Girl of the Month: Caroline Sieber

Of all the high-profile fashion-related jobs, we're most intrigued by the honorary positions, such as muse or brand ambassador. Though the responsibilities that come with said employment elude us—we assume wearing gorgeous gowns, marvelous maquillage, and sipping champagne at all the right parties are mandatory duties—high-end luxury labels are utilizing a smart strategy by tapping an international group of young and fashionable tastemakers to represent the spirit of their companies and act as mascots for their brands. While Christian Dior has several emissaries (most recently, Harley Viera-Newton accepted the role of House DJ for Dior Beauty), Chanel is taking the concept to a new level and has anointed five (Coco's signature number) alluring ladies to fill this glamorous, ambiguous post. Though the entire quintet are interesting to be sure, we think that Mr. Lagerfeld really set the bar high by picking Caroline Sieber, a raven-haired beauty with ravishing taste, to represent the storied fashion house. While we have long admired this Austrian-born, London-based stylist's look, we wanted to take the time to introduce you, dear readers, to this industry-insider who's poised to make a splash on both sides of the pond—and beyond.



Though Sieber came to London to be an accountant, it's clear that number-crunching took a backseat to being a fixture on countless best-dressed lists and a constant on the posh party circuit. Since first becoming a stylist for starlets like Emma Watson, our GOTM has managed to create a chic look all her own—a balance between classic sophistication and boldness, tempered with androgynous accents. Sieber has been known to sum up her style as a "youthful reinvention" of her icon, Jane Birkin (and she is a huge fan of sixties-inspired dramatic eye makeup!), and counts Balenciaga, Balmain, Yves Saint Laurent, Charles Anastase, Burberry Prorsum, and Chanel—naturally!—as her favorite designers and brands. It's obvious her passion for fashion is reciprocated; the industry's elite are enthusiastic supporters of the leggy Euro, as evidenced by her collection of the seasons' most covetable frocks and accessories.

Sieber wore one such all-star dress—specifically Prada's icy-teal lace confection from Miuccia's F/W 08 collection—when she attended an exhibition at London's Design Museum late last year. The frock's New Look silhouette, pale palette, and conservative long sleeves look smashing paired with unfussy hair and simple makeup. Though Prada's embroidered statement pieces are no longer available, try Camilla and Marc's Annalu Dress ($650) or ASOS' Lace Dress ($64) to satisfy any fancy-fabric cravings. Just make sure to finish the look with glossy side-swept hair, minimal jewelry, and clean make-up look. Sieber is a fan of a bare, very natural face (which she achieves by using Chanel's Hydramax + Active Tinted Moisturizer ($60) in Sunlit during the summer) with a bold, red and matte lip color, like Chanel's Rouge Hydrabase Crème Lipstick ($29) in Coco Red.

Aside from her mastery of fancier fare, Sieber is also a pro when it comes to incorporating classic separates into her wardrobe with her own unique panache. For example, she wore Chanel's signature quilted jacket—the ultimate in lady-like allure—with rough and tumble pieces for an in-store party at London's Missoni boutique this March. To get a similar look, we recommend layering Kimchi Blue's Cropped Origami Blazer ($78) over an easygoing white shirt (Sieber favors those from Isabel Marant) and your favorite broken-in pair of black jeans for a successful high-low ensemble.

When asked to define her style, Sieber notes that she tends to eschew anything that is too trendy, polished, or overtly sexy, and often accessorizes her outfits with tough accents such as leather belts and aggressive heels. For example, when she wore a vividly patterned dress to Luella Bartley's London store launch, the jet-setter grounded the impressionistic print with a wide leather belt. This addition worked in two ways: it breaks up the colorful expanse of fabric (which could otherwise overwhelm Sieber’s lithe frame) and adds some edge to the brightly-hued piece. We're so wild about the result, we sought out this Lipsy Printed Floral Tulip Dress ($103) from ASOS and Vera Wang's Wide Elastic Belt ($195), as the combo will help you achieve a more budget-friendly version of Sieber's style.

In addition to being perfectly turned out for high-wattage fashion events, Sieber knows how to nail a festive outfit for non-industry events. While attending Andi and Patty Wong's 2007 Chinese New Year bash in London (second from left), she opted for a brass-buttoned strapless dress with a feathered skirt from Burberry Prorsum's S/S 2008 collection. We love how Sieber's addition of a slim leather belt and bondage stilettos tones down the femininity of the festive frock. Clearly, she knows the power of a good belt and stellar shoes: they can complete a look and add just the right amount of eye-catching attitude. Such is the case with her ensemble for a presentation of Chanel's 2008 pre-fall collection. She paired a metal-embellished cincher and above-the-ankle boots (from the same Burberry Spring S/W 08 season) with an off-the-shoulder black tulle and tiered silk dress from Chanel's F/W 06 collection. These additions give a little extra contradiction and playfulness to a seriously beautifully designed cocktail piece—try a treasured vintage belt and Juicy Couture's Cici Suede Ankle Boots ($375) with your favorite filmy frock to get an equally chic end result.

All in all, we couldn't be more thrilled that this doe-eyed mademoiselle with impeccable style has captured the rapt attention of fashion tastemakers and followers alike. While we may still not have a firm understanding of the responsibilities inherent in her representative role, after surveying some of her most notable ensembles, we are quite certain that Sieber is the perfect contemporary embodiment of the classic Chanel ethos: modern, independent, iconic, confident, and above all else, effortlessly chic!—Kate Mulling

All photos, from Getty Images.