An Eye for Design Fern Wagstaff brings a lifetime of design to Ladue administration
STORY BY TAREK AL HUSSEINI, EDITOR IN CHIEF
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IGHT OUT OF A FASHion magazine, one cannot miss her bright orange heels clicking down the halls. A navy blue dress, large golden earrings and intricate bracelets compliment her leopard-print glasses and bright blue mini purse. As the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, Board Secretary and Custodian of Records, Fern Wagstaff not only does it all — but looks good doing it. Wagstaff hasn’t always been the design guru she is now. Prior to being an administrator in the district, she got her start working for the popular furniture and home design company, Crate & Barrel, for 23 years. She began in her home state of Indiana at an outlet store as a salesperson, and after years of hard work, she was offered a designer position. Wagstaff trained for about three months in Chicago and returned to her outlet store with new design skills. “There is an order to things,” Wagstaff said. “There is structure and one of the big design things
for Crate was left to right, light to ules to taking minutes in board dark. And as long as you kept that meetings – Wagstaff still uses elein mind…you [could] put your own ments of design. However, rather twist to it.” than having to follow the structured Eventually, after training fur- methodologies of Crate & Barrel, ther in furniture design in Chicago, she is able to pull inspiration from Wagstaff moved to St. Louis as the important figures in her life. sole designer for the Crate & Bar“I don’t consider myself a trendy rel in Richmond person; I know Heights. She and what trends are,” her husband bought Wagstaff said. “My a house, and after a dad, when he was few years of conalive and when he The aesthetic tinued hard work was working, wore is important. she was ready to a suit to work and It’s about being shift gears and bealways looked consistent.” gin her career in pulled together and
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education. So with nice.” FERN WAGSTAFF a bachelor’s from Having those Purdue and a masclassic values in ter’s from Washmind, she’s done ington University under her belt, everything from planning a new Wagstaff applied for positions with- shed in her midcentury modern in the Ladue District. home to helping her friends and “At that point in time, I was at a family decorate their own houses. different place in my life,” Wagstaff However, no matter what project said. “I think I was almost 50 and she’s tackling, Wagstaff designs her needed to do something that I can at life to match her motivations. least do for the next 10-20 years.” “There’s that saying, ‘Dress for However, just because her job the job that you want,’” Wagstaff changed doesn’t mean her use and said. “I’d like to be a fashion model, understanding of design has been but I think when you look good you minimized. From organizing sched- feel good.” P
ILLUSTRATION BY TAREK AL HUSSEINI, EDITOR IN CHIEF LEFT: Fern Wagstaff talks with visitors at the administrative office. Wagstaff works with Superintendent Jim Wipke. “Someone has called me his boss, but I just manage his calendar which sometimes is a big job in itself,” Wagstaff said. RIGHT: Wagstaff decorates her office with many different plants. Wagstaff often uses plants as decoration and has learned a lot overtime from taking care of them. “I have over 400 plants,” Wagstaff said. “My house is a jungle.” (Photos by Mac Huffman) spread design by Will Kodner | Laura Shareshian
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