It may seem to those who work outside of the fashion world that it's all glitz and glamour but those in the know can tell you not every day is perks and parties. If you've ever watched The Devil Wears Prada or Ugly Betty, you probably think that the entire industry is incredibly superficial, but for the most part people in the industry take their jobs very seriously and work incredibly hard. Besides, who do you think does the work so you can chat about which celebrity wore what on the red carpet or who is on the cover of Vogue this month?
As a working fashion stylist, my week can be very varied, seeing a variety of clients and working on different projects. My typical week changes day to day at a moment's notice from early morning starts for a shoot to late night mad-rush-shopping with a deadline. There are the glamorous moments I live for and moments of tear-my-hair-out madness, but no matter the situation, I always work to the same end goal, a happy client. Going the extra mile for your client is certainly rewarding, but usually leads to some good stories as well!
Unfortunately I don’t get to spend all day everyday swanning up and down Rodeo Drive but each day certainly has its special moments…
Monday - Not Always Gowns and Jewels
Being a personal stylist means I dress clients for everything from A-list events to everyday, and apparently also the bedroom. Being asked by a client to slip into Coco De Mer or Kiki de Montparnasse and pick up a surprise gift is nothing out of the ordinary but the experience can be unusual. We won't go into too many details, but let's just say that when a man walks into a lingerie store and finds himself unable to mutter the words crotchless panties, it's not his finest moment!
Tuesday - Cross Country Fitting
If a client has an important event, come rain, hail or shine the styling needs to happen. The gorgeous Carrie Preston is a client of mine and lives between LA and NYC. For the 2010 Golden Globes we decided that she would wear an amazing Venexiana gown and I was due to fly to NYC to select the final gown with her. Two days before I was due to leave I became deathly ill, but that couldn't keep me from my client. I needed to see the options. So armed with my laptop and a box of Kleenex I arranged for the showroom to Skype me into the fitting. Thank you technology.
Wednesday - The Best Kind of Client
The best kind of client is a decisive client. I love to work with all my clients but there is something to be said for a client who knows exactly what they want. Lisa Vanderpump is that client. As a stylist it is my job to show the options that best work for the client and to make them look and feel fabulous, but when you work with a client who already has great style the experience is a whole other ball game. You need to know your clients inside out and they need to have complete trust in you as sometimes things can get up close and personal. When finalizing Lisa's outfit for the Real Housewives reunion show we had her in a to-die-for cocktail dress and she asked me to zip her in. As I was sliding it up the unthinkable happened and I caught her skin. Lisa was so gracious about it but to this day I still feel terrible.
Thursday - Great Lengths for Great Photos
When working on a shoot not only is it my job to make the talent look good and show their personality through their wardrobe but also to bring the photographer's or director's vision to life. Waking up at 4am for a 5am call time is not my favorite part of the job but shoots are a lot of work. A favorite shoot of mine was with photographer Teren Oddo for Chelsea Staub and Nicole Anderson. The location was a fabulous downtown loft and at some point during the shoot Teren decided he wanted to get some skyline shots - remember what I said about bringing the photographers vision to life? So the entire team pitched in and hauled the whole shoot from the loft to the roof. At one point we had Chelsea standing on the edge of a skyscraper in the cold wind, but to this day these superhero-esqe shots are still some of my favorites.
Friday - Extravagant Bride
Dealing with a client's wedding attire ten days before her very large and very well attended wedding is no easy feat when jewels are involved. I pulled from a well-known LA jeweler, totaling about $8 million. This was the easy part. Next I had to fly from LA to SF with all in hand. I boarded the plane with my outlandish expensive carry on items and sat in my seat clutching the bag for dear life. Stowing the bag in the overhead bin was never an option and for obvious reasons I refused. Due to the new flight restrictions I was almost asked to leave the plane. How did I get to stay? By giving the flight crew a peak at the amazing jewelry!
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