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She is also a TODAY SHOW style correspondent and travels around the country as a public speaker discussing the importance of building self-esteem. London's home is in Manhattan, but she traveled to Maryland to host a style seminar and fashion show for the national Westfield Style Tour at the Westfield Annapolis Shopping Mall. She chatted with me after signing hundreds of autographs and giving dozens of impromptu style consultations for fans.
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What's Up?: If you lived in a nautical town how would you pull off a nautical look?
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Stacy London: Well, doing nautical in a nautical town scares me. So, I feel strongly that if you’re going to do that trend do the French version. A great way to go about it is to pair horizontal stripes with black skinny jeans or a black tailored cropped pant with a ballet flat and pea coat. Be careful if you carry your weight on your top half, because horizontal stripes are not your best friend. If that’s the case, do a high-waisted belt or tailored pant with a solid top.
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WU: Annapolis has great happy hours and nightlife, so what can people do to help transition their look when they go out after clocking out?
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SL: First, buy clothes that really fit well, because they are sort of blank canvases and are already transitional. Then, all you need to do is have a different set of accessories. You should have your work wear accessories that are a little more conservative, like lower heels and more muted jewelry. And then have your evening accessories that really amp up the flash, like colored heels and a great embellished clutch.
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WU: But does amping up style mean amping up cost—what is really worth the splurge?
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SL: Splurge on things you know you’re not going to wear one time, like bags and coats. I think everyone should splurge on bags. They are great investments, especially when you buy quality labels, because they don’t lose their value. As far as really expensive pieces, spend more on coats because you don’t have to trade them out every season. If you find a coat that you love you’ll wear it for ten years. Another tip is to simply splurge on pieces that are special to you and ing you joy.
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WU: Throughout your career you’ve proven that style isn’t just about bags and blouses. What do you want people to take away from your work?
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SL: That style is a great gateway. If nothing else I want people, women especially, to know that style is their choice. Don’t let the media or cele ities tell you what to wear. Style can be a tool in the discovery and edification of your personal style or you can make it an obstacle. Find clothes that make you feel good, because the most important thing is learning to be comfortable and loving yourself.
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WU: That is the basis for your TLC show What Not to Wear, correct?
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SL: Yes, [for the last nine years] what we’ve done on What Not to Wear is about self-esteem. I’ve found that there are real obstacles in the way women perceive themselves because of their age, weight or societal expectations. So, of course it runs much deeper than just clothes. And I feel that being in any position where you have a voice to get other people to listen has to be used for a greater good—period. So, viewers learn that style isn’t vapid and feeling good about themselves is the important thing.
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WU: Promoting positive self-esteem is something you seem very passionate about, is that why you got involved with the American Cancer Society?
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SL: Well, I didn’t realize the impact health had on a person’s self-esteem and overall being, until a friend of mine got east cancer. She was no longer able to have children, had to have a double mastectomy, and said she didn’t feel like a woman anymore. So, when I saw her struggle with that I started giving free makeovers to any women that had a mastectomy. I didn’t realize the severity something like cancer could have to a woman’s feelings. The rehabilitative process is difficult as it is and needs to encompass self-esteem. That’s when I started working with people who have had cancer and going through rehab and how I got involved with the American Cancer Society.
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WU: So, share with our Chesapeake Bay region readers what trends you foresee this season?
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SL: The 70’s are going to be huge. Marc Jacobs sort of blew it out of the water with his spring 2011 collection, and now everybody is talking about caftans and jumpsuits. You’re going to see a lot of ight colors like citrus. I think this spring is more interesting than fall, because designers created lots of variations and really experimented with their looks. It’s also the first time I’ve seen collections being a little more optimistic. As we are starting to pull out of the recession, it’s the first time I really felt like designers are having fun again, because their not just worrying about the basics that will get bought. They are enjoying designing and it really shows, because customers will have more choices in the marketplace.
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