I keep hearing the theory that designers will be filling their upcoming ad campaigns with “safe” commercial models in these uncertain economic times. This theory makes sense to me, when profits are bleak and competition fierce, avant garde is perhaps not the way to go when trying to sell your brand. Therefore, I was surprised to hear that DKNY was replacing Vlada Roslyakova with someone I had never even heard of. Thanks to Google, however, I quickly learned that I was pretty much the only one who hadn’t heard of socialite and New York and internet it-girl Harley Viera Newton. Thanks to my favorite internet search engine, I can tell you that her dad worked in music and her mom in fashion (I feel like I have heard this before, no?) and that she keeps herself very busy as a budding photographer ( having done an internship at Mario Testino, no less), she helms the DJ booth at Lit and various parties, plays bass in Lissy Trullie’s band and still finds time to attend NYU full-time and work a job in retail. Phew! I need a nap just thinking about all the running around she must do. Most importantly for our purposes here, her sense of style is young and quirky, sometimes vintage-girly and other times rocker-chic and always completely covetable.

Not only do I love her style but her attitude towards it. According to Refinery29 she’s influenced by effortless people she’ll see on the street, denouncing trends in favor of confidence. “If you’re not comfortable and you’re aware of wearing an outfit, everyone else is going to be aware that you’re wearing an ‘outfit.’ That’s not style, that’s trying to be stylish.”

Harley counts Tom Binns as her top fashion icon, declaring him her “favorite, favorite, favorite”. These Classic Safety Pin earrings from the jewelry designer (and former CFDA Fashion Award winner) are a very cool feminine take on punk rock’s favorite accessory:

Source: Refinery29