“There is nothing more satisfying to me than when I get a text message with a photo of a client in an outfit that she has put together, and it is spot on fabulous! That is how I know my work is done.”
Kim Groberg has known from a young age that she loved fashion. At three years old, she would hand-pick her outfits. As she grew older, she would attach prices to the clothes in her closet and pretend she owned a store. Needless to say, Kim was born a fashionista!
Born and raised in New York, Groberg’s career began in human resources working for major corporations like PepsiCo before pursuing her dream career in fashion. Since starting her fashion career, Groberg has worked with pivotal brands like Neiman Marcus, Escada, Valentino, Mulberry, and Dior before opening a boutique located in Henderson that would later be named one of Las Vegas’ Top 100 businesses by Las Vegas Magazine, as well as mentioned in the Wall Street Journal. She said she closed the boutique to become a mother; however, it wasn’t long before she created her current company, “High Style for A Hundred.” The business’s name was inspired by her motto, “spend a hundred, look like a million.” Starting as a personal shopping business, the brand evolved into working with luxury retail and producing non-profit fashion shows. Today, High Style for A Hundred offers closet edits and helps clients develop new wardrobes by “shopping” what already exists in their closets.
For this issue, Groberg provided readers some insight into the style industry and need-to-know fashion tips to lead into fall.
What is it you love most about what you do?
I love helping women feel confident in how they present themselves through their style. One of my favorite stories is when I started working with one of my clients [who is a senior executive in the gaming industry]. She told me she didn’t have confidence in how she looked and always wanted a stylist to help her. When I asked what kind of look she wanted to achieve, she mentioned another woman executive who she worked with and admired how stylish she was. About six months later, my client told me she went to a meeting that day, and the other woman commented on how fabulous SHE looked. My client thanked me for giving her the confidence she was seeking to dress with style and still be herself. Nothing makes me happier than impacting women in a way like this client.
What can a client expect when working with you?
The first is to have FUN! Sometimes clients can be intimidated to invite me into their closet [which probably is one of the most personal spaces in your home], but after our first meeting, they always tell me how much fun it was and not what they expected. I am very respectful of their wardrobes, whether it needs a complete overhaul or just some editing. I always focus on clients’ wants and how I can best help them. Second, my goal is to inspire and educate. I want my clients to learn everything I know from me so they can become their style experts after my work is complete.
What corporate clients do you work with, and what do you do for them?
Coming from a very corporate background and my previous work in HR, I bring a unique perspective to corporate wardrobe sessions. I understand corporate culture and the challenges and complexities of dress code and branding. Whether I am working with a large realtor office and conducting a lunchtime workshop or working with a hotel on The Strip and helping their front desk staff dress more professionally while keeping within the brand “culture,” I am able to tailor my presentations and workshops accordingly.
What are your tips for transitioning our closets from summer to fall?
As you know, here in Las Vegas, we have two “real” seasons…summer and winter. So, we have to be more creative with transitioning our wardrobes, especially in the spring and fall. In Vegas, fall weather is typically still in the 90s, so we don’t get to wear our sweaters and fabulous layers until closer to winter. My two key strategies are to 1. Focus on the color and fabric of your clothing, and 2. Switch up your accessories, such as your shoes, handbags, and jewelry.
For Fall 2022, one of the key trends you will see is a simple white tank. A white tank is perfect as you can wear it as a staple all summer and later throughout fall when you can add your maxi hemlines and leather pieces — both of which are also fall trends.
I typically transition my closet twice each season with an initial “edit” and a complete wardrobe transition afterward. For the transition from summer to fall, I do my first edit on September 1st and take out all my summer fabrics like seersucker and terrycloth as well as any prints, silhouettes, and accessories that scream “summer,” such as straw handbags and canvas totes. Keep colors such as navy, black, jewel tones, and brights that transition well into fall palettes like orange, yellow, and brown. For instance, you might put away your seersucker blazer, but keep out that fabulous orange linen duster. An easy way to look at it is by considering what items you would take on your summer vacation to the beach. Those are the items that it is time to put away.
Jewelry is another great way to transition your wardrobe from season to season. In the summer, we tend to keep our accessories lighter. As you transition to fall, a bold necklace can enhance that navy sleeveless sheath dress that was your go-to for work all summer. Simply putting on a chunky necklace and changing your shoes from a sandal to a pump can elevate your fall look while still keeping you cool in 90-degree weather.
If you could sum up your fashion advice in just a couple of sentences, what might that be?
It is not the amount of clothes in your closet or how much you spend on a label or brand that will make you fashionable — it is knowing how to style and create looks that are YOU. I have gotten more compliments on outfits I have put together with fashion finds from a thrift store than on one of my high-end designer pieces like Valentino or Dior. This is because when you walk into a room, your confidence will make what you’re wearing FABULOUS, not the label. It’s all about your personal style and owning it with confidence and grace.