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Stacy London’s style rules The celebrity stylist, who is the author of a new book, “The Truth About Style ,” has a simple philosophy about fashion. Here are some of her tidbits of advice, illustrated with photos from spring collections presented at fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan and Paris.
Stacy London and Clinton Kelly are the hosts of the "What Not to Wear" on TLC. The show helps those in need of a fashion makeover. London is also a designer, author and head of Style for Hire, a personal styling company.
George Lange
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TLC
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London, center, and Kelly, left, discuss clothing options with Venessa on “What Not to Wear.” London’s new book, ”The Truth About Style,” chronicles the makeover of nine clients, as well as London’s struggles with weight and insecurity.
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TLC
London often advises clients not to shy away from patterns, such as this graphic print presented at the Lela Rose spring/summer 2013 fashion show in New York. She urges petite women to stick to small prints that don’t overwhelm a tiny frame.
Arun Nevader
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Taking it a step further, London also helps her clients learn how to mix prints, as shown at the recent J.Crew fashion week presentation in New York. When mixing prints, it's best to keep them in the same color family and aim for the larger print to be on the bottom.
Mike Coppola
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Getty Iamges for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
London helps her clients lengthen their legs by choosing high-waisted pants, such as this pair from the Lorenzo Riva spring/summer 2013 fashion show in Milan.
Pier Marco Tacca
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Getty Images
You can’t go wrong with a simple, well-fitted black blazer. London says that she often wears one with a colorful blouse or scarf paired with skinny jeans. This outfit, by Peter Copping for Nina Ricci, was shown at this year’s Paris Fashion Week.
Jacques Brinon
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AP
Another example of runway fashion that parallels London’s advice: A bright blazer and pattern-matching were on display at the Massimo Rebecchi spring/summer 2013 fashion show in Milan.
Pier Marco Tacca
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Getty Images
For clients with wider hips, London often puts them in a full, A-line skirt to accentuate their waists. This outfit was on display at the Lorenzo Riva spring/summer 2013 fashion show in Milan.
Pier Marco Tacca
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Getty Images
Color-blocked shift dresses are also frequently prescribed by London. The colors in this Michael Kors frock, shown recently in New York, are vertically elongating and, at the waist, horizontally slimming.
Richard Drew
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AP
Other color-blocked dresses, like this Ohne Titel dress presented in New York, help create the illusion of an hourglass figure.
Andy Kropa
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Getty Images
On “What Not to Wear,” London helps women find the perfect little black dress. But she also tells clients that other dark neutrals, like navy or eggplant, can be slimming, too. Here, model Karlie Kloss wears a creation for Lanvin during the design house’s recent spring/summer 2013 ready-to-wear show in Paris.
Francois Guillot
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AFP/Getty Images
“Style doesn’t start with your body,” writes London in “The Truth About Style,” “It starts with your brain.” London encourages women to consider themselves, flaws and all, and dress to build self-esteem. She addresses women who dress to be invisible, saying, “You have to get past second-guessing what other people might think and just wear what makes you happy.” Perhaps these sunny spring outfits from J.Crew?
Robert MacPherson
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AFP/Getty Images
One of London’s easiest rules to remember: If you accentuate your waist with a belt, your outfit becomes instantly slimming. Here, a model presents a creation by French designer Sophie Albou for fashion house Paul & Joe during Paris Fashion Week.
Charles Platiau
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Reuters
London is all too happy to dress her clients in garments with sequins and shine, like this Salvatore Ferragamo top. However, she says in her book, “My love of sparkly clothes and high heels has evolved into an understanding of that love and what lies at the heart of it: Style is a form of self-expression and aspiration.”
Pier Marco Tacca
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Getty Images
One of London’s missions is to get her clients to embrace eye-popping colors, like these looks by Stephen Burrows that were presented at New York’s recent fashion week.
Arun Nevader
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Getty Images
The most important of London’s rules could be to dress without fear. She probably wouldn’t advise her clients to wear the headgear seen in this Gerlan Jeans spring/summer 2012 show, but the giant bow is fun. “Take the risk and wear bright clothes that bring you joy,” she says in her book.
Joe Kohen
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London, shown training stylists for her Style for Hire business, writes: “Style, unlike fashion, is personal. It’s about the individual. You have to know yourself to utilize style.”
Marvin Joseph
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