Alderwoman April Ford Griffin, 38, of St. Louis’ Fifth Ward likes things a little colorful or daringly draped in animal print, but being a civil servant for 11-and-a-half years means less flash and setting an example for the younger ladies.

“I’ve toned down my style,” she said, while admitting, “I like a lot of glitter, rhinestones and pearls.”

She gets her love for an eye-catching look from her mother and grandmother, who are fond of accessories, colors and tons of jewelry. They’re a family who likes to give you a look to remember.

“My mother has lots of jewelry. Rings on every finger. As many bracelets as you can on one wrist,” Griffin said, rings on her fingers dazzling. “I love jewelry … but I don’t come to the board room looking like Mr. T.”

Instead, Griffin dials the flash down a notch and goes for a more conservative, tailored look, pictured here in a gray suit and white blouse by Ann Taylor Petite, topped with her red, rhinestone-studded Prada frames and finished with a touch of flare from her black alligator cowboy boots. Made in Las Vegas, Griffin saw the boots as the way to make a statement with one singular fashion item of high quality.

“You can wear them with jeans. You can dress them up and dress them down,” she said.

Griffin said she was partial to the cowboy boot for its longevity as an American fashion staple. Sticking with staples is part of her style. Since she can’t afford an array of trendy items, she focuses on garments of high quality that are “timeless.” She gets some of her clothes from stores like Cache and Ann Taylor and is partial to Dillard’s as her department store of choice. But to get some of the best quality for a lower price, Griffin is big about consignment shops.

While she gives her mother and grandmother credit for her style, Griffin tips her hat to the women she grew up watching at church. Since Griffin was not “exposed to a lot of high fashion” in her youth, she admired the female church-goers for having the ability to be eye-catching yet “ladylike.”

Griffin aspires to dress in that same manor hoping to instill that same pride in young women.

“It’s important for me to set an example,” she said. “You can look sexy while dressed up at the same time.”

Photos by Antonio D. French

See more pictures from our photo shoot with April Ford-Griffin at our Flickr photo set.