STYLED: the reality of a stylist's life

The road to becoming a stylist is definitely not an easy or glamorous one. There are long hours, hard physical labor, and many sleepless nights. But there is a bit of magic that happens when you work with an amazing team, and it makes it all worth it. With this small window left up to faith, things can also go horribly, horribly wrong. Every day and every shoot is a bit like a roller coaster for me. A little fear, a lot of exhilaration, some moments of panic, but always a fun and thrilling ride. And the company you keep only makes it better.

are you taking my picture? me with a tall rack and lots of jewelry.

For anyone who doesn't quite understand what a stylist does, I sort of equate it to being in a band. You have your photographer, model, makeup artist, and hair stylist- much like you have a lead singer, guitar, bass, and drummer. There is usually a leader who emerges from the pack to guide everyone towards a cumulative vision, but if all the musicians don't mesh well or don't bring their "A" game to a show, the outcome will be less than stellar. But if everything is aligned and the chemistry is right, then there is no limit to how spectacular it could be- and there is definitely a bit of "magic" involved.

on set with Nadege and Vanessa, mua

Basically I am in charge of bringing the clothes to the shoot. But that's not all of it. That entails getting the clothes, prepping them, packing them, unpacking them, steaming them, making sure they don't get trashed or damaged, damage control, repacking them, prepping them for returns, and making sure it's all taken care of in a short time period. But that's not the most fun part. Often times stylists work closely with photographers, art directors, or magazine editors and really lead the team's direction for a concept- definitely in charge of more than just the clothes. That's the part I enjoy- the collaborative creative vision.

If everyone is allowed to express themselves creatively while also working together as a team, the outcome can be stellar, and better than anything I or anyone else could have imagined individually. So yes, it's a very collaborative process.

on set, fitting and prepping with model Devon and mua Kat

But getting there...

There's a lot of schlepping. Bringing things there or there. And loading and unloading. And pushing and pulling. Heavy racks, heavy garment bags, heavy lifting. You get the idea. I sweat like no other during a shoot!

There's a lot of being on your feet. Walking, running, kneeling, sitting, standing. Super pretty shoes (read: heels) are never a good idea on a shoot. You'll leave crippled.

There's a lot of being prepared for the unexpected. Safety pins, tape, and creative solutions are your best friend. There is always SOMETHING that doesn't go as planned during a shoot. You can let it get in the way, or you can let it become your advantage. You have to be able to roll with the punches. A shoot is like a live being, and you can't control it, no matter how much you plan it out. I like to keep myself as over-prepared as possible, which can leave me pretty tired the day before a shoot, but it definitely helps.

on set shooting with Kesler Tran and model Nadege

You have to be organized, business savvy, an excellent self-promoter, an even better self-critic, a great problem solver, a team player, and of course, a creative thinker. To me, it's a fun and rewarding career since it is not one-sided. Being an effective communicator is definitely a plus, though having awesome fashion sense also doesn't hurt. ;) The pay is often less than stellar...and you really have to love what you're doing not only to grow and move up, but also deal with the realities and costs of living of life. I can definitely say that I'm not the only one here feeling the hit of the economy. I'm continuing to aim for the stars and working hard to change with the changing economy, so keep an eye out for more things to come from me- but of course, I definitely won't let them go unnoticed! :)

I find it very interesting how blogs have sort of changed the structure, or ladder, that you climb to become a successful stylist. It seems a very different path to take towards the same destination, and there are individuals who have been able to rise to a stylist position by showcasing their personal style rather than the style they've given to others. I wonder if that's the new direction that stylists need to take to compete...it's definitely a vehicle for impressive self promotion! I mean, I guess it's not even just my own view or thought, but it is actually true. I applied for a posted staff stylist opportunity for a small store- and later found that the "stylist" they hired was actually a fashion blogger. No, I'm not bitter, but instead feel in awe of really being able to witness change happening- and now challenge myself to learn how to change with it.

I wanted to humanize the process a bit and let you know despite all of the "I did this, I did that, look-at-me!" types of posts (my self-promotion), I'm still a humble, curious, inquisitive, critical person who has the same thoughts, doubts, and dreams that I've always had, and that I think you probably have too. Not sure just who's out there reading this, but I hope you enjoy the glimpse into my life and are able to find a connection on some level.