Vanessa Paterakis Smith, 61, isn’t one to get fussy with her fashion — either in the buying or wearing of it.

“I’m not a shopper. I only go to the mall to go Christmas shopping,” said Smith, who makes her home in Timonium and has a dental practice in Harbor East.

When she does buy something, Smith said, it’s not trendy. It’s something on the more classic side.

“I buy things that aren’t dated, things that I like even if I don’t have an event to wear [them to] at the time,” she said.

Such was the case of the emerald gown she wore to the HamburGala, which she co-chaired with Jennifer Mann. (The event was Nov. 3, before her family became involved in a legal battle over the estate of her father, baking magnate John Paterakis.)

“That gown had been in my closet unworn for four years. It still had the tags on it. Because I was chairing this event, I thought I might as well pull it out,” she explained.

Smith said she generally goes for a bit of jewelry and fun jackets to make an outfit pop. But there are two popular accessories she said she has very little interest in.

“I am not a shoe person. I go for comfortable shoes. You’ll never see me in a spiked heel,” she said. “I’m not a pocketbook person. I only have one tonight because it went so well with the dress.”

HER ENSEMBLE: St. John satin gown with crystal embellishment from Neiman Marcus. Star-shaped earrings from Radcliffe Jewelers, stacked diamond bracelets and watch that were gifts from her husband. Donald Pliner black patent leather slides from Matava Shoes. Judith Leiber crystal covered pansy pattern minaudiere from J. Brown Jewelers, a gift from her late father.