Renee Coppinger, Euro Style Fashion Expert

At a style crossroads? Meet Renee Coppinger, the Marbella based effervescent personal stylist who can take your style from safe to sassy with a life-changing wardrobe makeover…

When did you first catch the fashion bug?
When I was around 11 years old and made my first dress by hand. I found some material and cut it out without a pattern. I really loved it.. it was a beautiful blue cotton plaid with a white daisy lace trim. I was so mesmerized by that material…and still remember the dress.

Where do you start when you fix up someone’s image?
I start with asking a lot of questions about their lifestyle in order to understand what activities they do and where they spend the most time. In this way I can understand what they will need clothing wise, make up wise, hair wise, etc. to make sure that the final product fits in with theirlifestyle and helps them look great in the least amount of time.

What is the secret ingredient of Euro Style as opposed to American style?
The secret is in the “aesthetic mindset” that European’s have ingrained in their DNA given their cultural heritage. Europeans are always looking for the beauty in things and not only functionality and this includes clothing. Euro chic appears effortless but a lot of effort and time goes into the European’s choice of clothing and grooming to achieve a laid back, stylish appearance.

American fashion is all about ease and is well known for its sportswear.  Many American designers are well known but have never made it to Haute Couture levels of design. Americans tend to appear as if they are trying too hard with too many trends in a look or by being too formal. The effect can appear a bit too “Barbie doll”.  I offer a free ebook on my website stylemakersinternational.com that talks more in depth about the “9 secrets of European Effortless Chic”.

What do our clothes reveal about us?
Clothes reveal our state of mind of the moment. They reveal our “inside” on the “outside”. When we aren’t feeling very confident we tend to dress down to fade into the background and when we are feeling fabulous we tend to dress up to get some attention. Also, clothing reveals our personality. For example, if we are romantic we lean towards florals, lace and pastel colours or if we are more forward thinking we tend to choose more contemporary, edgy, clean cut lines and techie materials and colours.

You spent many years in Italy… how does Italian style compare to Spanish?
I would say that Italian style is more fashion forward…Italian’s always want to be the first in following trends and in fact create their own trends within Italy. Everyone, at every age then jumps on the fashion bandwagon.

Who would you love to style?
Michele Obama

If you didn’t work in fashion, what would you like to do?
I’d love to be a television talk show host…I love doing my spot on Talk Radio Europe every Friday!

With style is it  nature or nurture?
I’d say it depends where you are born. In Italy it’s nature, in the USA it’s nurture.

What advice do you have for looking stylish in Marbella?
Follow what’s trendy now but put your own spin on it…but by all means, tone it down a bit!

What’s next for Renee Coppinger?
EuroChic Style Events in NYC for American women entrepreneurs that are getting ready to take their business to the next level and online EuroStyle courses.

Born: Jersey City, NJ, USA

Philosophy of life/Motto: There is no use in worrying about circumstances that can’t be changed.

Most treasured skill:Being able to change people`s lives for the better by helping them create a personal style that makes them look and feel they best that they can be.

A little known fact about you? That I am a very spiritual person.

Your best contribution to Marbella so far? Working for many years with CONCORDIA and their fantastic team gathering gifts and adverts for the San Nicklaus Gala.

Favourite Marbella restaurant? Patagonia in the town centre, fantastic Argentinean beef…cheap and chic!!

What is Your Dream? To virtually style people from all over the world from the comfort of my home in Marbella!