Meet NS Magazine's 2024 Women Of Style

Sophisticated with a dash of swagger—these North Shore trendsetters prove that style is indeed a state of mind.

Kayleigh Li

Fashion/style influencer, @itskaykayleigh

"Always changing” is how Kayleigh Li describes her personal style, and that chameleon quality has certainly struck a chord: With her gamut of chic looks posted in exotic locations the world over, the Highland Park resident and fashion/style influencer has racked up more than 100K followers on the ’gram. Drawing inspiration from “the vast tapestry of life and the unexpected”—including her travels, which will take her to Thailand and Japan this fall—Li is one North Shore fashionista with a truly global perspective. Here, she shares some of her personal passions that keep her stylishly inspired.

Breakfast: Iced latte

Wake-Up Time: 8 a.m.

Diet: Low-carb, high-protein, lots of veggies

Escape: Travel

Workout: Hot yoga, swimming

Last Meal: A traditional Chinese dinner cooked by my dad.

Supplements: Iron, multi-vitamin

Go-To Luxury Brand: Bottega Veneta

Bag: Hermès, Bottega Veneta, Chanel

Watch: Rolex

Workout Shoes: On

Workout Playlist: Mix

Workout Buddy: Myself

Best Advice: Believe in yourself.

Dinner: Fruits, vegetables

Bedtime: 11 p.m.

On My Nightstand: Perfume, books

Gym Bag: Random totes from different museums/brands

Desert Island Essentials: Phone, sun hat, maxi dress

Zodiac: Sagittarius

Chanel Classic 11.12 lambskin quilted mini rectangular flap bag in burgundy.

Bottega Veneta sterling silver triangle hoop earrings.

Rolex 1908 wristwatch in platinum with ice-blue dial.

Bottega Veneta Intrecciato leather mules.

Double-breasted croc-embossed leather coat by Bottega Veneta.

Colette May

Owner, Kindle Communications, kindlecommunications.com

A passion for fashion and design fuels Evanston resident and Kindle Communications owner Colette May (@colettemmay), who lived in the Gold Coast before falling for her current abode, an Italianate style property that she redesigned herself. A fan of labels like The Row, Chanel and Gucci, May keeps her fashion game on point by regularly attending fashion weeks in New York, Paris and Milan. Looking ahead to fall, May shares, “I’m looking forward to continuing to grow my company, and most importantly, mentoring the up-and-coming leaders within our company. I’m also excited to continue following my passion for interiors and making spaces more beautiful.”

Breakfast: A banana, date, almond milk and peanut butter smoothie

Wake-Up Time: Between 5 and 6:30 a.m.

Diet: Moderation

Doppelganger: Audrey Hepburn (I’d like to think)

Nemesis: People who are late

Escape: My bed or my garden

Uniform: A cotton dress

Hotel: The Four Seasons in Florence, Italy

Workout: Barre and strength at Salt in Kenilworth and Pilates at Reform in Wilmette

Last Meal: Pasta

Mentor: God

My Style In Three Words: Feminine, elegant, timeless

Go-To Brand: The Row

Watch: Cartier Baignoire

Jewelry: Van Cleef & Arpels, Sidney Garber and Buccellati

Workout Outfit: Alo or Splits59

Best Advice: Don’t worry about something before it happens.

Philanthropy: PAWS and Clearbrook

Mantra: What stands in the way becomes the way.

Streaming Now: The Gentlemen

Dinner: Tocco or RL

Bedtime: Too early to admit

Theme Song: “Tall Trees in Georgia” by Eva Cassidy

Desert Island Essentials: My daughter, my husband and flowers

Zodiac: Cancer

Loop link bracelet in 18K yellow gold by Sidney Garber.

Buccellati pendant in silver with diamonds and light blue agate.

Cartier Baignoire mini model watch in 18K yellow gold with black varnished calfskin strap

Isora cotton-silk oversized midi dress by The Row.

Dolce & Gabbana polka dot poplin A-lne midi dress.

Genna Friedman

Owner, Gents Custom Clothiers, @gentscustom

At the helm of not one but two style initiatives—men’s custom clothing company Gents Custom Clothiers and her children’s fashion education program Fashion and Friends (@fashionnfriends)—Highland Park resident Genna Friedman is delving into all sides of the industry. Whether it’s helping gentlemen clients looks their best or leading classes, workshops and private lessons for the next generation of budding young North Shore fashionistas, the devoted mother of two always has her eye out for fresh new looks. Her excitement for the coming season? The launch of her first fall fashion class, where she will teach first through fifth graders the fundamentals of fashion design and guide them in creating their own portfolios.

Diet: High-protein

Doppelganger: Amanda Peet

Nemesis: Humidity

Escape: My closet

Weakness: Chocolate

Uniform: All-black athleisure

Hotel: Deer Path Inn Lake Forest

Workout: Tabata at Midtown with Lindsay Borkan

Last Meal: Turkey burgers

Supplements: Multivitamin with extra vitamin D

Mentor: My late grandmother Fay My Style In Three Words Classic, tailored, thrifted

Go-To Luxury Brand: Prada

Bag: Olympia Le-Tan

Watch: Cartier

Last Item I Splurged On: Yves Saint Laurent belt via North Shore Exchange

Workout Outfit: Alo

Best Advice: Be your own boss.

Philanthropy: Cycle for Survival

Mantra: Be yourself.

Streaming Now: The Bear

Dinner: Out at Pomeroy in Winnetka

Soulmate: My husband, Cory

On My Nightstand: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Theme Song: “Beautiful” by Carole King

Gym Bag: Marc Jacobs

Desert Island Essentials: Sunscreen, toothbrush and Aquaphor

Zodiac: Leo

Prada women’s boot

Small Tank Louis Cartier watch with 18K yellow gold case, beaded crown set with a sapphire cabochon and alligator-skin strap.

Marc Jacobs large Traveler tote

Saint Laurent folk buckle belt In shiny leather.

Olympia Le-Tan clutch featuring “Gazing Beyond” by Ninon Réo

Maggie Meiners

Filmmaker and visual artist, maggiemeiners.com

Style has deep meaning for filmmaker and visual artist Maggie Meiners, whose compelling work highlights feminism and contemporary notions of gender, domesticity, beauty, consumption and body image. A Winnetka native and resident, she uses everything from photography to film stills, cultural artifacts and magazines, often incorporating bright colors in frenetic ways to create works that now reside in the Montclair Art Museum, Wheaton College and more as well as multiple private collections. Currently in post-production for That Old Beautiful Love, a short film she produced and directed from an original story by Glencoe resident Kelly Q. Anderson, Meiners is focused on submitting to film festivals and hosting a variety of local events—all with a one-of-a-kind personal style she labels “laid-back power clash.”

Breakfast: Smoothie with collagen, kale, walnut milk and protein powder

Wake-Up Time: Weekdays 5:01 a.m., weekends 6:30 a.m.

Diet: No alcohol, limited sugar

Escape: Our place in Wisconsin

Hotel: The Whitby Hotel, NYC

Workout: Pilates, walking, yoga and my Bellicon rebounder

Mentor: My husband

Go-To Luxury Brand: I tend to pick up vintage luxury items—Gucci, Prada, Balenciaga—at my friend Melissa Carter’s showroom, Kameo Vintage.

Bag: Summer: Sézane straw market bag; fall/winter: Hermès crossbody bag

Watch: Shinola

Denim: Celine, Frame, Mother, vintage Levi’s

Last Item I Splurged On: La Ligne cashmere sweater from SPACE 519

Workout Playlist: Wiser Than Me podcast, Smartless podcast, silence

Workout Buddy: Birds and suburban wildlife

Best Advice: Advice given to me: Your job is to love. Advice I give: Look at what is right in front of you.

Mantra: The Serenity Prayer Streaming Now: Chicago Sky, Chicago Cubs, Presumed Innocent, street style videos

Dinner: Miso black cod or steak frites

Theme Song: “Roar” by Katy Perry

Desert Island Essentials: Water, sunscreen and online library access

Zodiac: Leo

From Ligne mini Marin sweater in olive/ black

Hermès Herbag zip cabine bag.

Gucci’s Sylke leather creeper-style loafers in Mystic White

Le High flare jeans from Frame.

Balenciaga Le City leather handbag

The Canfield sport stainless steel and ceramic chronograph watch in pink by Shinola.

---