Photo by Chris Kuhlman

Each month, Coast Monthly visits with some of the most charming people on the Texas Coast to chat about their style.

Heather Minette Schutmaat started writing stories when she was 6 years old.

Today, she’s a published author and a paralegal. In her free time, she likes to escape to the private writing room of her Kemah home.

“There’s a bit of a creative element in combining writing and law since I get to put language together in ways that serve a purpose, plus I think my masters degree in literature helped me develop the critical thinking skills that law requires,” she said.

For fun, she likes to spend the day at the beach with her family at San Luis Pass or Jamaica Beach. Her seasonal likes for winter include boots and tights with dresses and pea coats. She loves anything vintage-inspired, especially A-line silhouettes, bold 1960s prints, and anything reminiscent of a past era.

Here are a few of her favorite things:

Lipstick: The shade is Ruby Woo by MAC. I love bold reds because they remind me of the 1950s movie stars.

Roller skates: I roller skated when I was a kid and was into rollerblading as a teen. A few months ago, I ordered these Impala skates online on a whim, and now I go roller skating with my husband and son.

Sunglasses: I have several pairs of Ray-Bans, and this pair is a favorite. I never leave the house without my Ray-Bans or I don’t feel complete.

Typewriter: I have a collection of vintage typewriters. They remind me of the classic writers and just have a beauty about them. When I got married, we put bouquets of flowers in antique typewriters for table centerpieces.

Swimsuit: Because I love vintage, this one-piece bathing suit is my style. The sweetheart neckline, shirring sides and white polka dots on a red background have the look I like.

Buddha statue: I am fascinated with Buddhism. I practiced guided mediation with a teacher for a few years; it’s very disciplined and grounding.

Bracelet: This is hand-carved jade and belonged to my paternal grandmother. I wear it in honor of her.