Client Profile: The Beauty of Basics

We recently worked with one of our favorite clients — a businesswoman who loves, loves, loves to shop. She knows her stuff. She selects interesting and daring silhouettes. She not only embraces pattern and color and texture — she truly lives it. Walking into her clothing room (because calling it a closet does it a disservice) is like walking into a candy store for a personal stylist.

The first time we met several years ago, I struggled, though. I struggled to put together outfits that showcased her fun, funky style but in a way that felt elevated, polished, sophisticated and fitting of an accomplished, successful businesswoman.

She complained that she often felt out of place working with some of her high-profile clients. She loved her wardrobe, but wasn’t  putting together looks quite the way she wanted.  So the challenge was on. We wanted to stay true to her,  but also send the right message for her work and her life.

Here over at DC Style Factory we are the patron saints of wardrobe essentials. The basics. These are the quiet pieces. The “boring” pieces. The pieces that don’t draw a ton of attention, but anchor your look and allow the special pieces, full of color and sparkle, to do what they do best - -shine.

So, we gave her some wardrobe essentials homework. A black blazer, a neutral top to layer, a white button-up, black pumps. She completed it diligently — not overnight, but over the course of several seasons. And each season, we were able to see her style evolve into what  she wanted.  

Check out some of the looks we put together for her. Can you spot some of our wardrobe essentials?