Images: Adobe; Dani Michelle. Design: Stephanie Cui / StyleCaster
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When Dani Michelle offers fashion advice, you take it. The stylist, who works with Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and Daisy Edgar Jones, was recently named the creative director of Joe’s Jeans, and site team got the chance to pick her brain about fall trends, how to build a wardrobe, and what looks she’s sick of seeing.
When it comes to aesthetics, Michelle is the epitome of effortlessly cool and ultra feminine. She dresses her clients in baggy suits paired with crop tops, gowns that leave little to the imagination (I’m still not over the Schiaparelli number Jenner wore at the 2024 Academy Gala last month), and jeans dreams are made of. Everything she does is fresh and painfully chic. All of this to say, Michelle had some pretty refreshing and possibly controversial fashion takes—one being that she’s actually here for the skinny jeans revival and “loves” the barrel trend. While I’m obsessed with the horseshoe silhouette, I’m not jumping at the chance to bring skinny jeans back into my denim rotation. However, it seems I might need to get with the program considering the spring/summer 2025 runways of labels like Proenza Schouler, Prada, and Marni were filled with super fitted pants.
Michelle is also very into cropped straight-leg jeans as they are “really great” for boots. She specifically suggests Joe’s Jeans The Margot—which offers a high-rise fit and stops right at the ankle. Her Joe’s Jeans appointment couldn’t come at a better time—since as of late, denim is having a major moment. In addition to skinny and barrel, we’re seeing a heightened interest in baggy pairs (which can be found in Michelle’s new Joe’s Jeans capsule collection), cargo styles, and of course jorts.
Keep scrolling to get some tips from Michelle:
As creative director, with a background in celebrity styling, what message were you trying to get across with the capsule and upcoming collections?
“As we re-imagined what the brand Joe’s could be, I wanted to start from the ground up. I wanted to first introduce everything core that someone needed in their wardrobe. Perfect pieces that were staples and timeless in stylings. As we grow, I will continue to introduce and evolve the brand to have its own voice and presence in our closets.”
What would you say is a fool-proof fall/winter outfit?
“You can always count on a long, heavy jacket or crewneck sweater paired with cropped denim that shows a great boot. That’s where our Madeline jacket, a long wool style, came from. It’s just the perfect transitional, elegant, timeless coat.”
What would be your advice to someone trying to build their wardrobe?
“Start with minimal wardrobe staples to build up your everyday pieces before expanding out into trends that come and go. Get the perfect jeans, loafers, kitten heels, white T-shirt, white button-down shirt, and two great jackets. That’s your core. You can switch your accessories, and it feels like a whole new look.”
What is your go-to denim style?
“I go back and forth between 90s denim and a washed black, so I was sure to add them both to my drop.”
What is your go-to fall shoe?
“You can never go wrong with a boot! Square-toe is so cool to me, or really witchy pointed-toe boots—that looks stunning under denim.”
Outside of denim, what is your favorite trend of 2024?
“Big earrings—especially from my brand MÉGA.”
What is a trend you’re hoping goes away?
“Really long gloves with dresses. It’s done.”
