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Upon first meeting Clare Koppang (CK) and Arden Brewer (AB), the style mavens of Council Wardrobe Studio, one can easily feel intimidated by their enviably effortless style, spill the beans on past fashion blunders, beg for mercy, and seek to absorb any wisdom they feel the need to share. The pair met while working together at Jimmy Choo in Green Hills.
They joined forces in 2013 to pursue a shared vision of opening a studio with an array of personal shopping and styling services, served à la carte, while carrying a carefully curated selection of merchandise to complement any existing wardrobe. Services range from closet edits and personal shopping to styling for special events, career, bridal, pregnancy, and post-pregnancy needs. Luckily for us, the ladies are sharing the common misconceptions about hiring a stylist in addition to some of the best tips they've learned along the way. Dressing for trends instead of your body? Not on their watch!
What sets you apart as a styling business?
CK: We had a hard time coming up with a menu of services. The needs of our clients never fit into a set package. Plus, sometimes selecting a package can feel overwhelming or it's too expensive and you don't need that much. So I would say the fact that clients can call and talk to us about what they need and go from there. We do everything from packing your family for vacation to planning your wedding attire.
AB: Also, I think that for the both of us, we come from a place that genuinely wants to serve women and make them feel like they look good every day. I think that's why we wanted to have the studio. It's more neutral than meeting in their closet. Closets are very personal.
What is your process to find the perfect accents for a client?
AB: The process definitely starts with remembering what several clients don't have in their closet and keeping that in mind whenever we go to market or flip through lookbooks.
CK: There's always that common item they can't find anywherelike when we find that great white shirt with cool details and the perfect fit. An item like that will work for ages 20 to 70. We are definitely price-conscious, but the price range doesn't matter as much on something that is timeless.
What are some of your biggest challenges?
CK: All women are currently trying to lose weight. For instance, a client would say they are doing Pilates for the next three months, so don't buy anything just yet. It's keeping tabs on everyone's size but also his or her changing body. Fit is everything. My motto is 'fit, then style.” Make sure it fits perfectly first, then decide on what style is best for you. People get too caught up in style and not what really works for them.
AB: Agreed. Dress for the body you have today.
CK: Buy for the size you need and not the one in your head. If the number on the tag matters that much to you, cut it off. All labels fit differently. Many people don't realize that if you actually go up a size, you will look smaller. Your body changes and fluctuates. Go with it and you will look better.
You carry brands in the studio that aren't available anywhere else in Nashville. What are some of the current labels?
CK: West 14th is a great leather company out of Australia. American Vintage, ironically, is a European brand. Yana K is great for basics, and we are currently the only place carrying Black Orchid Denim, which is such a soft denim. I think eventually more stores will carry it, but right now we are banking on being the only ones.
AB: And we have more coming. We mostly bought for the fall season but wanted to have some things for now.
Join Koppang and Brewer for Champagne Night, hosted the first Thursday of every month, at Council Wardrobe Studio, 2106 21st Ave S, Nashville,TN 37212. For more information or to contact the stylists, visit councilstudio.com.