The Stylist Behind Sofia Richie's Timeless Style Shares Her Fashion Secrets

Welcome to our podcast, Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr. Think of it as your direct line to the designers, stylists, beauty experts, editors, and tastemakers who are shaping the fashion-and-beauty world. Subscribe to Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Liat Baruch is a fashion force to be reckoned with. While Baruch has 15 years of experience in the fashion industry, her work with the Richie family is perhaps her biggest claim to fame. There's no denying that Sofia Richie's effortlessly sophisticated style has been at the top of every fashion enthusiast's mind, and we have Baruch to thank for that. 

With her keen eye for detail, Baruch can transform ordinary looks into extraordinary statements. Her distinctive—and incredibly strategic—approach to styling involves blending eclectic elements, mixing textures, and experimenting with unexpected combinations to create that sense of effortless sophistication that also pushes the boundaries of traditional fashion norms. Her unique vision and impeccable taste have earned her a loyal following and have made her a sought-after collaborator for high-profile clients and fashion publications. 

Baruch's influence as a stylist continues to evolve and transform the industry, inspiring others and redefining personal style. In the latest episode of Who What Wear With Hillary Kerr, Baruch reveals her ultimate fashion dos and don'ts, her perspective on where the fashion industry is headed, and the style details behind Richie's wedding looks. 

For excerpts from that conversation, scroll below.

For an event like Sofia Richie's wedding, where it's taking place over multiple days and is a big moment because it's a wedding, how long does the styling process take? I'm curious about the timeline of a process when it's something huge like that.

Liat Baruch: First of all, she's an ongoing client. And actually, her sister has been my best friend for 25 years, so Sofia's my sister. I've been working with her on this level for the past couple of years. It's been a constant thing. For the wedding, it wasn't like [I said], "Here are the ten looks," and then I presented to [her looks] for the ten days leading up to the wedding and the five days after. It was more like we would do general shops [leading] up to the wedding. And from there, we extract the best pieces and accessorize them so they look perfectly refined [and] the way we want them to. It wasn't like I had 17 mood boards with every look and all that stuff—it was very organic. That's why it is so funny when people are blown away by it because it is what I do, and it's what she does. 

I love hearing more about the process. What does day one of working with someone look like? And how do you get on the same page or know they're the right client for you? 

Until now, it was hard because the whole point of me is that I don't exist. It's like you, Hillary, are calling me, and you're like, "I have a board meeting; what am I wearing?" You're not going to walk into the board meeting and say, "Liat styles me." It's your style; I just helped you get there. So, first, I meet them, and we usually go for a coffee to talk through what they're looking for and what they need. Usually, they need help with their closet and feel they don't have the right leather jacket or the right blazer. I typically like to start with an event, whether they have a bar mitzvah to go to for the week, they're going to Hawaii, or they have an event of some sort, or just day-to-day looks and do not want to look the same every day.

Because of word of mouth, most clients know [ahead of time] that our aesthetics align. That's not to say that I can't work with anyone who doesn't share my aesthetic. It's just that there are millions of people who do certain things really well. But if somebody liked how Sofia looked at the wedding, now they can see it and think they want something similar—and I can do that; that's what I do.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Next up, check out our previous episode featuring Charlotte Palermino.