Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Washington, TV Style Expert, Fashion Stylist and GQ Insider.
Michelle, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born, raised, and educated in Texas (international travel later became a benefit of my fashion industry career). When I began, there were not very many African-Americans in the fashion industry and even fewer magazines showing people of color. Naturally, my family was concerned about how I would make a living in fashion. They tried to make me consider secure fields of trade, but I had never been more certain of anything in my life…FASHION. Here I am 20+ years later… BOOKED and BUSY! I went to NYC right after I graduated from Baylor University, I worked for different design labels with the intention of working in fashion as a designer. Having pursued design for a while and learning about all the different jobs and responsibilities in the fashion industry, my interest changed. I thought I wanted to pursue being a designer, but the close collaboration with creative teams satisfied my interest in fashion design and created my love of styling. Pursuing the life of a Stylist is not easy, but I do feel that long term plans and goals are necessary.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Obstacles are a daily hazard. I’ve had many in my career. Just like anything in life, plans are only a suggestion and you cannot expect anything to adhere to the most carefully drafted plans. People talk about when you get “your big break” in the industry. Truth, there is no such thing as a big break. There IS such a thing as HARD WORK, that’s all I have ever known. No one has ever given me anything. My family has a saying “Don’t get ready… STAY ready”. I’ve had more than 101 doors slammed in my face and twice as many “NO’s”. I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me. It’s because of them I forged my spirit to succeed.
Please tell us about your work.
I am a TV Style Expert, Fashion Stylist and GQ Insider. I style magazine fashion spreads, editorials, covers, runway shows, designer look books… everything that involves fashion and the media. My role also includes TV appearances (emcee and hosting), preparing wardrobe and accessories for the media (and celebrities), working with designers, schedule management, dressing agency models, assisting in-studio and on-location shoot production, keeping wardrobe credits, effective organization, on-figure styling, off-figure styling, coordinating logistics of large scale events, budgeting, invoicing, reporting expenses, sample callbacks/returns, showroom appointments, editorial concepts, working with photographers, agencies, showrooms, vendors, makeup artists, hairstylists and creative directors. My work is not easy and I LOVE every minute of it.
I’m always BOOKED and BUSY! I can be found constantly working on new projects, constant research, as well as drafting concepts and assignment contracts. My phone is my addiction and I have a serious caffeine habit! I usually start my day with a bunch of emails to read and answer, followed by meetings, a bit of fashion trending research, then showroom appointments to prepare for photoshoots scheduled for publishing.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
It’s rare to hear anyone say “I have no regrets and would do nothing differently,” but each moment (failures included) has taught me something and prepared me for the next phase of my career. I was trained with all the skills and software capabilities of a designer, textile designer, pattern maker, seamstress and fashion merchandiser. I found the diversity of my education necessary throughout my lifetime in the fashion industry; even now (this was way before styling class and styling degrees were created). My educators provided me with well-rounded skills. Above all, they taught me to be a fierce problem solver, to have ingenuity and survive in fashion.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.StylistMichelleWashington.com
- Email: fashionstylistmichelle@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stylistmichellew
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FashionStylistMichelleWashington
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/StylistMichelle
Image Credit:
Two (2) studio images of only me wearing all black–Photographer: Cody Kinsfather (www.kinsfather.com)
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