School of Style

We caught up with another one of our grads, Jill McDonald, who is out there working as a stylist (they make us so proud. Not only is Jill working, she is working with some of the best. Jill recently styled a shoe campaign for Betsy Johnson and Penny Loves Kenny shoes that will run in Vogue and in Elle! Yep, you read that right — one of our grads styled a campaign that will be featured in Vogue and in Elle magazine. Amazing!!

Learn more about Jill and her path to becoming a working stylist in our interview with her below.

School Of Style: Tell us a little bit about yourself?
Jill McDonald: I was raised in Santa Monica; my fashion influence began early in my life, my mother sewed most of my clothes for me. I had hand made hip huggers, triangle tie tops, dresses and bikinis. My grandmother took me to major departments stores at a very young age. One of my first jobs was in a clothing boutique. I graduated from Venice High and was influenced by the Venice skate era. I spent years in Hawaii, surrounding myself in arts, culture and music. Topanga is my home, I love to hang with my family and the animals. I get lost in my office dreaming of fashion. I adore magazines and my favorite days are spent downtown with friends in the fashion district. Inspiration for me can arrive at any moment, I am inspired by nature and any new situation where the energy of people and places is unique and late night conversations with friends always leads to inspiration and ideas.

SOS: Did you have experience in the fashion industry before attending School Of Style?
JM: Yes, selling, buying, managing boutiques, repping lines and working in showrooms.

SOS: When did you know you wanted to become a wardrobe stylist?
JM: 3 yrs ago I started my business, but I have been styling for pleasure since my late teens.

SOS: When did you graduate from School Of Style?
JM: August 2009

SOS: Which classes did you take?
JM: 1 and 2

SOS: What was the most valuable thing you learned at School Of Style?
JM: I was on my path; I was in the right place, with amazing people who shared visions. Having a relationship with Luke was the most valuable asset to me. He has been kind enough to mentor, share, teach and expose all of his amazing knowledge and resources.

SOS: What was the most shocking thing you learned?
JM: How much credit line you need when you are rolling with jobs.

SOS: Have you been able to find work since graduating from School Of Style?
JM: Yes, I styled a shoe campaign for Betsy Johnson and Penny Loves Kenny shoes that will run in Vogue and Elle, I worked on a Lucky Brand runway show and ad campaigns, I styled a shoot for Box Eight Studios for L.A. Fashion Week that is published in LA Confidential, I have also been busy with album covers, look books, editorials and building my portfolio of clients for personal shopping.

SOS: Describe your ”style” as a stylist:
JM: My work reflects whatever the clients needs are. I enjoy collaborating and most of the clients have some sort of idea that leads me to a concept that works for them. It’s important to understand and create different styles and genres, most of my jobs have served the commercial arena. I am not one to only offer “my style”. I know if I can do “basics” well, in time the opportunities for high glamour, edgy punk, pop, etc… will come.

SOS: Is that different than your personal style? If so, describe your personal style:
JM: It is different, if I was styling solely for myself everything would be black and grey. I lean towards, distressed, worn, rock, hippie, influence adding lounge-wear and sportswear into the mix, I luv luxury fabrics.

SOS: Who is your dream client?
JM: Eddie Vedder

SOS: Who are your favorite designers?
JM: Gregory Parkinson, Karl Lagerfeld, Jennifer Shon, Karen Zambos, Norma Kamali, Barbara Bui, Ralph Rucci, Helmut Lang, Stella McCartney, Andrea Lieberman, Martin Margiela, Christophe Decarnin, Vivian Westwood, The Olsens, Armani, Irene Neuwirth, Marc Jacobs, Rick Owens, Cynthia Vincent, Mara Hoffman, Nicholas Ghesquiere, Alexander Wang, Isabel Marant, Leticia Garcia, Tom Ford, Jeremy Scot, Alber Elbaz, Betsy Johnson, Jutta Neumann.

SOS: Favorite trends?
JM: Military, sheer, shimmer, shine, boots, menswear, distressed

SOS: Trends you wish would die?
JM: Ball gowns on the red carpet, there are so many amazing designers and options, the runway looks should transfer to the red carpet and the gowns and celebrity looks should be modern and current.

SOS: What are your favorite places to shop?
JM: Madison Malibu, Foley & Corina, Kiki de Monteparnese, Nation LTD.com, Sigersen Morrisen, blaec.com, adidas.com, lesportsac.com, Maxfield, Barneys, Lulu’s Manhattan Beach, Ron Herman, Patricia Field, netaporter.com.

SOS: Any tips you would like to share with other stylists who are just starting out?
JM: Keep being creative and serve your clients, create alliances with models, photographers, make up artists, hair stylists and designers. Work in a boutique, it offers a great hands on experience and you learn designers and labels and how to dress real people with body issues.

Luke and the girls hit the town for another Class 2 date, and found some amazing treasures at SKINGRAFT, as usual.

Here’s Jared Tate Johnson showing of his Jewelry line Dear Raymer. Body jewelry is the new wedding ring!

We loved the rattlesnake rattle necklace by Dax Savage.

More from Dax.

Check the 12 foot foam dress!

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!

We really hate to play favorites but Abi happens to be one of our favorite grads. Why? Well Abi has worked her tail off for us as an intern. Abi has driven all over LA for us, has steamed clothes for us, has carried pounds and pounds of garment bags for us, and the list goes on and on …

All of Abi’s hard work has paid off though, as Abi has been working (paying jobs) non-stop lately.  From commercials to music videos — Abi has proven that being driven, hard working, and willing to bite the bullet and work for free for a bit, really pays off.

Check out our interview with Abi and find out how she got her start and what she is up to today …

School Of Style: Tell us a little bit about yourself?

Abi Arcinas: I’m obsessed with fashion and have been since the very first time I flipped through the pages of my older sister’s ELLE magazine (back in the early 90’s)!

I never thought I would actually end up working in the fashion industry though, it wasn’t really an option when I was growing up. My life plan was to become a doctor. I was never really into that whole world, but went along w/what my parents expected me to do. I worked as a Phlebotomy Technician while attending college for various Medical degrees, but I never actually ended up following through with anything.

Fast-forward to 6 years ago. I moved to LA with the intention of transferring into a Medical program for Radiology.

Long story short. The school ended up not accepting me as a transfer, so instead of pursuing other Radiology schools,

I started looking for fashion schools instead. And I ended up at the Art Institute, and graduated w/ a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Marketing and Management.

SOS: Did you have experience in the fashion industry before attending School Of Style?

AA: Yes, I did. During school I interned at showrooms and fashion PR firms.

I also worked as a clothing boutique manager.

SOS: When did you know you wanted to become a wardrobe stylist?

AA: I have no idea…. I guess I’ve always wanted to do it. Ever since I can remember, people have always told me that I have a great eye for style.

But I probably didn’t start thinking seriously about it, until I started attending fashion school.

I’ve done the personal shopping thing for awhile, not “professionally” but I’ve done it for friends and family forever, they always ask me to go shopping with them, or for them, or help them revamp their closets, etc.

SOS: When did you graduate from School Of Style?

AA: Either February or March of last year.

SOS: Which classes did you take?

AA: Class 1 and 3

SOS: What was the most valuable thing you learned at School Of Style?

AA: The most valuable thing I learned, was that working as a styling intern is very important. You have to start somewhere. It was difficult for me to adjust to this, since I’ve been in the workforce for a long time now, and it kind of felt like I was going backwards to have to be an “intern” again. I interned while I was in school, but only b/c I had to do it to count towards school credit.

But I will say that interning pays off, and if you’re a dope intern, then you will become a paid assistant in no time!

SOS: What was the most shocking thing you learned?

AA: I don’t know that anything was necessarily shocking to me, but I definitely learned a lot that I didn’t know going into the class.

SOS: Have you been able to find work since graduating from School Of Style?

AA: Yes, I have! I had a full time desk job when I actually took the classes, so I really didn’t have any free time to intern.

But I got laid off from my job in January of this year and have been assisting ever since. It started off kinda slow interning here and there, but I quickly became an assistant and the past few months I’ve been super super busy! I’ve worked on a couple of music videos, TV appearances, a short film, concert tour, and commercials….

I just finished assisting on a commercial for Virgin Mobile.

I also just booked my own gig, styling a look book for a boutique.

SOS: Describe your ”style” as a stylist:

AA: I love the whole rocker vibe…. Black, Black, and more Black!!

SOS: Is that different than your personal style? If so, describe your personal style:

AA: I wear a ton of black, but my personal style isn’t very rock and roll.

I like to mix California casual w/the whole streetwear/urban vibe.
I own an extensive collection of NIKE sneakers, it’s kind of an obsession.

I’m also obsessed with jackets and jewelry. Jewelry plays a huge part in my personal style, I think I have about 100 rings in my collection!

SOS: Who is your dream client?

AA: This is a hard one for me, I would love to style anyone who is down to take risks with fashion.

Even though neither of them really need any help in the styling department, I’d love to work with Rihanna or Kelis.

Not sure if Kelis works with a particular stylist, but Rihanna’s stylist is amazing.

SOS: Who are your favorite designers?

AA: Another hard one….

There are so many amazing designers out there, but to name a few: Marc Jacobs is great, love what he does with his own lines, as well as LV. Also love Alexander McQueen [RIP], Alexander Wang, Viktor & Rolf, Rick Owens, Christophe Decarnin (Balmain), and Nicolas Ghesquiere (Balenciaga)

SOS: Favorite trends?

AA: So happy that platforms came back sooner than later. I love a great black platform w/a 5 inch heel, paired with super skinny jeans.

SOS: Trends you wish would die.

AA: Juicy sweatsuits.

SOS: What are your favorite places to shop?

AA: I’m a total budget shopper, even though I have expensive taste. That’s why I tend to do a ton of online shopping. Gilt Groupe is AMAZING!! They are an online sample sale, with real designer stuff for up to 75% off of retail prices.

And I love eBay! I just bought a pair of brand new, never been worn, JBrand jeans, that retail for about $215, for 60 bucks on eBay, last week.

SOS: Any tips you would like to share with other stylists who are just starting out?

AA: Like I said before, interning is sooooo important.. Just get out there and do it!! I know it’s hard to rationalize working and not getting paid, especially if you aren’t in school.

But put in some time and hard work and it will pay off.

Also, jump on Luke and Lauren’s requests for interns! If you help them out and you are on point with whatever job they give you, they will definitely help you out in return.

I speak from personal experience : )

When we found out what School Of Style graduate Kristen Turner was up to, we got pretty darn excited. Why? Because Kristen has not only been out there working as a stylist, but she has a fabulous blog AND an even more fabulous vlog. This southern girl knows her stuff!

Take a look at our interview with Kristen and be sure to check out her latest video … It’s SO cool!

School Of Style: Tell us a little bit about yourself?

KT: I’m a 26 year old, born and raised in the South. I can do two things really, really well.. shop and spend money! When I’m not working then I’m usually using my glue gun to create something cool or filming another episode of my weekly fashion vlog, Vainglorious! I love watching New Orleans Saints football and baking cookies!

SOS: Did you have experience in the fashion industry before attending School Of Style?

KT: Right after graduating from Loyola University New Orleans, I moved to Los Angeles and worked for a boutique fashion public relations firm. After I left PR I spent two years working in the personal shopping department at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills. Working at Saks lead me to styling.

SOS: When did you know you wanted to become a wardrobe stylist?

KT: I’m not not sure that there was a turning point or an exact moment that lead me to becoming a stylist. The roads I’ve taken in my life have just sort of lead me here as well as my love for fashion and art. However, I do remember at a young age my mom telling me that I had a gift for spending all her money at the mall. I’m sure that was a sign of some sort.

SOS: When did you graduate from School Of Style?

KT: I took one of the first SOS classes. I’m forgetting the exact date, but It was about 2 years ago. I’m a SOS original!

SOS: Which classes did you take?

KT: When I was a student day 1 was the only class that was offered. In that 8 hour class I got a very detailed overview of the industry and I learned a lot.

SOS: What was the most valuable thing you learned at School Of Style?

KT: How to set up a rolling rack! I was on a set assisting a stylist at a celebrity photo shoot and she was impressed that I knew the correct way to put together a rolling rack without smacking myself in the head or loosing a finger. I guess she figured that since I knew how to set up the rolling rack I must know what I was doing. She was impressed she asked me to assist her on another job the following week. We’ve been working together every since then.

SOS: Have you been able to find work since graduating from School Of Style?

KT: Yes! For the past two year I’ve had steady work in the industry. I’ve been doing a lot of assisting, but have managed to get a few gigs on my own throughout the years. I’ve working on almost everything… music videos, editorial shoots, cd packaging, print ads, red carpet, commercials, infomercials and even stage productions.

SOS: Describe your ”style” as a stylist:

KT: I think my style as a stylist is much like my own personal style. I enjoy projects that call for classic and clean looks with a little bit of drama. That’s my style in my everyday life and I think I gravitate to jobs that have the same feel. I helped on advertising print jobs for Range Rover and Mercedes Benz. Both jobs wanted a very clean and classic look and those were probably two of my favorite jobs.

SOS: Who is your dream client?

KT: Michelle Obama

SOS: Who are your favorite designers?

KT: I go coo coo for Coco. Chanel is prob my favorite designer and brand of all times. It’s so classic, but yet modern. It never goes out of style in my book. I also love that it’s a brand that I can wear from head to toe and everywhere in between. I wear Chanel Mademoiselle perfume and Chanel Mascara on my lashes. I love the entire brand. I’m also a fan of Marchesa. Those dresses to me are a dream and true pieces or artwork.

SOS: Favorite trends?

KT: Maxi dresses

SOS: Trends you wish would die?

KT: Tie dye

SOS: What are your favorite places to shop?

KT: I actually love to shop at the Sherman Oaks Antique mall for all my fun jewelry and vintage accessories. I love to mix the old with the new and that’s where I go to find great pieces. They even sell amazing vintage Chanel jewelry (shhhhhhh it’s our little secret!)

SOS: Any tips you would like to share with other stylists who are just starting out?

KT: This industry is probably the exact opposite of everything you thought it would be. Dive in, head first and don’t let uncertainty stop you. There is no other job like being a fashion stylist. It’s demanding and lots of hard work, but if you’re focused and work hard this industry is filled with endless amounts of possibilities for success.

Sometimes we like to think that we are the only stylists in the world (hehe). That obviously isn’t the case. There are a ton of very talented stylists out there in the world, which is why we decided to start a new column that highlights some of the stylists out there that we admire the most.

Our first stylist is Monica Rose. You have probably seen Monica’s handiwork without even knowing it, as Monica dresses one of the most well known families in Hollywood … the Kardashian family. Monica is also known for styling the gang for the E! Channel’s Daily 10 television show.

Here is one of our favorite images from Monica’s portfolio.

To see Monica’s complete portfolio, visit her site and to find out what she is loving right now, check out her blog.

During this weekend’s portfolio/shoot classes, we decided to throw a bit of competition into the mix. We Love Colors was kind enough to donate some great looking tights and socks for the students to style with. The students who participated really shocked us with some of the rad stuff they came up with.

Here are some behind the scenes pictures of the students workin’ it with We Love Colors hosiery. The final images will be ready soon. The hottest student styled outfit wins a gift certificate to We Love Colors.

The hosiery

So you’ve made it. You’ve finally booked a styling job, now what do you do? Seems simple enough right, dress the model? Well we are here to bring you some shocking news … it’s not as easy as it looks! Yep, the creative genius part of this profession isn’t always a walk in the park. Sometimes standing in front of 5 racks of clothes can be so overwhelming that it erases every bit of fashion know-how in your body. Truth.

Lucky for you, Luke Storey has some tips and tricks to help erase that “styling” block that often sneaks up on you while you are on set. Watch and learn, my pets, watch and learn.