What I wore on TV

When I got the call to style a fall segment on live television, I did what I tell every client to do. I decided what the moment needed before I opened the closet.

Here is what it needed: to look polished under hot lights, to move easily, and to let the conversation be the star. So I went all black.

Why black works on camera

Black is calm. It never fights the set, the lighting or the people around you. It also gives you a clean canvas, so your face and your ideas are what people remember. The one catch is that flat black can look flat on screen, which brings me to the part most people skip.

Texture beats pattern

Busy prints can shimmer and blur on camera, and in photos too. Texture does the opposite. I mixed a soft knit, a crisp trouser and a little leather, all in black, so the outfit had depth without any noise. If you want your look to feel rich, vary the fabrics before you vary the colors.

One statement piece

Then I picked a single showpiece, a bold belt, and stopped there. One loud thing makes an outfit look chosen. Three loud things make it look like a debate. A great bag works just as well, or a sharp shoe, but choose one and let everything else support it.

Your big night works the same way

You do not need a studio to use any of this. For a wedding, a launch party, a milestone dinner or a big presentation, ask yourself three questions:

1. What does this night need me to feel like?
2. Can I build the outfit from one color and a few textures?
3. What is my one statement?

Answer those and you will walk in feeling like yourself, only more so. If you would like help getting there, a closet edit is a good place to start, and I would love to be in your corner.