As a catwalk model, Sasha Aquil has made stunning clothing by designers such as Rossy Merry, Patrizia Altieri, Sebby Zacco and Korn Taylor look simply sensational.
She now works as an international personal shopper and wardrobe consultant to the rich and famous to help them look, and feel, their best whatever the occasion.
We spoke exclusively with Sasha to find out more about the glittering world of a personal stylist.
Celebrities and socialites always look incredible whether they’re hitting the red carpet or stepping out to the swankiest new restaurant or club.
Some, like Paris Hilton in her Swarowski crystal-encrusted ‘million-dollar dress’ designed by August Getty, have literally looked like ‘a million dollars’. But behind every icon of fashion and their sparkling wardrobe is a personal stylist—the unsung hero whose job it is to make the super-rich appear super-stylish.
One such stylist is Italian model and entrepreneur Sasha Aquil. For the past decade she has been dressing female stars of stage and screen, as well as royalty and entrepreneurs across the world, drawing upon her extensive knowledge of the fashion world and exclusive and expansive list of fashionista contacts.
Her work as an international personal shopper and wardrobe consultant has provided a lucrative second career alongside her glamourous ‘day job’ as a catwalk model but, as she reveals, she fell into it by accident.
She said: “I was often approached by women who had seen me at fashion shows. They complemented me on my personal style and asked how they could find the right clothing to suit their individual looks.
“Modelling work is like acting: you can’t always rely on new projects to be there. So ever since I’d got into the fashion industry I’d been mindful to try and diversify what I could do.
“I’d trained as beautician but I’d never actually considered becoming a stylist. I didn’t have to thing long about it, though. I am a people person and thrive off helping others so it was a perfect role to take on.”
At the time Sasha was working out of the Middle East, hopping between the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. There, she found that word of mouth travelled fast and with plenty of ladies with cash to splash but little free time, her client book was soon bulging.
Since then, Sasha has moved back to her native Italy and now resides in the scenic northern Italian resort of Lake Garda, where last year she was crowned “Lady of Lake Garda” in the annual Festival del Garda beauty pageant.
Thanks to advances in technology, however, she has not only been able to continue working with the rich and famous in the Middle East but also expand her services to women worldwide, including the UK.
Many of her clients will come to her already possessing a million-dollar wardrobe, but Sasha says that it’s not necessarily the price tag , labels or sheer range of clothing that make a woman look elegant. Instead, what matters is being able to identify the particular styles, fabrics, colours and patterns, and complementary accessories, that work best.
This typically means a fair amount of what’s hanging in the closet has to come out, as she explains.
She said: “The first thing I do with every new client is to get to know them better. This involves finding out about their career, the sorts of environments they operate in, what they like to do during their free time, and their own tastes in fashion.
“I also need to identify which areas of the body are problem areas. We all have them, even models, but they are exaggerated by the wrong clothing. Thick belts on a shorter woman, for instance, will only make her torso look disproportionate regardless of whether it costs in the thousands.”
Though she is based in Italy, Sasha is happy to meet in person with clients outside of her country if they are happy to cover the cost.
After receiving a guided tour of the client’s wardrobe, Sasha will go meticulously through each item, finding those that are definite keepers and others that need to be flagged for donation.
If the client has booked Sasha as a personal shopper then the next thing on the agenda is a trip to the hottest designer outlets, credit card by the ready. This may then be followed by a visit to the top salon for a beauty makeover, depending on the client’s wishes.
The rise of real-time video streaming, however, means that Sash can as easily connect with clients remotely. For those looking to purchase a new wardrobe rather than simply streamline their current one, Sasha will hunt online for the best designer outfits that money can buy—from Gucci, Hermes, Chanel, Ralph Lauren, Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior and others—and share her shopping selections electronically.
At the end of the consultation, Sasha always goes that extra yard for her clientele, providing bespoke reports that her clients can call upon in the future and packed with fashion tips and advice on the ideal combinations of outfits and accessories, make-up and hairstyles.
“Being a personal shopper and wardrobe consultant is incredibly fun, and deeply rewarding,” says Sasha. “Picking clothing is every girl’s dream, even if it’s on behalf of someone else.
“For many of my clients, money really is no object and it’s amazing to be able to browse through the priciest Hermes bags or dresses from the likes of Gucci, Armani, Missoni, Versace and Prada to find things that click with their chic.
“Sometimes there are unexpected perks. If we’re going through a wardrobe, a client may gift one or two items to me if they don’t work for her.
“But what drives me the most is the look on my client’s face. That gleam in the eye and beaming smile when they gaze in the mirror is worth more to me than anything else.
“They find a new confidence through what they wear, possibly for the first time in a long while. There are usually a few tears and a big thank-you hug at the end. How could anyone ask for anything more from their career?”
To book Sasha Aquil as a personal shopper or wardrobe consultant, visit www.sashaquil.com
