Stacy London - Biography

Stacy London (born May 25, 1969) is an American fashion consultant and media personality known primarily for her role as co-host on What Not to Wear, a reality program that features makeovers. After graduating from Vassar College, London started her career as a fashion editor at Vogue and transitioned into being a stylist for both celebrities and designers. While still co-hosting What Not to Wear with Clinton Kelly, she has since moved into fashion reporting for the Today Show and business consulting for several corporations. She is a brand ambassador for Pantene hair products, Woolite detergent, Dr. Scholl's, and Riders by Lee jeans.

Early life

London was born and raised in New York City, of Sicilian descent on her mother's side and Jewish descent on her father's. Her stepmother, Victoria, is a romance novelist. Her mother, Joy, worked as a venture capitalist, and her father, Herbert London, is the president emeritus of the Hudson Institute. "We don't see eye to eye on that much politically," she acknowledges, but "he did instill a certain sense of propriety and right and wrong in me, which plays into my fashion sensibility." She also acknowledged him as "the best father in the world." She received her B.A. from Vassar College with a double major in 20th-century philosophy and German literature, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. It was during a summer internship in Paris in Christian Dior's PR department that she took a serious interest in pursuing a career in the fashion industry.

Career

London began her career as a fashion assistant at Vogue magazine and later became the senior fashion editor at Mademoiselle. She has styled fashion photos for other publications, including Italian D, Nylon, and Contents. London has styled for celebrities such as Kate Winslet and Liv Tyler, as well as on fashion shows for designers Rebecca Taylor, Ghost, and Vivienne Tam. London has worked on numerous advertising campaigns as well. Her client roster includes Hanes, Wonderbra, Bali, Procter & Gamble, CoverGirl, Suave, Target, Levi Strauss & Co., Maytag, Swatch USA, Longines, and Calvin Klein.

Since 2003 London has co-hosted TLC's What Not to Wear. She is known for referring to women's breasts as "the girls," and often shouting "Shut up!" or "Shut the front door!" to express her approval when the guests of the show appear at the end of the program to reveal the results of their makeover. She is also known for her love of high-heeled shoes, owning over 300 pairs. In a "Best of 2005" look-back show, her co-host Clinton Kelly teased London by saying "...there are almost as many great moments as there are high heels in Stacy's wardrobe." In 2005, they wrote a book together entitled Dress Your Best: The Complete Guide to Finding the Style That's Right for Your Body. In addition to hosting What Not to Wear, London also served as the host of her own talk show Shut Up! It's Stacy London! which served as the pilot episode for Fashionably Late with Stacy London.

In 2005, she teamed up with Fresca, the sugar free soda brand owned by Coca Cola, for their "Fresh New Look" promotion to celebrate their new brand logo and packaging. In 2007, she partnered with Sprint to launch their "My Mobile Style" website which aimed to help people choose a cell phone based on their personal style. She is quoted as saying "I partnered with Sprint on this project because Sprint understands that your mobile phone is a major reflection of who you are." As of 2009, London serves as brand ambassador for Pantene, Woolite, Dr. Scholl's, and Riders by Lee.

In addition to her hosting duties and endorsements, London has done some fashion reporting for Weekend Today, The Early Show, Good Day Live and Access Hollywood. She is a frequent contributor on NBC's "Today Show". In 2010, London and business partner Cindy McLaughlin co-founded Style for Hire, an online service that matches people with personal stylists that live in their area. The agency was launched on September 13 in Washington, D.C.

Personal life

As a child, London suffered from psoriasis. Due to her experience growing up, she became a spokesperson for the National Psoriasis Foundation as an adult. She is well known for her trademark natural gray streak in the front of her hair which she has had since she was eleven; her Pantene contract includes a "gray clause" that allows her to keep it. Before becoming famous, London (5'7") struggled with weight issues. "I have been every size in my life. I’ve been smaller than a zero, up through a size 16. I’ve had lots of issues with body image and weight my whole life and it really took a great deal of work to recognize that at all those weights, no matter how I felt, I could still find a dress that made me feel sexy and powerful."

External links

• What Not to Wear