It’s not every day that you find yourself in the presence of somebody who is the very best at what they do. Like, quite literally, at the top of their game. It’s equally rare to get an opportunity to chat with a stylist who has single-handedly created some of the most exquisitely beautiful and memorable Oscar fashion moments ever, whose bold choices have shaped pop culture and how it relates to style.  

What if I told you that this stylist has clothed some of the most beautiful A-listers in Hollywood? Charlize Theron, Scarlett Johansson, Reese Witherspoon, and Julianne Moore, to name a few. Last week, I got to speak with this incredible woman—the one and only Leslie Fremar.

Born and bred in Canada, Fremar got her start in the fashion biz as Anna Wintour’s assistant at Vogue. In fact, it’s rumoured that Emily Blunt’s character in The Devil Wears Prada was based on Fremar! She then went on to work as the director of VIP relations at Prada. One chance encounter with Selma Blair led to similar encounters, and before long, Fremar’s sharp aesthetic and style savvy was put to use as a full-time stylist. Fast forward a couple of years, and we see her recognized as “Hollywood’s Most Powerful Stylist” by the Hollywood Reporter. 

When talking with Fremar, I wanted to know what the celebs would be rocking at TIFF and wondered if we’d be able to appropriate their looks for our day-to-day lives. Fremar assured me that was totally doable. One of the things she likes most about TIFF is that “it happens to be one of the less formal international festivals. You’re going to see a lot of cocktail dresses versus gowns. And maybe like a long sleeve dress and bold colours, cutouts, midriff baring dresses. I think those are some of the very strong trends right now.” But should we all be out there baring our belly buttons, then? 

“Different looks work for different people,” she says. “I think that maybe the cutouts don’t work for me personally. You don’t have to follow all trends, just trends that work with you and your body type that you feel comfortable with.”

Next, I wanted to know if Leslie had a beauty routine, or any tips that don’t cost a fortune to help us look and feel great before a big night out. “Every woman wants to feel beautiful,” she says. “Don’t go out the night before, and get a good night’s sleep. Get rest. Make sure you’re feeling good, JUST DON’T GO OUT! I think it makes a huge difference. Exercise, stay hydrated and eat healthy.” At the moment, Leslie’s go-to healthy snacks are veggies with hummus and Special K Popcorn Chips.

“Another tip that we always have is to kind of pamper yourself and take care of yourself,” she continues. “If it’s the night before, maybe get your hair blown out or get a mani/pedi. Or when you’re at home maybe do a facemask or take a hot bath, just really take care of yourself. I think that people forget that actresses take care of themselves for a living, and they really put an effort into their beauty regime. So I think that women need to do that as well, and it works.”

In a world where a missed detail can lead to total chaos, there must also be some really gratifying momets for Fremar.

“I think my favourite part is seeing [actors] actually on the red carpet because I know how much work goes into getting them ready,” she says. “So I really find satisfaction in seeing them walk the red carpet or going with them to a premier and seeing people’s reactions. I think that’s really fun.”

I wonder if she has an all time favourite red carpet moment? She laughs: “That’s like choosing a favourite child…I can’t do that!”

What about a favourite personal accessory?

“I love my watch,” she boldly states. “I think a watch is such a statement piece that is just timeless.”

Much like the timeless symbol of the watch, Leslie has created vibrant, iconic images that will forever live in the rarified air of red carpet best dressed lists, and be celebrated for years to come.