Sophia Bedim is one of the most creative Russian stylists today. She has great client lists and good working relationships with world famous designers and show-biz celebrities, who are lucky to benefit from her honest professional advice and her memory of their tastes and habits. A gifted student of the famous Andrei Manovtsev, she can talk about trendy accessories, make-up and the latest pret-a-porter collections for hours. She is a walking encyclopedia of fashion. Her friendly and useful tips have taken the guesswork out of finding the perfect make-up to match the perfect outfit.

How do women want to look nowadays?

Women want to look like a Hollywood star of the ’30s, dressed in some impressive outfit, peppered with suede accessories and a high-end fur coat. A desire to look like Ginger Rogers is, of course, praiseworthy, but obviously you won’t go to the movies dressed like Greta Garbo, unless your goal is to be a rara avis. Women want to be in the limelight, but they don’t have to go to extremes to look stunning. When choosing an outfit for any occasion, you must find out where you’re going first, be it a restaurant, a church or a golf tournament, and then start choosing your clothes.

What makes for an ideal look?

A woman’s image is tightly connected with her position and status in society as well as her eve-ryday life in general. If we are talking about a young woman, a housewife, whose entire life re-volves around her husband and children, her style usually doesn’t tend to be catchy or revolu-tionary, but rather traditional and modest: Half sporty, half elegant. In short, classy.

What about businesswomen?

It’s very hard for many career-oriented women to look attractive at some festive events and parties, which they have to go to straight after work. Since they don’t have the time to go home and change from a standoffish outfit into an evening dress, they have to think of some really cool accessories, make-up or whatever they have in their wardrobes beforehand, in order not to look dull in comparison to the cream of society and show-biz celebs who spend hours choosing an evening dress to wear.

What’s your advice for a busy career woman, unexpectedly invited to a party?

She can put on a flirty top under her business jacket. And as soon as she takes off the jacket, she won’t look that confined anymore. Another variant is to wear an elegant scarf or a beautiful, eye-catching necklace. Also Chanel’s famous little black dress would come in handy in this case.

Can make-up compliment one’s clothes?

Sure. Make-up makes part of your look. But bear in mind, that as soon as you’ve changed some details in your style – for instance, taking off your boring jacket – you have to change your make-up as well. At a party, you can make your eyelashes look more dramatic, or why not color your lips red? Contrary to popular belief, red lipstick looks good on any woman. Red never makes women look vulgar. That’s a stereotype that dates back to the 19th century. You only need to choose the right shade of red: Bordeaux, pink, scarlet or brown. And if you don’t feel at ease wearing a garment in question, don’t force yourself to do it. Don’t cave in to the modern trends: Be yourself and remember Coco Chanel’s words: "If you don’t like the trend of the current season, just skip it!"

Would you compare your job with a doctor’s task: Until you know your "patient’s" case history, your hands are tied?

Absolutely. In order to help, a stylist has to communicate with her client and be aware of her lifestyle. If not, both will get a zero result. We can’t force people to wear red lipstick, peacock feathers or sexy minis until they are ready for a change. When a woman doesn’t recognize her own reflection in the mirror, she gets scared and opts for her old image. It’s a psychological barrier that can be overcome only step by step.