STYLE INSPIRED WITH BRAD GORESKI

We loved Brad Goreski when we first met him on BRAVO's The Rachel Zoe Project as he stepped into the world of styling and being her assistant, he continued on with the network's It's A Brad Brad World and appearing on a number of shows including being a co-host on E! Fashion Police for a number of seasons and during Awards Season on E! Live From the Red Carpet where he gives the inside scoop on who he dressed, who is wearing what and making predictions on what designers we will see on the red carpets. His career has included being a Creative Director at Kate Spade and dressing a number of coveted celebs including Emily Ratajkowski, Demi Moore, Rashida Jones and Jessica Alba to name a few. He's known for rocking dapper style and never being afraid of color and patterns for his clients or himself.

With summer officially starting this month, we took some time to talk about how he got into the industry, how he is inspired to dress his clients, the importance of sunglasses - summer's accessory and last month's MET Gala looks that he loved this year.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you know that you wanted to be in fashion and ultimately know that you wanted to be a stylist?

BRAD GORESKI: I think I knew from a very young age. I always loved fashion and putting looks together for myself and for my mom. I was always so aware of what everyone was wearing that I feel like this is kind of exactly what I was supposed to be doing. But the real turning point is when I was in college and I was looking for a summer internship and I landed at one in Vogue in NYC and the rest is kind of history. I just knew that it was where I wanted to be. I feel very lucky that I have been able to work in an industry that has been so welcoming to me for many many years now and I feel very very lucky!

AM: How do you get inspiration when it comes to styling your clients?

BG: Social media is such a great place to get inspired. There is everything from the past, present and future available to us there. I follow a variety of different people and different pages. It’s so fun to be able to see something like I noticed an old image of Marilyn Monroe the other day in a great black lace blouse, pencil skirt and heels and just the whole vibe of the setup! I said to myself, “I have to do this with one of my clients this summer.” It was just a really beautiful summery look and there are so many great trends this summer as well. It’s just really fun to keep up with these trends on social media.

AM: What are 3 trends this summer that we should be thinking about in terms of creating our dynamic look?

BG: Well one of the big trends that I’m loving in terms of the summer for men and for women is really bright bold color. Whether that’s a bright red or a royal blue or even something as crazy as a bright yellow. Thinking about bold color is one of my favorite trends! You can do that even in suiting with a blazer or even in shorts.

The second one is florals – florals are everywhere right now whether it’s a bigger floral or more of a micro floral – a smaller one – I think florals for men and for women is a nice summery way to kind of add a little bit of interest to your wardrobe.

Of course, number 3 is always having a good pair of sunglasses. I’m so happy to be partnering with the Vision Council to be talking about sunglasses and protecting your eyes this summer and also the best ways that you can purchase a pair of sunglasses and the steps that you can go through to be thinking about when you are buying a pair of sunglasses. You always want to be protecting your eyes and buying those that protect yourself from UVA and UVB rays. You want to look for that little sticker that we’re all familiar with on your sunglasses that let you know that they protect you from this. You also want to be able to have the right comfort and fit. You want to get a pair of sunglasses that really suits the shape of your face. Then you need to look at your lifestyle. What do you do throughout the day? Are you super active, are you running errands, do you run around with your kids? Next, what’s your style? Are you looking more towards a Marilyn Monroe style that is more vintage and has a cat eye or are you looking to be a little more classic and looking to do an aviator?

AM: These are great points and there are some people that opt not to wear sunglasses! What do you believe are some of the misconceptions that they have that results in them not wearing them?

BG: I think that there are a lot of myths out there about sunglasses. I think that some people believe that if it is cloudy outside, that they are not getting any UVA/UVB exposure. Whether it’s cloudy out or not, you are always at risk of UVA/UVB exposure. I think that also when people look at their sunglasses and see that it has a super dark lens, they think that they are getting the ultimate in protection. The only way that you know that you’re getting protection from UVA/UVB protection is when you see that little sticker that says that. You want to look for it for sure. I think that The Vision Council says that whenever you’re out during the day that you should be protecting your eyes with a pair of sunglasses.

AM: These are great points that we should always be mindful. As someone that I know travels quite a bit, what are 3 things that you tend to carry with you in your carryon when you travel?

BG: Very good question because I am taking off on a flight this afternoon! So, snacks – I always have to have them with me. I like to have my own with me because I like to eat on the airplane and it gets me through. I always have some bars, a little treat, I like to carry some almond butter with me. I always have earplugs with me as well because I like to have just quiet. I also like to have my headphones with me as well. The last flight I took, my head phones fell out of my bag in the backseat of the car and I really had to do some centering work. I was like, what am I going to do for 6 hours?

AM: That is the worst!!!! We have been fans of yours for a long time and love seeing you on E! Live from the Red Carpet. As the Met Gala taking place last month with its focus on Camp, what were your 3 favorite looks from this year’s carpet?

BG: Ooo that’s a good question! I am going to say that I loved Cardi B in Thom Browne, Katy Perry in the Moschino chandelier and I love Emily Ratajkowski in Peter Dundas I believe.

IG @MrBradGoreski

PHOTOS CREDITS | 1st pic BRAVO | 2nd pic SharpShooter |

Read the June Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Style Inspired with Brad Goreski in mag.

You can hear Brad Goreski's interview this month on our show, Bungalow SK which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multi-media podcast network! Make sure to subscribe to find out when the episode drops. You can hear it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and wherever you enjoy listening to your favorite podcast.

SAFE SUN Q&A

Temperatures are beginning to rise and layers are sure to come off; however, SPF is not a seasonal topic only! We sat down with Rebecca Kazin, MD, of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery and the Johns Hopkins Department of Dermatology to chat about Safe Sun, UVA/UVB.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Why is Safe Sun important and what does it mean?

REBECCA KAZIN MD: As people start to have more outdoor activities on their agendas, you need to be aware to protect skin now, and all summer long - whether you are exercising outside or at the beach. Being aware of the the dangers of sun exposure for both skin cancer and aging concerns is paramount to protecting yourself. Sun safe means taking protective measures when spending time outdoors to shield skin from direct UVA/UVB exposure. 

AM: What should we look for what it comes to picking the best protection from the sun?

RK MD: Always choose an SPF of at least 30. SPF 30 is as high as you truly need as long as you remember to apply every 2 hours. If you have sensitive skin, physical blocks tend to be less irritating to skin. If you choose a chemical block, Mexoryl is a good UVA blocker in Anthelios.

AM: Do you have brands to suggest that we should have within our sun protection rotation? 

RK MD: La Roche Posay Anthelios is a favorite. I also like Elta MD and SkinCeuticals Matte UV Defense SPF 50 because it goes on matte. For drugstore brands, I like Neutrogena. 

AM: Is there any pre and/or post prep needed when you're spending time in the sun?

RK MD: Ideally, you should apply your sunscreen 1/2 an hour before sun exposure. 

AM: What are your thoughts on suncare products that are edible that are meant for providing "natural SPF" such as Heliocare?

RK MD: I'm not sure how sophisticated this technology is right now. It needs more study to determine what level of SPF protection this is providing and how it would compare or integrate into our topical sunscreen use. 

AM: Beyond topical care, what other ways can we have the benefits of SPF beyond creams and sprays?

RK MD: Sun protective clothing - hats and swim shirts. I like Coolibar for clothing with SPF woven in. 

AM: How can we treat eyes, hair and nails to ensure that they are protected?

RK MD: Sunglasses, hats and extend SPF coverage to your fingers and hands. 

Embrace Hat Hair - The scalp is skin too and needs protection from UV rays and DNA damage. The best way to keep your scalp (and hair) safe is by wearing a hat – floppy brims offer good coverage for the face too.

Switch Up Your Part – Make sure you cover your part when you’re out in the sun and try to alternate the way your part hair from day to day to avoid one area soaking up all the sun exposure.

Explore UV Fabrics – If you’re a beach bunny, try a hat with built in UV protection from a brand like Coolibar.

Cancel Your Bi-Weekly Blowout - You may think that hair acts as a protective layer over your scalp in the summer, but your strands are susceptible to sun damage, too. Cumulative exposure to damaging UV rays causes hair to be brittle, break easily, and leaves it dehydrated and unmanageable. Give your hair a break between blowouts, especially in hot, humid weather.

Style Smart - If you must heat style, use a leave in conditioner and don’t blowdry or iron your hair without using a heat protectant first. For summer, I like the Phyto Phytokeratine Repairing Thermal Protectant Spray. It is easy to use because it is a spray on product and works to rehydrate over exposed frazzled hair.

AM: Are there times that we should avoid the sun?

RK MD: Sun is strongest from 10-2, so try to limit exposure during that time. Also if you are on medicines that make you sun-sensitive, like some antibiotics. 

AM: How many times should we apply SPF?

RK MD: Every two hours if you are in direct sunlight. On a daily basis, definitely in the morning before work. Then you can try to remember to reapply at lunchtime. 

AM: What is UVA/UVB and why is it important to use products that include both?

RK MD: They are the different wave lengths for ultra violet light. UVB is the one responsible for sunburns. UVA can cause skin cancer and premature photoaging, so it's important that SPFs cover both wavelengths. 

AM: If we have been out in the sun for too long (even when we had SPF) - what should we do to protect it during our aftercare process?

RK MD: If you have a sunburn, soothe skin with aloe to minimize irritation from the burn. 

AM: We know we've heard it before but do we really have to wear SPF even in the winter or when the sun isn't out and if your skin is darker (those who are naturally brown) - do we need SPF?

RK MD: You do need to wear SPF even in the winter, because you are still getting exposed to UV light. Same goes for cloudy days. If you have melasma, light in the office or indoors can also activate your melanocytes and perpetuate hyperpigmentation. For darker skin, pigmentation is such an issue, so SPF is still essential. Plus darker skin is still at risk for photoaging. 

AM: What are the telltale signs that we have damaged our skin due to being in the sun?

RK MD: Brown spots, broken capillaries, pink splotchy skin, premature wrinkling, thin skin, sagging skin with a leathery texture.

Read more from May Issue