Katie Holmes’ stylist offers virtual FaceTime sessions to update your closet at home

'Who we think we are and who we actually are in terms of fashion don’t match up'
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Meredith Lepore4 April 2020

Even for the most devoted fashion-lovers, in the current world, motivating yourself to get dressed in anything that doesn’t have a drawstring waist is pretty difficult, especially when the most coveted accessories are face masks.

In self-quarantine, it seems that high fashion has been the first thing to go - but maybe it doesn’t have to.

Allison Bornstein, a stylist for Harper’s Bazaar and InStyle who works with celebrities including Katie Holmes (who has been having a fashion moment since she introduced the world to the cashmere bra) and Birds of Prey director Cathy Yan has launched The System.

Courtesy Image

It's an organizational approach to help men and women take their closets to the next level.

Think of it as Marie Kondo-ing your closet, but with a sartorial twist. Now, Bornstein is offering virtual styling sessions via Facetime for $150 per hour (with $50 of the proceeds going to local New York food banks.)

A closet revamp may be more therapeutic than you would think.

“My goal is to democratize fashion and make it inclusive for everyone, so I figured that by sharing this system, it could be like having a stylist in your closet with you every morning. I want women to feel empowered when they get dressed and I think this method allows women to take control of their wardrobes and have a better handle on their personal style,” Bornstein told Insider.

The System was based on her closet editing sessions with personal clients. “I basically did a version of this system and found that it worked super well and was really easy for women to maintain,” she said.

Bornstein, who cites Jane Birkin as one of her style icons, received requests to help women via FaceTime after a YouTube video showing off one of her sessions. She thought that setup would be difficult at first but decided to give it a try.

“I picked one of my followers and gave her a free one-hour consultation and it was so much fun. It was incredible to me how much I was able to connect and understand this woman, who I had never met or spoken to, just by looking in her closet via FaceTime. We went over her wardrobe together and made looks and lifted each other's spirits by talking about clothes for an hour.”

Even if you can’t tell your Givenchy from your Gap, we all could use a little fashion pep talk to lift our spirits.

While fashion can sometimes feel frivolous, Bornstein thinks people should look at it as self-care.

“Fashion can be so transformative, when we look good, we feel good and when we feel good we are ready to take on the world! I see fashion as a wellness tool and we need that now more than ever. I think it can be so helpful to put on something that makes you feel powerful and strong, whether we are leaving the house or not,” she said.

"It's super easy to be influenced by what other people are wearing and as a result it is harder to cut through the noise and find out their own vision. This is a great moment to take the time to think about what you like to wear and why you like it," Bornstein advised.

"The most important part of The System is when I tell clients to pull out their 'regulars.' It's surprising and illuminating for people to see what they actually wear the most.

"A lot of times, who we think we are and who we actually are in terms of fashion don’t match up, which is why we will often buy things that we don't know how to style or that we never wear. A common theme in my FaceTime sessions is women showing me a garment, often with tags still attached, that they bought because they saw someone else wear it but don't know how to style it because it doesn't necessarily fit with their style," she shared.

This is also the time to experiment with your style, says Bornstein. It's time to bust out that combo you were too afraid to try in the office.

“I had an amazing client who said she isn't sure about a specific pair of pants so we styled them and we decided she would wear them this week while she works and see how she feels. It's a great testing ground. Try a scarf! Experiment with a funky way of layering! See how it makes you feel because you have nothing to lose.”

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