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A surgeon's style

"I break the mold," says Emily Pollard of Ardmore.

and organizes her closet by the hues of the rainbow. "If you have to be dressed and at the hospital at 7:15 a.m., picking clothes is like Garanimals. This is easy and fashionable," she explains.Accessories, such as belts, are an important part of her wardrobe.
and organizes her closet by the hues of the rainbow. "If you have to be dressed and at the hospital at 7:15 a.m., picking clothes is like Garanimals. This is easy and fashionable," she explains.Accessories, such as belts, are an important part of her wardrobe.Read moreEmily Pollard likes vivid colors
    by By Elizabeth Wellington, INQUIRER FASHION WRITER, Inquirer
    Published 

Emily Pollard is a plastic surgeon who doesn't believe in scrubs outside of the operating room.

"It's disrespectful to my patients," said the fiftysomething Ardmore doc with the modest closet space - not including her shoe niche and her special place for bags - that she's packed with oodles of style.

Her philosophy is simple: Dresses are best in muted prints. Suits should be bold solids. And there is no point in mixing more than one texture or print within an outfit. Leave that to the style professionals, she said.

Still, she's adventurous in her own way. Accessories are key - beaded necklaces hang neatly on jewelry holders. And belts are important parts of her wardrobe, too. Pollard's best fashion habit? Eschewing boring business suits and opting for fiery shades like orange.

"I break the mold," she said. "Why should I look like everyone else?"

Do clothes make the woman, or does the woman make the clothes?

I think the woman makes the clothes. If it's a great outfit that complements your body, it doesn't matter of it's Target, T.J. Maxx, or Piazza Sempione.

What are three words that define your personal style?

Comfortable, flattering, and interesting.

How do you make fashion choices?

I'm not a slave to name brands. I look for things that make me feel good. I like a balance of color and design. ... I like to look complete. I am comfortable in solid bottoms and printed tops with belts. It makes me feel put together.

What are you looking forward to this fall?

I like the plums that are out this fall. I saw a great oversized Marc Jacobs bag, and I've been thinking a lot about a pair of plum platform, peep-toed pumps. I think that would look great with an opaque leg with a shorter black skirt.

Favorite labels?

Piazza Sempione. St. John, Gucci, Fendi. Diane Von Furstenberg.

Shoes?

Ferragamo. Kenneth Cole.

Oldest thing in your closet?

This [cream-colored] Episode suit. Episode was a private-label boutique that was popular in the 1990s. When I first got into medicine, I wasn't adventurous with fashion. I dressed more how people wanted me to dress so I had this simple suit. . . . Now after practicing for 18 years, I wear what I feel good in. Not what someone else wants to see me in.

What is your closet philosophy?

I'm a ROYGBIV girl. Meaning I organize my clothes in the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

Why did you start doing that?

Out of necessity. If you have to be dressed and at the hospital at 7:15 a.m., picking clothes is like Garanimals. This is easy and fashionable. . . . And it helps since I don't like greeting my patients in scrubs. They deserve to see me at my best. Pulled together and professional. I