Nina Zadeh is a talented fashion stylist, most recently working behind-the-scenes for Richie Rich and Indashio's runway shows at New York Fashion Week. I had the chance to interview Nina, and she gave great advice on how to become a stylist and what trends are big for fall 2010. Here is the interview with fashion stylist Nina Zadeh:
How did you get started as a stylist?
Photo courtesy of greaseandglamour.com.
Nina: I always knew I wanted to work in the Fashion Industry but didn't know exactly in what area. When I graduated from Boston College in May 2008, I moved to Miami to live with my family until I knew what my next step was. It was then that I found a showroom internship posting online and decided to try it out.
I always knew the importance of networking and being involved so I made sure to position myself and find like-minded people to be around. Keeping a positive attitude and a friendly disposition allowed me to meet some professionals who were involved with Miami Fashion week in September. They asked me if I was interested in interning under celebrity stylist GK Reid for Richie Rich's show, and I immediately accepted.
How did you transition that job into being Richie's head show stylist?
Photo courtesy of Nina Zadeh.
I worked extremely hard during that show! I always had a pen and paper in my hand and demonstrated to Richie and his team my strong work ethic and professionalism. I left GK and Richie both "Thank You" notes with my contact information. I heard from Richie in February, when he asked me to fly to New York to assist styling his show for New York Fashion Week at the Waldorf Astoria. After that show, Richie asked me if I wanted to start styling his shows on my own – and I have been ever since!
What trends do you see being really big for fall/winter 2010, and why?
Fall 2010 is going to be full of animal prints – particularly leopard, as well as mixed prints. The most important part about mixing prints is the scale. You want to make sure the scales of the prints are different in size so that they complement each other rather than clash. It also works well if there’s a color relationship between the two prints you are mixing, but isn’t always necessary.
Another hot fall trend is an item with a lot of volume: Wide leg pants were all over the runway and were always paired with a fitted top. We also saw many voluminous coats and capes.
As for color palettes, we’re seeing a lot of scarlet reds, emerald greens and camel brown. And for fabrics, make sure to keep your eye on sultry velvets and faux fur!
What advice would you give to young people who would like to become stylists?
My first suggestion would be to find an internship! This is the type of industry that doesn’t pay very well in the beginning so you have to be willing to dedicate your time and energy and find your reward in other ways besides a paycheck. If you can give a few hours after your "real" job, it will demonstrate to those around you your level of interest and passion.
If you live in a metropolitan city where professional stylists are based, definitely look into interning or assisting a stylist. Many stylists are signed to an agency, so I would recommend contacting the agencies directly and seeing if they are looking for any interns or assistants. You can Google "wardrobe styling agencies."
What other tips to getting in to the business can you provide?
If you do not have access to working under a professional stylist, ask a local up-and-coming designer if they need any help with styling their lookbooks. You can also contact your local boutique and see if they are looking for sales associates. Dressing mannequins is definitely great practice in creating outfits.
I also think it’s a great idea to team with up a friend, create some outfits from both your closets, and photograph them for your personal portfolio. That way you have a few photos to show people your styling skills. Another idea would be to contact a local university photography department or even your high school photography lab and see if there are any upcoming photographers that would want to shoot some of the looks you styled.
What advice would you give teens about having great style?
When I was a teenager, I would switch my style constantly because I realized that there was never one particular style that I would want to dress head to toe in. I think my style came together when I realized that you don’t have to ever have to stick permanently with one style, and that you can mix and match different styles to reflect your personality.
I would also recommend all future fashionistas to stay on top of trends by following all the major fashion websites and then trying to recreate looks that they like at their favorite stores. If the trends are saying that a leopard print dress from Versace is the new hit dress, try and see if you can find a similar dress at a store with a lower price point.
What do you hope to do in the future?
I definitely want to continue styling but I am thinking about trying to style in the music industry. I love the idea of using clothing to create an image and brand, and I think that music and fashion have always had a great relationship.
I am currently in the process of getting my MBA at Fordham University, so I plan to find a way to merge my love for fashion with my business background. My dream has always been to launch my own chain of stores and there have been talks of launching an accessory line.
You can see what I’m up to next at StyleByNina.com or Twitter.com/stylebynina.