Anyone can claim to be a fashion expert, but few have the muscle of Lloyd Boston, fashion editor of NBC’s “Today Show” and author of his third style book, “Before You Put That On: 365 Style Tips for Her” (Atria Books, $27.50). He has seen the good, bad and dreadful in men’s and women’s fashion.
At Tommy Hilfiger, he worked as vice president of art direction, during which time he wrote “Men of Color” (Artisan), a historical look at the influence of African-American men on fashion. His second book, “Make Over Your Man” (Doubleday), was a women’s guide to helping the men in their lives become more fashionable. Boston is also a national spokeman for Jones New York clothing line .
Q. What’s your style advice for the season?
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A. If you’re going to [wear] a skirt, make sure it doesn’t look Amish. Also, Spanx is something I really believe in.
Q. What’s the most common complaint you hear?
A. Women can’t find jeans to fit.
Q. What are your style picks for spring/summer?
A. An oversized bag and clothes in the neutral family — tans, toast, off-white.
Q. Does your mother heed your advice?
A. It took my mother years to trust that I knew more about lipstick and lace than she did. “The Today Show” asked me to do a piece with her for Mother’s Day. She asked me if I knew what I was doing. I told her that 8 million people listen to me.
Q. Ever tire of doing makeovers?
A. [Yes.] But we did one for a young girl going to prom. Her mother died earlier of cancer. It felt nice to help the girl pick out a dress. You hope her mother was looking down smiling.
Q. Best advice you’ve received?
A. The day I told Tommy Hilfiger I was leaving his company, he told me to sit up straight. He said when you sit up straight it commands respect. He was right.
Q. Pet peeve?
A. Pantyhose. Too many woman wear them out of habit. Not wearing them can take 10 years off of you. For men, it’s too much technology. They are like RoboCops with cell phones, a BlackBerry, pagers, iPods. No one is that important.