Stylist Spotlight: Dani Michelle, the Creative Mind Behind Kendall Jenner’s Best Looks
Fashion stylists not only create image legacies but curate and construct fashion’s visual statements. The work of a fashion stylist is what creates culture and communication, not an easy job. Standing behind the scenes, a stylist’s taste and aesthetic comes alive through visual storytelling. They possess the ability of understanding how to translate a client's work and personality into their wardrobe.
Courtesy of Dani Michelle
Fashion styling as a profession has been around for a while, since 1772 with Roe Bertin the “minister of fashion” to Harper’s Bazaar Polly Allen Mellen to today's top celebrity stylist Dani Michelle. Fashion styling has come a long way, from dress seamstresses, to editorial shoots to an everyday necessity.
Courtesy of A G Nauta Couture
The rise of the social media age has only catapulted the need and necessity of fashion stylists' work. No longer does a stylist assess celebrities in photo shoots but works in creating their everyday image from street style to red carpet glamour.
Social media has given access to anyone with a decent amount of followers to become a fashion influencer yet there is a difference with being a fashion stylist. Dani Michelle, 30, is the perfect example of how a fashion stylist cements their career through hard work and experience. The LA based stylist started her fashion career working at Seventeen when she was just 17 years old. Right after college she became assistant to the Jonas Brothers stylist, from there her career took off.
Courtesy of Dani Michelle
Today she is recognized for styling supermodels like Kendall Jenner, Elsa Hosk and Hailey Bieber. Three of the top most looked for references for fashion inspiration. Michelle alongside her clients is credited for creating the most sought out outfit inspo, setting trends and establishing what is in and what is not. Working with such big names comes with great responsibility as Michelle holds the power to dictate the direction to which the fashion market will move towards.
Courtesy of the Only Agency
“I see a piece of me in each of them. That's really the way it works: I see them for who they are, then I pull that part out of my heart and translate my version of them.” -Michelle on how her personal style influences her clients’.
Michelle opts for a more clean, elegant almost “basic” aesthetic. As seen on Kendall Jenner whose style seems more on the down low with “i just woke up like this” energy. Michelles formula is easy, she focuses on one central piece and with accessories makes it stand out. Not a lot of color or prints, she goes for more classic pieces with muted tones mixing femininity and masculinity.
Courtesy of the Only Agency
Courtesy of the Only Agency
Michelle clearly understands the importance of knowing your client's frame and using pieces that accentuate it. Michelles work with Jenner could be mistaken with being boring but it is a perfectly put together work of elegance, boyish-vibes, classy, refined and statement maker.
Courtesy of the Only Agency
Courtesy of the Only Agency
More recently we saw Michelles work when she styled Hailey Bieber for her Rhode press tour. As Michelle has mentioned, every client is different but I think her essence transmits into all of them. Hailey wore a variety of outfits that represented Michelles clean, elegant and youthful aesthetic. Miss Bieber followed Michelles formula of using one statement piece and accessorizing, she showed feminine and edgy vibes with a sequined beige 16 ARLINGTON gown and accentuated her long legs with blazer dresses. Mainland a clean, monochromatic chic look.
Courtesy of the Only Agency
Michelle is definitely one of the top stylists of the time curating effortlessly chic looks that serve as major fashion inspiration. What do you think about her work?