LOOK AT LIZ
Visual Therapy was started 10 years ago by Garza and Lupo as a personal shopping service. "Our technique teaches women that achieving a state of connectedness between your image and your identity is not about trying to mold yourself into someone you're not," write the authors. "It's about identifying and embracing who you are now and how to align your wardrobe choices with your life and your fashion personality so that you can best express yourself."
OK, so we all want a simple answer to that age-old quandary many of us seem to face every day as we stare into our cluttered closets and hope we will get it together someday.
Well, according to Garza and Lupo, it all starts with defining your own style. So before you start dragging out the deepest dregs of your closet, decide first what you're all about - then you can purge and splurge.
After working with hundreds of people from coast to coast, the two fashion experts have come to the conclusion that each of us belongs to one or a combination of the following style types:
CLASSIC - Simple, clean, and traditional; a timeless look because the silhouette and colors rarely change. Always ladylike, classic garments are often tailored.
Fashion icons: Laura Bush, Katharine Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Diane Sawyer, Renee Zellweger
Designer inspirations: Brooks Brothers, Agnona, Akris, Anne Klein, Ann Taylor, Burberry, Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, J.Crew, Kton, Liz Claiborne, Loro Piana, Ralph Lauren, Talbots
CHIC - This style is defined by a powerful look and sharp lines that seem to come together in an effortless way. It is often monochromatic and combined with bold accessories.
Fashion icons - Halle Berry, Catherine Deneuve, Audrey Hepburn, Carolina Herrera, Nicole Kidman, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Designer inspirations: Gucci, Armani, Banana Republic, Hugo Boss, Chanel, Club Monaco, Kenneth Cole, Express, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Laundry, Max Mara, Narciso Rodriguez, Elie Tahari, Valentino and Zara
WHIMSICAL - This playful style appears to be "thrown together," but it is actually a thoughtful combination of colors and patterns. The wearer is often young at heart and the look is sometimes ethereal and romantic.
Fashion icons - Mischa Barton, Sofia Coppola, Kirsten Dunst, Vanessa Paradis, Gwen Stefani
Designer inspirations - Etro, Bennetton, French Connection, Marc Jacobs, Betsey Johnson, Nanette Lepore, Moschino, Zac Posen, Prada, Louis Vuitton
BOHEMIAN - Relaxed, lived-in, hippy or funky, incorporating offbeat accessories and, usually, lots of denim and suede. A relaxed look with an emphasis on natural fabrics and earth tones, this style evolved from the hippie looks of the 1960s and 1970s.
Fashion icons - Kate Hudson, Jade Jagger, Ali MacGraw, Sienna Miller, Kate Moss, Stevie Nicks, Joss Stone
Designer inspirations - Chloe, Abercrombie & Fitch, Anna Sui, Anthropologie, Roberto Cavalli, Dolce & Gabbana, Eskandar, Matthew Williamson, Miu Miu and Urban Outfitters
AVANT-GARDE - This is an ultramodern style that uses fashion as an extension of the wearer's creativity. It often seeks to make a dramatic statement. Typically, the foundation for this wardrobe is black.
Fashion icons - Cate Blanchett, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Diane Keaton, Annie Lennox
Designer inspirations - Yohji Yamamoto, Balenciaga, Comme des Garcons, Costume National, John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier, Lanvin, Alexander McQueen, Proenza Schouler, Top Shop, Victor & Rolf and Issey Miyake
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Sharon Mosley is a former fashion editor of the Arkansas Gazette in Little Rock and executive director of the Fashion Editors and Reporters Association.
© Copley News Service
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