So Booked: The Secrets of Celebrity Stylists at Your Fingertips
When it comes to classic literature, we could probably use a little brushing up, but quiz us on the designers, celebs and fashion editors who have published books and you can consider us connected!
Our latest obsession? The new inimitable insider’s guide to the world of celebrity styling—Secrets of Stylists: An Insider’s Guide to Styling the Stars—by Sasha Charnin Morrison, Fashion Director at US Weekly. Jam-packed with everything from tips and tricks to making it in the biz to how some of the most iconic A-list looks came to life… Sasha truly taps her big-black-book of connections, featuring one-on-one interviews with every major player out there. Our opinion? Perfect poolside reading this summer! But first…
We sat down with Sasha to talk personal style + how exactly the book came about. Read on for the exclusive interview!
STYLUST: We were so excited to hear about Secrets of Stylists! What led you to want to write a book, and what was the best part about the whole process?
SASHA: THANK YOU. I have great stories to tell about work experience… I’ve worked at very glamorous places with stunning celebrities, I have had dresses thrown at me, I’ve been ignored, screamed to in different languages and have just had to suck it up… So my publisher thought my “war stories” and humor could actually be turned into a book.
We came up with the idea that it was an insider’s guide to this profession that people have begun to gravitate towards—like they did in the 1960’s as flight attendants, 1980’s as models, 1990’s as P.R. Girls and now celebrity stylists. But past the humor and frontline abuse, there are extraordinary tips, references and help for someone who is thrown into this type of job and doesn’t know how to make heads-or-tails of what’s expected of them. There are no set rules and no one can train or teach anymore because there’s no time…
So, this book is for those who really want to be challenged, get their foot in the door and understand or grasp the reality of what they’re getting themselves into. Best part of the process? Having extraordinary access to the talented people who are behind the iconic looks we all applaud and want to emulate, and having them actually pick up the phone, give me their time, expose their insecurities and give me access to their world.
[PHOTOS] Peek inside the wardrobe closet of GOSSIP GIRL!
STYLUST: Describe your personal style in 3 words.
SASHA: Fierce Sexy Bitch 
STYLUST: Who and what are your biggest personal style “influencers, icons and inspirations?”
SASHA: My children—who keep me young, fresh and make me realize the importance of being modern. My husband—who after 21 years of marriage allows me to enter the house with ANOTHER pair of Azzedine Alaia shoes in the same week without having to sneak it in. My parents—my dad who shops and loves style (and he’s straight!), my stepmother who worked at Vogue in the 80’s and inspired me to jump into fashion as a career (and is stunning), and my mother who taught me everything, including the fact that, “great style doesn’t have a price tag.”
[PHOTOS] More accessories from inside the GOSSIP GIRL wardrobe closet + a look inside Sasha’s personal notebooks.
STYLUST: What top 3 trends or specific essentials are you most excited for this summer?
SASHA: Always a caftan. A flat Bernardo sandal in gold or silver. And an exquisite pair of gigantic sunglasses to hide those bags!
STYLUST: If there is one thing readers take away from reading Secrets of Stylists, what would you most like it to be?
SASHA: How to listen. Because you don’t know everything. You’re ambitious, which is great, but you don’t have all the answers and you need to slow it down. And then with all of that listening and learning: you can write it down in a book someday
