Photo: Robert Trachtenberg

She was called too naive, too ambitious, too impatient. But those labels didn't stop St. Louis's youngest elected official, an early Obama supporter, from getting elected.

Adam Says: "A wool camel coat is a foolproof investment: Buy once; wear over everything. Forever."

"This double-knit dress is worth every penny—the stretch fabric and color blocking instantly make you look a size smaller."

Kacie Says: Whether advocating for the homeless or helping to bring in $80 million to revitalize the city's downtown area, Triplett embraces a grown-up wardrobe of classic sheath dresses in vibrant colors. "As a public official, I don't make a lot of money, but I do believe in buying quality fabrics," she says. Triplett, who recently turned 30, wants to be taken seriously but still likes to dress her age. This affordable double-knit dress transitions from meetings to evenings out with friends; a camel overcoat is sleek and professional.

Deal Maker's Instinct
"I don't pretend to know all the answers, but I have some natural reflexes. I can be aggressive when the need arises. My community didn't elect me to be a wallflower."

Dress, Alfani; $89. Overcoat, Talbots; $399. Earrings, Melinda Maria. Ring, Kara by Kara Ross. Shoes, Manolo Blahnik.

Next: Pants that resist wrinkles and a dressed-up peacoat