Mar 8, 2011 8:00 AM

4 Cool Women Making 40 Fantastic

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Brooke Williams, Artist

Hail from/Live now:
"Grew up in Manhattan, am now a grown-up in Brooklyn."

On an ordinary day, describe your style:
"I’m a sentimental dresser and still wear things that I bought in high school or that belonged to my grandmother. My wardrobe is a classic but eclectic mix of vintage and modern. In terms of shape I lean towards the styles from the '40s and mid '60s. In terms of color, I'm into brights, and I’ve always been drawn to stripes—ever since I was a little girl."

On a special occasion, describe your style:
"Same, but with lipstick and high heels."

How has your style changed over the years?
"Lets just say that Lacoste and Tretorn have been with me since the beginning. My love of skinny jeans came from my time as a post-punk New Waver. The Mitsuhiro Matsuda store on lower Fifth Avenue in the late '80s opened my eyes to the world of the Japanese romantic and sent me hurtling down the path toward Comme des Garcons and Martin Margiela. Run DMC cemented my love of Adidas. But I have always been more of a regular at the Salvation Army than Bergdorf Goodman and have been mixing it up style-wise for as long as I can remember."

Was turning 40 scary, thrilling, both, and why?
"When I was 29, I went to an incredible dinner party filled with interesting, open, stylish, creative people all of whom were in their mid to late 30s. I wanted to be them so badly. And I remember them all telling me that my life was only just about to get good. And they were right. So, I figured my 40s had to be even better. So far they have."