Jessica Alba may be a natural style genius—but she has a little help, too!
Meet celeb stylists Emily Current and Meritt Elliott, the ladies behind Alba’s adventurous red carpet and casual fashions since 2013. Just in time for the start of spring, the longtime duo dished to Us Weekly on how to adopt Alba’s top mantras for effortless style.
Step one to mastering Alba’s eternally fresh style, on and off the red carpet: Try everything once. “The thing about Jessica is that she’ll wear anything. She doesn’t have to play the same part all the time,” Current told Us at Old Navy’s Spring Celebration in West Hollywood on Saturday, March 14. “One day she’ll wear a menswear-inspired look, the next day she’ll wear something really feminine. She’s willing to take a lot of risks, so for us, as stylists, it’s really fun!”
The ladies’ second bullet point—be prepared to mix the high with the low. “With Jessica, one minute we’re dressing her in designer clothing, the next minute we’re putting her in Topshop,” Elliott, who, with Current, founded Current/Elliott and designs the just-launched The Great, dished. “She’s really open, and she looks incredible in a lot of different things.”
But so can you! Simply remember that a tailor is your best friend. While the Honest Company founder is always happy to experiment, Alba has one request—everything must fit her to a T. “She’s very conscious of fit, so we’re always keeping that in mind—either it needs to fit very well or it needs to be able to be tailored to fit well,” Elliott, who, alongside her partner, serves as an Old Navy style ambassador, told Us.
One thing that the Sin City actress needs no help with—that actually even inspires the stylists—is her accessory game. “She picks that one accessory that makes you go, ‘Wow!'” said Elliott. “We’re always looking for ways to make an outfit more fun, and she [goes for the bold accessory], even when she’s dressing herself. In that respect, she’s a dream client.”
If you’re looking to spruce up your closet for spring, start with the basics, sure to be found in all of Current and Elliott’s clients’ wardrobes: a white button-up, crew neck T-shirts in white, heather gray, and black, and a relaxed pair of jeans (either skinny slouch or boyfriend, they recommend).
And finally, make sure you have one item that’s just a bit off-kilter, whether it’s a piece of worn denim or a flea market handbag. According to Current, “Even if you’re in a designer look, if you have one [more casual piece] that brings everything down, then you look effortless.”
