Annie Barlow always marched to her own fashion drum. As the seventh child of eight, she quickly learned how to make hand-me-downs look dazzling, and in high school she managed to rock a J.Crew cover-up as the cutest prom dress ever. That's why Chicago Social Magazine recognized her as one of Chicago's "Best Dressed" for 2010—because that ingenuity and creativity continues to shape her fashion sense today.
Annie earned a B.A. in 1997, and over the next 13 years she gained experience in trend spotting, collection development, merchandising, and upscale retail distribution working with retailers and designers spanning the fashion spectrum from mass market to custom apparel.
Annie began her Chicago career as an online media content producer with the Tribune Company. At the same time Annie apprenticed for local fashion designer Jane Hamill in her Armitage Avenue shop, where she realized her natural passion for styling while dressing women for events and finding them the perfect basics to compliment their existing wardrobes. Annie continued to work with Jane Hamill, left the Tribune, and became the head buyer for T-shirts.com, a Chicago based retailer specializing in customized knits. Annie's time spent trend scouting and attending apparel trade shows helped her to develop a broad knowledge of the knit market, which enabled her to successfully lead all merchandising efforts for the company. In this position, Annie was responsible for purchasing pre-printed products, negotiating pricing & securing partnerships with vendors, distributors and manufacturers. In 2000, Annie moved to Manhattan to work for Martha Stewart. As a producer at marthastewart.com, she lead a team of editors, developers, and designers to produce content for the web site.
In 2003, Annie built her credentials as a menswear expert when she accepted a full-time position with Nautica founder David Chu, who had just launched a men's line of high-end suits, sportswear, and furnishings. Annie worked closely with the public relations team on all events and fashion shows and was in charge of styling for all of David Chu partnerships, including CBS sports. In this role, she dressed all the hosts for NFL Sunday night football, the host of CBS's tennis and golf events, and she styled well-known sports personalities including Bill MacAtee and Jim Nantz, and sports heroes like John McEnroe. At David Chu Annie helped to merchandise the menswear line, created buys for major stores, and worked to place the brand in Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue, Nieman Marcus, and fine retailers throughout the country. Annie presented the menswear line at major menswear shows, and her ability to articulate the quality and superior craftsmanship of the product resulted in a 60% growth in sales in one season. She allocated and managed all product releases to major and specialty retail stores, and presented sales and training seminars that focused on the fit, make, and development of David Chu menswear.
In 2006, Annie moved back to Chicago and became head stylist and National Sales Manager with Charlotte Brody, a custom luxury women's apparel brand. Annie assisted in developing the company's national sales strategy, opening the brand to five new markets, and engaged in direct sales to private clients through personal studio appointments and trunk shows. Annie merchandised and styled the line for multiple seasons, selecting fabrics and designs for the brand, perfecting fit, and sourcing unique accessory brands that supported the aesthetic of the apparel collection.
Annie's natural talent combined with her easy going disposition led many clients of both Charlotte Brody & David Chu to ask her for styling help, and in the fall of 2009, Annie began styling individual clients full time. Annie feels her job isn't to change a client's style, it's to help them find the style that's undoubtedly hiding in their closet.
Annie joined juliewatsonstyle to lead the launch of the men's division in the fall of 2010, when she became the head men's wardrobe consultant and personal shopper. In addition to her work with male clients, Annie also provides the same services for juliewatsonstyle's female clients. Annie's personality, style philosophy, and background in both men's and women's apparel made her the perfect fit for juliewatsonstyle.
When Annie isn't working with styling clients, she consults for clothing lines and has acted as an apparel trend analyst for major financial institutions, including Wachovia/Wells Fargo, and she was tapped by Saks Fifth Avenue to introduce the Jimmy Choo 24/7 Collection in both their Chicago and Dallas stores
Annie has given her time to many organizations and causes. She has served as both the Chair & Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors of Step Up Women's Network's Chicago chapter, and she currently she serves as a guild member of the Chicago Botanic Garden, and as a member of The Costume Council of the Chicago History Museum. Annie lives in Chicago with her husband Dan and daughters Agnes and Ruthie.
If you'd like to bring Annie Barlow's insight and expertise to your clothing concerns, email annie@juliewatsonstyle.com.
