Beauty
A Recipe for Style Success
Your wardrobe is like a cake, fashion experts say.
Cake and frosting usually are not on the menu of string bean fashionistas -- especially at the start of a new year. But when fashion stylists and Oprah regulars Jesse Garza and Joe Lupo speak, the dessert becomes trés important.
"Cake is the foundation of your wardrobe -- the basics or classics," said Lupo during a recent wardrobing seminar at Saks Fifth Avenue. "Frosting pieces are items that are trendy and look fabulous. Too much cake is boring. Too much frosting can be a challenge when pulling together a coherent outfit."
"What you need is to define your style," added Garza.
Garza, 41, and Lupo, 36, are cofounders of New York-based Visual Therapy, an image consulting firm that provides style and wardrobe services to individual and corporate clients at a premium price. And while the personable duo know their St. John knits and Chanel suits, they also manage to dispense closets-full of common sense in their new book, Nothing to Wear? A Five-Step Cure for the Common Closet (Hudson Street Press, 2006). After all, a neat, well-maintained closet is the perfect way to start 2008. "Remember, your closet should not be a torture chamber but a Zen space," said Lupo. First up, know your style. Every woman, according to the duo, belongs to one or a combination of five style types.
- Classic: Simple and clean. A timeless look because the silhouette and colors rarely change. Examples who carry off this ladylike look include Laura Bush, Grace Kelly, Diane Sawyer and Renee Zellwegger.
- Chic: Defined by a powerful look and sharp lines that come together in an effortless way. Often monochromatic, combined with bold colors. Examples: Halle Berry, Audrey Hepburn, Nicole Kidman, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
- Whimsical: A playful style with a thoughtful combination of colors and patterns. The look is sometimes ethereal and romantic. Examples: Gwen Stefani, Kirsten Dunst, Mischa Barton, Sofia Coppola.
