By Tyler Martin
Stylists are the unsung heroes in the fashion industry with a talent for creating unique, multidimensional looks. Meet Allison Bornstein, a renowned stylist, wardrobe consultant and author known for her minimalist aesthetic. With over a decade of experience in New York’s fashion scene, Allison has been featured in prestigious publications such as Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, The Cut, and Vanity Fair. She has made her mark on social media, where her practical styling techniques have gone viral. You may have heard of “The Three Word Method” and “The Wrong Shoe Theory”, both coined by Allison herself. Now based in Los Angeles, she uses FaceTime as a tool to help clients worldwide transform their closets from sources of stress into sources of joy. I recently had the opportunity to talk with Allison about her approach for styling college students, her book Wear It Well, her perspective on fast fashion and much more. Here’s a glimpse into our insightful conversation:
TM: How did you get your start in the fashion industry?
AB: So I went to the University of Michigan, and then I was like, ‘I know what I want to do with my life,’ so I transferred to FIT [Fashion Institute of Technology in New York]. I got an internship at Teen Vogue. There, I realized all the different parts of the magazine, what a PR firm does and it really took being in it for me to kind of understand all the parts. That’s when I went on set for the first time, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh! I knew that there were people picking out clothes, but just to see it really kind of was like a lightbulb for me.’ So that’s kind of how I started. Then I was an assistant for about five years to somebody who worked for a bunch of celebrities and did a lot of big fashion editorials. But I realized what I really loved was working with people one-on-one. When we would work with celebrities, we would style them sometimes for the airport or their everyday looks, and that was the part that really spoke to me. I loved helping people curate their personal style.
TM: What did you learn from your first few experiences with personal styling? What advice would you give to those interested in working in the fashion world?
AB: I was lucky because of the exposure my old boss gave me. I understood how celebrity styling worked, and I understood the importance of PR. I did work with a celebrity at one point, but I really focused on street style, and that was really cool. That was when I first started doing personal styling via FaceTime. I was like, ‘Okay, this is gonna be easy.’ But in fashion, I kind of only saw one kind of person and one kind of body type. So in my process of working with people all around the world of all different ages and all different bodies, I realized I actually knew nothing.
I do think it’s important—even though social media is so crucial to getting yourself out there—to also see how the process goes from someone who knows what they’re doing and really learn that way. I feel without my internship and without being an assistant, I wouldn’t have had the confidence and credibility to speak on the internet the way I do.
TM: You coined the “three word” term when describing your personal style. Tell me about that and how you and your clients have found this tool helpful.
AB: I realized in working with clients that a lot of people didn’t think they had personal style. They’d say, ‘I need help, I don’t know what I’m doing,’ and it’s sort of like, you make decisions every single day about what you put on your body, you make decisions about what you buy, and whether or not you’re conscious of that is one thing. I think the “three word method” helps you focus on the decisions you’re making, the things you’re buying, and the things you’re wearing. I feel like fashion can be really challenging because it’s creative and artistic, and if we see something we like, we may think, ‘I know this looks good, but I don’t know why,’ or ‘I really like this on me, but I can’t figure out how to replicate it.’ So I think having these words is really helpful in thinking about one’s style in a deeper way. I also think it’s really helpful because people might think that personal style is not that important, but it really takes some critical thinking, and it takes knowing yourself. I came up with these three words to give people a language around styling and allow the opportunity to discover their style, solidifying the fact that we all do have style because we’re making fashion choices every day.
TM: Last year, you published a book titled “Wear It Well: Reclaim Your Closet and Rediscover the Joy of Getting Dressed”. Can you tell me about the process of writing it, and how do you think this book will help broaden your audience as a stylist?
AB: When I was doing my styling sessions, I realized that everybody obviously has a unique wardrobe and a different set of needs, but a lot of the methods, teaching, and advice I was giving were kind of similar. Whether it was somebody in Dallas or somebody in Abu Dhabi, the principles are the same. So I figured, how can I just sell this knowledge and make it really digestible for people? If you can’t afford an hour styling session, this book is a great way to have a stylist in your pocket. The specific things I repeated in styling sessions and general advice are all in my book.
TM: What is your take on the fashion scene in Dallas?
AB: I think Dallas is so cool and so unique because they are at the forefront of the fashion and beauty industry, and there are incredible stores. Something that I learned from being in New York—moving from Michigan to a big city like New York—was that it’s really fun to walk around stores, even if you can’t afford things in them. I would be going to Barney’s all the time when I was in college, not to buy a single thing, but just to see what people are wearing, what designers are doing, how things are merchandised, and what the mannequins are like. Those little things, I think, we can take for granted. In Dallas, it’s really interesting and curated towards that area, so I think it’s really fun research to take advantage of the amazing department stores and multi-brand independent stores. We have access to so much through social media, so if you see something incredible at Neimans, you can find something with that same energy that’s less expensive on a student budget, which I think is such a fun way to gather inspiration and touch things.
TM: What is your current favorite accessory you think every college student should own?
AB: Honestly, I think a good belt. I know it’s crazy, but a belt really changes a look. You could be wearing a pair of slouchy jeans and a t-shirt or a sweater, but just adding the belt gives it a little hardware, a little texture, a little structure. Male or female, I think that’s a really important accessory.
TM: For college students who tend to over-buy, what advice would you give them?
AB: I think when you’re buying, forget the theme. It’s more important to buy things or wear things that feel good to you. Let’s say you’re going to Vegas, and you’re thinking, ‘Oh, I have to buy something sparkly, but that’s not my style. I’m more of a minimal, elegant dresser, and I’m never gonna wear this sparkly sh*t ever again.’ So I think it’s about thinking, ‘What are my three words, and how can I collect things and buy things that work for me that I can wear to these events?’ Instead of buying things with the event in mind, maybe it’s just having a capsule of things that work for date parties and events—things that you like and would be proud to wear. I used to ask myself this when I was younger: If I was to do something after this date party or event, would I be embarrassed to meet people who had no idea where I just was? I don’t want to leave a formal and go out for drinks looking like I just left a formal. I want to look like myself.
TM: Many college students, especially at SMU, are obsessed with trends. What are your thoughts on following trends closely?
AB: I think it’s definitely okay to follow trends, especially if it’s something that really speaks to you, as long as you can figure out your style and your three words. I also think college students are so young, and this is when you’re finding your style. So I feel like in terms of the three words, yes, we can find three words, but just know that they’re going to change because you’re going to change, you’re going to evolve, and you’re going to be different. I think this is a perfect time to figure out what you like by trying a bunch of different things. We can participate in some trends, but I do think it’s important to check in with yourself and ask, ‘Why do I like this? Do I like this because other people are wearing it, or do I like it because it makes me excited and it’s something that would really work for me?’ I think that’s a nice question to ask yourself, like, if I didn’t see other people wearing this and I just saw this at the store, would this excite me? When I was in college, I dressed absolutely nuts because I was just trying to figure out my style and try new things. I think this is actually a great time to try trends because the stakes are low. You don’t have an employer—who cares? Have fun, try things.
Stay up to date with Allison:
Cover artwork by Staff Member Athena Mamatas
