Julie Macalister, owner of JMac Productions out of Montana and Las Vegas, is a phoenix. After being laid off three years ago she found she was tired of increasing other companies’ bottom lines so she ventured out on her own and has been creating ever since.
Such a bold move could only be made by a fierce woman and Macalister’s personal style reflects her no-nonsense attitude. She goes for a more sophisticated classic look— think Jennifer Aniston, with crisp clean lines and easy to mix and match solids. JMac took a few minutes out of her busy schedule to talk to us about her winning wardrobe.
Moxy Magazine: How do you define your personal style?
JMAC: My personal style is all over the place; if you looked in my closet you’d think I have multiple personalities. If I’m just by myself or with friends I’m very tidy looking. For example, I like to wear a nice fitting pair of dark denim jeans, a comfortable top that fits well—nothing too flashy in color or in print—and I can be on the go. When I’m dressed up for different work projects I try to emulate a classic look. For example, I’ll wear a solid color top that fits properly—none of the buttons are stretched to their seams—and a nice pencil skirt and some heels or a nice subdued dress in brown with a cowl neck. You won’t find me in clothes that are too short or too tight. I love a good pair of shoes and a good pair of jeans.
MM: How do you translate your personal style into looks for work? Or are the two separate things?
JMAC: They are two very separate things. When I go out to work I dress to impress and tend to choose very classic, modest looks that are also a bit trendy. For example, when I worked the red carpet at the iHeartRadio Music Festival, I wore a comfortable grey striped top with a pair of dark denim [jeans] and some boots. Grey is in this season as are those nautical stripes. Being in media marketing you have to show that you’re up to date with your personal style. I used to be about brands but now I’m all about what looks good and is affordable. I don’t shop to shop. Only buy clothes you love, otherwise you won’t wear them.
MM: How do you tailor your outfit choices based on event?
JMAC: I try to choose an outfit that will still be in style five years from now and avoid anything too trendy. For example, when I was doing a video prompt for the room television in a Vegas hotel I wore a deep pink top and a black pencil skirt to achieve an outfit that would still work five years down the road.
MM: You own your own production company, what keeps you going?
JMAC: I go through waves of being crazy busy; I can’t be fearful. Ultimately I want to be producing shows that make a difference. It’s good to do the things that pay the bills but you have to keep moving towards the larger goal. Be thankful for the work you have coming in, focus on that. Good customer service is what keeps people coming back to you.
MM: Have you ever had any wardrobe malfunctions?
JMAC: I was doing a production piece where I was being a TV host and we were talking about the top five places to get married in Vegas. This one chapel insisted that I wear a wedding dress and it was huge on me so they used these clips and told me I’d be fine. One of my camera guys acted as my husband and we were pretending to get married and the Elvis who was officiating lifts my arm up and the dress slips off and next thing I know the whole dress fell off of me and all you could hear was “THE DRESS!!!” and it was a moment of panic. All I said was “don’t look!”
JMac’s 5 rules for getting ready:
- Don’t wear something that pinches love handles and lady fat.
- Don’t show too much on either end; your dress is too short if you can’t bend over to pick something up without flashing everyone.
- Wear colors that bring out your eyes.
- Don’t wear too many texture/designs. For example, if you wear a striped shirt, wear a solid color pant or skirt.
- Match! Coordinate your jewelry and accessories, like shoes and belts, to project an image of being put-together.
If you need a go to gal with a strong mind to create an amazing product for your business or to get your message out there check out: http://jmacvideo.com/.
Article written by Kali Lamparelli for Moxy Magazine, October 2011. Images courtesy of Julie Macalister and Omar Gomez.
I love her tips, especially the one about dressing in clothes that will still look fresh in 5 years. It’s so easy to get swept up in trends, but it sucks looking back at pictures and wondering what you were thinking! Great interview– you asked her awesome questions!
I never thought about those photos “what was I thinking wearing that?” hysterical. Also have a good supply of the basics and good pair of jeans. Feeling good is half the battle.