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Hailee Steinfeld on Flip-Flops and Dressing for the Red Carpet

Hailee Steinfeld doesn’t mind shaking things up. The Edge of Seventeen actress has spent the past year entering fresh territory, with a platinum-selling single, “Love Myself,” (from her debut album Haiz) and a red carpet style that has landed her on multiple best-dressed lists. And the latest move for the actress and singer adds her to the ranks of celebrities turned campaign stars. As the new face of Reef Escape, Steinfeld fronts the ads for the California-based sandal brand and brings a youthful glamour to the world of casual flip-flops.

For Steinfeld, the decision to represent Reef was a no-brainer. “There have always been a bunch of sandals at the bottom of the stairs right by the front door that were my go-to,” said Steinfeld on the phone from the Atlanta set of Pitch Perfect 3. “They were always Reef. I grew up wearing these sandals.”

And though she’d often prefer to live in her flip-flops, even the California girl in Steinfeld has come to appreciate the artistic side of the industry. “[Fashion] has become such a huge part of my personal life and my work,” says the actress. “It’s amazing to see how many people it takes to really pull off something in fashion. There are so many people that are so committed and so passionate.”

Here, Steinfeld shares her style rules.

California style is all about keeping things simple.
“Honestly, it’s just easy-going and simple and casual. It’s being comfortable and putting your favorite pieces together. My closet is all light colors, airy, flowy and relaxed shapes, whether they’re dresses, denim shorts, or T-shirts. I live in T-shirts! Anything that’s easy to put together and not an ensemble that consists of a bunch of complicated components.”

Putting out an album required a whole new take on fashion.
“This last year, really diving into the whole music scene and being onstage called for a completely different approach. I’ve had so much fun being able to go that extra mile when you’re on stage, and using that as an excuse to try a different look.”

Yes, you can wear flip-flops with anything.
“I’ve realized that you can make something of [sandals] with an outfit. That’s so perfectly portrayed in the Reef campaign, where the outfits I wear, normally I’d think I would need the perfect shoes to finish it off. But really all you need is this completely comfortable simple sandal. They can be worn anywhere, and in any way you feel expresses your personal style.”

The right clothes help her get into character.
“I’ll never forget after I made my first movie True Grit, which was a period piece, how I felt the impact that wardrobe alone made on my performance. Just the heaviness of a wool coat or the 10 buttons on each suit that you had to use a certain tool to button them with. That sort of thing. The fact that women had to go through that sort of process to get ready every morning, with corsets. When I think of the different movies I’ve done in different time periods, costumes put you through that much more of an experience in terms of immersing yourself in that role, in that time.”

On her must-have list? The perfect pair of jeans.
“Currently I’m in Atlanta working on Pitch Perfect 3, and my days consist of waking up super early and, most of the time, getting dressed in the dark, so I haven’t really been putting too much thought into my look! Still, I’ve become a much bigger fan of denim recently; I love high-waisted pairs and anything with a vintage feel.”

She doesn’t have any red carpet regrets, but looking at old back-to-school pictures can deliver a shock.
“I have a harder time looking back at my ‘first day of school’ pictures and seeing what I liked. That was always a big deal for me, whatever I wore—you go shopping for that day. I saw one recently where I wore a denim skirt with right-up-to-my-knee socks with pink stripes on them and high-tops. How did my mom let me walk out of the house like that? But it’s individuality, I guess. Those [old pictures] get me, but luckily I don’t have too many red carpet moments like that. I’ve had a lot of help from a lot of very talented people in that department.”

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