Banking: Fashions Alter Ego

New York is monopolized by two industries: fashion and banking. The rest of the world falls somewhere in between. The two industries are separate but equal, and frequently overlap in divorce court, the hottest restaurants, and most exclusive events . We work the hardest and play the hardest... 3 years ago, my best friend Lauren and I moved to NY, she accepted an offer from Citigroup, i signed up for slavery at Louis Vuitton. Our lives couldn't be more different. She's Barron's and the Economist... I'm Vogue and WWD. She lives with her boyfriend in the financial district, I live with my shoes in Bed Stuy Brooklyn. She's on her way to work, while I stumble in from my work related partying. My idea of appropriate work attire, she calls crazy. I'm what she might see if she looked in a fun house mirror. Whenever we have plans she calls to make sure I'm not wearing anything "crazy,"I'm known by her peers as her "artsy" friend. Ive come to accept her de rigeur kitten heels and oxford shirt. At a recent sample sale I went ape shit over a pair of camouflage Dior boots, she purchased a Marc Jacobs trench. While she's taught me enough banker lingo to make it through a six month relationship, Ive turned her into quite the fashionista. After work she trades her J. Crew- Ferragamo combo for Herve Leger and Christian Louboutin. She'd be just as welcomed on a runway as the trading floor. Her work bag is YSL! We've worked out a mutually beneficial arrangement. She trades expensive dinners for my personal shopping services...She may make the dough, but I have all the designer discounts!

One day it will all be worth it...

That's been my mantra for the week. The only thing to get me through 17 hour work days. The only thing that kept back the tears as I received tweets from the VS show (while you all were taking your seats, I was starting shoot number 2 of 3). But such is life. This is the life that Ive chosen for myself, and frankly I love it, I just like to complain... All the procrastinating I did in college, all the all-nighters ... perfect training for my professional career (see mommy... it was worth the money!).
I had the opportunity to work with the amazing photographer Sebastian Kim, Hair stylist Kevin Ray (think Chloe girls), Make up artist Pep Gay, and stylist Karen Kaiser. We certainly had our work cut out for us. The day began with Italo Zucchelli of Calvin Klein. We styled the portrait that accompanied his profile in Interview. Next we styled Dianna Argon from the show Glee (never seen it? don't worry neither have I) She was uber late, as actresses tend to be... Her publicist seemed to be confused about her role in the process ( sit down and shut the eff up), but overall the shoot was amazing, she's a sweet girl. Finally the fun part... the models. I absolutely adore working with models. Models are little perfection machines that live to make my life easier. For our Ralph Lauren spread, we shot Ieva Laguna and Patricia van der Vleit. These girls are amazing! They produced absolute perfection, in the rain, at 230 in the morning, without a single complaint... Its a wrap!
On to the next shoot... With my dear friend, photographer Kwesi Abbensetts (spaceshipgeorge.blogspot.com). We worked with a beautiful brown model named August ( I love my brown girls!). She wore my favorite vintage pieces, including the dress my grandmother wore to my parents wedding, and a chocolate brown mink form the Brooklyn flea. Enjoy a few pics from behind the scenes ( please excuse my janky iphone photography)...
Pics from the shoots are coming soon...

Tonight Kwesis work will be on display at a show hosted by Coup De' Etat Brooklyn at restoration plaza

get into this guy...

When he speaks... I listen...

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/15/style/tmagazine/15tquest.html?adxnnl=1&pagewanted=1&adxnnlx=1258597365-DUN82y7+a0fX1mxFkCdMpg

for my fellow curly girls...

http://bglhonline.com/

photography

I don't take pictures, I leave that job to the professionals. All my pictures were taken by Spaceship George or Dawan Wryet Alford.Visit their blogs...

http://www.regalmonarch.com

http://www.spaceshipgeorge.blogspot.com

All Press is Good Press...

Im featured in this article...
http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB125806880019446147-lMyQjAxMDI5NTE4MzAxNjM4Wj.html

What I Do...

Wikipedia defines a "Wardrobe Stylist" as "someone who picks out clothing worn by people in photo shoots for commercial print, catalogue, television appearances, music videos, concert performances, and any other public appearances made by celebrities, models, or public figures." The profession has been popularized by figures like Rachel Zoe and June Ambrose. One out of five semi fashion conscious people you encounter will describe themselves as a fashion stylist. As simple as the definition sounds, the reality of our work is quite the contrary. There is no skillset to acquire, not class to take. The ability to style is innate. We dress noticably better than everyone else, even on our bad days. The amount of work it takes to succeed in this profession rivals that of doctors and lawyers (I have a tendancy to exaggerate). We begin as lowly fashion assistants at MAJOR fashion magazines. Our work is thankless. Our days are endless. We often work for little to no monetary compensation. A fashion assistant may spend an entire day combing the showrooms of Manhattan, carrying duffel bags twice their size, in the rain, while wearing this seasons most uncomfortable shoes, carrying this seasons hottest bag, looking fabulous and happy. For what? an invite to a party that they're far too tired to attend? standing tickets to fashion week? swag that you editors don't want?
The cherry on top? After all of the clothes are collected, edited, styled, and shot... YOUR finished product finally hits the stands. The heading reads... Styled by: your boss ( who was chilling on a yacht in the south of France while YOU produced the shoot). IS it worth it? Only to those of us who eat, sleep, breath, and dream FASHION. It will all pay off when our names are printed, in bold, next to the words fashion editor, in the masthead of our favorite magazines...

For my latest work see "Boot Camp" on page 132 of Interviews October/ November issue (observe my bosses name sprawled across the page).

Great exSPECtations

Lately Ive become quite obsessed with my specs. They're no longer reserved for nerds and old people, glasses have hit the streets hard. The fashion set has become bespectacled, and I couldn't be more excited! Call it school boy chic... This is a delicate trend to say the least. There's a fine line between geek chic and pain old geek... Follow my lead. Jay Z gave the look its street cred. Kanye gives the hipster stamp of approval. Observe stylist Ronald Burtons Flawless execution. My personal favorites are by Selima Optiques. Oliver Peoples and Paul Smith offer amazing selections as well. You can even snag an affordable pair at American Apparel or Urban Outfitters. Now you can wear glasses at night without looking like an asshole! Just promise me you wont overdo it...

Allow Me to Introduce Myself...

Heres a little bit about me...

Fashion Inspirations:

The Sartorialist, Flea Markets, My Grandmothers closet

Personal Stlye:

If I were to go missing, I could be identified by my jewelry. There are a few pieces I wear EVERY DAY: a purple jade bangle my aunt bought me in Korea, a silver tiffany bracelet, a yurman bangle, a yurman ring, my grandmothers wedding band, a gold ring with a big green stone, and a watch on my right wrist (but im not left handed)

Favorite Designers:

Marc Jacobs, Yves Saint Laurent, Chloe, Alexander McQueen

Most Prized Possession:

A Christian Dior charm necklace my mother bought in Paris for my 18th birthday

The First Thing You Notice about Someone Else:

EYES, closely followed by shoes

Fashion Rules:

Every rule was made to be broken

Never caught wearing:

Im a bag snob, must be designer or vintage, I would not be caught dead with a nameless bag

Favorite Store:

The Brooklyn Flea Market

Most Stylish Moment:

Penelope Cruzs denim jump suit in Blow