In the glamorous and ever-evolving world of fashion, Hollywood celebrity stylists play a pivotal role in shaping the public personas of show business’s brightest stars. Behind every impeccably dressed celebrity on the red carpet, there’s a creative mind curating iconic looks with a meticulous eye for detail. In this exclusive interview, we sit down with two celebrity stylists, Vanessa Shokrian and Laurence Goldberg, who share their journey into the world of celebrity styling, their personal style philosophies, and their secrets to keeping their outfits timeless.
From their favorite designers to the must-haves they recommend for every wardrobe, these stylists give us a glimpse into the sartorial artistry of Hollywood’s elite. Join them as they reveal the trends they love, the brands that excite them, and the wardrobe essentials they swear by, providing valuable insight for anyone looking to improve their personal style.
How did you become a celebrity stylist? What do you like about it?
V: I do personal styling for many people who work behind the scenes in Hollywood, including agents, producers, directors, and writers. I love working with these people. Because they really want to look stylish and chic, but they don’t have time to organize it in a well-thought-out way. They have creative and important jobs, and they love being part of a process that makes them feel confident when they go to work, attend an event or sit on a panel. I work with anyone who needs help navigating their wardrobe, putting together looks to help them feel more confident and relieve the stress of getting dressed every day.
L: I first got into celebrity dressing when I moved from New York to LA. I was a fashion publicist and essentially worked with the media. There were no such jobs in LA, and most of the people I knew here were stylists. I started assisting a few stylists I knew and learned the ropes from them.
What’s in your closet? What are your top 5 favorite personal items and why do you love them? Any special suitability considerations, tips, or other expert information for your audience would be helpful!
V: I’m a minimalist and I don’t have a lot of clothes. I’m careful with my wardrobe purchases, so I only have things that I really like and wear a lot. Most of my work is pretty classic. I stay away from fast trends. My five favorite items are (1) Nili Lotan blue oversized shirt, (2) Frankie Shop white oversized shirt, (3) The Row navy oversized sweater, (4) Maria McManus white cargo pants, and (5) Chanel black platform sandals.
I love oversized shirts. Because it goes well with almost everything. I wear it too much. Wear it with jeans, shorts, trousers… You can dress it up or down. I like the oversized fit, which is great to wear on its own or open over a tank top or t-shirt. Layering is fun. I’ve worn my sweater from The Row several times, and I feel like I really got every penny I invested in it. They make really beautiful knits. I think it’s warm and cozy when I wear it and it looks good. It feels effortlessly chic. It is one of those items that can be worn with jeans or leather pants, or with a suit or casual wear. I love the variety of clothes. I love the Maria McManus white cargo pants for summer. She looks really good in pants. It’s fresh and cool in summer. And my Chanel platform is fun. It makes any outfit more fun and fashionable. You can’t go wrong with Chanel shoes.
L: The Dries Van Noten skirt is one of my favorite skirts. It’s stylish, but not so flashy that you can’t wear it every day. The designs and prints are unique yet easy to wear and can be dressed up or down. I also own a lot of button-down shirts, and I love them for their versatility and the way they balance a feminine and masculine look.
Please tell us your 5 favorite brands or designers. What makes them great? Any special suitability considerations, tips, or other expert information for your audience would be helpful!
V: My top 5 favorite designers on italist are:
1. Closet.NYC
2. The Row (Learn more about the brand)
3. Acne Studio
4. Oliver Peoples
5. Stella McCartney
This brand is great because they make high quality items and things that will be in your closet for years to come. Wardrobe.NYC makes great sweatshirts, blazers, and all the basics you can wear for any occasion, from morning to night. The Row makes some of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. I want everything they make! But most of all I love their accessories. Their handbags and shoes are my favorite. Acne has always held a special place in my heart. They make great jeans and coats. My favorite blazers and jeans are by Acne. Oliver Peoples makes the best sunglasses and frames. Better than anyone else. Such a beautiful classic style and great quality. Stella McCartney creates beautiful custom suits and dresses. I have consistently loved her collections for years.
L: Here are my top 5 favorite brands:
1. Dries Van Noten
2. Prada
3. Proenza Schouler
4. Corporation
5. Jil Sander (Learn more about the brand)
All of these brands are easy to wear and that is my first criterion. I need my clothes to not only look good, but to look good on me, fit my body type, and feel good. Loving a particular piece of clothing is one thing, loving it is another. I think many people make the mistake of buying clothes they like but not wearing them because they don’t like the fit or feel.
What five brands do you consider to be rising stars in the fashion world? Why do you like them?
five:
1. Mato
2. Totem
3. Cult Gaia
4. Magda Butrym (Learn more about the brand)
5. Le Monde Beryl (Learn more about the brand)
These are all brands created within the past 10 years. They have done really well and continue to rise. I like them because they are classic or just fun. This is a place that makes the clothes I want to wear.
What’s on your personal wish list for the remainder of 2024?
V: I really want to buy a totem or a Stella McCartney suit. I like a good suit.
L: Let’s see what hits stores this fall! But I always look for brands I like. At this stage, you have most of the clothes you need for special occasions, so you only buy clothes you’ll wear every day and things you can keep in your closet when you don’t know what to wear.
Without naming names, what do you think is in the wardrobe of your most stylish customers? It would be nice to have one for men and one for women.
V: One of my female clients is wearing a beautiful knit outfit by Gabriela Hearst. These are truly luxurious pieces. And one of my male clients just bought some awesome Maison Margiela sneakers. I love men’s sneakers. They go well with nice suits.
L: Aspesi is men’s favorite brand, but no women’s favorite brand. We just love mixing different brands, from Celine to Rick Owens.
Are there any brands you prefer for specific occasions or seasons, such as swimwear, warm weather, formal menswear, etc.? Any special suitability considerations, tips, or other expert information for your audience would be helpful!
V: The Row makes great summer sandals and winter knitwear. Matteau makes beautiful swimsuits and dresses for summer.
Are there essentials that you promise your customers? Are there things that you universally like, such as a specific brand, specific model or style?
V: There are things that everyone should have in their closet. This is an item that can be mixed and matched at any time and has a standout fit that can be worn up or down.
1. Jeans
2. Blazer
3. A nice white t-shirt
4. Unisex white button-up shirt
5. Black or navy suit for men
I love Citizens of Humanity for their women’s jeans. I love Acne for their blazers for men and women.
L: We always keep the basics in stock: black and white silk shells, white button-down cotton shirts, black crewneck cashmere sweaters, gray merino t-shirts and black pencil skirts. You could choose just one, but I have about 20 items that I think should be basic.
Thanks again to celebrity stylists Vanessa and Laurence for their help with this article!
About the author
Alex English is the Head of Content Marketing at italist.com, driven by his lifelong passion for fashion and luxury. I joined the italist team in 2019 after publishing a lifestyle blog for almost 10 years and earning my MBA from SDA Bocconi, one of Europe’s leading business schools in Milan. His work since then has focused on upper-funnel messaging, brand storytelling, establishing italist as a thought leader in its field, and enriching the customer experience on the platform. look for him linkedin.
