Anna Bingemann: Celeb Stylist to Uma, Naomi, Gwyneth...

By Emily Hsieh
July 6, 2011

Uma Thurman & Naomi Watts

Anna Bingemann styled Uma Thurman and Naomi Watts at Cannes: Uma Thurman in Versace (photo by Tony Barson/WireImage), Uma Thurman in Armani (photo by Anna Bingemann), Naomi Watts (photo by Anna Bingemann)

Given her client roster includes names like Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts, Uma Thurman and Claire Danes, it’s hard to believe that Anna Bingemann’s career as a celebrity stylist was pretty much accidental. “Really, I was just in the right place at the right time—it wasn’t planned,” Bingemann claims. “I started with Nicole [Kidman] and Tom [Cruise] in London back when they were shooting "Eyes Wide Shut". I sort of fell into it. Before that I used to assist photographers like Helmut Newton and Herb Ritts back in the day, but I was always crap with the technical stuff!”

Ever since then, the Australian native has been racking up the frequent flier miles bouncing between film sets, magazine shoots, and prepping stars for red carpet events all over the world. Recently, we caught up with the celebrity stylist Bingemann in her airy SoHo loft where she made a quick pit stop between trips to Cannes. (Uma’s white hot strapless Versace, electric blue Armani Prive gown and elegant crystal-bedecked Chanel Haute Couture at the film festival were all hand-picked by Bingemann.) There, she dished on her new collaboration with design-your-own jewelry line Chamilia, shared a few styling tips and revealed the closet staples that make up her daytime uniform.

The Inside Source: So, tell us about serving as a trend advisor to Chamilia.

Anna Bingemann: I’ve been weighing in on fashion trends and creating my own jewelry, which I customize on their website. The company concept is based on personalization, and I love that everyone is able to make jewelry that’s entirely their own and not someone else’s design... I was just with one of my [clients] last night and she was going wild for the bracelets I had on!

The Inside Source: What kind of jewelry do you favor?

Anna Bingemann: I like to wear jewelry that I can leave on all day and all night without taking off, even when showering and sleeping! Nothing too precious. As someone who wears all black, I love jet beads. I like gold—it has such warmth. And I also really like mixing gold and silver metals and different materials like rubber and leather. I’m into a layered look.

anna bingemann

Chamilia bracelet designed by Anna Bingemann

The Inside Source: Any styling tips when it comes to jewelry?

Anna Bingemann: Pick a focal point—otherwise, it just gets to be too much. If you’re going to bulk up on a bunch of bracelets, which I often do, leave the necklace off unless it’s a fine chain, or just keep on a tiny pair of studs you wear every day. Avoid overdoing it, so that your own personality and individuality to come through.

The Inside Source: Does the same philosophy apply to clothes?

Anna Bingemann: Absolutely. I like clothes where you can’t tell the designer; that way it becomes more about the person wearing it. I don’t like “it” anything. I’m the kind of person who holds onto shoes and jewelry, in particular, for years and years, and am always mixing old with new.

The Inside Source: What are some of your wardrobe staples?

Anna Bingemann: I basically have an all-black daytime uniform: jeans, tee, and cardigan. I always wear J Brand denim, and right now I’m quite into the new higher waist styles. I like black or very dark blue washes without fading or whiskers. A clean wash is a lot more flattering—it makes you look a lot longer and leaner. You can find great t-shirts and tanks by American Apparel and Uniqlo. And I love a kitten heel right now.

The Inside Source: What are some of the fashion trends you’re feeling at the moment?

Anna Bingemann: This summer, lace—not the vintage kind so much as the stuff with a more modern, present treatment—has been a strong point in fashion, as seen in the Dolce & Gabbana and Balenciaga collections. And my big colors this season are red and aquamarine. Florescent pink is another major fashion trend right now too, though personally I would only go with a flash of it, like on the heel of a shoe, and leave the hot pink t-shirt to my daughter. I’m all about little touches of an accent color on top of black.