Street Fashionista: Kelly Lee Kleinert-Haney

We are beyond lucky to have such an amazing peninsula in this town.  Lake Erie is our truest gem, and when the summer rolls in, it's the only place to be.  Our sunsets are amazing, our little amusement park is adorable, and Sara's is the place for the tastiest peanut butter yogurt and the zestiest curly fries!

What better way to enjoy that firey descending orb, drum circles, and picnics on the beach than in the flowiest, boho-iest kind of way. White gauzy, lacey, maxi dresses with flowers in our hair – shoes not required.

Your uniform for the summer consists of the following, in no special order:

The cutest bike with the cutest basket – think: vintage-esque beach cruiser with a brown wicker basket, full of fresh flowers or a little doggie. Gigantic sunglasses – aviator or retro, your decision. A straw hat -- floppy or fedora, whatever protects your precious skin. Your most flattering swimwear. A boho maxi dress – white cotton, black and white stripped, lacey love, or asymmetrical – pick one.

Loads of Tibetan prayer beads around your neck or wrist. A bottle of water or a sparkling coconut seltzer. Ridiculous quartz crystal rings or amethyst shards dangling from your neck – think the Astral-Goddess-gone-beach-babe-for-a-day. A daisy chain of flowers to crown your head. A Mexican Serape to lie upon for reading tarot, sharing secrets, or cloud gazing. And sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen.

Prepare to be lulled into a hypno-trance listening to the crest and crash of the waves.

Gents, pack your beach bag with the following:

Board shorts in a plaid pattern, short-sleeve button-down cotton shirts, slick shades, boogie board, and while you're at it, a long board too (why not?). Add canvas Vans, Bocce, some flowers for your lady fair, an ice-cold beverage, the know how to help your girl fly that pesky kite, a teacup Chihuahua for your pocket (chicks dig Chihuahuas), a Frisbee, and a childlike imagination.

Chicks also go wa-wa for the childlike imagination thing – we're all still kids at heart.

Who?  Kelly Lee Kleinert-Haney

Where?  Presque Isle Beach One

Why Kelly?  She is the bohemian goddess – a modern day Yemaya, spirit of the water personified, a maiden in the mist with an adorning crown of flowers.  Her gauzy, lacey maxi is perfect for walking the beach in search of heart-shaped rocks, boldly colored glass and other curiosities.

The charm bracelet and bejeweled sandals are the exact accompaniment to play up her day dress.  Be it frolicking, chasing babies, or meditating on the beauty of nature, Kelly's style is effortless, gypsy-esque, and immaculate.

What We Want to Know:

Describe your style.

I often have a really hard time describing my style. My closet is very confusing, as I like so many different types of fashion. However, I very rarely wear pants, so however I am dressed I am always a lady.

From where do you get your inspiration?

I could give a 500-word answer for this. Ha! I seriously find inspiration in everything. My brain never ever stops!

If you had to pack in a flash for a weekend getaway to the beach what would you bring?

Bathing suit, cover up, iPhone, mascara, wine. This is all assuming this getaway is kid-free! In my dreams – ha!

As a make-up artist, what are your Top 5 must-have beauty essentials and Top 5 makeup products?

Loaded question! I could go on!

Top 5 beauty essentials:

1. Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

2. Kiehl's Vitamin C serum

3. Face wipes (I actually like Target's)

4. LUSH Ocean Salt scrub (best exfoliator ever)

5. The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter (the whole coconut line is a must-have, actually)

Top 5 makeup must have's:

1. Mascara!! MAC Haute n Naughty or Dior Show

2. Foundation: MAC Studio Fix Fluid

3. Eye brow pencil, I wear MAC Lingering

4. Blush: NARS Orgasm

5. A great finishing powder is a must: Makeup Forever HD Loose Powder

Items in your closet you are currently obsessed with (p.s. I instrgram stalked you – love the sunglasses, had to buy them; don't hate me).

I am pretty obsessed with my floor-length sheer kimono. I have gone to wear it out about three times now in Erie and haven't... I'm just not sure Erie is ready for it! My high-waist jeans from Urban Outfitters, and my disco pants from American Apparel. Every girl needs a pair of those! You'll feel like Sandra Dee at the end of "Grease!"

Name your three favorite websites for shopping and inspiration.

Three – I have more than three, I am really good at online shopping – favorite websites to buy clothing are ASOS, Mod Cloth, Nordstrom, Forever 21, Lulu's and Nasty Gal. And karmaloop.com and urban outfitters.com too.

Handbags or shoes?

Shoes! Although in the summer, you will most likely catch me just in flip-flops – or barefoot, ha – no one has time to chase kids around in heels!

What is your most beloved tattoo?  Have you stopped counting how many you have?

Yes, I have stopped counting! I am getting a bodysuit, so counting is just ridiculous at this point. My favorites are the ones for my daughters.

What is on your agenda for summer fun?

I have manifested this summer to be the most fun summer ever, so I have a lot of plans! My favorite will be going to the Jersey Shore – as I do every year – for a few weeks. It's very nostalgic for me.

You are an Erie transplant. Tell us your story – where are you from and how are you liking Erie?  What surprises you most about this town?

I am a transplant! My husband and I moved here about two years ago. We were both artists working in Philadelphia; he is a tattoo artist, and I am a makeup artist.

We love, love, love Philadelphia, but when my husband's friend said they needed some tattoo artists at Ink Assassins, we thought we would give it a try. The idea of less crime, a cheaper cost of living, and the ability to be a stay-at-home mom was a refreshing idea, so we moved.

I'm not going to lie, the first year and a half were not fun for us! It was a more drastic change than I had anticipated. But over time, it became better for sure. The peninsula really is a gem – we go daily. And even weekly in the winter. We are totally an outdoors family!

Antiquing is great here, and there are definitely a handful of really good independently-owned restaurants, which we prefer. It really is a good place to have a family.

Check out Kelly's blog – Kelly's World – full of cupcakes, makeup, and fun times with her kiddies at www.kellyleerules.blogspot.com, or follow her on twitter @kellyleerules, and for a killer tattoo, find Pat Haney at Ink Assassins, located at 2601 Peach St.

Find me out on the town and challenge yourself to get noticed by the Erie Reader!

Leslie McAllister can be contacted at lMcAllister@ErieReader.com, and you can follow her on Twitter @ShopJuJus.