Embellish: Em Smith Spins Her Yarn

Em Smith must have worked it. Modeling a “really jazzy outfit” paired with turquoise jewelry for Barbara/Jean Ltd. at Oaklawn years ago, the statuesque beauty with otherworldly violet eyes lost her command of the runway not to a wardrobe malfunction or a misstep in towering high heels, but to an overeager spectator.

“I was walking down the runway, and this man said, ‘Oh, I’ll buy that necklace and bracelet.’ Well, I’d never had anybody buy something right off my back. That’s the only time I’ve ever had anybody do that, but at the races, I guess people do strange things.”

Well, we know the modest Em Smith, and that gambling man’s behavior wasn’t all that strange. She dominated the social circuit with her style for years, always knowing just what would best accentuate her features. She’s so keen about what works for her, in fact, that she buys her whole fall wardrobe in one day.

“I’ve never been a shopper,” she claims. She buys outfits from the Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus catalogs and locally from New Traditions, but for many years, she made much of her own clothing.

Today, instead of making pieces for her wardrobe, she makes hundreds of hats and blankets for patients at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and also designs sweaters for canines.

“When I say I knit dog sweaters, people say, ‘What? How many dogs do you have?’ as if they’re all my own.” Actually, they’re for auction at the Humane Society of Pulsaski County’s biggest annual fundraiser, Reigning Cats and Dogs. “They have a fabulous silent auction. Fabulous!”

It’s a cause near to her heart. A dietician and lifelong animal lover, Em became active in the animal community when she found out that flamingos required food rich in beta carotene to stay pink.

“I thought, ‘There must be other animals that have special diets. I’ve got to find out about this.’”

In 1960, she began volunteering at the Little Rock Zoo and has been a docent there since 1994.

“That’s been my wonderful vocation, my occupation since.” And being around all that animal print influences her style, but not in the way you might think. “I would like for whatever I wear to be different, but let’s face it, I’m at the zoo a lot of days and I wear my zoo uniform.”

Em spins her yarn:

SE: What was your most memorable Halloween costume?    

ES: My husband and I were going to a party. We were about 20 or 40 years old. We have always had very young friends. It was called a bunking party or something, but we didn’t spend the night. So I made up some pajamas and embroidered “Saks 5th Avenue” on them. Then I got some flannel and made one robe for both of us with a wide back and just two arms. He had his left arm and I had my right. I think that’s been one of my best costumes I’ve ever had.

SÉ: What are some of your favorite things to wear in the fall?

ES: Leather jackets in the fall are my favorite. I have five leather jackets. Maybe everybody has five leather jackets, I don’t know, but you can wear them with pants or skirts. I really don’t wear dresses anymore. I’m 86 years old for crying out loud — I’ve worn enough dresses in my time.

SÉ: What are your favorite accessories?

ES: I used to buy purses and shoes to match. That was very important to me for most of my life. This year I bought scarves. I thought my clothes needed dressing up, because the people I see who are really dressed up always have a scarf. It is one of my favorite accessories now. They’re so in right now.