What does Alexandria Weisberg, a tall blonde Coloradoan, have in common with business partner Charlotte Howard, a petite brunette from New York City? Serious style skills. In fact, imparting style knowledge to the less savvy is what they do for a living. My Way West is a consultancy aimed at Chinese students who plan to study abroad. Grade A students may have mastered book smarts, but they often are eager to polish their style and social behavior to fit in at Western universities. “We aim to take away the anxiety in dealing with new cultures and a foreign environment,” Alexandria tells me. “A big part of fitting in is wearing the right clothes.” Alexandria and Charlotte, like their clients, are excited that H&M has come to town because they now have the arsenal of a Western teenage closet under one roof. As for their own personal takes on fashion, these two have different tastes, but describe their combined style as “fresh and chic.” “My mode is more fun and funky with splashes of bright color,” says Alexandria. Charlotte draws on a more neutral palette, using vintage accessories with modern cuts to achieve just the right look. They accredit Store 212c in The Nali Patio for funky jewelry pieces at a great prices, and JianWai Soho shops Dress Code and Marithé + Francois Girbaud for signature clothing with outstanding design. If I were a 17-year-old Beijing grad on my way to USC and still wearing my hair in pigtails, I wouldn’t hesitate to let these two work their style magic on me.

Name: Charlotte Howard (left) and Alexandria Weisberg (right)
Occupation: Co-Founders of My Way West (www.mywaywest.com)
Nationality: American

Fashionista: MeiLi Autumn
For more style analysis or fashion insight, visit MeiLi's website, www.MeiLiAutumn.com
Photographer: Tao Zi
Hair and Makeup: MeiLi Autumn