Emma Roberts’ Stylists Talk Summer Style, How to Make a Lazy Outfit Pop

Celebrity stylists and Elkin Collection designers Brit and Kara Smith hosted a summer soiree in celebration of Aldo’s Bold Botanicals collection (think punchy green hues and tropical palm prints) on June 15 at the Sowden House in Los Feliz, Calif.

Tallulah Willis, Cara Santana, Debby Ryan and Carson Meyer mingled by the pool sipping mango- and pineapple-vodka cocktails while listening to DJ Myles Hendrik spin ‘90s and early 2000s R&B; is it even a party if a Beyonce throwback jam isn’t played?

Guests also hit the Aldo Shoe Bar, where they were invited to take home the brand’s custom metallic green Stessy heel accented with the botanicals palm-leaf print on the sole. Only 300 pairs of the shoes were created exclusively for the event. 

In between bites of Bottega Louie’s custom-colored macarons and salted-caramel eclairs, the tastemakers and stylists to Emma Roberts chatted about working with the actress (“She is so wonderful,” gushes Brit), their summer plans and what shoes they are living in now.

Pret-a-Reporter: What are you looking forward to doing in the L.A. area during the summer?

Kara: We are excited about lots of outdoor dinner parties at our homes. We are always excited to go to the Hollywood Bowl.

Brit: There’s nothing better than L.A. summer nights. We also want to take lots of mini trips to Catalina Island this summer. It’s so close to L.A., but you feel like you’ve gotten a proper getaway for a minute.

What is your idea of a perfect summer outfit?

Brit: A cropped vintage denim, a white tank, flat sandal, straw bag, cat-eye shades and a margarita in hand.

Are you more about a statement heel or a statement flat?

Kara: Statement flat!

Brit: Definitely statement flat — you’ll rarely find me in heels.

Aldo is making some really cool shoes right now. Do you have an Aldo style you are obsessed with at the moment?

Kara: I love the rhinestone mules. They are so fun and retro-feeling. They can make the laziest outfit look interesting.

Brit: I live in the Angilia sandal. It’s the perfect classic sandal with a tiny bit of height, and the pops of color the style comes in are so fun. I was just in Toronto for work a few weeks ago and was running around in the Angilia … and my feet never even hurt!

How does living in Los Angeles shape your style?

Kara: We feel free to wear what we want. We grew up in L.A., and there really are no rules in L.A. We are always inspired by people who live in this city. We are very happy to be Angelenos.

Is there one thing about your aesthetic that Emma Roberts always compliments you about?

Brit: She is so complimentary always! She always compliments my under-eye dot. I always put a little black eyeliner dot under my eyes, day and night. And for Kara, she always compliments her mix of prints and witchy style. Kara’s use of prints is genius; she always incorporates it into her styling.