Daily Inspiration: Meet Leslie Stern

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leslie Stern.

Hi Leslie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Fashion has always been a passion of mine. Growing up, I eagerly anticipated the start of the school year—for the excitement of back-to-school shopping. I couldn’t wait to wear my new jackets, sweaters, and jeans, and I loved discovering the latest colors, fabrics, patterns, and trends of the season.

After college, I pursued a career in costuming and wardrobe in Los Angeles in the entertainment industry. I started in a costume warehouse, where I gained hands-on experience with fabrics, tailoring, and period clothing. There, I had the opportunity to collaborate with costume designers, helping to pull together outfits for television, film, and commercials.

With experience, I earned a membership in the Motion Picture Costumers Union and began working alongside designers on commercial productions. My role involved sourcing outfits that matched their creative vision—shopping retail stores and costume warehouses while ensuring every “look” fit the actors’ shapes, sizes, and ages within tight budgets and schedules.

From there, I transitioned to film sets, working in the Wardrobe Department. I prepped actors’ outfits, assisted with fittings, and managed costumes and quick changes during filming. Eventually, I moved into television, where I worked on shows such as The Damon Wayans Show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and That ’70s Show.

When my husband and I moved to Orange County to start our family, I shifted to a more ad hoc career of styling friends and family.

Even though I formally left the entertainment industry, my interest in costuming and love for fashion never faded. Today, I channel my creativity into my business, lsternstyle, helping people refine their wardrobes and express themselves through clothing.

Working in Hollywood taught me that personal style is a form of communication and self-expression—the way we dress tells a story. My goal is to help people find their own style narrative, ensuring they feel confident, authentic, and empowered in what they wear.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Newport Beach is a tight-knit community. Raising three children over the past 20 years, I have come to know many people and my network is substantial. People know me as a stylish person with an eye for fashion and design. More formally working with people as a personal stylist has been a natural fit for me. That said, starting my own business has had its challenges. For example, exposing myself on social media has taken some courage and humility.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I help people to refine and refresh their personal and/or families’ wardrobes. I typically begin in a client’s closet so that I can get a sense of their personal style, what they are comfortable wearing, where they need to edit, and determine categories that need expansion.

I specialize in the ability to help people on all ranges of budget. I am especially good at and ENJOY mixing high and low price points. Selecting new pieces to work with items that a client already owns to create multiple new outfits is easy and fun for me. I am most proud of helping people find and put together outfits that make them look and feel effortlessly chic. I enjoy building relationships with my clients, earning their trust, and helping them to define their own personal style. I strive to help people feel comfortable in their wardrobes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lsternstyle.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lsternstyle/