About Alana Kelen: If you're addicted to watching VH1 and its programs like Best Week Ever like I am, then you've no doubt seen Alana Kelen's work! Alana is a stylist for VH1, so she gets to pick out what the people you see on the channel are wearing - how incredible is that?
Alana's Clients: I asked Alana to explain her job at VH1 a little bit, and she said: "I work on all the regular programming you see on the channel, including the Top 20 Countdown and Best Week Ever, dressing the on-air hosts and panelists for these shows. Many special events, interviews and programming comes up as well that is my responsibility. Guests, celebrities and musicians usually come to VH1 ready for camera, but if they ever work a special project for us, at times I will dress them as well. The best part of this job is it is new and exciting every day; I never know what to expect, but I am always ready for anything."
Her Career Break: Alana explained how she broke into styling like this: "I went to the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC for all four years of college. Because I loved fashion so much, I just knew it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It came time for a real experience internship, and after browsing all my choices I came across an opportunity at VH1 in the wardrobe department. The description sounded so exciting, combining the business of fashion with lots of creativity. Once I was picked for the internship and started working in the small department at VH1, I just knew this would be the dream career for me."
Style Philsophy: Alana herself is incredibly put-together, so I asked her to share her style advice. She said: "I believe no matter what, you should never sacrifice comfort for fashion. Confidence comes from comfort, and if you feel great wearing something it will radiate on the outside. Another tip is to stay classic. It is easy (and fun) to get caught up in trends, but my advice is once you find a brand or style that fits you well, you should stick to it."
Budget-Friendly Tips: Another great thing about Alana is that she loves to bargain shop! She said: "My motto is 'Never Pay Full Price!' There is no reason with so many sales and the amazing internet at our disposal. If you find something you love at a fancy store or in a fashion magazine, save the designer and style and look it up online in a search. You will be able to seek out the product on websites such as Bluefly.com and Yoox.com. Ebay is also a great spot to find items at a fraction of the price - just be cautious and do research when buying from independent sellers. And finally, Froogle.com is an amazing shopping search site."
Alana's Advice About the Fashion Industry: Alana gives these tips to anyone interested in a fashion career: "This industry is all about networking, building contacts, and being up-to-date on current trends, events, and news. Try to get experience early, be open to working during school, volunteering or assisting on shoots where you might not necessarily get paid, because sometimes the experience is much more rewarding. Keep up on current trends and fashion, but also delve into the history of fashion - because everything comes back around eventually."
Final Words: I couldn't resist asking Alana for a bit more of her general style wisdom! She said: "A cardinal rule in fashion is to invest in great classic basics, such as jeans, black pants, coats, shoes, and bags, and save the more disposable income to buy less expensive, trendier pieces that have a chance of going out of style sooner."
