Culture & Education

Gregg Renfrew’s power-dressing trick is easy to pull off

A tailored navy blazer. A crisp white button-down. A well-cut trouser. Gregg Renfrew‘s style reads as classic New England prep until you get to the leopard-print pumps, the chunky statement jewelry, the sharp leather jacket. For high-stakes moments, like TV interviews and speeches, she turns to bright red, her power color.  Renfrew, founder and CEO of the beauty brand Counter, says that her sharp style is something that came to her over time. While the fashion and beauty industries fixate on youth, Renfrew takes a cue from European women, who treat aging not as something to hide from, but as something to enjoy, because it comes with more self-awareness and confidence. Over decades of building major brands while raising a family, she has developed an unshakeable instinct for what flatters her body and reflects who she is. “I feel better in clothing today than I did when I was in my twenties,” she says. “I’m not trying to prove anything to anyone anymore.” These days, Renfrew regularly speaks to audiences of young entrepreneurs or women trying to make it in the corporate world. She is acutely aware of the message her wardrobe sends when she steps on stage. She strikes a balance: While dressing with polish, she’s mindful that not everyone in the room has the budget for high-end labels. She also doesn’t feel the need to wear something new for every event. “I want to be aspirational enough, but accessible,” she says. “I think it’s important to send that message to women—that we don’t have to have a new outfit every single time.”  [Source images: Courtesy Gregg Renfrew, SugarSatea (Clip)/CC-BY 4.0, Adobe Stock (textures)] Renfrew believes that dressing with authority is about choosing clothes that make you feel at home in your own skin. “Confidence is the name of the game,” she says.  Describe your style in a sentence.  Classic, timeless with a twist. What’s the one piece in your closet you’ll never get rid of?  The perfect white shirt. How long does it take you to get dressed in the morning?  It depends on the day, but probably on average 10 to 15 minutes to pull it all together in a way that I feel good. What do you wear to a big meeting?  I tend to wear either a power suit—a suit that I feel really confident in—or a great dress with heels, almost always leopard-print shoes. What’s the best piece of fashion advice you’ve ever gotten? Have a few really, really good investment pieces that you know you can wear over and over again. Also, have a couple of go-to things in your closet at the ready—like a great black blazer or a great black dress—that no matter what, you know you’re going to feel good and appropriate in if you get a last-minute invitation. What’s one thing anyone can do to dress better at work?  Less is more. I often see people try to do a little too much, so keep it simple, consistent, and understated—simple pieces and simple jewelry, because you can’t go wrong with that. [Source images: Courtesy Gregg Renfrew, TWP, Attersee, Adobe Stock (textures)] What’s one brand everyone should know about?  TWP (Trish Wescoat Pound) does a fantastic job with tailored blazers, button-downs, and wide-leg pants that can feel fashiony or corporate depending on how you style them. Another great investment brand is Attersee, which makes beautiful, high-quality pieces like their shoulder wraps. What’s your best piece of shopping advice?  If you’re stretching to pay for something, walk away. If you’re still thinking about it 24 to 48 hours later, then you know you really want it, but if not, you’ve made a good decision not to buy it. Also, avoid buying things on sale that you would never have otherwise purchased; it’s better to buy one great piece and wear it all year than to make impulse sale buys. Who is your style North Star? Growing up, I also always looked to Jackie Kennedy for classic, sophisticated inspiration.