Q & A With Wedding Fashion Stylist Jen Clyde

Many women struggle in finding the latest fashion & more importantly how to actually put it all together.  Jen Clyde has an incredible talent when it comes to fashion.  She loves finding the latest styles & helping her clients become their own fashion divas.  It was an honor to get some great insight from Jen .  Jen’s business started out in her basement as she sold clothing & then opened a store front in South Jordan, Utah.  She soon realized that there is a great need for stylists & she started private shopping for men & women.  Jen now styles for movies, commercials, print, fashion shows & lots of fashion styling blog reviews.  She also does style segments on the morning show “The Daily Dish” and from that show  people learned of  her clients from L.A. that she styles for red carpet events and for shows like “The Bachelor”, “Extra”, “People Magazine”, and much more.  She then added to her repertoire styling for brides to help make their big day unique, special & something classic.

We did a Q & A with Jen about wedding style & Jen has some great tips & ideas to share with you.

The Bride & Groom.com: What is the first thing you ask brides before taking them wedding dress shopping?

JC: “Oh, so much, I love to find out about the bride. We have an “inspiration meeting”. What is this you ask? Where we get to make a board of the brides loves, colors, wishes, love of shapes, art, and anything creative. You ask why? Because this tells me so much more and the bride more about her and really what style she is inside and out. Brides are always so inspired with what I show them about them selves even the most uncreative brides (so they say). This tells me about her wants and needs for finding a dress. Then the research begins.”

The Bride & Groom.com: Are there specific styles you recommend for different body types?

JC “Yes, of course. Women with very large breast we like to keep a higher neck line for a classy look, or for women who don’t like their behinds we try to go for a less shine material on the dress or a train that falls just perfect. Or a bride who has that twiggy body shape with long legs…well then let’s show them off in a classy way. Everyone remember 101 styling, what ever you love about yourself highlight, what ever you hate about your self, make it vanish. You can do this with types of dresses you choose from fabrics to the cut of the dress and colors. This is what I help with as a stylist, and most important pulling it all together from shoes, to jewelry, to hair styles that go perfect with the whole look we were going for.”

The Bride & Groom.com: Do you have a favorite wedding gown designer, if so who & why?

JC “Well I love design so I can narrow it down to like 3 or4, but I love Vera Wang of course for her classic, timeless, chic, simple, and breathless gowns. I love Marchesa the refined, simple, clean, and bold fashion dresses. I love Monique Lhuillier designs for same classic feel but very different and lively. Then Luly Lang is amazing and also Les Hab itudes, has very couture gowns that can inspire you all day. Oh and David Fielden has some dresses for the non traditional funky girl.”

The Bride & Groom.com: Do you have some favorite wedding style inspirations?

JC “Well my most favorite part about life is inspiration on everything around me but for weddings I would say a Bohemian Chic California Wedding would be amazing, or a Colorado Winter wedding. I would love to stylize one of these weddings.”

The Bride & Groom.com: What advice can you give to brides who are looking for their wedding dress?

JC “Stop, Look for what makes you happy and comfy and most important beautiful.  Not what you think your mom will like, or your grandma, just one that makes you feel like a sparkling flower inside when you first see it. Plus eat before you go, really this helps your brain in thinking. Plus really don’t limit yourself to some big chain dress store. Find those special little online or local wedding boutique stores. Really research all your options, don’t settle ever!”

The Bride & Groom.com: I understand you help style wedding parties with fashionable, unique colors & styles. Do you have a favorite color palate?

JC “Yes I love teal, orange, red, and yellow together amazing bright and fun. I am a bold person so for me this is my favorite but if I was going more crisp it would be black, white, and apple green.”

The Bride & Groom.com: Do you have a solution for the pickiest bridesmaids & how to please them all but making sure the bride is happy too?

JC “Well brides have told me having a stylist in the middle of these many options flying everywhere with bridesmaids it helps because you have someone who can say, “yes that the right color, and no that is not working.” instead of having bride and bridesmaids doing it on their own. Almost like a decision maker finally. Also bridesmaids need to remember this really is about friendship and love and not them. The brides need to help remind them of that.”

The Bride & Groom.com: Do you have tips for brides on a budget?

JC“Yes, go vintage classic and go 2nd hand shopping in vintage stores, then add a special touch of something modern on top of this dress or add it yourself. You can hire a tailor to make it your own to your body for cheap. Plus if that is not what you want, then go shop online for brides dresses on a budget, they have lots of options. Also you could always rent or go simple and do something that is not really a wedding dress, but accessories it up to make it that special dress. There are a ton of options you just have to think beyond, and you can always borrow a friends dress. It is probably just hanging up in storage in a bag. Why not borrow it? Or just twitter I need a cheap dress, anyone have one? I guarantee you people will start sending pictures over and you would be so surprise what people will give away or sell.”

The Bride & Groom.com: What other tips & ideas can you share with brides on how to find their perfect wedding dress?

JC “I would really say, trying something new for your wedding. Really thinking out of the box, who have you talked to that says, “I hired a stylist for my wedding” it just makes it unique and really stylized. Really try to make it your way for finding a dress non stressful and don’t ask everyone in the world what they think, because you want your dress to be something that represents you can if you are easily persuaded, then you could let the right dress for you slip away. Plus think comfort!! You will be there all day and night and you want to be able to look beautiful in your face too. Really learn to love lines and fittings so that you don’t miss something because you’re not connected in what is offered out there.”

The Bride & Groom.com: Tell us a little bit about what you do, services you offer & about your process & fees?

JC “I help you find your “wedding style”. Are you Classic, Casual, Vintage,playful, or Funky Fun? Or anything in between? This is the most important day of feeling put together from head to toe, but not only stopping at your clothes but the whole day from architecture to music and overall feel needs to match down to your shows. Finding your personal wedding style is where I come in. I am with you from day one, but if all you need me to do is help you find your style by finding your inspiration then you can stop there, or there are different style packages all the way from helping you find those extra dresses from wedding events like bridal shower, rehearsal dinner and the day after brunches. I help you not have to deal with styling your bridesmaids because I am there. Even down to the mother of the bride or grooms mother. I help you see yourself in your wedding day all over from your dress to your personal style and the love that is shared that day help shine through. With all my designer connections, there is nothing better than having a personal stylist on your journey to that special day. Making sure your unique accessories are all the rage and getting along with your dress and over all feel. The packages start at 150.00 dollars is all and go up to 3,000.00. It all depends on how much you need and to find all my packages and what they are all about I will be posting them on my blog plus my contact info to get on the list, because I can’t take too much at one time because I like to give all my attention to one bride at a time. So please email me at jenbiggs@me.com to get your name on the list before it’s gone.”

Jen’s Bio: “I have always loved and needed fashion in my life. Since I was a young girl, I have shopped tons of vintage stores and created my own clothes and looks from them. I have always been a collector of clothing like it is my art. I love things that you can’t find anywhere and I don’t like to look the same as everyone else. I love that fashion is a form of art and can be used in every aspect of art. I grew up on the beach, very relaxed life and was lucky enough to be around very talented people who inspired me everyday. I was the only girl in my family so I loved to dress up. I moved here to Utah and found there was not many great options for shopping. So I started up my own store. I love being a buyer and showing everyone how to wear it. I love to help others feel and look there best. Even if it’s for a special event, or day by day at home mom. Everyone deserves to look and feel beautiful. I am hoping to help young women as well learn about fashion and being their creative self’s and not to be afraid to be them. I have talked to many local church groups to their youth and hope to give them a more of a sense of finding themselves. I really love what I do and hope to inspire others to not give up on their dreams and even if things don’t go the way they think. Never give up. Being a mom of 4 kids and trying to make it in a business that is not so big here in Utah, could be the hardest thing, and I have wanted to give up many of times, but I have not and I have been so lucky to do what I love but still work with clients in Hollywood from home in Utah. I am hoping that Brides will see how important it is to have a stylist on their special day and let me help them find a balance of beauty on that special day. Stylist are more then just dressing someone it’s helping them feel beautiful inside and out. The best way to contact me on more of my services I offer is: jenclydestylist.com or on facebook under Jen Clyde email, jenbiggs@me.com”