8 Reasons Everyone Needs a Stylist

Jan 4, 2024 | Style Musings

So many of us consider ourselves savvy shoppers and chic dressers, yet even the most stylish stylists need a stylist. Here are eight ways stylists help streamline YOUR clothing chaos and enhance your personal and professional life.

1. Inventory and Closet Detox: Stylists help determine what to keep, toss, donate, or consign, and, in many cases, return. This doesn’t have to be a painful task, and all stylists will agree that clients have items in their closet that can have a whole new life even if it’s for someone else! Donating clothing can be rewarding, cathartic or an income stream.
2. Fresh Perspective: Even the most stylish fashionistas can use a fresh perspective, an objective eye for trends, and a new point of view. Stylists know how to accessorize long-forgotten pieces hiding in the closet, bringing new life to old favorites.
3. Access to Exclusive Items and Private Sales: Stylists consistently watch for new arrivals and markdowns, so the client doesn’t have to. When a client has their eye on their ‘holy grail’ handbag or a special dress but doesn’t want to pay full retail or can’t locate one, their stylists have secret sources to help. A good stylist has cultivated relationships with retailers and suppliers to make things easy, especially when clients live far from a metropolitan area.
4. Meet New People: Stylists have access to exclusive events and other unique offerings they share with their clients, providing an excellent opportunity for clients to meet, network, and socialize with new people.
5. Suggestions: Stylists study body types and sizes and stay current on trends, new designers, and changes in the fashion industry. They suggest new ways of wearing an existing item or adding a new accessory to bring life to an older piece. Perhaps a client is looking for less is more, or fewer pieces of higher quality. A good stylist guides clients through parting with items that no longer serve them.
6. Special Event Preparation: Everyone has had events and no clue what to wear. Dress code interpretations can be confounding! It’s a stylist’s job to understand the needs of events. Stylists spend their time narrowing down options from multiple sources so the client can spend less time running from store to store or scrolling for hours coming up frustrated, with an empty cart. They know what brands to shop for every occasion and budget, and their goal should be to make a client look and feel their best. Stylists also help identify ways to reimagine a dress or outfit the client has worn multiple times.
7. Change: One constant in life is change. When a client’s life changes, or they want to make a style change, new purchases and replacements might be necessary. Stylists pull together prepared looks and suggest tailored changes for each client. Together, the client and stylist review what works and what doesn’t and make final decisions. Hate making returns? Stylists can tackle that.
8. Objective Opinion: Wouldn’t we all love a talking mirror to tell us when something doesn’t look right on us or how to make it look better? Imagine if that mirror provided guidance to take a fearless fashion risk with confidence, for any occasion.  A stylist will guide the client through choices of what to wear and how, so their best look shines through.

While a stylist may seem an excessive or unnecessary expense, the end goal is savings, self-confidence, and most importantly, a more fun and fulfilling life. After all, life IS more fun when you love what you’re wearing!

My Dress Got Me Hired 

Dec 14, 2023 | Style Musings

Accepting my first senior-level role was one of the most exciting moments of my corporate career. Before the Zoom boom, I traveled to Switzerland for the interview. On a SwissAir overnight flight, I was nervous and although my seat was in coach, paying to upgrade was an investment. I was determined to come home knowing the job was mine, and I knew they had already interviewed several more qualified candidates.

Aside from the usual preparation for a job interview, my fashion choice and my style would absolutely guarantee me the best chance for success. For this role at a Swiss/French biotech company, I needed to look polished, professional, and chic, but not overstated. Black, grey or navy would have been safe but I had to stand out. Research proved that the CEO herself was a fashionable, brilliant and powerful woman and not OVERDOING the style, but still looking chic was crucial.

It was a warm September day near Geneva, Switzerland in the early 2010’s, and I opted for a Theory loosely fitted, burgundy crepe waist-tie belted dress with a dark grey shrug and taupe patent leather pumps. The dress will forever be etched in my mind as my tool to win the job. I kept my accessories minimal with just a little neck scarf and a traditional, burgundy briefcase (from Henri Bendel) for my papers and hard copy resumes. I wasn’t thrilled with the bag, but I promised myself that if I landed the job, I would buy myself a work tote that I loved. And I did, several more since then actually.

When I walked in and met the CEO looking and feeling my absolute best, I knew the job was mine. She and I connected on the fashion level, which supersedes a lot of other qualifiers. My message is, never underestimate the power of what you wear for job interviews or business meetings. In my case, a carefully chosen, simple burgundy Theory crepe dress literally drove my career trajectory.

Although none of those circa 2015 pieces are available any longer, here are my picks for strong alternatives. I can’t promise you that you will land the job, but I can promise you will be noticed!

YSL Sac du Jour Tote $3800.00

Theory Pleated Combo Dress in Textured Satin Mink color $595.00

Valentino silk stole with animal print

Airport Chic: Because Getting There Can Be Half The Fun

Dec 13, 2023 | Style Musings