Inspiration comes from everywhere, but most every stylish person can point to one spiritual guide—Coco Chanel, a grandmother, Clarissa from Clarissa Explains It All—who imparted that crucial bit of fashion wisdom that really stuck. This Fashion Week, at parties and red carpets, we asked the likes of Kirsten Dunst, Michael Stipe, Josh Hartnett and Lizzy Caplan: What’s the best fashion advice you’ve ever gotten? Click through our slideshow for their answers.
The runway finale at the Tommy Hilfiger Women's S/S 2013 Fashion Show.
“Look into your mirror in the morning and follow your feelings and your mood—that’s my own advice."
“Coco Chanel said ‘less is more’. Always take an item off before you leave, which is what I did tonight. There’s some jewelry in my purse right now.”
“Well, I’m from Ireland so fashion’s no big deal; I guess I’m still searching for the best advice when it comes to fashion."
"If you’re comfortable, you’re doing well. That’s my own advice."
"My mother used to say to me if you're not gonna wear a bra, you better tape down your nipples!"
“It’s something very basic that I learnt from my mom: you wear the dress, the dress doesn’t wear you."
“I don’t accept fashion advice from anyone."
“Stand up straight.”
“Hard work will get you everywhere. That was from my dad, who’s certainly not a fashionista, but it applies to fashion."
“The best fashion advice I ever got was with regard to cologne. People should only be able to smell it on you when they’re close enough to lick you—and that was from the owner of the first restaurant I ever worked at when I was thirteen."
“Don’t follow the rules! That’s advice from myself."
“Know what you are. Like, with skinny jeans—I don’t need to accentuate my hips. I love it on Kristen Wiig, but not on me.”
“My girlfriend is a stylist and she says don’t worry about trends and fads, worry about what looks great on you. It took me a long time to figure that out. I would try to find the skinniest jeans possible and then be like ‘these thighs aren’t muscle-y!’ It just didn’t work out.”
"Bring extra shoes.” (Points down to her tall gray heels.) “I didn’t bring extra shoes tonight. Damnit.”
