Wardrobe Stylist Quotes

“I think a marvelous stunt would be to have your best friend (or the most critical acquaintance) take some candid color snapshots of you from all angles, dressed just as you usually appear at, say, six in the evening. The same hairdo, the same makeup, and if possible the same expression on your face. Be honest! Be sure to have her take the rear views, too.
There ought to be some other shots of you wearing your best going-out-to-dinner dress, or your favorite bridge-with-the-girls costume — hat, gloves, bag, and costume jewelry. Everything. Then have that roll of film developed and BLOWN UP. You can’t see much in a tiny snapshot. An eight-by-ten will show you the works — and you probably won’t be very happy with it. Sit down and take a long look at that strange woman.
Is she today’s with-it person — elegant, poised, groomed, glowing with health? Or is she a plump copy of Miss 1950? Is she sleek, or bumpy in the wrong places? How is her posture? Does she look better from the front than from the back? Does she stand gracefully? […] Feet together or one slightly in front of the other, is the most graceful stance.
[…]
I always pin my bad notices on my mirror. How about keeping those eight-by-ten candid shots around your dressing room for a while as you dress?”
― Joan Crawford, My Way of Life

“Closets should be completely emptied twice a year. […] Then inspect every item in your wardrobe. Things you’re doubtful about are probably wrong. […] Give things away to someone they do compliment, or send them to charity or a thrift shop and resolve not to make the same mistake again.
That old saw, 'When in doubt, don’t,' is never so true as when it comes to clothes. Or getting married.”
― Joan Crawford, My Way of Life

“[Joan's rule for dressing well] When you finish a creation, take something off. Diminish, diminish, diminish.”
― Joan Crawford, My Way of Life

“What is basic? First and foremost, it is the CUT.
Many people think that we are talking about color and picture things in black and white or maybe in beige and blue. However, the basics don’t mean a particular color; they mean the cut and the ability of every thing to work with each other thing. They can be of any color at all!”
― Alaya Aifel, Let’s Shop in Our Own Closet

“Our International Style Institute is a stylist school that trains professionals of style and image, developing technical knowledge of make-up, hair-style, photography.”
― StyleInstitute

“Understate—or as Valentina said, 'diminish.' Let your face be more important than your costume. If you think you may be wearing too much jewelry, you are. Ask your husband how he thinks you look. If he says, 'That's a lovely dress,' try again. What he should say is, 'You look lovely!”
― Joan Crawford, My Way of Life

“I love preshrunk cottons for traveling. Mamacita can wash and press them overnight — another space-saving trick. Whatever I’ve worn that day goes into the hotel bathtub for a good soak and some squishing back and forth, and then after a time Mamacita goes in and rinses them, rolls them in big towels, and irons them while they’re still damp.”
― Joan Crawford, My Way of Life