It’s a pleasure to share my interview with Therese Bassler. Therese is a beautiful women, with a personal, elegant style. She was born in Sweden and currently lives in the UK. While having an interesting background working for some of the biggest fashion houses (more on that later!), Therese currently works as a Style Coach. With Estér, she shares how her love for fashion began, why she loves her work as a Style Coach, and how she navigates through the fashion industry, in a time where being environmentally friendly is more important than ever! In addition, at the end of our interview, I am happy to share with you a great offer from Therese!

For those of us who don’t know you, how would you describe yourself?

I am first and foremost a wife and a mother of 2 girls. I love making people laugh but I also have a serious side which means I also like to look after my family and friends. I was born with a great interest and good eye for fashion and this is a big part of who I am.

When and how did your love for fashion begin?

It began in the early 90’s when supermodels were ruling the world. I religiously videotaped (!!) CNN Style with Elsa Klensch and that somehow ignited a fire to learn everything there is to know about fashion. I would endlessly look at Jean Paul Gaultier runway shows or cut out images of Calvin Klein products in fashion magazines. My proudest moment was when my mum took me to Paris aged 14 and I bought my first Jean Paul Gaultier striped t shirt with my pocket money (which I still wear)!

Born in Sweden, do you feel like the Scandinavian style has impacted your way of dressing?

I do believe that Scandinavians in general have a very scaled back and practical approach to fashion. From an early age we learn how to dress for the seasons and clothes need to be functional as well as stylish. Just like our interior, we prefer a clean look. When our homes and wardrobes are simplistic, it helps us to put focus on other things. My personal style has evolved throughout the years and since I turned 30 (I am now 43) I found that I was happier in a uniform of basic colours (neutrals, black and white) with focus on tailored pieces. I feel confident in jeans, t shirt and a blazer for instance.

You have an impressing career in fashion! Can you share more about your background in the industry?

I knew from early on, that if I wanted to understand how the fashion industry works, I would need to start where it ends – on the shopfloor. It is the most important job you can have in fashion; to work in a retail environment to really understand who the consumer is, what do they buy, how do they approach a rail of clothes, what makes a good cut/fabric etc. So, I began my career working at MaxMara in Selfridges and within a year I had worked my way up to the Selfridges buying office. I realised I had a great eye for product and I wanted to be more involved in the process. I was there for a few years followed by roles at Paul Smith, Burberry and Acne Studios.

You currently work as a Style Coach. Please tell us more about your job!

I felt that I was ready to do something by myself, where I could really put my knowledge and expertise to use. Product is my forte and my job has always evolved around putting together cohesive and well executed collections. As such, the idea of Style Coach seemed like the next logical step to me – editing and streamlining people’s wardrobes. I love seeing pieces in their right element and I love making people feel good about themselves. What I love about my job, is that I meet clients from all walks of life. I have female as well as male clients, I have CEO’s and celebrities but I also have stay at home mums who work tirelessly looking after the house and children. The one thing they all have in common, is that somewhere in life they lost their self-confidence and getting dressed in the morning suddenly became a challenge. This is where I come in to help them find their way back and to make them the best version of themselves.

For you, working with clients and their personal style, what are some important lessons you have learned about the way we dress ourselves and how clothes affect us?

Knowing which shape and cut which fits you is a total eye opener. It is never really about whether we are a size 34 or 44, it is knowing what to look for in the cut of a trouser or the shape of a dress. Just helping my clients to understand that, has been life changing for many and instantly contributed to a more positive and confident approach to dressing. In terms of personal style, I always aim to take into consideration a client’s lifestyle to see how this will play a role in building their wardrobe. A lot of clients find it hard to express in words what they like so I have used Pinterest a lot where they can easily use visuals to pinpoint their preferences.

In your opinion, what are the most important foundations in a wardrobe?

A great pair of jeans, a black tailored trouser, a white shirt, a black blazer, a black long-sleeved dress, a black skirt, a Breton jumper and a white t shirt. You can go a long way with just those pieces!

Do you have a favourite designer?

Without a doubt, The Row. The clothes feel as if they are made for me. I love the simplicity of their designs and yet the incredible thought through tailoring and selection of luxe and durable fabrics. When I buy clothes, I always select pieces which I feel I will still love and wear 20 years from now. I still have t shirts, trousers and knits from the very first collection The Row launched some 15 years ago and that is a true testament to sustainable fashion I find.

How does a style coach navigate in our time when being environmentally conscious is more important than ever?

This is a very important topic to me and I work hard to educate my clients on how to shop in a sustainable way. When I do a wardrobe edit, I make sure that any clothes which won't be kept are either being resold or donated to charity or friends. I will then make a list of any gaps in the wardrobe; it can be anything from a pair of perfect fit jeans to boots or basic knitwear. The aim is to bring in those key pieces which will then allow the client to mix and match with his/her existing wardrobe. When we go shopping, I guide the client as to how to spend the money wisely. With a pair of jeans for instance, you want them to be a perfect fit but you also want them to be durable with a life span of at least 10 years. You can’t get that quality on the high street so you need to spend a little bit more to make it last. However, with knitwear for instance you can find fairly good quality in some high street stores (I have done my research) these days, so you can spend a bit less but still get a longer life span as long as you look after them. I also strongly encourage my clients to buy preloved where possible. Be it coats, shoes or handbags you will always find that it is not only more sustainable, it is also more economical.

With Christmas just around the corner, can you share some of your best style tips for the upcoming festive season?

Avoid buying a new outfit if you can. Instead, take a cashmere jumper and wear it over that sleeveless summer dress in your wardrobe! Jazz up a cashmere jumper and tailored trousers with some statement earrings or buy some patterned tights from Swedish Stockings and wear with a skirt or dress. Lastly, if you are really in the mood of buying something new then make it velvet trousers which you can wear during the festivities with a silk blouse but which will also look great for work with a fine knit.

Do you offer services online for people living in different countries, and how can people contact you if they would like to get help from a Style Coach?

I have clients all over the world, many whom I have never met in person but we have been working together digitally. I offer online wardrobe edits as well as online shopping or even sourcing coveted pieces. They can email me on style-coach@outlook.com or visit my Instagram profile @thestyle_coach or my website www.style-coach.co.uk .

I am pleased to share that Therese is offering all Ester readers a 25% discount when you book both an online wardrobe edit and an online shop, priced at £300 instead of £400 for both services. Just mention the code ESTER25 when booking. Offer is valid until the 1st March 2022. Below, you can read what Therese says about the online wardrobe edit and online shop:

“The aim of a wardrobe edit, is to build the foundation of a "capsule wardrobe" to make sure that your clothes work hard for you, allowing you to mix and match and create a lot of outfits with less items. Via whatsapp/Facetime/email we will go through your wardrobe in stages by category, so that it is easier to manage. Editing any items which do not work for you (because of lifestyle/shape/style) and from there I will identify any gaps which you may have and start building a shopping list. Once the wardrobe edit is done, I will then do an online shop and send you multiple links to all the items on your list. I always mix high street with premium brands and the client sets a budget. I also offer styling tips on how to merge it with items from your existing wardrobe.” Happy (and smart!) shopping to all Estér readers!

With Estér, Therese Bassler Shares About Her Work as a Style Coach, Favourite Designer and More!