An all-star panel of celebrity stylists spoke at the Museum
at FIT last night. Moderated by Valerie
Steele, the group brought June Ambrose, Mary Alice Stephenson, Freddie Leiba,
Kathryn Neale and Irene Albright together to discuss the craft of being stylist.
Do you think this is a glamorous profession? June Ambrose had her own reality show and is
famous for transforming grungy hip hop artists to fashion role models. Mary Alice Stephenson’s dream closet gets
almost as much press as her work with CNN, E! and Harper’s Bazaar. Irene Albright has created the looks for
characters of many of your favorite movies and now the curator of the Albright fashionlibrary. Freddie Leiba and Kathryn Neale
have received accolades throughout their careers for dressing the stars in
magazines, red carpet and onscreen.
Glamour? When host Valerie Steele asked the panel to define
what being a stylist is, the answers ranged from babysitter, therapist, butler
to ringmaster.
Freddie said his stylist beginnings involved picking up
pins. Irene said she spent the first 6
months doing nothing but return clothes.
June Ambrose started in this industry as a costume maker because she
initially did not have the influence to convince designers to lend her clothes.
Mary Alice Stephenson stressed the
importance of paying your dues; getting an internship and making sure your
dream boss understand how you can make their life easier.
Being a stylist is such a broad title in the fashion
industry. The panel defined the
differences in dressing a celebrity for a red carpet, actors for a movie, a fashion
spread in a magazine. June explained
that styling a celebrity for a public appearance is about building their
personal brand. Mary Alice explained
that all stylists are very protective of their clients as they are entrusted
with their most intimate details and play therapist to making them look and feel
their best.
An editorial spread in a magazine, the models you dress are
hired to execute your vision, as opposed to the celebrity promoting
themselves. Freddie Leiba described it
as the photographer is the conductor of the orchestra and the stylist is there
to play and serve the composition.
Irene Albright described dressing actors in a movie as part
of creating the character themselves.
Every piece should serve some aspect to who the character or person is
in the film.
Many of the fans of this panel were here because they had
hopes of becoming a designer or stylist themselves. The panel made very clear that it takes a lot
of 18 hour days, frustration and rejection, then perseverance just to survive
in this business. They were also very
supportive, suggesting helpful tips like making yourself available in any free
time you have, trading your volunteer services for access to learning, sending
direct messages and being yourself.
The best advice I heard to a budding stylist was Mary Alice
Stephenson’s invitation to help out her wonderful Glam For Good
organization. She spoke of an upcoming
event at the end of May where underprivileged ladies would get the opportunity
to be dressed for the upcoming Met Gala where she could help out. Bringing style and glamour to better the
world? Genius.
