Stylist Jamie Mizrahi is used to dressing A-listers for high-profile appearances that come to define their singular style. The looks she puts together often have a transformative effect – see Mikey Madison blooming in Miu Miu and Dior gowns on her award-winning Anora press run, or Adele channelling Old Hollywood glamour in Schiaparelli and Armani throughout her Vegas residency. Then there’s Jennifer Lawrence, who aces everything from recent Dior-clad Cannes appearances to off-duty looks that somehow make The Row feel even more covetable.
Mizrahi is the architect behind all these acts of sartorial self-realisation, so effective that she’s rumoured to have been consulted by the Duchess of Sussex when she shifted stylistic gear from royal refinement to Montecito minimalism. Mizrahi categorically does not comment on Meghan, and is admirably discreet about her star-studded client list.
She does, however, share insights about the balance she aims to strike with each one of them. “It’s about infusing personal style with people’s own wardrobe, while obviously implementing new pieces and accessories,” she says. “I like to integrate a client’s street style into their red carpet looks to make sure it’s cohesive and there’s a story being told of who you are off the red carpet as well as on it.”
As for those of us who are not red carpet regulars, some of Mizrahi’s rules still very much apply, and she has a few key tips for those looking to put together outfits that feel considered. “I always think it’s good to put together a mood board of other people’s style,” she says. “Look at people you admire then figure out ways you can integrate their style into your own wardrobe. If you really look at what you have you’ll probably find you don’t need to buy a whole new wardrobe to achieve this.”
She gathers inspiration in this way with all of her clients and, she adds, herself. The Mizrahi mood board changes seasonally but consistently features a “ton” of images of Jackie Kennedy, Carolyn Bessette Kennedy and other understated style icons.
“I really do truly believe in classic, solid pieces and being able to interchange them,” she says. “I want to invest in pieces that are timeless and kind of non-descript – no logos, no print, so you can wear them repeatedly.” On the list of key items? A “perfect” black blazer, a black slip dress, a white T-shirt, a black T-shirt, a pair of jeans, a pair of black trousers, a trench coat, and a shirt. The value of each piece is its versatility, she explains: “You could wear the shirt around your waist, around your shoulders, over a slip dress or as more of a ‘jacket’ over one of your T-shirts.”
As for where to find them, Mizrahi has a fondness for affordable pieces as well as designer gowns, citing Uniqlo, Gap and Cos as favourites, as well as online sources like Depop and Etsy. Another brand with which she has a longstanding affinity is Californian footwear label Tom’s, which she has known since it opened its first store in Venice, LA. She’s designed a limited-edition capsule for the brand, reimagining its “easiest most wearable” slip-on “Alpargata” style in water- and stain-repellent suede.
She says the experience was nostalgic, but focused on one thing above all: comfort. “It’s about wearing things that can get you right and feeling at ease,” she says. “And I think that right now, especially given the state of the world and how fast everyone’s moving, we just want ease and comfort, while also being chic.” They might not fly on the Cannes red carpet, but this is clearly a stylist with impressive range.
