Style Revolution

Have you ever felt you have an inner Jessica Simpson just waiting to emerge, songstress and sexy? Or perhaps under your basic tee and jeans, you know there’s a sophisticated red-carpet siren like Cate Blanchett. Well, there’s no time like the new year to liberate your true style. We sat down with Hollywood stylist Jessica Paster and tapped into the secrets she reserves for her top-tier clients, including Simpson, Kate Bosworth and Christina Applegate.

Ready, set, go to a new you!

Closet overhaul: Go through your closet and get rid of anything you haven’t worn in the past 18 months, says Paster. Keep only your great basics and favourites – which will become the foundation of your wardrobe.

Fit factor: “Consider where you are in your weight,” says Paster. If you’re also adjusting your diet or workout routine, that will impact your clothing choices. Get rid of anything that doesn’t fit or visit a tailor to get a perfect fit.

Budget: While Paster’s clients often have enviably high disposable incomes, she’s no stranger to bargain hunting or shopping the January sales. Save money on basics and pick up treasured pieces when the next season’s stock is in store.

Fashion-victim alert: “It makes me sad when people try to be too sexy or too edgy or too prissy or they put every single style together,” says Paster. Instead, find the key to your style: “If you’ve always been bohemian chic, you will never go out of style,” she says. “I think a trend is dead when it was never your trend to begin with.”

Top tip: “Beauty always begins with self-confidence.” Paster suggests doing something physical daily; she swears by yoga. “I’ve worked with girls who are a size 14, and because they work out and do something for themselves every single day, they feel good.”

Act your age: “I think the biggest mistake people make is they don’t dress their age,” says Paster. “It goes both ways. I see teenagers dressing like 40-year-olds and I see 50-year-olds dressing like 20-year-olds. You can still be edgy and cool and a little bit sexy and be 50. Or you can be a little sophisticated and dress a little chic and still be 17.”