Silicon Valley stylist charges $2,000 to help techies look effortless

It’s all about looking
“effortless” in the tech world.
Sergey
Zaykov/Shutterstock

• Silicon Valley famously has
  its own set of fashion rules.
• Casual dress has always been king
  in the tech world, but some tech employees are opting for a
  more polished look.
• Stylist Victoria Hitchcock spoke
  to Vox about how techies can
  achieve an effortless style.

Dressing for success means something different in Silicon Valley.

You won’t find many buttoned-up power suit aficionados at your
average tech office. In many ways, Silicon Valley rapidly
accelerated the decades-long decline of formality in
office-wear in the 1990s. Even today, as tech-minded employees
are hauling in impressive paychecks, the industry is
famous for its laid-back style.

Look no further than Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
The billionaire’s “work uniform” consists of sneakers, a gray
t-shirt, and jeans. For Zuckerberg, dressing simply is a strategy
to beat “decision
fatigue.”

But some tech workers are looking to balance adhering to a
traditional Silicon Valley “uniform” with looking sharp. That’s
where stylist Victoria
Hitchcock comes in.

Hitchcock
told Vox she tends to encourage clients to go for thriftier watch
options, like Nixon watches.

Blake
Patterson/Flickr

She told Vox about her work sprucing up
the wardrobes of Google, Apple, Facebook, and Uber employees over
the years. She said that her goal is for her clients to develop
an “effortless style.”

“I want my clients to look like they don’t care,” Hitchcock told
Vox. “I try to stay true to people’s personalities, or at least
help them develop their taste.”

Hitchcock charges clients a $2,000 upfront fee. She said that
people tend to shell out anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 on a
wardrobe overhaul. Hitchcock emphasized that it’s better to
invest in a few high-quality pieces than blow your money on an
armload of cheaper options.

But in the world of watches, Hitchcock said she tends to avoid
the glitzier options like “gaudy” Rolexes, which “don’t look
effortless.” She told Vox that she tends to steer her clients
toward other options, like $100 Nixon watches.

At the end of the day, though, Hitchcock told Business Insider
that her work isn’t just about critiquing others — it’s about
helping people use their wardrobe to better showcase their
personalities.

“In my experience, most people are trying to do their best,”
Hitchcock told Business Insider. “Lives are busy. Their style is
their own. I want my clients to express their own authenticity
and brand and live their lives. I respect my clients and am in
awe of what they do.”