License Collector for the City of St. Louis Mike McMillan admits that he’s “very pleased with how things have gone so far” in the 14 months he’s spent in the office. It’s a place where things are professional, running smoothly and where the office workers up front wear embroidered blazers, typifying the business-ready, professional look McMillan strives for.

McMillian doesn’t see himself as a paragon of panache. Contrary to the custom-made pinstripe suit by-the-way of local haberdasher Tommy Tucker, he’s quite nonchalant about it all, calling it “normal business style.”

“It would be presumptuous of me to assume anything else,” McMillan said.

Every flare is politely and effortlessly explained away. The tie bar?

“It’s the cheapest thing I can do on a daily basis that I enjoy.”

The cuff links?

“Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. They were a Christmas gift from my mother,” McMillan said, calling the blue ones he wore on each cuff “plain.”

Then there was ring with the seal of the city emblazoned on it. Nothing to note there. He just happened to have that, purchased from Vincent’s Jewelry downtown before they moved out of the city.

While McMillan is stylishly humble, it’s not surprising he would rank high on Revenue Collector Gregg Daly’s list of well dressed politicos. McMillan returned the compliment to Daly, listing him as well as former Mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr. and State Rep. Rodney Hubbard as others with styles he admired. But he reserved the most compliments for former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown.

“He had an exceptional style … He’s at the top of any political fashion discussion,” McMillan said.

As for the blazers his office workers wear, McMillan said he had the idea before he became license collector. He wanted to demonstrate that his staff had the right appearance and the work ethic to back it up.

Paraphrasing Black Enterprise Magazine founder Earl G. Graves, Sr. McMillan said, “There is no business casual in the office because there is nothing casual about business.”

Photos by Danielle Belton

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.

The Fashion of Kacie Starr Triplett from PubDef.net on Vimeo.

Sixth Ward Alderwoman Kacie Starr Triplett, 27, is six feet of civil servant style.

She’s only been in office for one year, but her style of dress is classic, hearkening back to the days of Jackie Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn and her grandmother, a seamstress who still makes outfits for Triplett today.

Pictured here in a mint green coat dress from The Time Boutique at 922 Washington Avenue and peak-a-boo black heels by Nine West, Triplett dresses for success with her shoulders back and head held high.

Triplett comes from political lineage. Her grandfather, John Bass, deceased, was a state senator, city comptroller and alderman.

“It’s in the blood,” she said. “Doctors breed doctors. Lawyers breed lawyers … I guess politicians make politicians.”

The same goes for her sense of style. Her grandmother has made Triplett clothes since she was an infant.

“She made all my prom dresses and special event suits,” Triplett said. “It’s been a blessing because she was able to do all that for stuff for free.”

It was also helpful to Triplett’s height. Being so tall, she can’t buy pants off the rack. When she was younger she was nervous about her height and slouched a lot, but now she holds herself with confidence and pride.

“It took a while, but I’m not shrinking so I might as well embrace it,” she said.

Despite her love of clothes, Triplett’s not a big fan of shopping and her public servant paycheck isn’t generous enough to blow the bank of designer duds, but she makes it work by focusing on the best quality garment, investing in clothing that is stylish and will last.

Triplett shops the downtown boutiques as well as Macy’s and Nordstrom. And while she cares about her clothes, she cares about the city and her constituents more.

“I want to make a difference,” Triplett said. “I love this city with a passion. I tell people all the time I will fall on the sword for the city of St. Louis.”

Photos by Antonio D. French

See more pictures from our photo shoot with Kacie Starr Triplett at our Flickr photo set.

City of St. Louis Revenue Collector Gregg Daly likes a conservative look that pops. A little tasteful hankie in a pocket here and a “splash” with the tie there, but he’s mostly old school. Cuff links and pinstripes all the way.”(Cuff links) dress up your whole outfit. It makes it so much nicer,” Daly said. “It finishes the look, adds a little class to the outfit. I can’t imagine wearing a suit without cuff links.”

Dressed in a dark blue pinstripe suit and light blue shirt by Saville Row, Daly said this is his signature look for work or going out at night. He prefers the standard business attire of the 40s, 50s and 1960s, recalling how he learned much of his style from his father.”He was the first person I saw look great. He’d go walking out the door and he’d look great,” Daly said.

Daly said he tries to purchase his suits in the city if he can but he also shops at Saville Row and Sam Cavato. Wearing a suit and tie is second nature for him. He’s been dressing that way since high school where the academy he attended required students to wear suit jackets and ties.Besides his own look, Daly pegged city license collector Mike McMillan and State Rep. Tom Villa as stylish, classical dressers.While he understands that some individuals are going for a more casual look in the workplace, Daly said there is a time and place for everything and some places demand a suit.

“If you’re going to be in business type situation, (if) you’re going to be discussing important matters to people … I think it’s important to look your best,” Daly said. “Impressions are lasting.”

Photos by Danielle Belton