Designer Diva — Elika Gibbs, Practical Princess

The day of the Royal Wedding was fitting to interview a princess – a practical princess, that is. “I am probably the most boring person in the whole-wide-world,” says the sweet English voice on the phone. “I promise you darling, I am.” With years of experience in the fashion industry and elite clients Kate Moss and Jimmy Choo co-founder Tamara Mellon, wardrobe guru Elika Gibbs is far from lacklustre.

Her personal shopping and wardrobe organizing company Practical Princess gives women the help they need to feel confident in their clothes and happy in their closets. The knowledge Gibbs has been sharing with celebrities is now available for everyone to enjoy. Her new book, Practical Princess Perfect Wardrobe hands us her winning formula on a silver platter. With posh closets and designer clothes spread across the pages, Gibbs makes it an easy, if not indulgent, read. “Clothes do hold memories and we do sort of have attachments,” says Gibbs. “The energy changes in the room when we finish what we do.”

Despite the celebrity wardrobes she has skillfully handled, Gibbs is called practical for a reason. “I tend to spend less money on the fashion pieces – the one-season wonders,” says the down-to-earth businesswoman. The essentials, like generic coloured T-shirts, cardigans and jeans are the most important. “It’s like building a house,” says Gibbs. “You’ve got to have the foundation.”

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A fluid and functional wardrobe is one that aligns with your lifestyle. “I do believe that what we have in front of us has to be key to our lives at that point.” Gibbs’ book is a step-by-step guide on how to revamp your closet and decide what to keep, what to archive and what to edit. Sharing everything from what to wear for a successful shopping trip, to what types of hangers to choose, this practical princess is your wardrobe’s perfect companion.
Practical Princess Perfect Wardrobe by Elika Gibbs. Ryland Peters & Small, $19.95 (www.rylandpeters.com)