”

One of Turner’s favorite Hepburn ensembles was from the film Sabrina. In it, Hepburn’s character returns to New York a thoroughly modern woman after spending time at a cooking school in Paris. The Hubert Givenchy suit introduced a fresh direction in women’s suiting that Turner has an affinity for today.

“This is one my personal favorite outfits Audrey ever wore. I love the classic simplicity of the outfit and I also felt like most women have a beautiful black suit in their wardrobe, so it was a natural choice to update this type of outfit,” Turner says.

Not content to live in the past, Turner traded the fitted suit jacket for a black leather jacket hanging in her closet. She also toughened it up with black suede shooties (half shoe, half bootie).

“My Elan shooties have a modern, edgy flair. And they are on trend! I also added The Audrey, a chic, fun zig zag print top handle bag,” Turner says.

Turner took what she already had and used it to compliment fall’s trends that work best for her. It’s a method every modern woman can rely on each season to bring out their own sense of style.