Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/1541556
how to wear it Buzzy celebrity stylist Erica Cloud has holiday dressing, decorating, and gifting all wrapped up. BY INGRID SCHMIDT cloud's eortless cool Superstar stylist Erica Cloud kicked off her career in Los Angeles as an assistant to A-list stylist Karla Welch, whom she worked alongside for nearly a decade. "I helped her build her business—she'll say that, too—and it was the best type of boot camp," says Cloud. "It set me up for success." Cloud's first solo client was Mandy Moore, who stunned in a plunging navy Naeem Khan gown at the 2017 Golden Globes—her comeback moment as a best actress nominee for This Is Us. These days, Cloud dresses everyone from Hollywood "It" guy Walton Goggins to Winona Ryder, Awkwafina, Abby Elliott, Robert Downey Jr., and Eugene Levy. Just back from the Saint Laurent show in Paris with Goggins and a press tour in London with Levy, Cloud hopped on the phone to talk gifting, packing tips, and what's fresh for the Spring season. You have such a fun and varied client roster. Winona [Ryder] is quite into fashion, right? For sure. She's got the most incredible collection and knowledge. Her Rolodex of information is phenomenal. We can get into the nitty gritty and nerd out. She just gets it. They all have their genres: Walton [Goggins] is continually telling me about new artists and interior design elements. Robert [Downey Jr.] is such a good promoter of the latest and greatest up-and-coming artists and designers. What are you eyeing for Spring? I loved pretty much everything at Saint Laurent, Valentino, and Bottega Veneta, where Louise Trotter is a genius. The Saint Laurent show at Fontaine du Trocadéro was incredible. I mean, I need one of those Saint Laurent windbreakers! I was born in the '80s, so it hits on a certain level. I love how they paired it with the little silky short and sheer nylons, sporty and sexy, how Hailey Bieber wore it. I loved the show's color and movement and textures. When the models walked, it was like seeing a parachute rise. It was cool to see the translation to gowns, like the one Zoë Kravitz wore to the Academy [Museum] Gala. I put Robert in a Saint Laurent tux for the 2024 Oscars when he won, and that's one of my favorite looks of all time: It's very classic, with an edge. You're always on the go. Any packing hacks? I make my outfits, take full-length selfies in the mirror of each one, and copy them into Keynote; the photos copy as stickers. Then I pack them as outfits (daytime and nighttime looks). It saves time and space. I do the same for clients, with labels for each event, by date. ILLUSTRATION BY KELLY BAILEY BALHAR B O U RSH O P S .CO M