September 17, 2024 ⢠30 mins
This episode is the real deal about how chasing your dreams and full-blown belief in yourself can fast-track you in your career! We dive in with Warbarode stylist to the stars, Fiona Skye. She is giving us all an inside scoop on what takes to be a stylist but also how she skyrocketed in Los Angeles by being bold and putting herself out there.
Fiona Skye's IG:
@fionaaskye
Fiona Skye's Tik Tok:
@fionaaskye
Fiona Skye is an LA based wardrobe stylist originally from New York.Â
Fiona realized her passion for fashion at a very young age. Starting her career off at Universal Music Group for Bravado, she quickly realized her love for the creative industry.Â
Fiona has interned for top stylists Dani Michelle and Maeve Reilly and also assisted stylist Law Roach + other well known stylists.Â
Whether it's a red carpet event or a street style look, with her passion and talent, she is sure to make a lasting impression in the world of fashion.
You can watch the full episodes on our Youtube
Youtube - Confessionsofawannabeitgirl
Confessions of A Wannabe It Girlâs TikTok:
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi guys and welcome back to Confessions of a Wannabe
it Girl.
I am so excited to be taking alook back at some of our really
popular episodes.
I'm taking a little three-weekbreak while I travel Europe, so
I thought you know, with awardsseason coming around again, I
thought it'd be amazing to lookback at our episode with Fiona
Skye.
She is a celebrity stylist andwe're diving into all the tea
(00:23):
behind the red carpet and how tochase those crazy dreams.
Let's dive in.
Welcome to Confessions of aWannabe it Girl.
I'm your host, marley Fregging,and I'm here to help you filter
out all the bullshit and becomethe next it Girl.
This podcast explores thereality of what it really takes
(00:44):
to make it out there.
As it turns out, it is way lessInstagrammable than I thought
it was going to be.
I'm still very much a work inprogress, but there's simply
nothing else I'd rather be doingthan chasing my dreams.
So let's learn from my mistakesand work together to achieve
our dreams with more confidence,clarity and direction.
Let's get after it.
Dreams with more confidence,clarity and direction.
(01:05):
Let's get after it.
Welcome, fiona Skye to thepodcast.
So I'm going to cut to thechase with you.
You are a stylist.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Can you kind of tell?
Speaker 1 (01:19):
us the types of people you work with?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yes, Thank you for having me.
First of all, so happy to haveyou.
I'm so excited to be here.
I work with a lot ofinfluencers your favorite TikTok
stars and I've done a lot ofassisting work with bigger
celebrities, so hopefully oneday we'll be doing those.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
I love it, but do you ?
What do you call yourself whenpeople ask you what you do?
I?
Speaker 2 (01:33):
just say a wardrobe stylist.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Okay, what's the difference between wardrobe
stylist and like any otherstylist?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
I feel like there's also like costume stylists that
do like more TV shows and stuff.
Honestly, I don't know.
Nobody tells you what your nameshould be.
That's so fair.
There's no like rule book, so Ijust I like wardrobe stylist.
I've always wanted to be like awardrobe stylist, right.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Whatever that means, which means for like events.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yeah, like red carpet events, street style, love it.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Yeah, needs to be dressed for day to day, not for
film or television.
Exactly, very cool.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
So what made you want to be a stylist?
I feel like I've always wantedto be a stylist since I could
remember like seven years old.
I always loved putting clothestogether and mixing things
around and like researching andfinding like the perfect top,
the perfect pants, and yeah, itwas kind of always what I wanted
to do.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
So you go back and forth between LA and New York,
kind of like two tough towns,yeah, and you know it's a thick
competition to be a stylist,right, yeah?
What keeps you in it?
How long have you been doing it?
What are all the like theorientations of becoming a
wardrobe stylist?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
It's really competitive.
So many people want to be awardrobe stylist and nobody
really talks about how you getthere.
And there's not really aone-way path to get there
because nobody tells you.
So I have a funny story of howI got into it.
But I think most people startoff by interning for a stylist
and assisting and then over time, like after like eight years,
(03:08):
like you're assisting for a longtime, then you get your own
clients.
So it's a long path.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
How long do people go to med school?
I don't know but 10 years.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
But like, but like similar.
Like most stylists get theirbig clients and like break in
the industry when they're like29 to 34,.
I feel like most stylists gettheir big clients and like break
in the industry when they'relike 29 to 34,.
I feel like Okay, which iscrazy to me.
I was like I'm I'm not doingthat.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Yeah, you were literally like I'm not doing
that.
So wait, can you tell us this?
I know this story but like I'mgiddy about it because I think
it really shows putting yourselfforward, you're just going to
go for it.
So I want to go ahead and tellthis story.
I love this story.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
It literally gives me butterflies still like thinking
about it.
I was in college and because ofCOVID I took college remotely
for my senior year.
So I begged my parents to moveto LA.
I was like I have this gutfeeling like if I move to LA I'm
going to find my career.
What did you study?
In college too, I studiedgraphic design and acting.
Okay, so like, yeah, arts, itwas like the most creative thing
(04:11):
that you ever had to offer.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
So there's no wardrobe styling.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
There's no styling.
Fashion school was never anoption for me.
I had to go to school because Iwas an athlete for rowing, so
it was like, just not up fordiscussion.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Got it.
So senior year convincedparents I can move to LA.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
They were like you have six months to find your job
, to finish college, and afterthat, if you don't do either of
those things, you're moving home.
I like made a PowerPoint andbudgeted out LA.
Like it was crazy, I begged Ifucking love that though.
I had.
When I want something, I amlike full force go get them.
So, moved to LA, I was DMing myfavorite stylist assistants.
(04:48):
No one was answering me, nobodywanted to take me as an intern
and I did not understand why.
So I was sitting at Craig's therestaurant in West Hollywood
and I was with my dad and histwo friends.
And I was with my dad.
I was like assuming it was likea girl's night out.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
I was with my dad.
I was like assuming it was likea girl's night out.
I was with my dad.
Continue.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
You'll see why this is weird.
Okay, so, with my dad and myparents, two friends and I see
these guys come in and sit nextto us and I at this point didn't
really know who they were.
Like I didn't.
I didn't watch them on Tik TOK,but I knew that they were Tik
TOKers because my roommate hadjust been telling me about them
prior.
So they come in through theback.
I'm like I know these areimportant people Because they
(05:29):
came in through the back.
Yeah, and their style is so bad.
Oh, my God, like, if theylisten to this like.
I'm so sorry.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Please, I could use that.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
But their style was so bad.
And so I remember I went to thebathroom and I called my best
friend and I was like I was likethese guys are sitting next to
me and like I want to ask themto style them, but like that's
so awkward and I don't, I don't,I don't want to like interrupt
their dinner.
She was like do it.
Literally, she like forced meto do it.
She was like you have nothingto lose, do it.
I was like okay, fuck it.
So I go up to the front of therestaurant.
(06:01):
Did you tell your?
Speaker 1 (06:02):
dad.
I'm like, hey, I'm going to dothis.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
No, no, no, no, wait.
So I go to the front of therestaurant.
I'm like, okay, can I borrow apen and paper?
I write down my name and numberon a piece of paper and I go
back to the table.
I'm like kind of shakingbecause I'm like so nervous.
I'm like with these boys, likedon't ask questions, just leave.
He was like okay, I was like Iknow.
(06:26):
So I go up to the table next tothem.
They're sitting with theirparents and like I think it was
their manager at the time, Idon't really know.
I was like hi, like I'm sosorry to interrupt, I just want
to leave this here.
I'm Fiona.
Like I really want to be astylist one day.
Would love to style you guys.
I'm graduating college soon,which was the lie.
I still had a year.
Okay, I also was not a stylist.
(06:49):
I was like, yeah, I'm a stylist.
Here you go, thank you to themarket.
There was like fun banter.
They were like, oh, like youdon't like our style.
I was like I could help you,good job.
Then two Katie, their assistantat the time, texted me and was
like hey, like I'd love toschedule an interview with you.
Like the boys gave me yournumber.
I hear you're a stylist.
I was like I'm not a stylist.
(07:10):
I've never dressed a man in mywhole life, ever.
So then I, for two days, mademock-ups on like Photoshop.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
What's a mock-up?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Like I like, pulled from different websites and made
like 25 outfits for them.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Okay, and you know, all right, you will have the
graphic design thing.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Exactly that is helpful so I didn't know what
else I was supposed to like cometo that meeting with and the
meeting went well.
She was like we want to workwith you.
We who did you interview with.
I interviewed with Katie and shewas basically just asking, like
pricing and like who have youstyled?
And I'm like to be honest,nobody.
But like I know I can do it andlike here are outfits that I
think they would look good in,which is like looking back.
That's so funny that I madeoutfits ahead of time.
(07:55):
It's just like the whole thingwas wrong, but I got the job and
I like to thank Katie and thatwhole team for my career,
because they knew that I didn'thave experience and they fully
just like, took me on andbelieved in me and I figured it
out, my first fitting.
I never dealt with men's sizing, ever.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Oh yeah, it's fucking weird.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
It's so weird and everything worked out Like all
the sizing was perfect.
He loved everything, the shoeswere perfect.
I was like I don't know who'swatching over me, but thank you,
wow, and that's how I got myjob.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
There are so many things I want to pull out of
this.
First of all that.
So you had no like portfoliobefore this and you were just
like I have to do this, like I'mgoing to shoot my shot, yeah,
and you call the best friend inthe bathroom and you're like
what?
20, 21, 21.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Wow, Like 22, maybe 21, 22.
You're young.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
I mean, you're still young, but like you just pull
this like charisma together togo do it.
You go up to them.
You don't, like you know, batthe eyelash of like, oh, like
I'm a nobody and I know I thinkyou're doing great.
You're very blunt, you're verystraightforward and like, yeah,
you faked it till you made itfully fully.
I also think there's somethingso interesting to know I've
(09:06):
heard this similarly with otherpeople who've, like, made a
successful move in their careeris they did it kind of wrong,
but it like, yeah, likeignorance is bliss.
Yes, like you didn't know youwere doing it wrong, so, like
you just did it and they didn'tknow any better too.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
I think like it was perfect.
The team I found was perfect.
They were new to the fame, theywere new to the attention.
Everything about it just workedout in my favor, wow.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Yeah.
So now that you've been in thisworld for a while, like tell us
what are more of the likenormal steps that people will go
through?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Okay so.
So I was saying I was a stylistback then and I wasn't now that
I know what a stylist reallydoes.
I was personal shopping backthen, so I was going to stores.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
What's the difference ?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
So I don't know if people actually say there's a
difference, but in my mind it'sso different so I like to like
there's a difference here.
So personal shopping is you geta budget, maybe you don't get a
budget, maybe you just have acredit card and you're going to
stores, you're going online,you're shopping and returning
whatever is not used, whatever'snot wanted, and then whatever
he keeps or she keeps.
(10:15):
But styling is you need all ofthe brands and showroom contacts
, you need emails, you'rereaching out to the brands,
you're getting approvals to seeif the brands will dress your
client and you're never spendingmoney.
It's.
There's no money involved mostof the time, unless, unless you
do a custom or unless they dogive you a budget sometimes.
(10:38):
But these people have hugefollowings.
They, the brands, want to dressthem, so it's.
So.
I had no idea that that waswhat styling was.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
No idea.
Wow, so you get in thisposition and then do you kind of
like gain a mentor or did youstart getting other work.
What happened there?
Speaker 2 (10:55):
So I got him as a client, I got one of the guys as
a client from that restaurantand then from there I was like I
really want to learn how toactually do this.
Like, yeah, I have a client andthat's really cool, but I am
not going to get to where I wantto go unless I follow somewhat
of the steps, Sure, you know.
So I had a stylist, a bigstylist team, reach out to me
and offer me an internship,which was like whoa, which is
(11:17):
what you had been trying to getthrough the DMS.
Right, Okay.
So they asked me to intern forthem.
So I did that for seven monthsand that was like I was doing
bitch work, Like I was runningaround LA in my car just picking
up things and returning things.
It was terrible, awful.
I didn't learn anything and itwas just like coffee.
You're all right.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
But, like I guess, you earned your stripes or like
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
I guess it was like good to put on my resume.
From there I was.
This is so funny.
I was at Craig's again, againCraig's is literally like go to
Craig's to network.
Go to Craig's if you want tofind a job, so I'm.
I'm going to go there moreoften.
You have to go there, so I'mgoing to Craig's again.
I'm like picking up my hair isin a bun.
I'm wearing no bra sweatshirt,sweatpants.
(11:59):
I look like absolute shit.
Oh, you're just grabbing foodgrabbing food to go, because I'm
a bougie bitch sometimes and Isee Maeve Riley, who is my idol,
yeah, Idol.
I see her sitting at the tablenext to me.
I'm like there's no way I'mgoing up to her, Like I.
I've been emailing with herassistant for a year begging
them for an internship.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
I have to say the sweat pants and like bun thing,
like I could kind of feel likeshe'd fuck with that.
I looked like a slob.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
I was like a slob, but like it's fine.
And I so, since I'd beenemailing with them for so long,
I was like I need to go, I needto go up to her.
So I go up to her, I'm likeround two.
Hey, so sorry to interrupt yourdinner.
Like I am obsessed with you,I'm obsessed with your style.
Like you're the reason I'm instyling.
Like I want to work for you.
(12:46):
She was like well, what are youdoing now?
Like she was asking me so manyquestions, I told her what I was
doing.
She was like well, you have aclient and you have an
internship.
Like you're good, you're on theright path.
And I was like, no, I want towork for you.
Okay, thank you.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
So two days later and also these people have been
receptive to you when you'vewalked up.
People are so scared becausethey think they're going to be
mean and like or like you're um,what's it called Intruding on
my dinner, but like they've beennice.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
I think if you're respectful about it and you're
going like I'm, I'm never like,oh, can I take a picture?
It's like no, like I reallywant to meet you, I respect you,
I want to like.
Here's why.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
Yeah, Like X, Y, Z, da, da, da, da da.
Like I fucking know who you are, Not just like oh, I know
you're kind of famous and I likecould kind of do something for
you.
Like yeah, it's not fangirlenergy.
Exactly, you're coming up in abusiness energy.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Yeah, and not even like a Like.
I feel like both of those timesI felt so confident that like I
can offer something and I feellike I just like stayed true to
that, so they bring you in, sothey bring me in two days later
and I worked for her for a yearand I mean it just like slowly
trickled out because my work gotso busy.
but her team was big mentors forme, were big mentors for me.
They taught me so much.
I assisted a little bit hereand there, which like is on the
(14:13):
deal.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Um, what's the difference between assisting and
like?
Speaker 2 (14:16):
assisting is more like you're sending emails,
you're pulling from showrooms.
More hands-on, less errands.
You're in a fitting.
So it was.
That was the best experience.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
So, like now that you've done all this work, like,
is it just a resume?
Do you have a portfolio?
Like how do you continue to getmore work, or do you have the
clients and you're just likelocked now?
Speaker 2 (14:36):
No, I feel like new things come my way every single
week almost, which is reallycool to watch.
I'm still kind of grasping,like how like do I reach out to
people?
Do I send cold call emailsLately the past like four months
?
Everything I reach out topeople, do I send cold call
emails lately, the past likefour months, everything has been
coming to me, which is great.
So, like I feel like syndrome.
I'm like I don't know, I don'tknow why, but I think just once
(14:59):
you have a clientele that trustsyou and like their managers
trust you and like you.
People just start referring toyou.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
People start seeing my Instagram and DMing me and it
just yeah, so it's all aboutlike who you know and like how
you know them.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
It is kind of about who you know.
Like once you know the rightpeople, if they like you and
they like your work and theytrust you, then it's like people
don't really want to getsomeone from an outer circle
because of trust.
So like it's like once you'rein, your name is kind of in.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Right.
So something I like to talk alot about on this podcast is
like kind of the networking,which can sound like a gross ass
word because everyone's likewhat's networking?
Networking's gross or like youknow it does feel like I just
want something from you Likewhat is like cause?
Also, people think this isfucking magic.
Like you show up to LA, youwalk up to someone at Craig's
and like ta-da and you have acareer Like what is your like
(15:53):
inner workings and thoughtstowards networking, like how do
you approach it?
Speaker 2 (15:57):
I feel like I might hate that word too.
Yeah, I hate it, I hate.
The thing that I hate about LAis so many people are trying to
get something from you.
Yes, I feel like I have likestayed so true to myself and
like I'm so passionate about myjob that like I just want to
dress people and that's it LikeI'm.
I don't care who you are, whatyou do, and I feel like people
(16:21):
in this industry like crave tosee genuine people who just like
what their job is, and so Ifeel like that is something to
do with it.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
You are really like putting yourself out there.
Not everybody has as much likeconfidence and wherewithal.
Like where did that really comefrom for you?
And like what do you tap backinto when you're like doing a
scary pitch or like going up topeople at restaurants?
Speaker 2 (16:43):
I don't know who gave me the confidence to do that
Like who?
Where did I get the audacity?
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Like, but it's paid off.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
It's paid off so much and I would do it, and I
probably will do it a millionmore times.
I feel like a lot of people aretoo scared to go after what
they want to do.
You just do it and you staytrue to yourself and you're not
trying to get anything out ofanybody, you're just like this
is my passion, I want to work.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
It's so interesting because I think a lot of people
talk about manifestation, andmanifestation is like the idea
of, like you know, I'll sit hereand like I'll think about these
things, and then it will justcome to me.
It's like no, no, no, no.
You also have to have like thewhole thing to back it up.
Like you sure Maybe you didn'thave the resume when you walked
up to the people, but like howlong had you been studying
fashion?
(17:27):
How long had you been thinkingabout, looks like, extending
your education?
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Like probably a while .
Yeah, I think I.
Okay, I literally manifest mylife.
Like it's so crazy.
Like last week I said I want tostyle this person.
I was like this is the oneperson I want to work for.
A week later, flown to Vegas towork with her.
Wow, I'm telling you like it'sso, like I think, if you
genuinely believe it in yoursoul, like this is going to
(17:53):
happen, and you also work hardto get there, Right, you have to
have it.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
You have to have the support to back it up.
Exactly Right.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yeah, you can't just sit in your room and be like
bring me, bring it to me.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
It's not going to happen, it's to go after it.
But so this is a tough, this isa tough town.
New York is a tough town andyou go back and forth Like
you're throwing yourself outthere.
There's gotta be some rejectionsometimes.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
Yes, there's rejection.
No, I do not take it.
Well, okay, that was good.
I was going to say how do youhandle it?
No, I don't, I don't handle it.
If you know how to handle it,let me know.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Um well, my life is full of no's on some level, like
I mean, I'm not speaking thatinto existence, like I live in a
world of, like I'm an actor, soI get told no on the fucking
daily.
Yeah, then, uh, you know, Ipitch myself all the time for
podcast guests and like I gettold no all the time.
So, honestly, this soundshorrible.
(18:46):
You just get fucking used to it.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
You get used to it.
I have not gotten used to it.
Every time I get rejected I'mreally sad about it, and I'm sad
about it or like, in a way,like rejection for me is like I
get a lot of hate on the outfitsthat I do Really yes.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Oh, like from Tik TOK , yes, Like there have been Tik
TOK Tik.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
TOKers are mean.
There have been.
Yeah, they are.
I've had some hate.
They're mean and I had.
I never dealt with this untilthe past few months when I
started doing a lot of redcarpets for one of my clients
and I got so much hate and, likeI, literally are they calling
you up.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Like no, you did it.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
They're like fire this fucking stylist.
And I'm like you guys.
First of all, you're probablysitting.
I have to remind myself thatthese people are not stylists
and they're sitting in theirroom criticizing other people
and it's getting the correction.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
However, at the time I'm like crying in my bed, like
I don't know how to deal with it, I don't think it'll ever get
easier, like I think it's justlike something that sucks.
And then after a week I'm like,okay, fuck this.
Now I have a fuck you attitude,right.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Now you're like all right, that was some engagement,
but in the moment it like hurts, like hell.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Yeah, cause it's like that's my art and like you
don't know what goes into it andit's just frustrating.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Right, and it's just so easy to sit behind a screen
and complain, complain, complain, exactly, but like, have you
ever been had a rejectionsituation in person, like maybe
not social media, or like youknow in more so the industry?
And like, is it the same?
Do you deal with the same?
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I sit and cry in front of them, cause I would too
.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
I am no shame.
I will cry any place, any time.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
No, I don't think I've ever really been rejected
in person.
Good With love yeah, I don'tthink.
I don't think that's everreally been rejected in person.
Good with love yeah, I don'tthink.
I don't think that's ever.
I don't want that for anyonebut it's hard.
Yeah, I don't think I ever havethat's great.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
This career, like, takes a lot of drive, passion
and talent and it's like it's anit girl career to be a wardrobe
stylist and you're also aroundsome very it girl or it boy.
What's the version of that Like?
Do you have any insight on thesparkly effect of them, like?
(20:58):
What makes them glow?
What do you think makes youglow?
You know?
Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (21:03):
I feel like like their drive.
Yeah, I think all of thesepeople work really hard and,
yeah, like they work reallyreally fucking hard to get to
where they are and they continueto work hard.
And those are the people whoget far in the industry, and I
feel like I've actually beenreally lucky where almost or
actually not almost every singleclient that I've been around
(21:26):
works their ass off, continuesto work their ass off, and, yeah
, work their ass off and yeah,they just grind, wow, and
they're really good people too.
So I feel like that just showslike you're not going to get far
in the industry if you're notwilling to put your head down
and work.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Right, like how many stylists or clients have you
encountered that are kind oflike no talent, no work ethic?
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Yeah, so there are a few people that I've been around
who have egos and not okay, nota good drive.
That has never been the clientthough that's nice, that's never
been the client.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
So other people in the industry and like yeah, just
like they don't have the driveand they don't have the talent
and they just kind of did itbecause they felt like it.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
It's like.
It's like their ego gets in theway and then they're like I
don't know, I've been around,I've worked for some big, big
egos and it's hard how do youmanage an ego?
I did not handle it well.
I also cried for two weeksstraight Same.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
I'm very emotional.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
I'm like, I'm normally not an emotional person
, but some people in thisindustry are really cruel and
they just think that they're thebest and they bring you down,
and that's how.
That's what makes them feelbetter.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
So, like when you are having a bad day and you know,
you're like, oh, cause we all dothis.
I mean, maybe you don't, but Ido.
And it's like, oh, I'm justgoing to throw in the towel.
You don't mean it, but you'relike I'm just going to throw in
the towel, like what keeps yougoing in this career?
Speaker 2 (22:50):
I motivation is not a hard thing for me because I
this is like, this is like my ha, it's my hobby and it's my job.
So, yeah, so it's like it'sit's mode.
Finding the motivation is nevera hard thing for me and at the
end of the day, if I do get hateor I am having a bad day or
(23:13):
whatever it is that's bringingme down.
If anything, it's way moremotivating for me.
I'm like I'm going to provethese people wrong and yeah, I
just have like a fuck itmentality, Like I'm going to get
to where I want to go, Like Ihave big goals and I don't
really care who gets in my way.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
I love it.
So you are kind of young Peopleget to being like a full blown
wardrobe stylist.
You know closer to like eightor 10 years in, yeah, and you're
kind of young for that.
Like, what do you think hasseparated you from the pack?
Speaker 2 (23:42):
I think, not being scared to go after what you want
, and I also was I put in thework.
But I also was really lucky tofind a team that, like, believed
in me and kind of was willingto grow with me, because without
that I don't know where I wouldhave been.
So a little bit of luck, alittle bit of work, right, but
it all backed it all, backedeach other's up, Exactly Okay.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
So, like for us who have no idea, like how the
styling world works, like whathappens, do you, you, you pitch,
you get a client, how do youget a client?
And then what?
All the way to like everythingbeing returned or taken back.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Okay, so the process.
I feel like no one knows this.
No, it's like I think it'smagic.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Like literally fairy godmother status.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
It is so not glamorous, it is so not glam.
All my friends still think it'sglam.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Yeah, they see the final product and I'm like no.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
So let me tell you so .
First I get a text and it'slike Josh Richards is going to
Vanity Fair X Oscars party.
Can you find a look for him?
Okay, first thing I do is Ihave a list on my computer that
I've gathered over the year anda half of assisting and
interning of showrooms andbrands with emails that you have
relationships, that I haverelationships with.
(24:57):
Some have never answered mebefore.
I guess that's some rejectionright there, but I will still
try.
So I'll email every singlebrand and showroom and I'll
basically in the email be likehi, team, hope, all is well.
I'm styling Josh Richards forthe Oscars X Vanity Fair party.
We'd love to look intoavailable options.
Here's the talent, here's theevent.
This is the date that I need toreceive it by.
(25:17):
Thank you in advance for yourtime.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
So you're very transparent about who the client
and what the event is.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Yeah, because you have to be, otherwise they're.
They're like no, yeah, okay,yeah.
So then from there I'll make anExcel sheet and I'll do every
showroom and brand that I'vereached out to.
That way, once emails startcoming in, I can keep track of
who has approved him andtracking information.
If they're sending it,appointments, if I'm going to
(25:43):
local showrooms, et cetera.
Emails will come in Are somenot local.
They're virtual, like they'lljust send you stuff.
Some are like New York, london,milan, they're everywhere Got
it.
So once emails start coming in,the brands if it's a brand
they'll usually tell you to goto Vogue runway, the app, and
then you'll go through andyou'll just screenshot your
selects and then send them back.
(26:04):
Oh, that's nice.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
So easy, so fun.
I love that.
I know a lot of this involvessome driving.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Yeah.
So then if it's a showroom like, let's say it's a showroom in
New York, they'll send lookbooksof the brands that they carry.
You'll screenshot and you'llsend it back.
They'll send whatever they haveavailable in his sizing.
If it's LA showrooms, you'redriving around LA pulling at the
showroom and making selects andthen you take the garment bag
(26:30):
with you, come back to myapartment, I check it all in so
I take pictures of everythingthat comes into the office where
it came from.
That way I can return it backin the same shape and organized
fashion, organized fashion.
And then, yeah, aftereverything comes in, I'll go to
my client's house, we'll do thefitting, and for a fitting I'll
normally I'll put my favoritelooks on one rack and then I'll
(26:53):
have my client go through therack and pick out his favorites
and we'll start there, tryeverything on.
There's always a tailor on handso that everything can be fixed
.
And do you have to organize thetailor?
Yes, okay, yeah.
And then, yeah, after that,pick a look, get it tailored and
then everything gets returned.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
So then you just go back and take it all back and
you have to.
It all has to be correct, right?
Yes, you go here, you can't gosomewhere else.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Oh my God, it's so confusing, Like I.
So when something comes in, Itake a picture of, let's say
it's a box, the box, and thenevery single thing that comes
out of that box because you haveto, it has to go back to the
right place.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
So especially because you're bi-coastal.
What happens in New York?
Because driving is not quite asavailable?
Speaker 2 (27:34):
Okay, so I.
So I don't really style in NewYork, but I've done a lot of
assisting in New York, right, soyou're like taking it on the
subway?
No, it's, I'll Uber.
Okay, and I'll do likeliterally one day where we were
getting ready for something Idon't know what, but I was
interning, slash assisting, andI had 16 stops to go to, yeah,
and I literally just had an Ubertake me everywhere, right.
(27:56):
But normally I think peopleprobably subway Like I.
I was like I'm going to suckthis Uber charge because I'm not
subwaying too much.
You have like 20 garment bagsover your shoulder and suitcases
and like it's just no no, that,that is too much, I don't know
how people do it in New York.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
I don't.
I mean, I heard that from acommercials.
I think it was a stylistassistant and he had just moved
from New York and he said yeah,he said it's awful in New York
and he's cause it's like not you, you don't drive Right.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
I don't know.
No one owns a car.
My car gets filled up thebackseat, the front seat and the
trunk all the way to the top.
I'm like I could never.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Wow.
And so then it's returned andthey select.
And do you have to, like, talkto the photographers and tell
them that this piece is blah,blah, blah, like?
What's that whole deal?
Speaker 2 (28:41):
If my client is going to a red carpet, um, I'll make
sure that they know what they'rewearing and they tell them.
And they'll tell that, like it,like there's been times where
he'll be interviewed on thecarpet and they'll be like what
are you wearing?
Speaker 1 (28:52):
And he'll, he'll know what to say You're like.
Let's rehearse.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
You are wearing this brand.
Don't get it wrong.
Pronounce it right.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
So funny, yeah.
So, fiona, you have come such afar way in like a very short
time.
Like what is your best advicefor putting yourself out there
and chasing your dreams?
Speaker 2 (29:11):
I think you should not be scared of rejection.
You should put yourself outthere and you have nothing to
lose.
Ever Someone's going to say noto you, but if anything, it's
going to make you stronger.
That sounds cliche, but it'strue, and you're setting
yourself apart from the pack somuch by just going after it and
going up to people and puttingyourself out there, because not
(29:33):
a lot of people will do that.
A lot of people are going tosit back.
So I think that's my bestadvice is just go after what you
want.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
Fiona Sky, you are so under such a little light.
I'm so impressed by how faryou've made it so quickly and,
like I love your energy, can youtell everybody where they can
find you?
Speaker 2 (29:50):
My Instagram is Fiona A Sky and all my work.
It's basically a portfolio.
There's no pictures of me, sobut that's great.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
Enjoy.
Thank you so much for takingthe time to be here.
Thank you for having me.
Fiona Sky, thank you so muchfor coming on the podcast.
And, guys, thank you so muchfor listening.
I love this episode because itwas such a great reminder for
myself just to get out there andput your name out there when
you have so much passion.
(30:20):
So, guys, thank you so much forlistening.
Make sure to rate and subscribeto the show and, as always,
we'll see you next Tuesday.
Hi guys and welcome back to Confessions of a Wannabe
it Girl.
I am so excited to be taking alook back at some of our really
popular episodes.
I'm taking a little three-weekbreak while I travel Europe, so
I thought you know, with awardsseason coming around again, I
thought it'd be amazing to lookback at our episode with Fiona
Skye.
She is a celebrity stylist andwe're diving into all the tea
(00:23):
behind the red carpet and how tochase those crazy dreams.
Let's dive in.
Welcome to Confessions of aWannabe it Girl.
I'm your host, marley Fregging,and I'm here to help you filter
out all the bullshit and becomethe next it Girl.
This podcast explores thereality of what it really takes
(00:44):
to make it out there.
As it turns out, it is way lessInstagrammable than I thought
it was going to be.
I'm still very much a work inprogress, but there's simply
nothing else I'd rather be doingthan chasing my dreams.
So let's learn from my mistakesand work together to achieve
our dreams with more confidence,clarity and direction.
Let's get after it.
Dreams with more confidence,clarity and direction.
(01:05):
Let's get after it.
Welcome, fiona Skye to thepodcast.
So I'm going to cut to thechase with you.
You are a stylist.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Can you kind of tell?
Speaker 1 (01:19):
us the types of people you work with?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Yes, Thank you for having me.
First of all, so happy to haveyou.
I'm so excited to be here.
I work with a lot ofinfluencers your favorite TikTok
stars and I've done a lot ofassisting work with bigger
celebrities, so hopefully oneday we'll be doing those.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
I love it, but do you ?
What do you call yourself whenpeople ask you what you do?
I?
Speaker 2 (01:33):
just say a wardrobe stylist.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Okay, what's the difference between wardrobe
stylist and like any otherstylist?
Speaker 2 (01:40):
I feel like there's also like costume stylists that
do like more TV shows and stuff.
Honestly, I don't know.
Nobody tells you what your nameshould be.
That's so fair.
There's no like rule book, so Ijust I like wardrobe stylist.
I've always wanted to be like awardrobe stylist, right.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Whatever that means, which means for like events.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Yeah, like red carpet events, street style, love it.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Yeah, needs to be dressed for day to day, not for
film or television.
Exactly, very cool.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
So what made you want to be a stylist?
I feel like I've always wantedto be a stylist since I could
remember like seven years old.
I always loved putting clothestogether and mixing things
around and like researching andfinding like the perfect top,
the perfect pants, and yeah, itwas kind of always what I wanted
to do.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
So you go back and forth between LA and New York,
kind of like two tough towns,yeah, and you know it's a thick
competition to be a stylist,right, yeah?
What keeps you in it?
How long have you been doing it?
What are all the like theorientations of becoming a
wardrobe stylist?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
It's really competitive.
So many people want to be awardrobe stylist and nobody
really talks about how you getthere.
And there's not really aone-way path to get there
because nobody tells you.
So I have a funny story of howI got into it.
But I think most people startoff by interning for a stylist
and assisting and then over time, like after like eight years,
(03:08):
like you're assisting for a longtime, then you get your own
clients.
So it's a long path.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
How long do people go to med school?
I don't know but 10 years.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
But like, but like similar.
Like most stylists get theirbig clients and like break in
the industry when they're like29 to 34,.
I feel like most stylists gettheir big clients and like break
in the industry when they'relike 29 to 34,.
I feel like Okay, which iscrazy to me.
I was like I'm I'm not doingthat.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Yeah, you were literally like I'm not doing
that.
So wait, can you tell us this?
I know this story but like I'mgiddy about it because I think
it really shows putting yourselfforward, you're just going to
go for it.
So I want to go ahead and tellthis story.
I love this story.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
It literally gives me butterflies still like thinking
about it.
I was in college and because ofCOVID I took college remotely
for my senior year.
So I begged my parents to moveto LA.
I was like I have this gutfeeling like if I move to LA I'm
going to find my career.
What did you study?
In college too, I studiedgraphic design and acting.
Okay, so like, yeah, arts, itwas like the most creative thing
(04:11):
that you ever had to offer.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
So there's no wardrobe styling.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
There's no styling.
Fashion school was never anoption for me.
I had to go to school because Iwas an athlete for rowing, so
it was like, just not up fordiscussion.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Got it.
So senior year convincedparents I can move to LA.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
They were like you have six months to find your job
, to finish college, and afterthat, if you don't do either of
those things, you're moving home.
I like made a PowerPoint andbudgeted out LA.
Like it was crazy, I begged Ifucking love that though.
I had.
When I want something, I amlike full force go get them.
So, moved to LA, I was DMing myfavorite stylist assistants.
(04:48):
No one was answering me, nobodywanted to take me as an intern
and I did not understand why.
So I was sitting at Craig's therestaurant in West Hollywood
and I was with my dad and histwo friends.
And I was with my dad.
I was like assuming it was likea girl's night out.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
I was with my dad.
I was like assuming it was likea girl's night out.
I was with my dad.
Continue.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
You'll see why this is weird.
Okay, so, with my dad and myparents, two friends and I see
these guys come in and sit nextto us and I at this point didn't
really know who they were.
Like I didn't.
I didn't watch them on Tik TOK,but I knew that they were Tik
TOKers because my roommate hadjust been telling me about them
prior.
So they come in through theback.
I'm like I know these areimportant people Because they
(05:29):
came in through the back.
Yeah, and their style is so bad.
Oh, my God, like, if theylisten to this like.
I'm so sorry.
Speaker 1 (05:37):
Please, I could use that.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
But their style was so bad.
And so I remember I went to thebathroom and I called my best
friend and I was like I was likethese guys are sitting next to
me and like I want to ask themto style them, but like that's
so awkward and I don't, I don't,I don't want to like interrupt
their dinner.
She was like do it.
Literally, she like forced meto do it.
She was like you have nothingto lose, do it.
I was like okay, fuck it.
So I go up to the front of therestaurant.
(06:01):
Did you tell your?
Speaker 1 (06:02):
dad.
I'm like, hey, I'm going to dothis.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
No, no, no, no, wait.
So I go to the front of therestaurant.
I'm like, okay, can I borrow apen and paper?
I write down my name and numberon a piece of paper and I go
back to the table.
I'm like kind of shakingbecause I'm like so nervous.
I'm like with these boys, likedon't ask questions, just leave.
He was like okay, I was like Iknow.
(06:26):
So I go up to the table next tothem.
They're sitting with theirparents and like I think it was
their manager at the time, Idon't really know.
I was like hi, like I'm sosorry to interrupt, I just want
to leave this here.
I'm Fiona.
Like I really want to be astylist one day.
Would love to style you guys.
I'm graduating college soon,which was the lie.
I still had a year.
Okay, I also was not a stylist.
(06:49):
I was like, yeah, I'm a stylist.
Here you go, thank you to themarket.
There was like fun banter.
They were like, oh, like youdon't like our style.
I was like I could help you,good job.
Then two Katie, their assistantat the time, texted me and was
like hey, like I'd love toschedule an interview with you.
Like the boys gave me yournumber.
I hear you're a stylist.
I was like I'm not a stylist.
(07:10):
I've never dressed a man in mywhole life, ever.
So then I, for two days, mademock-ups on like Photoshop.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
What's a mock-up?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
Like I like, pulled from different websites and made
like 25 outfits for them.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Okay, and you know, all right, you will have the
graphic design thing.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Exactly that is helpful so I didn't know what
else I was supposed to like cometo that meeting with and the
meeting went well.
She was like we want to workwith you.
We who did you interview with.
I interviewed with Katie and shewas basically just asking, like
pricing and like who have youstyled?
And I'm like to be honest,nobody.
But like I know I can do it andlike here are outfits that I
think they would look good in,which is like looking back.
That's so funny that I madeoutfits ahead of time.
(07:55):
It's just like the whole thingwas wrong, but I got the job and
I like to thank Katie and thatwhole team for my career,
because they knew that I didn'thave experience and they fully
just like, took me on andbelieved in me and I figured it
out, my first fitting.
I never dealt with men's sizing, ever.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
Oh yeah, it's fucking weird.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
It's so weird and everything worked out Like all
the sizing was perfect.
He loved everything, the shoeswere perfect.
I was like I don't know who'swatching over me, but thank you,
wow, and that's how I got myjob.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
There are so many things I want to pull out of
this.
First of all that.
So you had no like portfoliobefore this and you were just
like I have to do this, like I'mgoing to shoot my shot, yeah,
and you call the best friend inthe bathroom and you're like
what?
20, 21, 21.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Wow, Like 22, maybe 21, 22.
You're young.
Speaker 1 (08:43):
I mean, you're still young, but like you just pull
this like charisma together togo do it.
You go up to them.
You don't, like you know, batthe eyelash of like, oh, like
I'm a nobody and I know I thinkyou're doing great.
You're very blunt, you're verystraightforward and like, yeah,
you faked it till you made itfully fully.
I also think there's somethingso interesting to know I've
(09:06):
heard this similarly with otherpeople who've, like, made a
successful move in their careeris they did it kind of wrong,
but it like, yeah, likeignorance is bliss.
Yes, like you didn't know youwere doing it wrong, so, like
you just did it and they didn'tknow any better too.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
I think like it was perfect.
The team I found was perfect.
They were new to the fame, theywere new to the attention.
Everything about it just workedout in my favor, wow.
Speaker 1 (09:33):
Yeah.
So now that you've been in thisworld for a while, like tell us
what are more of the likenormal steps that people will go
through?
Speaker 2 (09:41):
Okay so.
So I was saying I was a stylistback then and I wasn't now that
I know what a stylist reallydoes.
I was personal shopping backthen, so I was going to stores.
Speaker 1 (09:53):
What's the difference ?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
So I don't know if people actually say there's a
difference, but in my mind it'sso different so I like to like
there's a difference here.
So personal shopping is you geta budget, maybe you don't get a
budget, maybe you just have acredit card and you're going to
stores, you're going online,you're shopping and returning
whatever is not used, whatever'snot wanted, and then whatever
he keeps or she keeps.
(10:15):
But styling is you need all ofthe brands and showroom contacts
, you need emails, you'rereaching out to the brands,
you're getting approvals to seeif the brands will dress your
client and you're never spendingmoney.
It's.
There's no money involved mostof the time, unless, unless you
do a custom or unless they dogive you a budget sometimes.
(10:38):
But these people have hugefollowings.
They, the brands, want to dressthem, so it's.
So.
I had no idea that that waswhat styling was.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
No idea.
Wow, so you get in thisposition and then do you kind of
like gain a mentor or did youstart getting other work.
What happened there?
Speaker 2 (10:55):
So I got him as a client, I got one of the guys as
a client from that restaurantand then from there I was like I
really want to learn how toactually do this.
Like, yeah, I have a client andthat's really cool, but I am
not going to get to where I wantto go unless I follow somewhat
of the steps, Sure, you know.
So I had a stylist, a bigstylist team, reach out to me
and offer me an internship,which was like whoa, which is
(11:17):
what you had been trying to getthrough the DMS.
Right, Okay.
So they asked me to intern forthem.
So I did that for seven monthsand that was like I was doing
bitch work, Like I was runningaround LA in my car just picking
up things and returning things.
It was terrible, awful.
I didn't learn anything and itwas just like coffee.
You're all right.
Speaker 1 (11:35):
But, like I guess, you earned your stripes or like
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
I guess it was like good to put on my resume.
From there I was.
This is so funny.
I was at Craig's again, againCraig's is literally like go to
Craig's to network.
Go to Craig's if you want tofind a job, so I'm.
I'm going to go there moreoften.
You have to go there, so I'mgoing to Craig's again.
I'm like picking up my hair isin a bun.
I'm wearing no bra sweatshirt,sweatpants.
(11:59):
I look like absolute shit.
Oh, you're just grabbing foodgrabbing food to go, because I'm
a bougie bitch sometimes and Isee Maeve Riley, who is my idol,
yeah, Idol.
I see her sitting at the tablenext to me.
I'm like there's no way I'mgoing up to her, Like I.
I've been emailing with herassistant for a year begging
them for an internship.
Speaker 1 (12:19):
I have to say the sweat pants and like bun thing,
like I could kind of feel likeshe'd fuck with that.
I looked like a slob.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
I was like a slob, but like it's fine.
And I so, since I'd beenemailing with them for so long,
I was like I need to go, I needto go up to her.
So I go up to her, I'm likeround two.
Hey, so sorry to interrupt yourdinner.
Like I am obsessed with you,I'm obsessed with your style.
Like you're the reason I'm instyling.
Like I want to work for you.
(12:46):
She was like well, what are youdoing now?
Like she was asking me so manyquestions, I told her what I was
doing.
She was like well, you have aclient and you have an
internship.
Like you're good, you're on theright path.
And I was like, no, I want towork for you.
Okay, thank you.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
So two days later and also these people have been
receptive to you when you'vewalked up.
People are so scared becausethey think they're going to be
mean and like or like you're um,what's it called Intruding on
my dinner, but like they've beennice.
Speaker 2 (13:20):
I think if you're respectful about it and you're
going like I'm, I'm never like,oh, can I take a picture?
It's like no, like I reallywant to meet you, I respect you,
I want to like.
Here's why.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
Yeah, Like X, Y, Z, da, da, da, da da.
Like I fucking know who you are, Not just like oh, I know
you're kind of famous and I likecould kind of do something for
you.
Like yeah, it's not fangirlenergy.
Exactly, you're coming up in abusiness energy.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
Yeah, and not even like a Like.
I feel like both of those timesI felt so confident that like I
can offer something and I feellike I just like stayed true to
that, so they bring you in, sothey bring me in two days later
and I worked for her for a yearand I mean it just like slowly
trickled out because my work gotso busy.
but her team was big mentors forme, were big mentors for me.
They taught me so much.
I assisted a little bit hereand there, which like is on the
(14:13):
deal.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Um, what's the difference between assisting and
like?
Speaker 2 (14:16):
assisting is more like you're sending emails,
you're pulling from showrooms.
More hands-on, less errands.
You're in a fitting.
So it was.
That was the best experience.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
So, like now that you've done all this work, like,
is it just a resume?
Do you have a portfolio?
Like how do you continue to getmore work, or do you have the
clients and you're just likelocked now?
Speaker 2 (14:36):
No, I feel like new things come my way every single
week almost, which is reallycool to watch.
I'm still kind of grasping,like how like do I reach out to
people?
Do I send cold call emailsLately the past like four months
?
Everything I reach out topeople, do I send cold call
emails lately, the past likefour months, everything has been
coming to me, which is great.
So, like I feel like syndrome.
I'm like I don't know, I don'tknow why, but I think just once
(14:59):
you have a clientele that trustsyou and like their managers
trust you and like you.
People just start referring toyou.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
People start seeing my Instagram and DMing me and it
just yeah, so it's all aboutlike who you know and like how
you know them.
Speaker 2 (15:14):
It is kind of about who you know.
Like once you know the rightpeople, if they like you and
they like your work and theytrust you, then it's like people
don't really want to getsomeone from an outer circle
because of trust.
So like it's like once you'rein, your name is kind of in.
Speaker 1 (15:29):
Right.
So something I like to talk alot about on this podcast is
like kind of the networking,which can sound like a gross ass
word because everyone's likewhat's networking?
Networking's gross or like youknow it does feel like I just
want something from you Likewhat is like cause?
Also, people think this isfucking magic.
Like you show up to LA, youwalk up to someone at Craig's
and like ta-da and you have acareer Like what is your like
(15:53):
inner workings and thoughtstowards networking, like how do
you approach it?
Speaker 2 (15:57):
I feel like I might hate that word too.
Yeah, I hate it, I hate.
The thing that I hate about LAis so many people are trying to
get something from you.
Yes, I feel like I have likestayed so true to myself and
like I'm so passionate about myjob that like I just want to
dress people and that's it LikeI'm.
I don't care who you are, whatyou do, and I feel like people
(16:21):
in this industry like crave tosee genuine people who just like
what their job is, and so Ifeel like that is something to
do with it.
Speaker 1 (16:30):
You are really like putting yourself out there.
Not everybody has as much likeconfidence and wherewithal.
Like where did that really comefrom for you?
And like what do you tap backinto when you're like doing a
scary pitch or like going up topeople at restaurants?
Speaker 2 (16:43):
I don't know who gave me the confidence to do that
Like who?
Where did I get the audacity?
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Like, but it's paid off.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
It's paid off so much and I would do it, and I
probably will do it a millionmore times.
I feel like a lot of people aretoo scared to go after what
they want to do.
You just do it and you staytrue to yourself and you're not
trying to get anything out ofanybody, you're just like this
is my passion, I want to work.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
It's so interesting because I think a lot of people
talk about manifestation, andmanifestation is like the idea
of, like you know, I'll sit hereand like I'll think about these
things, and then it will justcome to me.
It's like no, no, no, no.
You also have to have like thewhole thing to back it up.
Like you sure Maybe you didn'thave the resume when you walked
up to the people, but like howlong had you been studying
fashion?
(17:27):
How long had you been thinkingabout, looks like, extending
your education?
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Like probably a while .
Yeah, I think I.
Okay, I literally manifest mylife.
Like it's so crazy.
Like last week I said I want tostyle this person.
I was like this is the oneperson I want to work for.
A week later, flown to Vegas towork with her.
Wow, I'm telling you like it'sso, like I think, if you
genuinely believe it in yoursoul, like this is going to
(17:53):
happen, and you also work hardto get there, Right, you have to
have it.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
You have to have the support to back it up.
Exactly Right.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
Yeah, you can't just sit in your room and be like
bring me, bring it to me.
Speaker 1 (18:09):
It's not going to happen, it's to go after it.
But so this is a tough, this isa tough town.
New York is a tough town andyou go back and forth Like
you're throwing yourself outthere.
There's gotta be some rejectionsometimes.
Speaker 2 (18:15):
Yes, there's rejection.
No, I do not take it.
Well, okay, that was good.
I was going to say how do youhandle it?
No, I don't, I don't handle it.
If you know how to handle it,let me know.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Um well, my life is full of no's on some level, like
I mean, I'm not speaking thatinto existence, like I live in a
world of, like I'm an actor, soI get told no on the fucking
daily.
Yeah, then, uh, you know, Ipitch myself all the time for
podcast guests and like I gettold no all the time.
So, honestly, this soundshorrible.
(18:46):
You just get fucking used to it.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
You get used to it.
I have not gotten used to it.
Every time I get rejected I'mreally sad about it, and I'm sad
about it or like, in a way,like rejection for me is like I
get a lot of hate on the outfitsthat I do Really yes.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Oh, like from Tik TOK , yes, Like there have been Tik
TOK Tik.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
TOKers are mean.
There have been.
Yeah, they are.
I've had some hate.
They're mean and I had.
I never dealt with this untilthe past few months when I
started doing a lot of redcarpets for one of my clients
and I got so much hate and, likeI, literally are they calling
you up.
Speaker 1 (19:21):
Like no, you did it.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
They're like fire this fucking stylist.
And I'm like you guys.
First of all, you're probablysitting.
I have to remind myself thatthese people are not stylists
and they're sitting in theirroom criticizing other people
and it's getting the correction.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:35):
However, at the time I'm like crying in my bed, like
I don't know how to deal with it, I don't think it'll ever get
easier, like I think it's justlike something that sucks.
And then after a week I'm like,okay, fuck this.
Now I have a fuck you attitude,right.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Now you're like all right, that was some engagement,
but in the moment it like hurts, like hell.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
Yeah, cause it's like that's my art and like you
don't know what goes into it andit's just frustrating.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Right, and it's just so easy to sit behind a screen
and complain, complain, complain, exactly, but like, have you
ever been had a rejectionsituation in person, like maybe
not social media, or like youknow in more so the industry?
And like, is it the same?
Do you deal with the same?
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I sit and cry in front of them, cause I would too
.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
I am no shame.
I will cry any place, any time.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
No, I don't think I've ever really been rejected
in person.
Good With love yeah, I don'tthink.
I don't think that's everreally been rejected in person.
Good with love yeah, I don'tthink.
I don't think that's ever.
I don't want that for anyonebut it's hard.
Yeah, I don't think I ever havethat's great.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
This career, like, takes a lot of drive, passion
and talent and it's like it's anit girl career to be a wardrobe
stylist and you're also aroundsome very it girl or it boy.
What's the version of that Like?
Do you have any insight on thesparkly effect of them, like?
(20:58):
What makes them glow?
What do you think makes youglow?
You know?
Do you know what I mean?
Speaker 2 (21:03):
I feel like like their drive.
Yeah, I think all of thesepeople work really hard and,
yeah, like they work reallyreally fucking hard to get to
where they are and they continueto work hard.
And those are the people whoget far in the industry, and I
feel like I've actually beenreally lucky where almost or
actually not almost every singleclient that I've been around
(21:26):
works their ass off, continuesto work their ass off, and, yeah
, work their ass off and yeah,they just grind, wow, and
they're really good people too.
So I feel like that just showslike you're not going to get far
in the industry if you're notwilling to put your head down
and work.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Right, like how many stylists or clients have you
encountered that are kind oflike no talent, no work ethic?
Speaker 2 (21:46):
Yeah, so there are a few people that I've been around
who have egos and not okay, nota good drive.
That has never been the clientthough that's nice, that's never
been the client.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
So other people in the industry and like yeah, just
like they don't have the driveand they don't have the talent
and they just kind of did itbecause they felt like it.
Speaker 2 (22:06):
It's like.
It's like their ego gets in theway and then they're like I
don't know, I've been around,I've worked for some big, big
egos and it's hard how do youmanage an ego?
I did not handle it well.
I also cried for two weeksstraight Same.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
I'm very emotional.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
I'm like, I'm normally not an emotional person
, but some people in thisindustry are really cruel and
they just think that they're thebest and they bring you down,
and that's how.
That's what makes them feelbetter.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
So, like when you are having a bad day and you know,
you're like, oh, cause we all dothis.
I mean, maybe you don't, but Ido.
And it's like, oh, I'm justgoing to throw in the towel.
You don't mean it, but you'relike I'm just going to throw in
the towel, like what keeps yougoing in this career?
Speaker 2 (22:50):
I motivation is not a hard thing for me because I
this is like, this is like my ha, it's my hobby and it's my job.
So, yeah, so it's like it'sit's mode.
Finding the motivation is nevera hard thing for me and at the
end of the day, if I do get hateor I am having a bad day or
(23:13):
whatever it is that's bringingme down.
If anything, it's way moremotivating for me.
I'm like I'm going to provethese people wrong and yeah, I
just have like a fuck itmentality, Like I'm going to get
to where I want to go, Like Ihave big goals and I don't
really care who gets in my way.
Speaker 1 (23:29):
I love it.
So you are kind of young Peopleget to being like a full blown
wardrobe stylist.
You know closer to like eightor 10 years in, yeah, and you're
kind of young for that.
Like, what do you think hasseparated you from the pack?
Speaker 2 (23:42):
I think, not being scared to go after what you want
, and I also was I put in thework.
But I also was really lucky tofind a team that, like, believed
in me and kind of was willingto grow with me, because without
that I don't know where I wouldhave been.
So a little bit of luck, alittle bit of work, right, but
it all backed it all, backedeach other's up, Exactly Okay.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
So, like for us who have no idea, like how the
styling world works, like whathappens, do you, you, you pitch,
you get a client, how do youget a client?
And then what?
All the way to like everythingbeing returned or taken back.
Speaker 2 (24:20):
Okay, so the process.
I feel like no one knows this.
No, it's like I think it'smagic.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
Like literally fairy godmother status.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
It is so not glamorous, it is so not glam.
All my friends still think it'sglam.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
Yeah, they see the final product and I'm like no.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
So let me tell you so .
First I get a text and it'slike Josh Richards is going to
Vanity Fair X Oscars party.
Can you find a look for him?
Okay, first thing I do is Ihave a list on my computer that
I've gathered over the year anda half of assisting and
interning of showrooms andbrands with emails that you have
relationships, that I haverelationships with.
(24:57):
Some have never answered mebefore.
I guess that's some rejectionright there, but I will still
try.
So I'll email every singlebrand and showroom and I'll
basically in the email be likehi, team, hope, all is well.
I'm styling Josh Richards forthe Oscars X Vanity Fair party.
We'd love to look intoavailable options.
Here's the talent, here's theevent.
This is the date that I need toreceive it by.
(25:17):
Thank you in advance for yourtime.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
So you're very transparent about who the client
and what the event is.
Speaker 2 (25:22):
Yeah, because you have to be, otherwise they're.
They're like no, yeah, okay,yeah.
So then from there I'll make anExcel sheet and I'll do every
showroom and brand that I'vereached out to.
That way, once emails startcoming in, I can keep track of
who has approved him andtracking information.
If they're sending it,appointments, if I'm going to
(25:43):
local showrooms, et cetera.
Emails will come in Are somenot local.
They're virtual, like they'lljust send you stuff.
Some are like New York, london,milan, they're everywhere Got
it.
So once emails start coming in,the brands if it's a brand
they'll usually tell you to goto Vogue runway, the app, and
then you'll go through andyou'll just screenshot your
selects and then send them back.
(26:04):
Oh, that's nice.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
So easy, so fun.
I love that.
I know a lot of this involvessome driving.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
Yeah.
So then if it's a showroom like, let's say it's a showroom in
New York, they'll send lookbooksof the brands that they carry.
You'll screenshot and you'llsend it back.
They'll send whatever they haveavailable in his sizing.
If it's LA showrooms, you'redriving around LA pulling at the
showroom and making selects andthen you take the garment bag
(26:30):
with you, come back to myapartment, I check it all in so
I take pictures of everythingthat comes into the office where
it came from.
That way I can return it backin the same shape and organized
fashion, organized fashion.
And then, yeah, aftereverything comes in, I'll go to
my client's house, we'll do thefitting, and for a fitting I'll
normally I'll put my favoritelooks on one rack and then I'll
(26:53):
have my client go through therack and pick out his favorites
and we'll start there, tryeverything on.
There's always a tailor on handso that everything can be fixed
.
And do you have to organize thetailor?
Yes, okay, yeah.
And then, yeah, after that,pick a look, get it tailored and
then everything gets returned.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
So then you just go back and take it all back and
you have to.
It all has to be correct, right?
Yes, you go here, you can't gosomewhere else.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Oh my God, it's so confusing, Like I.
So when something comes in, Itake a picture of, let's say
it's a box, the box, and thenevery single thing that comes
out of that box because you haveto, it has to go back to the
right place.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
So especially because you're bi-coastal.
What happens in New York?
Because driving is not quite asavailable?
Speaker 2 (27:34):
Okay, so I.
So I don't really style in NewYork, but I've done a lot of
assisting in New York, right, soyou're like taking it on the
subway?
No, it's, I'll Uber.
Okay, and I'll do likeliterally one day where we were
getting ready for something Idon't know what, but I was
interning, slash assisting, andI had 16 stops to go to, yeah,
and I literally just had an Ubertake me everywhere, right.
(27:56):
But normally I think peopleprobably subway Like I.
I was like I'm going to suckthis Uber charge because I'm not
subwaying too much.
You have like 20 garment bagsover your shoulder and suitcases
and like it's just no no, that,that is too much, I don't know
how people do it in New York.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
I don't.
I mean, I heard that from acommercials.
I think it was a stylistassistant and he had just moved
from New York and he said yeah,he said it's awful in New York
and he's cause it's like not you, you don't drive Right.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
I don't know.
No one owns a car.
My car gets filled up thebackseat, the front seat and the
trunk all the way to the top.
I'm like I could never.
Speaker 1 (28:37):
Wow.
And so then it's returned andthey select.
And do you have to, like, talkto the photographers and tell
them that this piece is blah,blah, blah, like?
What's that whole deal?
Speaker 2 (28:41):
If my client is going to a red carpet, um, I'll make
sure that they know what they'rewearing and they tell them.
And they'll tell that, like it,like there's been times where
he'll be interviewed on thecarpet and they'll be like what
are you wearing?
Speaker 1 (28:52):
And he'll, he'll know what to say You're like.
Let's rehearse.
Speaker 2 (28:56):
You are wearing this brand.
Don't get it wrong.
Pronounce it right.
Speaker 1 (29:00):
So funny, yeah.
So, fiona, you have come such afar way in like a very short
time.
Like what is your best advicefor putting yourself out there
and chasing your dreams?
Speaker 2 (29:11):
I think you should not be scared of rejection.
You should put yourself outthere and you have nothing to
lose.
Ever Someone's going to say noto you, but if anything, it's
going to make you stronger.
That sounds cliche, but it'strue, and you're setting
yourself apart from the pack somuch by just going after it and
going up to people and puttingyourself out there, because not
(29:33):
a lot of people will do that.
A lot of people are going tosit back.
So I think that's my bestadvice is just go after what you
want.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
Fiona Sky, you are so under such a little light.
I'm so impressed by how faryou've made it so quickly and,
like I love your energy, can youtell everybody where they can
find you?
Speaker 2 (29:50):
My Instagram is Fiona A Sky and all my work.
It's basically a portfolio.
There's no pictures of me, sobut that's great.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
Enjoy.
Thank you so much for takingthe time to be here.
Thank you for having me.
Fiona Sky, thank you so muchfor coming on the podcast.
And, guys, thank you so muchfor listening.
I love this episode because itwas such a great reminder for
myself just to get out there andput your name out there when
you have so much passion.
(30:20):
So, guys, thank you so much forlistening.
Make sure to rate and subscribeto the show and, as always,
we'll see you next Tuesday.
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