Summer Style: Time to Make Some Waves

Business Casual Style Inspiration

Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Personal Stylist or Image Consultant

Top 10 reasons to hire a Personal Stylist or Image Consultant

Reinvent Your Wardrobe From Home: Interview in Appgrooves

Reinvent Your Wardrobe – From Home & Your Smartphone 

Learn how to refresh your look sans shopping spree!

Tracy BlockStaff ReporterPublished: Sep 18, 2020Updated: Sep 19, 2020

“When you look good, you feel good. “

– Stylist Jacci Jaye

These days, we’re not all vying to shop ‘til we drop. Even though a 2019 report published by Statista.com stated that global retail sales of apparel and footwear reached 1.9 trillion US dollars – and are on the rise – given the global crisis, the shopping habits of consumers worldwide are changing. 

While financial struggles due to job losses have impacted shopping budgets for many, others simply lack the motivation to dress up while spending more time at home. Whether you’ve decided not to shop because money is tighter, or because you’re just not feeling all that fashionable, allow two fashion pros to teach you how to refresh your style. 

Relaunching Your Look

Over the course of her career, New York City-based stylist Jacci Jaye has worked on everything from large advertising campaigns to fashion editorials and e-Commerce to lookbooks. She’s also designed films, theater productions, and TV commercials. After years of working on commercial photoshoots and campaigns, she founded Wall Street Stylist, which caters mostly to executives and specializes in styling, personal shopping, and custom menswear

However, today, fashionistas everywhere are feeling the burn of getting all dressed up with no place to go. But, Jaye still encourages the fashion-forward to reinvent their wardrobes with minimal budget and effort. “Most people have too many options that they don’t know what to do with, leaving them wearing the same things over and over, just because it’s easy,” she says.

So, how do you even begin the process of repurposing your current wardrobe? Jaye offers the following tips: 

• Perform a general closet overhaul: Assess what you have and organize it. Clean out the back of the closet and get rid of everything that no longer works or fits.

• Go “shopping” in your own closet: Spend time experimenting and trying on combinations of things that you haven’t tried before. Also, take note of what can be perfected with minor alterations and make a pile to take to the local tailor. A lot of us have things in our closets that would be perfect with a few minor tweaks. Fit is everything, and can make an inexpensive garment look very elevated if it hugs your body in just the right way.

 Accessorize and add layers: Play with accessories mixed with your basic staples, such as clean, fitted shirts. You can also play with layers, as well as experiment with simple things, like the various ways to tuck in a shirt and the multiple methods to tie a scarf to make it look more elegant or casual, depending on the occasion.

• Mix and match: Try mixing and matching things you have not put together before. Fashion now is really about mixing highs and lows, like jeans with tailored shirts and formal pants with T-shirts. Throw away the old rules of what goes together and breathe some life into this task, instead.

Pro Tip: As long as you have the proper staple pieces in your wardrobe, according to Jaye, it is easy to reinvent your look. Season after season, the small additions of a couple of trend pieces or styling things in a different way to be on-trend will assist with minimal expenses surrounding a wardrobe refresh. 

The Lowdown on Looking Your Best

Right now, sprucing up your look may be the last thing on your mind. Nevertheless, Jaye says spending a bit of time on your personal style can work as its own brand of self-care. “I think that it is more important than ever for your mental well-being to present yourself in a way in which your image reflects who you really are and the way in which you want to present yourself to the world,” she offers. 

It is very easy to let this slip and to fall into a “style rut” in the name of comfort, but putting effort into your look doesn’t mean you can’t be comfortable, according to Jaye. “When you look good, you feel good. It goes hand in hand, and in these trying times, I think we should all be very conscious in doing things that elevate our self-esteem and make us feel good in every way.”

Items You Can Still Flaunt Right Now

Even if you’re just venturing out for a few errands per week, Jaye encourages you to flaunt your favorite fashions. “I always have an assortment of leather ankle boots, fashion sneakers, and jackets, depending on the weather,” she says. “Pick one seasonal trend to feature, and don’t go overboard. Perhaps, add a pop of color via a scarf or an accessory – jewel tones are in this season – or add a cool vibe with a trendy leather or fringe jacket.” Jaye also says faux fur is very in right now, as is anything ‘70s inspired. 

Finding Fashion Inspo

If you’re seeking some style stimulation, Jaye recommends starting with the ShopLookand Fashmates apps. Next, you can graduate to Fashwire, a two-sided marketplace for both designers and consumers, which highlights both established and emerging brands. For consumers like you, Fashwire offers an interactive experience by allowing you to swipe, according to your preferences, and influence designers in real-time. 

More on the swiping … this feature allows users to stay engaged while exercising restraint, especially when it comes to pulling the trigger on your online shopping cart. Simply swipe left if you love a piece and right if it’s not your style, which can help you develop your personal fashion taste without breaking the bank. 

“It allows users to be smarter about their selections as they shop, avoiding the much-dreaded shopping spree,” says Kimberly Carney, Fashwire founder and CEO. “Swiping through designer’s collections in the marketplace gives consumers the opportunity to provide their feedback and be influencers, while giving brands important insights on consumer shopping behavior.” 

A Bit of Editing Goes a Long Way

In addition to Jaye’s tips on how to physically revamp your wardrobe, Carney says you can also utilize Fashwire’s “Swipe the Edit” feature, which was created to help you virtually improve your look. “Our editors suggest the ultimate curation of what they are seeing as the essential pieces for your wardrobe right now,” Carney explains. “Simultaneously, Fashwire’s MyWire social media feed is a unique environment where users post their personal style, and designers are able to share their collections and current inspiration.” 

The Future of Fashion

Believe it or not, COVID-19 will leave a lasting imprint on the fashion industry. “Fashion trends become particularly important in challenging times because it makes what the consumer is responding to – and buying – more vital than ever,” shares Carney. And, Fashwire aims to name and amplify these immediate trends by connecting consumers with designers and giving brands live insights surrounding what, exactly, is trending. In fact, designers are also struggling with the unpredictability surrounding the pandemic, and Fashwire can help them pinpoint exactly where to cut down on production costs and make informed business decisions for future collections, according to Carney. 

“Fashion helps to tell the story of who we are and that we care about what we wear,” says Carney. But, what that looks like is uncertain moving forward, and speaks to the core foundation and mission of why Fashwire was launched. “In the past several months, it has been particularly hard for brands to showcase their collections and sell their products,” admits Carney. “However, the Fashwire platform is rooted in solving a multitude of issues for the future of fashion.” 

https://appgrooves.com/article/reinvent-your-wardrobe-from-home-and-your-smartphone

Plan Phoenix: Combining Matchmaking and Style

Our dedication to our clients goes beyond the matchmaking process and extends to lifestyle consulting in areas including wellness (nutrition and fitness), appearance, style, and personal shopping to help each client reveal the best version of him or herself. We present a pragmatic solution that marries timeless and modern strategies, providing discerning clients a time efficient, effective and enjoyable solution to dating in the modern wo

Wall Street Stylist has partnered with Lisa Clampitt Matchmaking to offer “Plan Phoenix.”

Not every client shows up to a matchmaking firm ready for love. It falls to the matchmaker to make sure that person has everything they need to not only meet new people but have the tools, skills, and confidence to make a relationship work. In addition to Matchmaking and Styling, our team has branched out to Photographers, Make Up Artists, Hair Stylists and other experts in the industry to support its clients through every aspect of dating. 

Our team is results-oriented and solution-focused, so we’re eager to partner with professionals who can improve a client’s chances of meeting someone special and making a great first impression. The personalized styling process can also boost their confidence by making them feel good about how they look and who they are.

Ultimately, how a person dresses can communicate a lot about their confidence levels, and that’s something that can be a dealbreaker on a date. Confident, comfortable, and collected daters attract positive attention because they take the time to ensure their clothing suits them perfectly.  Together, Matchmakers and Stylists have the ability to inspire clients with confidence and lead them to romantic success. This can be especially important for adult singles who haven’t kept up with fashion and don’t often give much thought to how they look.

If you’ve ever dreamed of having a celebrity stylist dedicated to helping you look your best, our packages can make that a reality. You’ll discover the clothing styles and fit that work for you, maximize the wardrobe you already own and get on-trend hair, skin and beauty advice to take your look and confidence to the next level. The Platinum package even includes a professional photoshoot to capture your transformation.

Wall Street Stylist Interview with CNBC

3 ways to dress for success at work, according to a Wall Street stylist

A scene from "The Wolf of Wall Street" starring Leonardo DiCaprio

Source: Thewolfofwallstreet.com
A scene from “The Wolf of Wall Street” starring Leonardo DiCaprio
We’ve all heard the saying: Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

“Your style reflects what you and your company project,” top Wall Street stylist Jacci Jaye tells CNBC Make It.

Jaye, who has worked with many C-Suite execs, high-power attorneys and financiers, says that the biggest problem her clients express is creating a “coherent executive presence.”

To begin, she normally has her clients choose a style icon by asking them: “Whose style do you like that is in line with yourself?”

Here are three pieces of advice she has for anyone looking to boost their work wardrobe and career:

Get suits tailored

With so many articles of clothing that one must take into account, it can be daunting to perfect an executive look, especially for those who have no interest in fashion.

Jaye suggests first picking up some clothing staples based on your body type and height. Both men and women should have a well-tailored suit, says Jaye.

Why tailored? Because having a correctly fitted suit gives off that executive presence. Clothing that is not properly tailored can appear sloppy and unkempt.

Jaye adds that a costly suit does not automatically give off an authoritative look. “You can buy an expensive suit but if it’s not tailored, it can look very cheap and vice-versa,” Jaye tells CNBC Make It.

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Gabe Ginsberg | Getty

Spend money on key pieces

Jaye suggests that men spend the most money on shoes, belts and a watch because that’s what most people pay attention to. “Men in particular always take notice of other men’s watches in the boardroom,” she says.

Women, on the other hand, should invest in quality shoes and a nice handbag.

She adds that these smaller items can really pull a look together and can be worn for years because they are less based on fashion trends.

Don’t let the clothes distract

For women who choose to wear jewelry, the items they buy should be “uncluttered and look very clean,” Jaye says.

Men who want to wear loud colors or patterns should wear them as an accent, for example, a colorful tie or pocket square. “Don’t wear head-to-toe neon,” she says.

Fashion stylist

Tom Merton | Getty Images

Jaye tells CNBC Make It that it’s common for her clients to spend about $20,000 per year on professional clothing, which she believes is a worthy investment for those at the top.

“First, you never know who you’re going to run into,” says Jaye about the top Wall Street execs she styles. “And remember, you’re setting the look for the whole company. What you’re wearing should be reflective of that and how you want the company to be viewed.”

Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook.

“The Right Fit” Editorial Published in Cool America Magazine Styled by Wall Street Stylist, Jacci Jaye

 

Mens Style

The 70’s are back in a big way this summer via large geometric prints, eye-popping colors, and large 70’s inspired belt buckles!  Lulu’s at the W Hotel in Hoboken provided the perfect backdrop for Photographer Geoffrey Badner and I to play with all of the bold patterns and styles of the season.

The key to pulling off these types of looks is to not over-do it with the patterns, allowing your look to have a retro feel with a modern edge.  Choose one key statement piece, such as David Harts yellow and black geometric blazer, or Marc Jacobs floral t-shirt, and  allow the rest of the outfit to really show off this piece as opposed overwhelm it.  These kind of bold statement pieces can be very intimidating to a lot of men, but done right, you will be the most stylish man in the room! (I promise!).  An easy rule to follow when styling an outfit around a piece with a bold pattern is to choose one of the secondary colors in the pattern and integrate that color somewhere else into your look (for example: I paired David Harts yellow geometric blazer with a black Kooples shirt and white Vince Camuto pants).  Yellow is such an overwhelming color that the black and white were really needed to tone down and modernize the look.  You never want to match it exactly, as more often than not this will leave you looking like you are wearing a costume from the 1970’s, as opposed to modernizing a specific trend.

mens suit with trainersAnother way to integrate this trend into your look is via accessories.  I LOVE large belt buckles like the one on the Prada Belt that I paired with David Harts burgundy suit.  Click here to read my article on my favorite large buckle luxury belts this season.

The final trend I focused on in this editorial was the huge trend of wearing white trainers with tailored pieces for a clean, fresh look.  I LOVE these white Penguin trainers with gold accents, as well as these ones from Ted Baker.  Every man should have a pair of basic white trainers in his wardrobe.  They are fresh, clean, modern, and can go with pretty much anything.  I LOVE how fresh white trainers look with outfits that are a bit more tailored and polished…………adding just enough of a casual, fashionable edge.

mens suit with trainers

 

 

How to Tie a Bowtie

 

I have always had a fascination with bowties.  Perhaps it’s the elegance that they exude, or the stereotype that only gentleman wear bowties, but whatever the reason, I think they are an incredibly dapper fashion accessory.   That being said, all bowties are NOT created equal.  A true gentleman actually knows HOW to tie a bowtie (no cheating with the pre-tied kind).  Like ties, the sophistication lies in the knot, and in this case, the fullness of loops of the bowtie.  There is nothing worse than a flattened bow tie that looks like it is paper thin and has been stuck in the bottom of your drawer for 10 years.  Unlike ties, bow ties are a little more challenging to tie, which is why I have discovered 75% of men don’t know how to tie them.  I am always amazed at how many of my clients have no idea how to tie a bow tie, but am always very eager to give them a tying lesson! Below I have included 2 videos that will walk you through tying a bow tie. The first video is from menswear designer David Hart, www.DavidHartNYC.com. Along with his full menswear collection, David has an amazing line of ties and bow ties. The second video is from Details Magazine. Before watching these videos make sure to have your bow tie and a mirror handy! It will take you a few attempts to perfect, but will be time well spent!

If you still need some clarification, our friends over at “Real Men Real Style” created this brilliant infographic that not only details how to tie a bowtie, but also breaks down styles and proportion.

Bow Ties

Bow Ties

Bow Ties we LOVE!!!

Here are a few Bow Ties that perfectly combine colors, patterns, and textures to create modern, sophisticated looks.

 

 

Brooks Brothers