A lesson in personal style – with Sarah D’Arcey

Hers tends to involve a chic slip dress and oversized blazer. Now, this Canadian slow-fashion lover shares her lessons in personal style and the rules she lives by.

EH: Tell us how your styling career started and how your upbringing and life experiences got you to this point…

SD: I took a very unconventional approach to my career. I grew up as a tomboy on a farm in British Columbia with a passion for sports, namely basketball. I played on the varsity basketball team during my first year of university, and at that time was not very interested in my studies.

Second year came around and, internally, I knew that playing basketball was not going to be a career, nor was I very interested in it anymore. I quit the team (which was probably one of my best decisions). I learned that yes, it’s important to have commitment and carry through, but if something is no longer serving you, there is no shame in letting it go and finding a different path. I took a break from my studies to decide what I really wanted to do. Unfortunately, during that period, I lost my mum very suddenly. It was heartbreaking, but it pushed me to make some hard decisions and get on track.

I enrolled in an art history course upon going back to school and I loved learning more about fashion and art. After that, I moved to Toronto and enrolled in a fashion management programme at George Brown College. I thought I wanted to be a fashion buyer because you got to go to the shows and see all the collections; I didn’t think about what happened after. I am terrible at math and there is a lot more to buying than choosing what you like. So, I switched gears and volunteered backstage at, what was then, LG Fashion Week, for Canadian brand Greta Constantine, and I was drawn to how each outfit came together.

Sarah’s work for La Biosthetique International Beauty Stylist award (1st place in 2015)

Fast forward again and I took a styling course at George Brown College and I was hooked. My first photoshoot was inspired by Alice in Wonderland. I remember the joy I had searching for the perfect looks, pulling them together with all the imagination in the world and, most importantly, sharing my perspective through fashion. Now, 10 years later, through grit, hard work and not giving up, I am ramping up my business and launching new aspects for my loyal clientele. I have had the absolute pleasure of styling many clients, including Steph Song for the Canadian Screen Awards, where she wowed the crowd in a gown from Vancouver fashion designer, Bahareh Memarian. [Also] Elle McKinnon for the LA premiere of Wonder, and most recently, Oscar nominated actress Youn Yuh-Jung for the Critics Choice Awards, as she was in Vancouver filming a project.

EH: Can you describe your style philosophy?

SD: Giorgio Armani said it best: “The difference between style and fashion is quality.” My style has evolved a lot over the years. I used to think that every event, appearance or occasion required a new outfit. I am passionate about living with fewer, better things, and I am a huge fan of creating your own uniform. Mine is currently a slip dress, oversized blazer and a pair of chunky Prada boots.

EH: How do you want to be perceived when you get dressed, and how self-aware are you during the process?

SD: A former colleague once gave me this compliment and it plays through my mind when I am getting dressed: “I know we didn’t work together, but you were such an iconic fixture. You always wore the best clothes, carried yourself with so much confidence and sass.” I am self-aware [in that I] find outfits that give me the joy of feeling confident. My wardrobe is filled with things that I love and not with pieces I am on the fence about. It makes getting dressed an adventure, never a pain. I never have a mountain of clothes on the floor to return home to, because who wants that?

EH: How can we, as women, find our personal style and stay true to it?

SD: Getting dressed is a form of self-expression and, most of the time, identifying your personal style is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s important to build a wardrobe based around your specific lifestyle, so it’s both functional and fashionable. I believe that’s where a lot of money and time gets wasted, because I usually see clients that have trouble fusing the two. I always tell clients that, together, we can develop their unique style by understanding what inspires them: by creating a mood board and experimenting with fashion. You can tell a lot about a woman by what’s in her closet. The first step I always take is to see what is in their closet, [and to understand] what makes them happy and confident.

EH: What should be in every woman’s wardrobe?

SD:
· Outerwear: every closet should have a great piece of outerwear, like a classic trench coat in a neutral colour
· A white button-down shirt
· One great fitting suit that you can break into separates
· A pair of jeans that you love
· A timeless belt
· The classic little black dress
· A silk shirt that you can wear with all your bottoms
· T-shirts
· A cashmere sweater
· A cardigan
· Some great flats: I love a ballet pump, but it could be a runner or another kind of flat shoe
· A leather handbag
· Striped tops
· The perfect bra: every woman needs to have a bra fitting to ensure they’re wearing the right size. It’s life changing!

I have about 25 pieces in my wardrobe right now and I don’t feel like I will need more. It makes getting dressed so much easier and I can easily track what I have, when I wore it last and if it needs replacing.

Photo: editorial work published in Bode Magazine. Photography by Marie-Louise Collins

EH: What’s your earliest fashion memory?

SD: One of my first fashion memories was working at Gap. I can still remember my manager telling me that if I wanted to work there, I would need to wear the clothes from Gap. I always wanted to be different and not look like everyone else. I think I was wearing a fringe leather jacket from a vintage store with a silk slip skirt and a hoodie [at the time]. I didn’t get fired, but I know it wasn’t the best fit; it’s still my uniform to this day.

EH: Share a memorable fashion faux pas…

SD: I remember being 19 or 20 and going out clubbing, feeling amazing in one of those terrible synthetic tops with a big metal embellishment in the middle. Thankfully, social media was not big at the time and there is no evidence!

EH: Which item in your wardrobe are you most emotionally attached to?

SD: I have this beautiful (western-print) silk scarf [that belonged to] my mum. I don’t wear it often, but my dad had surprised her with it as a gift and it’s just a really special piece.

EH: What are your go-to brands for timeless capsule pieces?

SD: I am very passionate about supporting Canadian designers. I think there is a ton of talent in Canada and the pieces are made exceptionally well. I love Smythe for blazers and pants. For fine jewellery, I just started working with an amazing brand called Hestia Jewels. Their mantra is ‘luxury for every day’ and the pieces are just divine.

EH: And what brands would you recommend for affordable but sustainable fashion?

SD: I am passionate about consignment. You can find some amazing pieces at a great price. I offer my clients a service [where I] consign appropriate pieces on their behalf. You would be shocked at the amount of clothing that goes for consignment that has been worn once, or not at all. In Vancouver, my go-to stores are Turnabout and Mine & Yours.

EH: How would you advise women to effortlessly add glamour to their look?

SD: There is a diamond for everyone! Adding a lovely piece of fine jewellery gives a woman’s look that extra touch of glamour and elegance, whether it’s a stunning pair of earrings, a necklace or a bracelet. Glamour is a feeling.

EH: What do you say to clients to encourage them to feel confident?

SD: I always tell them that they have to love the clothes. Earlier in my career, a salesperson told me that I should not ask the talent or the client how they feel. That I should just tell them what they are wearing and be done with it. I believe that styling is a collaboration to make the client feel like the best version of themselves. If they are in something they know they don’t like, their smile and their confidence won’t transcend. It’s really a simple formula: look good, feel good.

EH: We love the saying ‘dress for success’ – what would be your ultimate ‘success’ look?

SD: I think to dress for success, you have to read the room you are going in. You can still express yourself but there is power in editing. For example, [if you are] asking for funding or a loan, you want to be taken seriously as an expert in your field, so wear something refined and classic with impeccable tailoring. It doesn’t have to a be a boring suit, but you want to be memorable with your fashion choices, in the right way.

EH: If you weren’t a stylist, what else could you see yourself doing?

SD: I really enjoy real estate. I could see myself as a developer in another life, or maybe [working on] a small project later in this life!

EH: You recently received a certification from The Style Core for going virtual. Can you tell us about that and how you plan to adapt your styling services for online?

SD: One of the best [pieces of] advice I received as an entrepreneur is that you have to stay current with what is happening in the world. I see my business as a very in-person service and many people want that touch. I wanted to take a course to ensure I could offer the same white glove service virtually, as I can in person. It’s been very exciting because it opens up a broader client base, to be able to serve anyone, anywhere in the world.

EH: What’s the last thing you bought?

SD: I was in Chanel looking for a piece for a client when a pin caught my eye. I had to have it.

EH: What’s the oldest piece in your wardrobe?

SD: A vintage Bill Blass tuxedo jacket. I found it in a vintage store in Seattle with matching trousers. It was in mint condition for $15 USD. I wear it at least once a week, simply because it makes me happy.