Age: 47
Occupation: Banquet/Catering Manager & Event Specialist at The Toledo Club
Nancy LaFountaine, has been working in the private club industry since 1996 and, most likely, has had a hand in planning at least one event that you have attended over the past 20 years. Whether it be a golf outing at Stone Oak Country Club or a wedding at The Toledo Club, Nancy is the creative mind behind the event. Affectionately known by her high school nickname, Kiki, when out with her friends, LaFountaine has a shoe collection to rival that of any female celebrity. She also owns an extensive array of vintage furs that she has been collecting ever the past 8 years.
Where do you get your style inspiration? My mother and my grandmother, who both have a classic sense of style. They don’t follow the latest trends, but instead wear what is comfortable and looks good.
How does the work you do affect your fashion choices? The Toledo Club is a traditional, professional environment so I can’t wear avant garde outfits when I am working there. As a catering manager, clients trust me with their weddings, large corporate events and graduations, so I have to project an image that they are comfortable with, and as I have to walk up and down stairs, I can’t wear the 5-inch platforms that I love.
So you have a shoe obsession? Since I’m a shorter woman, I love to wear my heels! I have over 200 pairs of shoes. I especially love my wing-tipped oxford shoes for ladies— I have over 10 pairs in different colors and styles. If I’m wearing a business suit, I can put on one of my cute flats. When I go out to dinner, I put on a pair of strappy heels or a Mary Jane. I believe that a nice pair of shoes complete any outfit.
If the designer of your dreams could style you for a day, who would it be? Coco Chanel. You can buy a Chanel suit today, and 10 years from now people would still ask where it came from as if it was the latest fashion.
What is the one item in your wardrobe that you cannot live without? I have this one shirt dress in 5 different colors. I can dress it up at a corporate event with a blazer. In the winter months, I can put it on with leggings and boots. In the summertime, I can wear it with flip-flops and a ball cap.
Who do you most inspire with your fashion sense? My only granddaughter, London, who is four years old. She enjoys playing ‘”Fancy Lady” with me and all my clothing, not just a closet full, but a whole bedroom full in my house.
