Ladies! The holiday season is here! Time to break out those most sparkling and dazzling pieces from your wardrobe to shine at all of this year’s festivities. Don’t worry if you have nothing to wear, stylist and Million Dollar Shoppers star Gregg Asher is to the rescue! Our editor, Amy Wray, recently got the chance to chat with Asher where he talked about season two negotiations, dealing with tough clients and of course holiday fashion and what you should be asking for this Christmas.
Mod City Mag: For people who aren’t familiar with Million Dollar Shoppers, please explain what it is about?
Gregg Asher: Million Dollar Shoppers is a Weinstein backed fashion centric reality show on Lifetime channel, that gives the audience an insider’s view on the frantic and challenging lives of 4 personal shoppers and their difficult clients. You get to see dwellings, diamonds, and divas as the commissional stakes are high in this hour long series! Basically closet Porn!
Is there talks of a second season happening?
Second season is being negotiated as we speak! The Weinstein Company’s only other reality shows on air is the Project Runway franchise, so they’ve been a major supporter in pushing this program forward!
Who was your most difficult client? How did you get through it without losing your mind?
Each of our clients on the show had their own set of issues that presented a road block on the street of style from personality clashes to items of quick turn around that unless you can pick up sewing quickly it isn’t going to happen! You honestly have to be “Sybil” with multiple personalities – part therapist, part babysitter, and carry a flask to get through each day! That’s what makes it fun and interesting – the drinking of course!
On the show you work with one of your best friends, Tayler Carson Sandvick, and the two of your are known as the dynamic duo, how hard and how easy was it working with your best friend? Do the two of you work together regularly?
Yes, and then there is Tayler (partner in crime) – she is the younger sister my mother never wanted! We met each other at a Dior store opening 10+ years ago and have been joined at the hip with a camel color, gold hardware classic Hermes belt size 70 ever since! Not going to lie, working with your best friend isn’t always fun although; we have similar taste in clothes, but we don’t always agree on how far to push the client and when to reel it in! I usually get my way; don’t tell Tay I said that!
The holiday season is upon us, what are some must-haves this season?
It’s crazy this year has flown by, as for holiday-must haves I think a great time-piece (with an oversized face) is always a great gift whether it be a Patek Phillippe with sapphires and mother of pearl or a gold overlay Swatch with acrylic trim for $150 make it BIG or don’t bother! I always think a vintage piece of jewelry is fun as a stocking stuffer because who doesn’t like a choker from Chanel, or a bangle by YSL – great finds on Depuis1924.com. Also, a piece from L’Wren Scott’s limited collaboration with Banana Republic is a fashionable must. You can find her stuff on line at BananaRepublic.com or in select stores. I own tons of her items from her ready-to-wear collection from Barney’s and Forty-Five-Ten and they have quickly become staples in my wardrobe!
For the fashionistas on a budget but have multiple holiday parties to attend, what are some tips for making one great basic piece work in multiple ways?
Budgets are always hard for me stay within, but for party hopping this season on a budget I say vest in a solid color dress that flatters your body and makes you feel great! My suggestion is stay away from black because it is such a lint catcher and it’s lost in a photo (so boring because details don’t show up), try a gold dress or even scarlet red for drama! The Cusp department at Neiman Marcus has designers that won’t break the bank like 3.1 Phillip Lim and Vince!
Now that you have the right dress it’s time to vary it up a bit so friends and family don’t call you out as a one trick pony you have to accessorize! So you can throw a great oversized sweater from the Gap in a neutral cashmere blend with lady like pumps from outnet.com either Valentino and Manolos and a funky clutch by Lulu Guinness to keep this look young and fresh! Another is to look at J. Crew’s jewelry for around the neck and wrist. They always have bold pieces that provide a lot of bang for the buck! Continue the sparkle down to the feet with some glittery shoes from Steve Madden; I prefer Charlotte Olympia and you will out shine the others at a company Christmas party. Finally try a cape or a capelet; I can’t get enough of them from most any retailer and some above the knee boots and a clean clutch and your perfect for day or night.
Looking forward to the winter season and beyond, what pieces of clothing and accessories do you recommend we put on our Christmas wish list for this year?
Under the tree must have that will carry me into spring and beyond has to start with an acrylic bag by Edie Parker which has a hint of the 50′s and 60′s glamour and sophistication that I long for of yester year! Honestly anything by Mary Katrantzou , her stuff to me is playful with her print but the silhouette is so chic and uber smart perfect for anyone who wants to be noticed. And finally I think everyone should have an orange box from Hermes under their tree wrapped with its iconic brown ribbon filled with anything they sell (hint, hint). You can’t get any more timeless than a purse or a pillow from this store. FYI they are starting to take special orders for furniture in the yummiest fabrics, I’m lusting over a club chair, just sayin!
What is next for you? Where can we expect to see you next?
You can still watch Million Dollar Shoppers on Lifetime on Demand if you didn’t get enough of me! Headed to NYC and Paris for the upcoming fashion weeks and working on several collaborations with designers and personal friends that may pop up in the near future! As for right now I plan on enjoying the ride that comes with the tv show; I love it when people stop me and ask if they saw me on tv, it tickles me but that what it’s all about!
Keep up with all things fashion by following Gregg Asher on Twitter at @FashionBaggage!
Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram