HOP Member Post: A Fashion Renaissance and the Michelangelo of Personal Stylists Who Made It Happen…
What is it like to be connected in the HOP ecosystem? Today we are featuring a guest post from Nomi Bolt who has attended several of our events including A Perfume Story where she met HOP Business Member and Podcast Guest and Stylist Jeanina Zegaire and ended up booking a session with her. HOP is a place to find deeper connections in your city through experiences and our curated network.
Want to write for us? Send an email to hello@houseofperegrine.com
A new year rings in the desire for personal reflection and a determination to improve. Although I am not an adopter of resolutions, I am not immune to the allure of wanting a carefully curated closet. We all know those people: the ones who never seem to step out of their home without a chic, eye turning look. And as much as I would like that to be me, I simply won’t ever slip on knee high boots to walk the pup. So, no: this article won’t be about me, shocking I know. I usually only overshare about myself… but there is one person on this earth I feel comfortable enough to share on behalf of. You guessed it: my husband got a personal stylist.
The idea sprang to life over a month ago when I was seated at a perfume show event. I know what you are asking: what is a perfume show? Well it was a type of brand and networking event hosted by The House of Peregrine (HOP) and Franziska Josteit, the luxury perfumer behind Luisa Jo Wild Perfumery The event hosted 10 people, all titans of industry, and me (who had snuck my way in on the graces of being friends with the generous founder of HOP). There was a CEO of a quiet luxury jewelry brand, a writer for Vogue, the CTO of a tech company, a prestigious architect, the founder of a personal assistant service, and seated next to me: a personal stylist named Jeanina Zgîrie.
Being blindfolded through a sensory experience, the telling of a story through scents, you bond pretty quickly with the person sitting next to you. So it was only a matter of time until Jeanina and I got to talking. The first thing I obviously commented on was her effortlessly elegant style, which led her to tell me about her business as a personal stylist.
PAUSE: You might have read in my last blog that Michael and I planned to give each other homemade gifts for Christmas, and at that time my original plan had been to make him a sort of fashion look book to get dressed in the mornings. Michael, like many of us, struggles with self confidence and his wardrobe. He has always had an interest in fashion but has felt unsure about the funds and know-how needed to make his wardrobe represent him.
UNPAUSE: So after chatting with Jeanina about my husband and how I thought he would really benefit from her help, I knew I was going to need another Christmas gift idea. I was sure she could offer him more value and help than I would ever be able to.
It’s pretty easy to think someone is already perfect when you get to see every piece of them, so even if I tell him a paper sack looks good on him it wouldn’t make a difference. Sometimes you need a person who is not your obsessed wife to tell you things to believe them.
And so about two weeks later I had a new Christmas gift idea under way and Michael had a new stylist. If you are anything like me, a personal stylist sounded like a really out of touch and inaccessible thing; but I am here to share our experience and tell you that the more time we have spent with her, the more invaluable the service feels.
Our first meeting was in a cafe by our home. We met and had coffee to see if the vibes were right and if we could all be a good match for one another. After giggling about the style icons of the “90s dad” and discussing Nacho Libre’s very tight personal clothes we all agreed we were going to be fast friends and headed back to our home for the initial styling.
First things first, she went through the clothes we already had. I don’t know about you but this was never a step I considered. I just had the assumption a new stylist would come with a whole new wardrobe, but it’s not true. Jeanina has a theory that people buy clothes that they already look flattering in and their favorite color is the one they look best in.
Like a statement piece, or even two or three new sweaters from a luxury brand, a personal stylist is an investment in your wardrobe.
What makes her a good investment was this step here. After assessing his wardrobe she helped him instantly style almost 15 new outfits with the clothes he already had. We discovered Michael already owned a lot of pieces in the style he hoped to achieve but didn’t have the right tools to pair them correctly. Within 3 hours, and for the same price of a couple new sweaters, it was like he had a whole new wardrobe…. and a whole new interest in fashion.
After she left I could see the confidence in himself and his wardrobe build until our next meeting with her. He tried the pairings she suggested and for the FIRST TIME in our 11 years of being together was excited to experiment with his outfits. He started accessorizing and using long ago discarded items in the back of his closet.
In getting ready for our next meeting with her, Michael picked out his new favorite pairing and I could tell was beyond pleased (this is so stinking cute I am tearing up writing it) when she complimented it.
At our second meeting she designed a personal style analysis of Michael’s wardrobe and desired style. As she clicked through each slide we both smiled at how much thought and effort she had put into this, it was clear she had listened very closely to his design goals. The analysis included a body type and shape guide, an ideal color palette for Michaels’ features, and a shopping guide for items she believes he is missing in his wardrobe to complete the look he wanted to achieve.
Long after her presentation was over, we lingered over warm coffee and chatted about everything from being immigrants, to stain removal tips, to the best thrift spots in Amsterdam. When the sun started to set we made an agreement to set up a shopping styling session soon, where Jeanina could help Michael with a new suit fitting.
This is hard to explain: but as someone who has watched Michael be so shy around others for years, there is some indescribable joy in seeing him chat away earnestly with a new friend. There is an even greater joy still in watching him come home and open the computer to shopping tabs filled with the new suggestions.
In watching this whole exchange first hand there is something so light and hopeful in seeing his anxiety about his personal appearance melt away. Each time he opts for a bolder color in his palette, instead of the wallflower neutrals he clung to so desperately, I think of this amazing version of him that the rest of the world can now glimpse at too.
Clothing is so personal, and despite those who may deny it’s importance, can connect us to memories, people and even personal feelings. So giving it the time and care it deserves with the guidance of a really chic person seems like the smartest investment to me. Trust me on that… I am an ex accountant.
the wife of a well dressed stud,
About Nomi Bolt An oversharing 20 something Retired American corporate girl living in Europe, trophy wife, or whatever else you’d like to call her Subscribe to her substack here
Read Jeanina’s Vintage Shopping Guide for Amsterdam or Listen to her podcast episode on Finding your Personal Style.