A celebrity stylist shares tips borrowed from the A-list.
June Ambrose wants to help you look famous.
As the founder of celebrity styling house Mode Squad, Ambrose is already responsible for the wardrobes of celebrities such as Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Mariah Carey. She is the brains behind Missy Elliott’s tricked-out Adidas hook-ups, Busta Rhymes’ metallic suit and Janet Jackson’s shiny second skin from the “What’s It Gonna Be?” video, as well as Christina Aguilera’s sexy-casual look in her “Come On Over” video.
With a new book, “Effortless Style: Make Looking Good Look Easy,” due out Oct. 1 from Simon & Schuster, Ambrose is ready to hook readers up with her fashion tips and ideas for how to get the most out of personal style.
“My ultimate goal is to make fashion less overwhelming,” Ambrose says. “If you look at so many fashion magazines today, they can be intimidating. I want this book to give you the courage to be open-minded in your clothing choices, address the issues that people have about clothes and show them how to work with it.”
The book contains tips that Ambrose has shared with celebrity clients over her more than 15 years in the business. Some of them include things like knowing your body type and dressing for it, where to find the best bra, how to organize your wardrobe and even hints for men.
“Everyone wants to look iconic,” she says. “When you walk down the street, you want to turn heads. It’s just part of who we are as human beings. This book will help make you look great, no matter what your body type is.”
To help promote the book, agent Benny Medina, who also works with Carey and Tyra Banks, is taking a page from Ambrose’s friends in the music business. “He’s treating this like an album release, rather than a regular book launch.”
According to Ambrose, that includes hanging posters in urban areas to announce the book launch and distributing handouts near Bryant Park during New York Fashion Week. Ambrose has also designed the Effortless Style Survival Kit, which she will sell on her Web site, juneambrose.com, for holiday. The kit, which Ambrose expects to retail for under $100, includes a dress that can be easily accessorized for day or night, a crewneck top and leggings. It will also contain a booklet with tips on how to wear her designs in a variety of ways.