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Parent-Child Home Program Board member Melissa Skoog featured in Pink Memo
By Anisha Lakhani
Melissa Skoog: One of the stylish minds behind the updated guidebook “Always in Style.”
When bestselling author Doris Pooser was looking for aco-author to update her lauded fashion guidebook Always in Style, Melissa Skoog was the obvious choice. A glimpse into Skoog’s gold-plated career establishes her as a true industry insider. After starting her fashion career at Vogue, Melissa then worked for Marie Claire as an accessories editor before moving to San Francisco, where she co-managed a $200-million annual retail business for 360 stores nationwide as a merchant in women’s fashions for Banana Republic. Four years later her next role, as vice president of public relations at Prada for the men’s and women’s collections in the U.S., brought her back to New York City. Skoog currently owns her own creative agency and consults luxury and fashion brands on communications, marketing, and brand development in New York City and Chicago.
Tell us about the book!
Always in Style originally came out in the 1980s, and I was honored to co-author the latest, updated edition. Amina AlTai and I teamed with Doris Pooser to create a three-generational style manual, and it hit the bookstores this past September. It’s thrilling.
How would you define style?
To me, style is directly linked to how you feel. When you are wearing fashions that you feel comfortable wearing, you will always look more confident and therefore stylish. Some of the most stylish women I know don’t vary their wardrobe too much each season, but instead play up their assets by the silhouettes they wear and stick to colors and styles that are right for their bodyline and coloring.
Advice for updating our Fall wardrobes?
Looking stylish does not mean overhauling your closet each season. It’s about buying one or two key pieces that will update your look and keep you looking modern. By incorporating a color or silhouette that is on trend that season that is right for your skin coloring and bodyline, you will always look your best. For example, as military is a key trend for Fall, buy a great military-inspired blazer or jacket and you will immediately look updated with the pants or skirt and top you were wearing last Fall.
Highlights of your career in fashion?
I worked for some of the best the industry has to offer: Anna Wintour, Glenda Bailey, Mickey Drexler, Miuccia Prada. In doing so, I acquired a great knowledge that I am able to bring to small businesses as well as my readers.
The greatest lesson Anna Wintour taught you?
Anna taught me two of the biggest lessons in my life, which I have applied to both my personal and professional lives. The first is Anna’s fierce loyalty and never giving up on someone once that bond has been established. Second, she never demanded anything of anyone that she wasn’t already demanding of herself. If you thought that you were working hard, Anna was always working 10 times harder than you were!
Glenda Bailey?
Glenda has more perseverance than anyone I’ve ever worked for. There was nosuch thing as “no” to anything Glenda really wanted to accomplish…and she always succeeded in getting that goal accomplished!
Mickey Drexler?
Mickey Drexler is a natural-born merchant. He is a genius in the retail industry and I do not believe there is anyone who can or will compare to him. He always kept our team on our toes to challenge the “norm.” He wanted us to rethink the best practices we were choosing to repeat, or [had] already proven successful, and make sure that there wasn’t a new way of approaching something. I also learned from him that consumers are smarter than ever, and you cannot underestimate their level of savvy. Just when you think that people are not paying attention, that is when they are paying the most attention! Gap recently changing their logo is a prime example of that!
Stylish on the ‘Big Day’: Melissa Skoog looking radiantly timeless in her wedding gown.
Miuccia Prada?
Miuccia Prada taught me that there really are people out there that are smarter and more creative than almost anyone else! I can remember the thrill and excitement of being backstage after another incredible season, but nothing compared to being in the showroom and being up close with the products to really see and feel the fabric innovations, stitching details, and design elements of the products. And at the close of Milan Fashion Week on my way back to New York,I would think that that season couldn’t be topped, but lo and behold, she WOULD top it the next season! Miuccia’s relentless pursuit for perfection and innovation in design are really second to none in fashion. Miuccia taught me the value of true luxury and to really understand and appreciate design details and craftsmanship. Using her very high quality as a benchmark has made me appreciate and understand details and execution, be it high-end or low-end, so much more.
Amina AlTai, Doris Pooser and Melissa Skoog: The women who will keep you in style, always.
What is important to you?
Health. My husband. Doing what makes me happy. I don’t care to torture myself anymore!
First date with your husband?
The Carlyle. It’s a first-date good omen.
Individual passion?
I have been on the board of directors of an early literacy non-profit called the Parent-Child HomeProgram for just over two years, and my involvement has become a passion of mine. Parent-Child is dedicated to helping families challenged by poverty ,limited literacy, language barriers, and low levels of education prepare their 2- and 3-year olds to enter school ready to be successful students. I’m so excited to be co-chairing our first-ever dinner gala on Tuesday, November 16,at the Yale Club in NYC.
Best advice you have ever gotten?
Whatever you want to be, do. When you see people, tell them what you do.
http://www.pinkmemo.com/national/scene-stealers/melissa-skoog/4
Melissa Skoog: One of the stylish minds behind the updated guidebook “Always in Style.”
When bestselling author Doris Pooser was looking for aco-author to update her lauded fashion guidebook Always in Style, Melissa Skoog was the obvious choice. A glimpse into Skoog’s gold-plated career establishes her as a true industry insider. After starting her fashion career at Vogue, Melissa then worked for Marie Claire as an accessories editor before moving to San Francisco, where she co-managed a $200-million annual retail business for 360 stores nationwide as a merchant in women’s fashions for Banana Republic. Four years later her next role, as vice president of public relations at Prada for the men’s and women’s collections in the U.S., brought her back to New York City. Skoog currently owns her own creative agency and consults luxury and fashion brands on communications, marketing, and brand development in New York City and Chicago.
Tell us about the book!
Always in Style originally came out in the 1980s, and I was honored to co-author the latest, updated edition. Amina AlTai and I teamed with Doris Pooser to create a three-generational style manual, and it hit the bookstores this past September. It’s thrilling.
How would you define style?
To me, style is directly linked to how you feel. When you are wearing fashions that you feel comfortable wearing, you will always look more confident and therefore stylish. Some of the most stylish women I know don’t vary their wardrobe too much each season, but instead play up their assets by the silhouettes they wear and stick to colors and styles that are right for their bodyline and coloring.
Advice for updating our Fall wardrobes?
Looking stylish does not mean overhauling your closet each season. It’s about buying one or two key pieces that will update your look and keep you looking modern. By incorporating a color or silhouette that is on trend that season that is right for your skin coloring and bodyline, you will always look your best. For example, as military is a key trend for Fall, buy a great military-inspired blazer or jacket and you will immediately look updated with the pants or skirt and top you were wearing last Fall.
Highlights of your career in fashion?
I worked for some of the best the industry has to offer: Anna Wintour, Glenda Bailey, Mickey Drexler, Miuccia Prada. In doing so, I acquired a great knowledge that I am able to bring to small businesses as well as my readers.
The greatest lesson Anna Wintour taught you?
Anna taught me two of the biggest lessons in my life, which I have applied to both my personal and professional lives. The first is Anna’s fierce loyalty and never giving up on someone once that bond has been established. Second, she never demanded anything of anyone that she wasn’t already demanding of herself. If you thought that you were working hard, Anna was always working 10 times harder than you were!
Glenda Bailey?
Glenda has more perseverance than anyone I’ve ever worked for. There was nosuch thing as “no” to anything Glenda really wanted to accomplish…and she always succeeded in getting that goal accomplished!
Mickey Drexler?
Mickey Drexler is a natural-born merchant. He is a genius in the retail industry and I do not believe there is anyone who can or will compare to him. He always kept our team on our toes to challenge the “norm.” He wanted us to rethink the best practices we were choosing to repeat, or [had] already proven successful, and make sure that there wasn’t a new way of approaching something. I also learned from him that consumers are smarter than ever, and you cannot underestimate their level of savvy. Just when you think that people are not paying attention, that is when they are paying the most attention! Gap recently changing their logo is a prime example of that!
Stylish on the ‘Big Day’: Melissa Skoog looking radiantly timeless in her wedding gown.
Miuccia Prada?
Miuccia Prada taught me that there really are people out there that are smarter and more creative than almost anyone else! I can remember the thrill and excitement of being backstage after another incredible season, but nothing compared to being in the showroom and being up close with the products to really see and feel the fabric innovations, stitching details, and design elements of the products. And at the close of Milan Fashion Week on my way back to New York,I would think that that season couldn’t be topped, but lo and behold, she WOULD top it the next season! Miuccia’s relentless pursuit for perfection and innovation in design are really second to none in fashion. Miuccia taught me the value of true luxury and to really understand and appreciate design details and craftsmanship. Using her very high quality as a benchmark has made me appreciate and understand details and execution, be it high-end or low-end, so much more.
Amina AlTai, Doris Pooser and Melissa Skoog: The women who will keep you in style, always.
What is important to you?
Health. My husband. Doing what makes me happy. I don’t care to torture myself anymore!
First date with your husband?
The Carlyle. It’s a first-date good omen.
Individual passion?
I have been on the board of directors of an early literacy non-profit called the Parent-Child HomeProgram for just over two years, and my involvement has become a passion of mine. Parent-Child is dedicated to helping families challenged by poverty ,limited literacy, language barriers, and low levels of education prepare their 2- and 3-year olds to enter school ready to be successful students. I’m so excited to be co-chairing our first-ever dinner gala on Tuesday, November 16,at the Yale Club in NYC.
Best advice you have ever gotten?
Whatever you want to be, do. When you see people, tell them what you do.
http://www.pinkmemo.com/national/scene-stealers/melissa-skoog/4
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