Barbra Horowitz is a Los Angeles stylist, but instead of slipping one of the Jessicas into designer duds styled obvious Old Hollywood, she’s editing the closet of everywoman, the chick who just needs help honing her taste. Less about setting a certain image for clients, Barbra teaches how to recycle your clothing, how to cut T-shirts into carefree couture, how to get comfortable experimenting with your wardrobe.  Barbra’s new book, Closet Control, brings her personal wardrobe therapy sessions to your own home. So, Ms. Horowitz, why don’t you…

TN: Tell us about your book, and how it’s different from other style books out.
BH: Closet Control is a book for everyone. This is a book for those who just haven’t figured out what to do with the clothing they don’t care about any more. When a new clothing purchase or old favorite falls from grace, it can be just like not wanting to be in the career or relationship you are currently in, with no way out. Closet Control gives you a way out. You can learn how to sell it on eBay, cut it up into something you might wear once… Instead of buying for the trends, how about dying for the trends? If navy blue is the hot color for fall, who says you cant take a $3 bottle of dye and take your summer whites into fall flavors? Closet Control gives you permission to experiment without attachment.

TN: How did you come up with the concept?
BH: I actually grew up this way. My mother had taught my sisters and me about eight easy pieces, well before Marie Claire had coined the phrase. My urge to write a book such as Closet Control was strictly to show readers that even the clothing we tire of has more life in it.

TN: What’s the easiest change someone, guy or girl, can make to change their wardrobe?
BH: Do you own a Fisker orange pair of scissors, a washer and dryer, and absolutely no fear? Everyone owns these, but the fearlessness is what I am instilling.

TN: What’s a piece every girl should own?  Guy?
BH: Every girl should own a men’s white wife beater, a staple for your canvas. Every guy should own a pair of flip-flops. You would be surprised, men’s feet can be as sexy as women’s.

 

TN: How can a girl or guy recycle clothing and keep fresh for each season?
BH: In chapter one of Closet Control, I urge readers to purge their wardrobe four times a year, and not because I want you to be organized, but because if you want the new you have to let go of the old sooner rather than later. And the “sooner” has more resale value.

 

TN: What’s a great way to restyle some clothing for the coming holiday parties?
BH: Oh, wow. Evening wear is the most fun to rework. You have to know that last season’s evening wear gets demoted to this season’s daywear and this season’s daywear gets demoted to your schlep-wear and your schlep-wear gets donated to Goodwill or your favorite charity. Then go shopping at the cool flea market, second-hand store for this season’s exciting evening wear for pennies. The flea markets and second-hand stores are overflowing with this season’s trends for a quarter of the price, and without the over-productions from your favortie chain store.

TN: Any sneak previews you can share with ThisNext readers?
BH: Instead of taupe for the spring we will see camel, crème, and yellow, so don’t get rid of all that sunny yellow just yet, you still have another season left.

TN: Biggest response a product of yours has received?
BH: My in-home wardrobing services—life-changing. Having your own personal stylist isn’t just for the red carpet anymore.

TN: The product that’s had the biggest influence on your career?
BH: The biggest influence for me is the second-hand stores and flea markets, they inspire all fashion that we see in front of us, we are nothing with out our past.

TN: If you were a product, you’d be a_____:
BH: Black American Express card. Never leave home without it.

TN: Your favorite product discovery in the last six months… Or something that inspired you?
BH: Private pilates training.

TN: Most prized possession?
BH: My two pugs, Buddha and Sabina.

TN: A product love secret you’re too embarrassed to share?
BH: If I tell you I would have to kill you.

TN: Name an item under your bed.
BH: That would be bad feng shui. But I do have more than my fair share of pug hair.

TN: What’s something in your closet that’s not clothing, shoes, bags, etc.?
BH: Um, only clothing in this stylist’s closet.

TN: Fav trend for fall?
BH: If we’re speaking about this fall, I like all the boots from Barney’s Co-Op. When you buy three styles, you still haven’t bought one pair on the first floor.

TN: Least fav trend for fall?
BH: These babydoll dresses, they make good editorial and work great on 20-year-olds and that’s about it. Fashion needs to reach to the buying public, not the prepubescents.

TN: Can’t leave home without…
BH: Getting dressed.

TN: City or suburbs?
BH: Well I live in L.A., which is sort of like a hybrid.

TN: Loft or the perfect house with the white picket fence?
BH: How about a house that is gutted like a loft?

TN: Flip-flops or sneakers?
BH: Oh, it is all about the toes. Always flip-flops.

TN:Coffee or tea?
BH: Or me.