Stressed, Depressed, but Very Well Dressed: Inside the World of Styling
Source: @zendaya on Instagram
We all know you’ve drooled over the red carpet looks of fashion icons like Rihanna, Cardi B, and Zendaya—but, have you ever wondered who the masterminds behind their looks are? Being a stylist can be very rewarding, but also comes with a ton of hardships; it is not the most glamorous job in the world.
Though they may have you dressed to the nines, it can be difficult to manage work and their personal lives. Keep on reading to hear from some stylists about this whirlwind world.
It's difficult to be a single mother, especially when you're a stylist. Single parents have grown more frequent in today's generation than households with children. It may be stressful, and many individuals, particularly those who grew up with both parents, may be unaware of the difficulties. You must, for example, determine who will care for your child while you are at work or who will pick them up from school.
It's amazing how quickly the funds and resources of both parents are depleted after a divorce. Visitation and custody issues plague single parents. Both parents arguing in front of their children might also have some long-term consequences. "Never argue in front of children," is something my grandmother always used to say. I believe she says this because when children hear an argument, they tend to spit it back in their parents' faces and become quite rude.
Furthermore, as a single parent, having a family member aid you in any way they can is beneficial. The parents must work to provide for their children—and it might be particularly challenging if you're a stylist. For example, when last-minute bookings occur, it means you'll need to locate someone to watch your child in a hurry.
It was also a challenging period for single parents during the pandemic. "I was working as a full-time fashion stylist at a huge retail chain in the Bay Area, where I would style upwards of 30 ladies a day," Leena Alsulaiman, a stylist, tells WWD. That is certainly a lot for a single mother to handle. But, then the COVID-19 pandemic struck and societal divisions began to emerge.
Source: @leena.alsulaiman on Instagram
"I'd previously been working on a concept to start my own independent styling business, so I decided to hop on the accelerator and develop a website for this business," she explains. “In the process, I had to alter my regular offers to function in the future that will almost certainly involve a great deal of social separation, so I did a pivot, and now all of my services are available digitally." Many workers in the service industry, such as hairdressers, continue to do this, sending whatever the customer requests.
Alsuaiman also works from home and sees customers on a weekly basis. Monday through Friday, her days begin as early as 7 a.m. "I'm back at my laptop at 10:30 pm to check my emails one final time for the day," she says of her services, which start at $350.
The concept of having one's own distinctive style is growing more widespread among Gen Z and Millennial creatives—and it's being increasingly recognized rather than judged. It's all due to social media, according to an article on theWWD website. Creatives have even begun to create styling profiles on apps like TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr.
“As adults, we aren’t taught how to dress, we sort of just buy what we can afford or copy what other people are wearing and hope it works,” a New York based stylist adds. This is a valid point, however, it is not always the case. Growing up, my mom rarely dressed me, she let me dress myself to help me discover who I really was as a person and express that through my clothing.
Celebrities all have one thing in common WWD points out, and that is a “personal stylist.” This is the perfect way for celebrities to build their own personal style and evolve looks. Not only do celebrities have personal stylists, but I believe everyone has that one friend or parent who they always ask for their opinion on anything they wear—because they think twice about their fashion sense.
Everyone, even stylists, value personal style. You want to look nice for your customer so that they know they're in excellent hands and won't look bad in whatever they wear. It's also crucial for stylists to be at ease and ready to work for an extended period of time.
Source: Pinterest
Though the world of styling is not always glitz, glamour, and luxury, helping someone find their voice through clothing can be a very rewarding experience. Remember to always thank your stylists—or friends that help you pick out your outfits—and don’t forget to think about those who help the stars shine on red carpets.