Beauty: Tips from celebrity stylist Jennifer Rade

Jennifer Rade is a Los Angeles-based celebrity stylist who I recently had a chance to speak to in her role as a spokesperson for Jergens Natural Glow. Rade’s website shows she’s worked with Angelina Jolie, Katharine McPhee, Pink, Jenna Fischer and Maya Rudolph, to name just a few. ‘You filter through hundreds of dresses and bring a selection based on what’s the best for them and the occasion,’ says Rade, encapsulating the role of a stylist-to-the-stars.

As awards season approaches (cue The Golden Globes this coming Sunday hosted by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler), it was fun having a chance to ask Rade about her strategy.

For silhouettes, Rade says, ‘I like outfits that aren’t voluminous overall. Maybe the bottom can be full’but everything can’t be ‘something.” If you’ve chosen a skirt with volume, for example, the silhouette on top should be simple, says Rade, who counts on such dazzling labels as Reem Acra and Naeem Khan for her clients’ red-carpet appearances.

‘My esthetic is less is more. Pick one thing that you’re going to show off’legs or cleavage.’

If you’re looking to make a great photograph beware of prints:  ‘I don’t use a lot of prints, or I do very rarely’they’re hard to photograph.’ What’s most important, though, is how you feel in an outfit, says Rade. It should fit great and ‘hug in all the right places.’

‘One of the most important things is to have flawless skin.’ Getting a celebrity ready for a big show takes teamwork, and Rade will discuss with the makeup artist whether the dress has a low-dip back, or is a mini, to make sure that body skin is looking optimum too.

Prep in advance’instead of using your standard moisturizer, use a gradual self-tanner (cue Jergens glow). ‘A lot of women look to the red carpet and wonder how the celebrities pull off their whole look,’ says Rade. ‘Just having nice natural even looking colour can make every outfit look better.’

So what’s on trend now in fashion? Rade sees metallic and colour still bringing drama to glamour dressing. ‘Shopping’ in your closet for a night out? Go for the chic pairing of black and white; or black with navy. Both are easy to pull off.

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