A few months ago we styled the cover of Beyond Race Magazine with actress Krysten Ritter. Here are some behind the scenes shots from that shoot at The Standard Hotel in downtown LA.
Epic jacket!
That jacket weighed about a thousand pounds ..
Room service anyone?
Cover look
The cover!
When you enter stylist land you start hearing crazy phrases like “pulling clothes”. To us it makes perfect sense but to non-stylists we just sound like crazy people. Pulling clothes is basically going shopping for a styling job. Except you aren’t just confined to the mall — you can pull clothes from stores, showrooms, PR firms, etc … We won’t get into the nitty gritty (you have to come to class for that … hehe). But check out this video! Its 39 seconds of expert advice on pulling clothes that you just can’t miss!
Shopping like a stylist often means “borrowing like a stylist”. Uh huh, borrowing. As you may have read in one of our past posts or you may have learned this during our Class 1, being a stylist isn’t all about shopping on Rodeo and lunching at The Ivy. In fact, that rarely happens … especially when you are just starting out.
As a stylist and as an intern/assistant stylist you are going to spend a lot of time at Los Angeles showrooms and PR agencies. This is where you will find samples from a variety of designers. These clothes are loaners and can only be taken out with permission.
Here is a list of some (7 to be exact) of our favorite showrooms/ PR spots to pull from in Los Angeles:
1.) Dietch Public Relations: We LOVE Dietch! The nicest people in the world work at Dietch. Seriously, we just chat up a storm with everyone while pulling awesome clothes from the lines they represent. Some of the lines you will find at Dietch include: Functional, Gabby Applegate, and Rich & Skinny.
Dietch PR- 817 South Los Angeles Street Los Angeles, CA 90014
2.) A- Line Media: Whenever we need cool shoes, we hit up A-Line Media. A-Line represents Velvet Angels shoes and we can’t get enough of them!
A- Line- 560 S. Main Street, Suite 7W, Los Angeles CA 90014
3.) Caro Marketing: Two words … Plastic Island. If you haven’t checked out that line, then you are really missing out. Caro Marketing reps them and we love pulling that line for all of our celebrity and editorial shoots. Also, one of our SOS grads works there and we love to pay her a visit from time to time :)
Caro- 7720 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles CA 90046
4.) Red Light PR: Talk about your one-stop-shop! Red Light PR has it all, from womens to mens to kids clothing. Also, they have lollipops. What? Can’t a stylist enjoy a quick sugar rush after a long day of pulling?
6525 Sunset Boulevard, 3rd Floor, Hollywood CA 90028
5.) Pure Consulting: Tucked away on a hidden little street in Beachwood Canyon, Pure is your place for classic dresses with a twist. They also rep Skingraft and Elmer Ave if you are looking to get your rock and roll style on, which we always are ;)
Pure- 2168 1/2 Beachwood Terrace Ave, Los Angeles CA 90068
6.) Trent PR: While you are over at Pure, you really should stop over to see Jessica Trent. Jessica always has some awesomely unique treats that are like the cherry on top of your ice cream sundae. Last time we saw Jessica we picked up some sweet avant-garde masks and bitchin’ sunglasses.
7.) BluPrint: Its a little far away from all of the other LA showrooms but BluPrint is definitely worth the trip, especially if you are styling men (helloooo … John Varvatos is here). BluPrint also has one of our favorite womens lines, Grai. Grai has some of the best leather jackets in LA. If John Varvatos and Grai aren’t enough to get you over to the Westside, then do it for Diddy Riese.
BluPrint- 10914- A Kinross Ave, Los Angeles CA 90024
If you want to avoid getting a one-way ticket to the fashion police then always remember this: Take off your studio service tag after you leave the department store!!
Some readers will laugh and know exactly what we mean. Others are sitting at their computers scratching their heads saying “WTF?” If you identify with the “WTF” category then let us explain.
When pulling clothing from a department store you can’t just roll in there like a regular schmo. You have to go through Studio Services. Studio Services is a special land devoted to working with stylists. Part of the Studio Services process includes wearing a gigantic name while you shop for your job. That tag explains to world and the department store employees that you are not a regular person … you are a stylist!
That tag is all fine and good in the store but once you leave — not the best look in the world. Just sayin’.
We shot Sia backstage at Coachella 2010. Sia had incredible energy, just being around her made everyone smile. Sia wore a bitchin’ scarf that she made herself out of fishnets and homemade pom pom balls, a button down from H&M, a vintage pair of jeans shorts, and shoes from Top Shop.
Last month we styled a shoot for Flaunt magazine, featuring MCM handbags. The shoot was a lot of work but the whole experience was really cool. There were 12 different looks with 12 different locations to match. Intense. BUT we did get to cruise around in a really cool motor home for two days.
Here are some of the behind the scenes pictures. More to come, so stay tuned …
Shooting outside of Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood
Luke Storey outside of Mann’s
SOS grad/intern, Abi and Lauren Messiah
Luke pumping some iron at the gym
Male model
Luke adding some finishing touches to the model
Model, looking great in gold
At an incredible house in the Hollywood hills
Ever wonder ‘What are the School Of Style grads are up to? Are they out there living their dream and working as wardrobe stylists?’ Well, we wonder that all the time so we try to keep in touch with our grads to find out what they are up to.
Today we are interviewing School Of Style graduate, Danielle Stein. Danielle took our first class WAY back in 2008. Since completing School Of Style, Danielle has been working her little tail off. She has worked on music videos, editorials, look books and has even done shoots for an awesome designer handbag company!
Awe … Our students make us so proud :)
Keep reading to learn more about Danielle Stein the stylist and what she is up to these days.
School Of Style: Tell us a little bit about yourself?
Danielle Stein: Well my name is Danielle Bianca, born and raised in Orange County, school was not my thing at all! and fashion is what I love, so I decided to go the Fashion Institute after high school and graduated from there in 2008 and wanted to take on the industry like non other. I took every opportunity, internship, unpaid gig to get myself out there and now I have a buying service, buying clothes for clients internationally and out of state, and I am also a Stylist just enjoying every bit of it!
SOS: Did you have experience in the fashion industry before attending School Of Style?
DS: Yeah I did, I have been working in the fashion industry since I was 17 and decided to go to FIDM to further my interests and knowledge about fashion.
SOS: When did you know you wanted to become a wardrobe stylist?
DS: I have always loved dressing up my friends and myself in funky cool clothes, so since I was little I always knew I’d get into something like Styling. It wasn’t until I went to FIDM that I knew I wanted this is to be my career and is my passion.
SOS: When did you graduate from School Of Style?
DS: I graduated from school of style I think in the summer of 2008.
SOS: Which classes did you take?
DS: I took the first day 10 hour class (which is amazing) and the actual shoot day class. I worked on an amazing editorial spread with Luke.
SOS: What was the most valuable thing you learned at School Of Style?
DS: To be your own person, have your own style and establish yourself.
SOS: What was the most shocking thing you learned?
DS: Since I had experience styling a little bit before taking school of style I don’t think any thing really shocked me. I just learned a heck of a lot more :)
SOS: Have you been able to find work since graduating from School Of Style?
DS: Yes I have! I networked a lot since graduating from school of style and have worked on music videos, editorials, look books and done shoots for a designer handbag company called Cleobella! Check them out! to die for bags!
SOS: Describe your ”style” as a stylist:
DS: I am very edgy, rock n roll, glam, but at the same time I’m obsessed with bohemian chic and the hipster/hippie look.
SOS: Is that different than your personal style? If so, describe your personal style:
DS: It’s funny you ask that, because my personal style is pretty similar to my “stylist” style. I have two completely different looks. I either wear edgy black, rocker stuff-with studs, zippers and chains or I wear my denim cut offs with a floral shirt and hippie headband, or my zebra leggings with something weird!
SOS: Who is your dream client?
DS: My dream client would definitely be Nichole Richie or Mary-Kate Olsen. They both have that versatile style like myself. Edgy Rocker or Hippie and Bright.
SOS: Who are your favorite designers?
DS: My favorite designers are: Marc Jacobs he is a fashion genius, YSL, and Heatherette they haven’t be around for too long but they are just so fun and wild I love it!! for Shoes definitely Christian Louboutin- every pair they make I die over! their heals and their flats are just insane!
SOS: Favorite trends?
DS: Favorite trends, SKINNY Jeans! who doesnt wear them? they make you look awesome! Crop tee’s how amazing is it that midriffs are back in action? who woulda thought? skinny jeans and crop t’s make for a perfect outfit. Throw on a pair of heals and a rad chunky necklace and your totally set for a hot night out!
SOS: Trends you wish would die?
DS: That’s a hard because a lot of things I say I hate then they come back with the same thing just re-vamped and much cuter! but those sandals with that ugly short half wedge wood heal in the back thats a hideous trend!
SOS: What are your favorite places to shop?
DS: I love love LF, Urban Outfitters, Metropark, and boutique stores like in (Laguna, San Clemente, LA)
I’m a Loehmans girl! gotta love designer stuff for cheap.
SOS: Any tips you would like to share with other stylists who are just starting out?
DS: Take any and every job you get, paid or unpaid. You can network where ever you go and have to start somewhere so get your feet wet :) Network, network, network. You never know where you will meet someone important or who has contacts, you might be at the right place at the right time!!
We had another fantastic Class 2 last week. We drove all around town and had a really nice day. Some of our more memorable stops included the Cooper Building, Confederacy, and Dietch PR.
Cooper Building Basement
David Dietch at Dietch PR
Jewelry at Dietch PR
Sweet looking dress at Dietch PR
Syreeeta and Chelsea at Confederacy
Window at Confederacy
Art at Confederacy
Jeremy Scott shoes at Peoples Revolution
Phillip Lim store
Class 2: Shopping/Prep is held 2-3 times per month, and is generally held on Wednesdays or Thursdays. Dates for Class 2 are chosen based on Luke’s availability, and are announced to registered students via email, during the week prior to the upcoming date. So if you are interested in learning how to shop like a stylist, register now>
