In September, I will celebrate my 19th year as a personal stylist.  It probably comes as no surprise that over the years, I have cultivated a roster of brands that I consistently shop for clients.  Of course, after this many years, some brands I once loved are no longer and there are plenty I fell out of love with over time.  My resource list is an organic one.

I shop for each brand for different reasons.  For some brands, I shop the entire line while for other brands there are specific items I count on.    With such a variety of clients, I need to have these brands at my fingertips and know which ones to go to for each client.  To help you navigate this guide, I have listed each brand’s price point, How sizing runs, the age range and type of client who wears this brand, and, lastly, what I typically count on from this brand.

When I indicate a size is true, seeing that sizing is arbitrary and it makes the term rather ambiguous, I am basing true sizing when it most equals the size a client tells me they wear.  

Fashion Brands I Consistently Shop for Clients

Akris Punto

Price Point: $$$$

Sizing: Small

Age Range: 35+

Client Type: Professional and casual clients who prefer elegant, investment clothing

What I Shop: Franca Pants, blazers, tops and dresses

Style Type: Modern Classic

Key Features: Blazers have slits in the cuffs that make cuffing easy and hemming avoidable, exquisite construction, beautiful design, and fabrics

 

 

Lafayette 148 New York

Price Point: $$$$

Sizing: True-Large

Age Range: 40+

Client Type: Professional and casual clients who prefer elegant, investment clothing

What I shop: Grammercy Pants, Novelty Tops, charmeuse shells,

Style Type: Modern Classic

Key Features: Good pants,  fun novelty pieces along with good basics, extensive size range.

 

 

M.M. Lafleur

Price Point: $$$

Sizing: Small-True

Age Range: 30+

Client Type: Professional

What I shop: Self-hemming Foster Pants, Dresses, Easy Layering, shoes

Style Type: Modern

Key Features: Smart design and shopping for the busy working woman, beautiful color palettes, larger sizes despite limiting their plus-size

 

 

Eileen Fisher

Price Point: $$$

Sizing: Very Large

Age Range: 40+

Client Type: Casual Professional & Casual

What I shop: Silk Georgette Crepe Long Shell, Cardigans, Pull-On Pants, fun jumpsuits

Style Type: Modern

Key Features: Easy, comfortable dressing, their Renew Program gives a second life to gently worn pieces, extensive size range, transparent and ethical manufacturing

 

 

Max Mara

Price Point: $$$$

Sizing: Small

Age Range: 35+

Client Type: Professional

What I shop for: Suiting, blazers, coats, and dresses, double-face cashmere

Style Type: Classic

Key Features: Expert craftsmanship and tailoring, gorgeous fabrics, exquisite coats

 

 

Theory

Price Point: $$$

Sizing: Small

Age Range: 25+

Client Type: Professional

What I shop: Treeca pants, Suiting, blouses and knits

Style Type: Modern Classic

Key Features: Approachable price point if starting to invest in clothing, works well for petite sizing, recently started sizing to 16

 

 

BOSS Hugo Boss

Price Point: $$$

Sizing: True

Age Range: 30+

Client Type: Professional

What I shop: Bashina Mock Button-Up Shirt, Dashilo Shirt Dress, Suiting

Style Type: Modern Classic

Key Features: Updated professional pieces, great quality, Beautiful Prints

 

 

J.Crew

Price Point: $$

Sizing: True

Age Range: 20+

Client Type: Professional and Casual

What I shop for: Cameron Pants, Vintage V-Neck T-Shirts, Blazers, Sweater Blazers, chino shorts

Style Type: Classic & Preppy

Key Features:  Great blazers and pants for the price, comfortable t-shirts.  Good for basics.

 

 

Vince

Price Point: $$$

Sizing: Large

Age Range: 25+

Client Type: Professional and Casual

What I shop: Silk blouses, cozy sweaters, pants, shoes

Style Type: Modern

Key Features:  Easy Comfort, modern, uncomplicated style, available in plus-size

 

 

Veronica Beard

Price Point: $$$

Sizing: True

Age Range: 25+

Client Type: Professional and Casual

What I shop: Blazers

Style Type: Modern Classic

Key Features:  Great cut blazers, dickie inserts in some of the blazers, offers plus size

 

 

Nic + Zoe

Price Point: $$

Sizing: True

Age Range: 40+

Client Type: Professional and Casual

What I shop: Perfect Tanks, 4-Way Cardigans, Novelty Pieces and prints

Style Type: Modern Classic

Key Features: Extensive size range, easy to navigate capsules, work-to-weekend pieces

 

 

Hobbs

Price Point: $$$

Sizing: True

Age Range: 30+

Client Type: Professional

What I shop for: Carrie Bolero, Aimee top, dresses

Style Type: Classic

Key Features: British design, Great colors, classic pieces that aren’t stodgy looking, smart arm coverage pieces.

 

 

Aquatalia

Price Point: $$$$

Sizing: True

Age Range: 30+

Client Type: Professional and Casual

What I shop: Rhumba boots, Fuoco booties, Pasha pump

Style Type: Modern Classic

Key Features: All shoes and boots are weatherproof, lasting quality, gorgeous styling for functional shoes.

 

 

Coolibar

Price Point: $$

Sizing: True to Large

Age Range: 35+

Client Type: Casual

What I shop: Pants, Cardigans, hats, wraps, athletic clothing

Style Type: Classic

Key Features: All Coolibar clothing and accessories have UPF 50+ protection that blocks 98% of UVA/UVB rays.  First clothing company to receive The Skin Cancer Foundations Seal of Recommendation.

 

 

Madewell

Price Point: $$

Sizing: True

Age Range: 20+

Client Type: Casual

What I shop for: Courrier top, jeans, Fun Tops

Style Type: Modern Classic, Boho

Key Features: Tops look finished with little effort, works well for all ages and many different style types, good jeans.

 

 

Ann Taylor

Price Point: $$

Sizing: True to Large

Age Range: 20+

Client Type: Professional and Casual

What I shop: Petites, clients on a budget, jewelry.

Style Type: Classic

Key Features: One of the few petite resources for work clothes, good for young clients just starting out, approachable style.

 

 

Frye

Price Point: $$$

Sizing: True

Age Range: 20+

Client Type: Casual

What I shop: Melanie Slip-Ons, Melissa boots,

Style Type: Classic

Key Features: Enduring style, exceptional quality and craftsmanship

 

 

11 Honoré

Price Point: $$$$

Sizing: Varies by brand

Age Range: 35+

Client Type: Professional and Casual

What I shop:  Event Dresses, 11 Honoré basics, Blazers

Style Type: Modern Classic

Key Features: Beautiful designer clothing for plus-size

 

 

Birkenstock

Price Point: $$

Sizing: Large

Age Range: 20+

Client Type: Casual

What I shop:  The Gizeh

Style Type: Modern Classic

Key Features: Incredible comfort, enduring quality, timeless style

 

 

Piazza Sempione

Price Point: $$$$

Sizing: True

Age Range: 40+

Client Type: Casual and Business Casual

What I shop:  Audrey Pants

Style Type: Classic

Key Features: Audrey Pants fit a wide variety of body shapes.  I don’t shop the rest of the line.

 

 

Michael Kors Collection

Price Point: $$$$

Sizing:  Small

Age Range: 35+

Client Type: Professional

What I shop:  Sheath dresses, cropped shrug, Samantha pants

Style Type: Modern Classic

Key Features:  Classic American sportswear pieces, beautiful dresses, well fitting pants

 

 

Honorable Mentions and Up-And-Comers

The following brands are on my list and ones that I have either been more recently shopping, shop with some regularity but not enough to make the list or that come through on occasion.