Some of the looks in Arlene Hirschfeld's Fashion Life.
By Lesley Kennedy
A long-time community volunteer and leader, Arlene Hirschfeld has dedicated countless hours to Denver charities, foundations and organizations. Just check out a few highlights from the former high school English teacher’s resume:
- Appointed by Gov. Roy Romer in 1990 to serve on the Colorado Women’s Economic Development Council
- Appointed by Gov. Bill Owens in 1988 to serve on the Executive Residence Commission
- Appointed by First Lady Jeannie Ritter in 2008 to serve on the Governor’s Residence Preservation Fund
- Board Chair of the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado during 1999-2001
- President of the Junior League of Denver in 1986-87
- Member of the Colorado Women’s Forum, the Executive Board of the Children’s Diabetes Foundation at Denver and the Denver Art Museum. She also serves on the board of the Rose Community Foundation, where she just completed her term as Board Chair, Mizel Museum and is on the Advisory Board of the Women’s Vision Foundation.
- Inducted into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame in 2006
And, on Saturday evening (Sept. 26), Hirschfeld will be honored by the Children’s Diabetes Foundation at The High Hopes Carousel Ball.
We’d like to add the title of one of Denver’s most stylish women to her list of accomplishments. Known for always looking great, Hirschfeld says her favorite stores include Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Lawrence Covell and Mario di Leone, all in Cherry Creek.
“I like to shop in Denver and support the local businesses,” she says. “Sometimes I’ll see something in New York, and I’ll call the Denver store, so I can buy it here.”
While Hirschfeld tends to lean toward meeting-appropriate neutrals for her wardrobe, she also says she likes to mix in brighter hues.
“I do love color,” she says. “Now, I’m in a purple mode. I usually stick with beige or black if I’m going to meetings, but I’ll mix in a splash of red with a jacket.”
With her busy schedule, which includes meetings, fundraisers and events — often all on a weekly basis — she has to be able to take things from day to night with ease.
“I tend to do a lot of black, because I can wear it with different tops for different meetings,” she says. “It all depends on where you’re going or what you’re doing. I often just change my shoes or purse in the car, depending on what’s next.”
And she’s careful with her purchases.
“Of course I love clothes – don’t we all – but I love to mix and match,” she says. “If I have a special piece, I don’t get rid of it. It rests. I just wore a beaded dress to a wedding that was 40 years old. I only buy things that I really like.”
We asked Hirschfeld to track her looks for a few weeks. Here’s a peek inside her fashion life.
-
- Some of the looks in Arlene Hirschfeld’s Fashion Life.
-
- Wedding
-
- Patron party
-
- Morning meeting
-
- Art museum meeting
-
- Meeting
-
- Meeting/interview
-
- Golf outing
-
- Celebration dinner
-
- Luncheon
Wedding, elegant cocktail attire: “That’s a favorite dress of mine. I saw it in the window at Andriesen’s, and just had to have it. I was so sad to see them go.”
Patron party: Hirschfeld has been working behind the scenes with the Civic Center Conservancy on trying to renovate the park. “It was their fundraiser and they had a big patron party at the park with Gary Sinise’s band playing.” The long black Armani jacket, from Mario di Leone, looks elegant with white slacks, a white top and a black and white Chanel bag.
Early morning meeting: Hirschfeld wore this striped Chanel jacket from Neiman Marcus with black slacks and a red purse for a Governor’s Residence Preservation Fund board meeting. “It was an early meeting at 7:30 a.m., so it was a bit more casual.” To dress up the jacket for a luncheon or more formal event, she’ll wear it over a black sleeveless dress with dressy shoes.
Art museum board meeting: A red jacket, slim black skirt and black peep-toe slingbacks were appropriate attire for a noon Denver Art Museum board meeting at the museum.
Meeting: Hirschfeld paired a black jacket with a wide white band from Mario di Leone with a floral scarf and Gap T-shirt. “I love those Gap round-neck T-shirts. And I love to wear scarves. Often, I leave in the morning and I’m wearing something for a lunch appointment, and I have to go to dinner after, and make it all work.” To dress up this look, she’d swap out the T-shirt for a dressier blouse and add pearls.
Meeting/interview: ”I was meeting with a young woman who is part of a magazine and wanted to talk to me about my philanthropy.” She wore a black suit and white top accessorized with black and white Chanel shoes and handbag.
Golf outing: “In the middle of it all you have to have fun. Whether we’re spending time at our job for pay or not for pay, we need to have balance. Maybe it’s an exercise class – I love the social aspect of it. But I try to play as much golf as I can. It keeps you young. I played with Barry’s mother when she was 88!” This day, she wore cropped pants and a navy long-sleeve polo shirt.
Celebration dinner: For a dinner celebrating a wedding, Hirschfeld opted for this sleek satin suit from Lawrence Covell and a Christian Dior satin and silver clutch. “I added fun, playful black and silver flats.”
Luncheon: This beige Polo suit and Lana Marks bag were polished and chic at the Golda Meir Luncheon for the Allied Jewish Federation. The 1999 honoree, Hirschfeld says she always tries to attend this event.
Want to see more Fashion Lives? Click here.
Related posts: