Ana Esteves fashionably erases all stereotypes when it comes to preconceptions of what a head chef should look like. At one glance, one might mistake her for a foreign exchange student or a summer intern. Petite and young she may be, yet being head chef at SALT, one of the capital’s most renowned restaurants, is no small task. Chef Ana controls the kitchen with as much vigor as matching her shoes to her belts. “Sometimes it takes me more than 45 minutes to pick out my outfit. It’s not unusual for me to change three to four times before going out.” This vibrant chef chooses comfortable button-down tops over tight unforgiving ones, and will always don a bevy of accessories, including rings, bracelets, belts and scarves. She finds such treasures in the Japanese-inspired store on the third floor of the 3.3 Mall including the boots she is wearing. For silver jewelry she loves to check out the shops in the old Nali Mall. On days when she’s not in her chef jacket and pinstripe pants, Ana is likely sporting her “second skin”—a pair of jeans. She finds her favorite brand, Calvin Klein, in the basement of the Peninsula and her basic blues at Uniqlo in The Village at Sanlitun. Ana attributes her Venezuelan homeland with instilling in her a passion for fashion. “In Venezuela, everyone is always dressed impeccably, even if it’s only to go to the supermarket. I find that the right pair of sunnies and the right color affects my mood.” What are the colors rocking her world right now? Lemon yellows and lime greens—a refreshing choice for a smoking-hot chef.

Name: Ana Esteves
Occupation: Head chef at SALT
Nationality: Venezuelan

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