TRENDING: CURATING CONFIDENCE

Winnetka’s MAGGIE STEPF, @maggiececile, loves championing women as they embrace their individuality, express their personal style, and feel empowered to be their best selves. Stepf has been with Moda Operandi for eight years as a senior private client advisor, building trusted relationships with an elite clientele throughout the North Shore and across the U.S. As a discerning liaison to the fashion world, she brings the season’s most coveted runway moments directly to her clients, curating impeccably tailored wardrobes from the finest luxury designers and jewelers. From bespoke styling to ready-to-wear apparel and elevated accessories, Stepf delivers an exquisitely personalized experience through both in-home and virtual consultations, ensuring every client feels confident and impeccably polished as they walk out the door. This fall, she will host select clients at New York and Paris Fashion Weeks for an exclusive front-row experience. Stepf is a member of the MCA Women’s Board and is especially excited about the opening of Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers on November 7. “His work resonates with me because of its emotional depth and the way he explores identity, cultural history, and vulnerability in such a powerful and relatable way.”

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ON HER NIGHTSTAND

“Mix & Match: Fashion Photography Meets Contemporary Art. It brings together my favorite worlds—fashion, photography, art, and visual storytelling with Nicola Erni’s private collection. I studied photography at Michigan State University and have loved fashion for as long as I can remember; this book brings together two lifelong passions.” 

ON HER MOBILE

“I am inspired by the incredible women-owned businesses my friends have built and the passion behind them: Laura Lester, @lesterfineart, is a private art advisor with an exceptional eye, helping collectors buy, sell, and shape their collections curatorially. Laura Bean, @lauraleighbean, brings companies to life through strategic branding, website design, and illustration, with a focus on women-led businesses. Christine Lutz and Hilary Jesudoss, @meetcartblanche, are putting a fresh spin on entertaining with fully customizable event carts designed to make any gathering feel more personal, polished, and fun. Graziela, @grazielajewelry, who designed one of my forever-favorite pieces of jewelry—the floating diamond necklace—a subtle but spectacular essential that belongs in every well-curated jewelry box.” 

IN HER EARBUDS

“Music is essential to my workday. The Hôtel Costes compilations are a longtime favorite for their effortless Parisian energy and always remind me of Paris Fashion Week, when a stop at Hôtel Costes for a drink and some of the city’s best people-watching is a must. My current rotation includes sombr, whose rise has been exciting to watch; Supertaste, a favorite discovery from the Winnetka Music Festival; and Milky Chance, from Berlin, Germany, my husband’s hometown.”