Stephanie Osborne smiles as she tells how wonderful it is to be married to a man that likes a “hippy” woman.
“When I was young, I would be teased by my cousins because I had an hourglass figure,” says Stephanie, who was just honored as one of the recipients of the 2015 Men and Women of Fashion’s Prix d’Elegance awards. “Then when I met Terrance, my husband, he sketched me nude and suddenly my hips didn’t look fat to me – they looked sexy. It was like magic for Terrance to approve of me just the way I am.”
Now the attractive red-headed lady with a 27-inch waist and 43-inch hips just relaxes and collects clothes that highlight her hourglass figure. “Every woman doesn’t need to be pencil thin to be attractive,” she says. ”It was exciting to be recognized by the group with the award that is for more than just dressing well; it is also about giving back to the community and doing it in style.”
Stephanie is very much a part of the success of her husband, a noted artist who has had the distinction of being commissioned to do four New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival posters and three official posters for Zulu. “I have always worked with Terrance and we both are happy to give back to the community by contributing his art to worthy causes,” she says. One thing both Stephanie and Terrance have come to accept and enjoy is that their philanthropic generosity has pushed them into the spotlight in the community.
“Now I am much more style conscious and I love planning what I will wear to each public event,” she says. Stephanie shops locally at the Chatta Box, bebe, BCBG, and Dillard’s, and she also likes to order from Dama Talya, where they often design clothes specifically for her. “Dama Talya designed a beautiful emerald green jumpsuit for me for a special cookies and cocktail benefit I recently attended,” she says.
So how does a woman proudly show off her hourglass figure? “First it all starts with good posture and a smile,” she says. “Without a smile you may not be relaxed enough to hear when people compliment you. Don’t forget shoulders back conveys confidence and allows your clothes to fit your body better.”
Stephanie’s closet is neat and well organized. “I definitely follow the rule of cleaning out my closet of things I haven’t worn in a year,” she says. “The exception to the rule is to keep a beautiful evening dress at least three years, or forever for something extra special. Just note where you have worn each evening dress and don’t wear it again to any other function by the same organization. Most of all perk up your confidence and you will always look good.”
She admires the fashion style of Anita Demps (wife of Dell Demps, general manager of the NBA Pelican Basketball team) and Joan Ingram, a well-known local volunteer. “Both women are always well-dressed,” Stephanie says. “I always look forward to seeing them at public events.”
While she enjoyed shopping in thrift stores when she was in high school, those days are over. “I do remember finding the cutest a-line GoGo dress in a thrift store when I was in high school, and my sister once gave me a leather jacket from a thrift store that I thought rocked my style. Now I shop carefully for everything I wear, always being conscious of adding fashions that flatter my hourglass figure to please my husband. He is a very stylish dresser and he pays a lot of attention to everything I wear.”
​
