We have spent the better part of the last two years getting fashion & style wisdom from the lovely Megan Michele. But who is she? Let’s take a minute to get to know my very favorite fashion stylist!
When did you know you wanted to be a stylist?
This may be incredibly cliché, but from a very young age, fashion has always been an interest of mine. And not from a “what should I wear” perspective, but more so from an artistic and creative perspective. I just always appreciated it. I knew I had no interested in designing, but I loved putting looks together – it’s always been like playing a game for me: “what is so out of the box that I can make look fabulous?!”
As a result, the styling followed as a natural progression: I like creating outfits and, for those that know me, I have no issue speaking confidently of my decision making, so family and friends started listening and soliciting advice. And here I am.
How do you express your creativity?
I definitely express my creativity through fashion styling and interior design. I’m always thinking up of a new look to wear with current pieces I have in my wardrobe or how to rearrange furniture and décor in my home, even in yardwork and maybe cleaning too, ha!
What is your favorite fashion advice?
There are 2 pieces of fashion advice:
- Purchasing with a mindset of quality over quantity: This will serve you so much better in the long run because quality clothes do not only tend to hold up longer, the fit is also much better to your body type. It’s okay to buy some fun and trendy inexpensive items, but when it comes time to the key pieces in your wardrobe, invest!
- Ensuring your clothes fit correctly: We’ve all done it, tried to fit into the 1 size smaller because mentally it makes us feel better. However, typically, doing this just draws more attention to those areas we’re trying to hide. You should be able to comfortably move your arms, your legs and sit comfortably.
What advice do you have for beating the closet blues? i.e. “I have nothing to wear…”
Often times, we respond in that way because we have too much stuff and we can hardly separate the items we’re not interested in any longer from the items we’re truly wearing. So, I would advise that you set aside some time to overhaul your closet with the goal to rid yourself of excess and to identify what your true wardrobe inventory looks like.
Once that’s complete, take some more time to create outfits. This may be a daunting task for some, but it’ll save you so much time and energy in the long run! Figure out a system that works for you; write the looks down, take pictures, create your own Pinterest boards showcasing the looks you created, do it!
Who is your favorite fashion icon?
I have a lots, and I oscillate for sure, but currently, Christy Turlington. I saw her and her husband in the airport a few years back and she just looked so classic and effortlessly put together. That’s what I personally go for in my wardrobe, “Oh, this? I just pulled it together…”
What is your favorite fashion era?
Grace Kelly’s era. She was always so dreamy to me!
What is the hardest thing about being a stylist?
Telling clients what they want to look good on them, does not.
What is the most rewarding thing about being a stylist?
Seeing women move from a posture of dreading all things fashion due to inadequacy of budget, body shape, creativity to a posture of “I got this!” I simply seek to equip and educate women on fashion in such a way that is applicable for them and to expose the lie that fashion only works well for those model-type, wealthy women.
What creatively inspires you?
I love watching people for inspiration! And not with the intent to judge, but just to observe. I love seeing the various styles and mannerisms, how people carry themselves. It might be bizarre, but it’s effective for me. I use Pinterest because it’s a good space to interact with clients for visual interpretations, but I genuinely try to avoid it for my own inspiration because it takes away from my originality.
If you could only shop at one store for the rest of your life, what store would it be & why?
Neiman Marcus. Simply because it has everything from accessories to shoes, purses and a myopia of amazing fashion labels!
Why should I consider hiring a fashion stylist?
The reason for investing in a stylist may vary person to person, but overall, a stylist assists in providing guidance and education in an area that is so attached to how we look, feel and interact with this world!
Lastly, any tips for all the fashion stylists in training?
Always have safety pins on hand to close any unwanted gaps!
