The Look Book

Gaby Basora, Stylist

"I wear whatever the hell I want."

By Amy Larocca
Published Oct 23, 2005

(Photo: Jake Chessum)

What are you up to today?
I just came from prepping for a photo shoot, and I’m running to get my kids from school.

What do you do?
I’m a stylist and editor-at-large for a magazine called Violet. It’s a family-oriented lifestyle magazine that was created by Charles Mingus’s daughter, Keki.

What is the magazine’s take on parenting?
Well, when you have kids, your life changes no matter what, but you don’t want to lose your identity just because you’re a parent. A lot of magazines act as if there’s the civilized world and then there’s the parent world. Violet’s about having things that feel right to you as a person. It’s about making it work for yourself.

So what works for you?
I try to be who I am and allow my kids to be who they are at the same time. My older son—he’s 5—is totally into the basketball-jersey-and-shorts, hat-to-the-side look, like a little homeboy. That is my least favorite look, but I took a deep breath and said to myself, Let him be him. It’s not about me. I also try to broaden his mind. He said the other day that pink and purple are girl colors, and I opened his mind by saying, “Colors have no gender. Step away from the mainstream!”

What were your parents like when you were growing up?
My mom used to spend all her money on Petit Bateau and Cacharel clothes for me. All I wanted to do was go see my grandmother in Chicago so I could buy hot-pink shorts with a matching bomber jacket and roller skates with wings on the back and slide around on the seats of her Cadillac. My mom was horrified that I disdained Cacharel, but I guess now I understand her.

Where did you get this outfit?
At a Barbara Bui sample sale. The shark’s-tooth necklace is by my favorite jewelry designer, Alyssa Norton.

How would you describe your style?
I wear whatever the hell I want. I like to wear a vintage swimsuit over tights and boots— that’s actually my favorite outfit. I wore that to a Richard Phillips opening, and I was like, Paint me, Richard Phillips! I should be in a painting!