ELEVEN SIX WOMEN | STACY LONDON

Photos courtesy of Emma Tuccillo | @emma_austen 

Stacy London is a long-time fashion stylist and entrepreneur with a prolific career. Known for her time hosting the twelve season television series: What Not To Wear and as a regularly appearing guest on shows including: Today, Access Hollywood and Rachael Ray, Stacy is a household favorite. In 2012 Stacy wrote the book: “The Truth About Style" that further explored her philosophy around the healing powers of personal style, tackling her issues of insecurity and eating disorders, showing how style can be an empowering act of defiance. Stacy's latest endeavor was as CEO of State of Menopause, a company which educates and normalizes menopause, a topic not often spoken about publicly. After having a difficult and confusing start to menopause herself, Stacy set out to destigmatize this transition and to educate the public in a way that had not previously been done. Her work in this arena has already led to great change and discourse (The Cut just named her on a short list of celebrities and entrepreneurs who are "rebranding midlife."


Throughout all of these passages, what stands clear is Stacy's mission to help people deepen their sense of self: their self-esteem, self-love and self-acceptance. We are beyond inspired by how many people Stacy has touched and helped in finding their worth and light. 


We had the pleasure of visiting Stacy in her Brooklyn, NY home where she wore some of her favorite holiday ELEVEN SIX pieces, styled to perfection with some staples from her closet. What could be a better holiday gift to us than to see Stacy style our knitwear and include us in her holiday gift-guide.  

 

Stacy wears the hand-knit Serra Cardi in nude styled with her own faux leather pant

 

 

Can you share with us your early path to becoming a fashion stylist and what drew you to fashion initially? 

I was always obsessed as a child with shiny, sparkly clothing and accessories. I was Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz for Halloween like 8 times. I wasn’t really into Gingham and pinafore dresses but I loved those ruby slippers! Later, around 16, fashion just seemed like the coolest thing in the world to do and I started paying more attention to it. Ironically, my favorite fashion photographer in high school was Irving Penn and he was the first photographer I ever worked with when I was an assistant at Vogue.

 

"What Not To Wear" was a popular twelve season success where you empowered people through styling to be the best version of themselves. Can you tell us a little more about the evolution of this show and its highlights for you personally? 

The show format was created for two English Journalists in London before TLC (parent company Discovery) bought the license to the format. Originally we were meant to be a bit meaner, like the English version, but being mean wasn’t so funny without the British accent. So, over the course of the show, we found a way to have fun but really be empathic with our guests. I believe they know we cared deeply about the process we put them through to see themselves in a new light. There were so many highlights, it’s hard to pick one but as I’ve always said: the show was never about the clothes. The clothes were just the delivery mechanism to a higher understanding of oneself, a higher sense of self esteem, and a new perspective. And lots of the highlights didn’t happen on the show but after: when people would call us or write us to say they got their dream job or found their soulmate; when they left bad marriages or got promotions; when they got married or had kids. It was pretty remarkable!

 

Stacy wears the hand-knit Starla Cardi styled with her own pant

 

 

How would you describe your personal style? 

I used to say “classic with a twist” but that does feel like a bit of an overgeneralization. Like everyone, the pandemic made me lazy about my style and being in midlife, my body has changed. I’m slowly coming back to style and recognizing I like architectural shapes: simple, clean and minimal but mixing in color, pattern, texture and shine! Particularly texture. It’s why I’m loving knitwear so much. I’m a sucker for a great sweater AND any kind of fabulous coat, trousers and suits.

 

Your 2012 book: “The Truth About Style” explores your philosophy on the healing powers of personal style and the ways it has helped you heal from past insecurities and emotional obstacles. How has this philosophy further evolved in the past ten years and what are some new lessons you have learned? 

Oh, I have definitely gotten a bit braver in the past few years, less rigid about what the future should look like. I’ve gotten more curious and less judgmental. I’m pretty happy with my evolution. It is a never-ending process to learn to accept the good and the bad in life but I really feel in a good place at 53.

 

Stacy wears the Olivia Sweater styled with her own skirt

 

 

 

The “State Of Menopause" is an incredible company that educates and normalizes menopause as well as sells products that offer acute relief. Thank you for creating this resource for us and being part of this educational movement! Can you share your experience with SOM and what led you to become the founder and CEO? 

Well, SOM was part of my evolution and journey to help people feel better in ways outside of style only. I couldn’t take hormones during menopause and I really suffered. When I took over the brand and turned it into a stand-alone company, I was really trying to create a resource that didn’t exist at the time. Now that the market has much more product and services, I didn’t feel like I needed to stay in the “single brand lane.” I want to amplify the voices, services, and products in this category overall. This audience needs more vetted information. But I think my journey with SOM, though now over, was phase one for me in learning how best to serve this community. The adventure continues!

 

We love that you promote ethical and eco fashion brands and always create the most considered holiday gift-guide. What are the key things you look for in brands that you choose to highlight?

I try to highlight smaller brands, new innovative products, companies that are female, BIPOC and LGBTQIAP founded for the most part. But some things are really just a wish-list of presents I want for myself!

 

Stacy wears the Tess sweater styled with her own pant

 

 

What's your favorite way to relax and switch off from your busy schedule? 

Watching The White Lotus, NO QUESTION.

 

Do you have something exciting in the pipeline that you would like to share?

All I can say right now is that I will continue to work in the menopause and mid-life space in terms of education and advocacy.

 

Stacy wears the Talia Stripe Sweater styled with her own pant.

 

 

How would you describe the ELEVEN SIX brand and which are your favorite pieces of the holiday collection and why?

Eleven Six is elevated knitwear. Just so chic! Clean lines but special colors, weaves and details that make people stop me and ask where the sweater I’m wearing is from constantly. I’m obsessed with so many of the pieces, I feel like it could become a problem. But I adore: the Olivia Sweater, the Starla Cardi, The Serra Cardi, the Talia Stripe Sweater and the Laila SweaterI am LOVING wearing cardigans by themselves with no layering piece underneath these days. For some reason, that feels very fresh to me this season.