Jen Principe is a soul stylist with a sole purpose; to help transform lives from the outside in. Jen is a personal and celebrity stylist whose empowering work in fashion has been featured on Hallmark’s Home & Family, the Associated Press, and Inside Edition. In 2021, she was featured as a top celebrity LA stylist on Inside Beverly Hills (BBC Network), where video cameras followed her around as she dressed her high-profile clients. Her expert knowledge has led to styling jobs for the covers of Focus, Calabasas Style, Ventura Blvd, Inside North Ranch (N2 Publishing), and Sherwood Life magazines.
As a seasoned stylist of 10+ years, Jen leads strategic seminars in Southern California on the power of personal presentation through clothing, where she teaches the simple and powerful tools about tailoring, colors, body types, and trends that can be easily implemented into anyone’s wardrobe. She also hosts the KTLA segment “How to Be Your Own Personal Stylist.”
Her debut book, A common thread, is a fashion for the soul book filled with inspirational stories about the two constants in her life; faith and fashion. In it, she uses the latest scannable QR technology that leads the reader to companion tutorials on how to build the ideal wardrobe from the ground up, ultimately providing an affordable styling platform that anyone can afford.
With an approach to changing self-perception and confidence levels via well strategized wardrobe shifts, “A Common Thread” gives the reader an understanding of the power of clothing and how it can transform our experiences, evoking different emotions and parts of ourselves. Says Principe, “I want to inspire others to overcome challenges and recognize their souls’ calling, and to provide a platform for anyone to be able to afford the luxury of having a personal stylist and utilizing wardrobe to build confidence and self-esteem.”
FWM: You bring a wealth of experience and success in the fashion/personal stylist world. Tell us about your background.
I began my career as a personal stylist 12 years ago when my two sons were in high school. Being a stay-at-home mom was my priority, but once they were older, I wanted to use my creativity and begin working again. I re-entered the work force and pursued my passion as a fashion stylist. My focus in the beginning of my career was to get my clientele to utilize more of their wardrobes by identifying the missing pieces, filling in the blanks and then creating categorized look books. Each client had their own closet notebook filled with pages of outfit options for their lifestyle. This was a unique concept at the time and once I launched my business, it quickly flourished into a successful career. Today, thanks to technology, I’m able to style closet digitally and work with clients all over the US.
FWM: You are the host of Los Angeles’ KTLA TV’s “How to be Your Own Personal Stylist” segment. What can we expect to see in the upcoming month?
I love the KTLA family and hope to continue being a guest on their show doing various styling segments. It was a perfect platform to educate viewers on how to begin building the ideal wardrobe. The feedback was tremendous, but I couldn’t keep up with the individual inquiries and wanted to find a solution to help everyone with their styling needs at an affordable cost. I spent the last two years writing my book “A Common thread” and building the “Wardrobe Wisdom” club. The club is an affordable and informative styling platform that is accessible through a scannable QR code in my book or on my website Jpstyles.com The membership includes dozens of fashion tutorials, free pdf downloads and shoppable look books links at various price-points. Members are guided to educational and fun fashion tutorials on topics covering; how to build the foundation wardrobe, color-combining, body types, accessories, tailoring, vintage shopping, undergarments, current trends and more. It’s like having your own personal stylist in your pocket.
FWM: You were featured as a top celebrity LA stylist on the BBC Network’s “Inside Beverly Hills.” What does it take to be the best in the business?
It was honor to be chosen as the top LA stylist but wouldn’t describe myself as the best in the business. There are so many talented stylists and I’m one of many. However, it takes time, passion and commitment to grow a business and develop a reputable reputation. Things don’t just happen overnight. Every client is a steppingstone to becoming an expert in the fashion world. I learn a little bit from each client, photoshoot or media job.
FWM: You recently launched your memoir-style book, “A Common Thread: A Fashion For The Soul Book.” Tell us about your journey as a SOUL Stylist.
A common thread is a weaving of stories that have shaped my life with a common thread of either faith of fashion. They are stories about love, loss, courage, humility and acceptance. But it’s ultimately about listening to the whispers of the universe and finding your souls calling. I believe that when you align your passion with service, you have found your purpose. This ultimately led me to birthing my non-profit “The Phoenix Effect” where my team and I curate personalized photoshoot experiences for those suffering from life-debilitating diseases and/or trauma. I recognize that I have been given a gift and it’s meant to be shared. Whether I’m styling a client or helping a “Phoenix” rise from the ashes, my souls calling is to help others. 20 :/: of the net proceeds from the book will help be donated to the non-profit. Your book is truly a one-of-a-kind fashion memoir that interweaves fashion with faith while giving stylist tips.
FWM: How does your book change self-perception and confidence levels via well-strategized wardrobe shifts?
“A Common Thread” will hopefully shift the readers perspective on both their inner and outer world. Clothing extends well beyond aesthetics and covering or protecting our bodies. Decades of research have shown that what we wear can transform how we feel. I have seen first-hand that when we only think we look better, we feel better. Looking your best can lift your mood, evoke emotions and make us feel more confident and self-assured. My goal is to get the readers to understand the psychological phenomenon that clothes have on the wearers cognitive processes.
Each chapter offers its own unique true story with a theme and life lesson to shift the reader’s perspective on what to wear by inspiring them to choose outfits that boost their confidence levels. Principe does this in a revolutionary way, through the use of a unique QR code system that provides a personal liaison to the fashion world at the reader’s fingertips. Readers can scan the available QR code in the book to gain access to their very own stylist tutorials and discover their own inner stylist along the way.
In “A Common Thread,”Principe guides the reader through chapters such as“Style Stalking and Finding Your Own Style,” “Olive Oyl: Love the Skin You’re In!” “Judge a Book By Its Cover,” and more, tackling topics including:
- Helping transform lives from the outside in.
- Listening to our inner voices (the “God-shots”) and acting upon them.
- Learning the meaning and the messages behind the clothes we wear and how they can affect our lives from the boardroom to the bedroom, and everything in between.
- Recognizing the “common threads” in our own lives, and realizing that we are all connected.
FWM: What is the common thread in your book?
That we are all connected. Although we may appear vastly different on the outside, just beneath the surface we are more alike that we think. We all struggle with the same insecurities. We are woven together by the same tapestry of mankind and need each other to survive and grow to our fullest potential. When we are willing to get vulnerable and let go of our preconceived ideas and judgments, we can confront our deepest pains and heal together.
FWM: Share your greatest life lesson.
When I let go and lean in to God, I find the answers I’m searching for.
