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We can’t grant you access to Jessica Alba’s closet, but we can give you the next best thing: access to her fabulous stylist, Brad Goreski. He’s responsible for the star’s permanent position atop countless best-dressed lists — and in his free time, he’s an ambassador for Kate Spade New York and Old Navy and films his reality show, It’s a Brad, Brad World (which airs Wednesdays at 10:00 p.m.).
You asked Goreski your most pressing spring style questions. Below, he offers his best styling advice, as well as a few fun picks. If you need us for the rest of the day, we’ll be online shopping!
Courtesy Old Navy
Farrah: How do you pair stripes with patterns for an everyday look? It looks awesome in magazines, but I don’t know how to translate it for me. Mixing prints can be tricky. What you want to do is make sure that the color palettes in each pattern are complementary. For instance, pair a navy and white stripe with a red polka dot pattern (like this $10 Old Navy tee). You can never go wrong with red, white and blue!
Courtesy Joe’s
Rebecca: I have white dress capri pants but do not know what to pair them with. One of the great things about white pants is that they go with everything. For a nautical-inspired day look, try pairing them with a striped shirt (Old Navy has one of those too) and a “pop of color” belt. For an evening look try a brightly colored blouse (this one is Joe’s Collection) with a denim jacket and some of your favorite jewelry. Don’t forget to add a fun pair of heels.
Courtesy Chinese Laundry
Michelle: How do y’all feel about gladiator heels for spring 2013? I have this pair, never been worn. Is it a hit or miss? Help! I like gladiator heels a lot. I think it’s fantastic that you have purchased something so daring. These would be fun to wear in Vegas or Miami. Try them with a cute minidress, or for a more reserved look, try them with a brightly colored pencil skirt (this teal one is on sale at Banana Republic now!) and a cool t-shirt or blouse.
Courtesy Chinese Laundry
Emmy: I need to know if I actually can wear white pumps, or if that is a celebrity-only trend. And I’m not going to spend a ton on them so … any cute/cheap ones? I love the white pump trend. They are versatile and transition well from day to night. Have fun with them! They will get dirty, so its good to invest in a pair that won’t break the bank. (This Chinese Laundry pair has a cool cap-toe and is less than $100)
Courtesy Kate Spade New York
Claire: I refuse to buy printed jeans, so how can I make my boring blue skinny leg jeans look more updated for spring? Try a fun printed blazer or blouse. There are even great t-shirts with fun prints on them. Also, shoes are a perfect conversation piece. Try a printed wedge with your jeans — I like Kate Spade New York’s “Dabney” style.
–Alex Apatoff