The Tracy Clifford Interview

Hello everyone!

I am so sorry for not posting recently, this week has become so overwhelming and I am currently in the process of working on my Professional Inquiry for school which has been HELL to say the least! I also had a bridal shoot out in the beautiful setting of King City which was a lot of fun but took all day! I really enjoyed it though and had worked with both photographers before, Cyrus Mir and Anda Pleniceanu.  Looking forward to seeing the results!

I have had a the pleasure of interviewing Tracy Clifford, a reputable stylist who has been assistant to Oscar De La Renta. After graduating from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Tracy dedicated her studies to fashion while attending the Instituto Lorenzo de Medici in Florence, Italy and went to have a successful career as a major style consultant. I asked her to share some tips, ethics of working in the fashion industry and things everyone should know generally about this industry.

1.      What inspired you to become a style consultant?

The simple answer is that I have loved fashion ever since I can remember.  I have always felt a connection to finding beauty in the world, and particularly so with clothing.  From my point of view, fashion gives us the ability to express ourselves artistically. Wearing beautiful clothing elevates our experience and has the ability to make us feel more self-actualized.  There are very few things in life that provide the opportunity for such a profound experience on a daily basis. 

I feel a special connection to fashion in particular.  I have always been able to choose amazing pieces that are unique, beautiful, and most importantly, compliment the body.  Fashion cannot exist in a bubble.  I think many consultants (and designers) loose sight of the fact that the primary goal is to use clothing to compliment a woman’s body and make her feel beautiful.  This is a particular skill of mine.  Plus, fashion is fun! 

2.      Has anyone inspired you in particular?

Though there are many designers that I admire, my true inspiration from fashion came from two very important women: my mother and Marissa Hartington. 

My mother has fabulous taste.  She always looked perfect and put together.  Growing up, she took me shopping and exposed me to beautiful clothing.  Most importantly though, she allowed me to express myself with clothing.  My family spent a lot of the winter every year in Naples, FL.  My favorite part of Naples (besides getting away from the Chicago snow!) was going with my mother to the Big Pink Building which housed Marissa Collections, an amazing fashion boutique.  It was at Marissa Collections with my mother that I first fell in love with fashion. 

My dad always said if you want to be in an industry, look at the most successful person you know in the industry and determine if that is who you want to be.  Marissa Hartington, the founder and owner of Marissa Collections, was (and is) the most successful person I know in fashion.  When I thought about if I wanted to be like her, the answer was a resounding yes.  Marissa is, in a word, amazing.  She is able to see fashion and spot trends like no one else in the industry.  I am constantly amazed by her taste, dedication, and tenacity.  I am so fortunate that Marissa took me under her wing, taught me about the industry, and allowed me to practice what I learned when she hired me to be a buyer for Marissa Collections.    

3.      Did you always want to be a style consultant or did you have other aspirations and training when you left high school?

I tried following in my father’s footsteps and working for his law firm and then for a judge.  I think I spent most of my time analyzing the lawyers’ clothes, instead of the law!  I also dabbled in the magazine business for a bit.  However, when I got hired at Niemen Marcus, there was no turning back. 

- What was it like assisting Oscar de la Renta?

It was amazing.  I started at the bottom of the totem pole but I kept my eyes open and observed everything around me.  I really learned a lot about fashion from the designer’s viewpoint, which was a new experience for me because I had always thought of fashion solely from the consumer’s point of view.  The experience allowed me to see the real guts of the fashion world.  Being around all of those beautiful clothes wasn’t too bad either!

4.      What do you think attributes to his success?

The simple answer is beautiful clothing.  Oscar’s natural talent, creativity, and understanding of a woman’s body is unparalleled.  His clothes are unique, in the moment and still remain timeless and wearable.   

5.      What has attributed to your success?

My success is driven by my clients.  Making them feel comfortable and beautiful is my number one goal and my clients appreciate it.  I am always thinking about them as I spot trends and browse the newest fashion.  For instance, I am in Spain as I am writing this, and I saw an amazing dress that would be perfect for one of my clients.  I took a picture of it and sent it to her so she can take a look.  The other thing that attributes to my success is making fashion fun for my client!  I want them to have fun picking out their own style (with my guidance) and to remove the stress and pretension from picking clothes.  I want my clients to feel the same joy from picking clothes as I do.  Fashion is such a fun thing and I want my clients to experience that too!

                                                                                            

6.      What is the demographic of your customers? Is there a demographic you market to?

I don’t think of my work in terms of demographics or marketing (much to my business manager’s chagrin).  Honestly, I work with women who want to look beautiful and have fun picking amazing clothing. 

7.      What is your favorite part about your work?

The clothes and my clients!!!  I love spotting the latest trends and taking pieces from the runway and making them wearable for my clients.  It is so gratifying when I see my clients beaming after they tell me how beautiful they felt at an even or that they felt so good when someone complimented their outfit.  I had a client call me last week almost giddy because she got stopped by a woman on the street who wanted to tell her how great her outfit looked.  These are the kinds of things I live for!

8.      Have you ever had to deal with ballet dancers or work in the dancing world?

Many of my clients are dancers.  I love working with them because they understand beauty in movement.  It is a lot of fun to pair fabrics and designs that take advantage of dancers’ natural grace. 

9.      Do you think fashion is important to the dance/performing arts world, not just costuming?

Of course!  Fashion is crucial to performers.  Needless to say, performers do not only practice their art on stage - it is a way of life.  I love to help performers express their vision when they’re out of costume.  As the Bard said, “all the world’s a stage.”  

Thank you so much to Tracy Clifford! You can find out more about her and her services at her website Tracy Clifford Style. 

My interview with designer Sarah Stevenson

I am excited to be finally posting my interview with designer Sarah Stevenson after a busy week with Fashion Alternative Toronto, which I will post in another entry later. 

Sarah Stevenson is a Toronto clothing & textile designer. She began her studies with fashion at George Brown College and later went on to earn her Masters Degree in Fashion & Textile design on full scholarship at the Institute of European Design in Milan, Italy. She returned to Toronto in 2010 and established her company, Sarah Stevenson Design. All of her fabrics and clothing are made ethically and sustainably here in Canada. Sarah was kind enough to give my readers a glimpse into her work on the Tutu Project with the National Ballet of Canada and accessory designer, Eliza Kozurno. Here is a summary on the project that Sarah shared with me.

The Tutu Project by The National Ballet of Canada 

"Equinox" by Sarah Stevenson & Eliza Kozurno 

 "The tutu is ballet's most universally recognised symbol and to celebrate the National Ballet's 60th anniversary. 60 tutus were created by artists and designers and will be on display during the 2012 season. I was asked to create one of these tutus and collaborated with an accessory designer Eliza Kozurno. Our tutu is entitled "Equinox" meaning equal day and night. We wanted to take our inspiration from a Ballet and chose Swan Lake because we thought that it brilliantly represented the contrast of our two styles. Eliza's being strong and edgy, while mine is delicate and feminine. The result wonderfully embodies these contrasts while seamlessly transitioning from dark to light. The tutu includes handmade feathers made with my signature fabric."

Sarah was also kind enough to answer a few questions I had despite her busy schedule. For those of you who don't know about this talented designer, ever since her successful shows with Rock the Runway 2011 and Toronto Fashion Week S/S 2011 Sarah and her designs have been popping up everywhere! The most recent being her appropriately titled "Ballet Skirt" in "Magnolia" in Fashion Magazine's "55 Rainbow Hued Shopping Picks That Shine Brightly for Any Age". Sarah Stevenson's Ballet Skirt in Magnolia



- Hello Sarah, I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about the project, the work that went into it, if it was it for marketing or just purely for art? What inspired you? Were you marketing it to anyone? If so who? If you enjoyed it or if it was hard work?


- I danced ballet until I was 16 so it was very exciting to be invited to be part of this project. I did it for fun (I worked on it with my friend) and for marketing/exposure. The summary explains the inspiration and yes I enjoyed it very much!


- That's fantastic! And it is interesting to hear you actually had a ballet background. I would also like to know if you think fashion is a very important part of the dance and/or performing arts world?


- As far as fashion being an important part of the dance/performing arts world - definintely! I think that dance influences fashion and fashion influences dance costume. If you look back at the early 1900s in Paris, designers were inspired by the Ballet Russe and continue to be.


I would like to thank Sarah for taking the time out to talk about this very special project. You can find out more on the Tutu Project on the National Ballet of Canada's website The Tutu Project and more on Sarah Stevenson Design on her website SarahStevensonDesign.com.


Photo on top taken from Sarah Stevenson Design website of her "Ivy Ballet" skirt. Middle picture of the Tutu Project designed by Sarah Stevenson and Eliza Kozurno. Photo provided by Sarah Stevenson.

PROOF!!! Ballet does play an important part in the fashion industry!

I was doing my daily random rummaging through YouTube when I stumbled upon a video that made my little Chanel covered ballet heart skip a beat. Back in 2009, Karl Lagerfeld created costumes for the ballet Apollo which was part of the Ballet Russes season at Sadler Wells. Vogue covered this in their video. I cannot believe I am only just discovering this. Here is the clip.

I went further on to discover this romantic little number performed by Elena Glurdjidze of the English National Ballet in the Chanel Couture Lounge. In the video she performs for Karl Lagerfeld "The Dying Swan". The only other information I could find about this performance was at FabSugar.com right here Karl Lagerfeld Creates Custom Tutu, Films Impromtu Performance. Below is the video.


Video proof of the importance and the connection with ballet and the fashion world. I'm in love!!!

Photo at top of the page, Karl Lagerfeld filming Elena Glurdjidze. Photographer, unknown.

Are You Worth It?- Part one...

This originally was going to be a one part entry but after a conversation I had a couple of days ago and a recent article I stumbled upon in the Daily Mail website, I think it's important I discuss this in two separate entries. This first one is talking about money...


A constant question that comes up especially amongst the freelancers of this industry is, “How much do I charge for my services?” That goes for models, makeup artists, wardrobe stylists, designers, photographers, hair stylists, retouchers, etc alike. So how do you determine your worth?

First begin with how much experience you have. If you are new to this business you will have to start from the ground up. I have not known anyone personally who didn’t pay their dues before they got to the successful stage they are at now in their careers. Never go into this industry thinking it is a well paid, lucrative career. Again this applies to all of the above I mentioned before. You have to be able to make a portfolio and show examples of your work. You wouldn’t walk into a normal job interview with no resume and completely empty handed. 

Another question one must ask themselves, are you good at you do? Do you go that extra mile for someone or something? Now this doesn't mean whoring yourself out (which will be discussed in part two). I am talking about whether you are willing to do the research and extra work to get you a bigger paycheck. For models it could be another skill, makeup artists could learn special effects and photographers could try other means of photography, like landscape. This is just small examples but if you brainstorm you would be surprised to learn that just having something else under your belt really makes or breaks your career. I've recently come to discover my dance training is in high demand when it comes to my modeling. I have gone from an extremely, unsuccessful slow season to booking jobs, especially paid left, right and centre. For styling it was learning how to make jewelry which I'm still learning. I will be attending classes in the summer to hone my skill.

Research is key! Do your research on whoever you are looking to book with. If I could receive a dime for every time I heard models, makeup artists, stylists, photographers, etc complain about not booking jobs but never knew anything about the company/designer/etc, let alone their names, I would be rich! Why would you expect to get booked when you know nothing about the job? It is like someone applying for a job at Starbucks not only just unaware what they do there but also not even knowing the name "Starbucks".


My first paid modeling job happened naturally. I never even thought of charging when the photographer handed me £20 ($40 Canadian roughly at the time). It wasn’t a lot but that was when I realised I was at a point in my career that I was experienced enough and good enough to begin making more demands. I did and still do the occasional free job but when it comes to things like travel I ask for a fee depending on how much money I spent traveling to the destination. If it does not benefit my book or me I charge for the overall shoot. At the same time one must remember to not be too demanding. No one wants to work with a prima donna, no matter how talented you are. One thing I have never agreed on is when a photographer tells me they will never pay for a model. It is completely off putting for me and insulting. I had one photographer tell me, “I’ve never paid for a model and I never will. If the client wants to pay for them then they can but I refuse.” Yet this photographer charges other models for his services. It seems very unfair and as I had said before, insulting to say the least. I am not stating that photographers have to always pay for models, it just doesn't seem equal if you charge models for your services yet don't expect to do the same. And if that really is how you feel, don't tell the model least of all!


It's completely up to you how much you believe you are worth, money wise, and only you will know what rate suits you best. The most important factors to remember, what will get you that paid gig are:
- Experience
- Work quality
- Attitude (the right kind)
- Professionalism
- Confidence 
Also I realise makeup peeps have the kit fee to worry about. After many conversations with talented MUAs (makeup artists) in my dealings, I found that they have had to lower the prices of the kit fees because there are less talented MUAs picking up the jobs since they are willing to do it for free. First of all I would like to "tsk tsk" those for picking the not so talented over the talented due to budget (unless budget is a huge issue, I can understand that). But I would like to say those struggling MUAs, don't lower your price especially if you know you're worth more. You have to stand your ground, show your confidence and people will come round and realise how serious you are. Obviously experience, quality and professionalism also apply to MUAs like everyone else.


I hope that's helped if you've been wondering how you would go about making the rates for yourself. If anyone has any other input or suggestions please feel free to share here. Happy job hunting!!!


Photography by Stephen M. Loban, makeup by Kayla Jackon, model is myself.

And the winner is...

And the winner of the poll with a resounding 50% of votes is, "It doesn't matter. It's all about who you know." And to be quiet honest I am not surprised. Keep an eye out for the next poll!
In other news I have officially signed up to take jewelry design at George Brown to hone my jewelry making skills. Here's two of my examples which were both published...

I also just came across this great little blog which is one of my favourites at the moment. Written by one of the dancers at the National Ballet of Canada, Tina Pereira, she talks about the connection with the dance world to the fashion world. Such a good read. Definitely give it a look! Haute BALLERINA Couture.

More updates to come soon and some interviews! All the best!


Photo on upper left: Photography by Stephen M. Loban, hair and makeup by Kayla Jackson, model and styling by myself, featured in Votive Magazine http://votivemag.com/.

Photo on upper right: Photography by Stephen M. Loban, makeup and swimsuit designed by Lisa Jackson, hair by Linda Radan, model is Tara Wright, styling by myself, featured in W25 Magazine http://www.w25mag.com/.
Photos both bottom right and left: Photography by Tarzan Dan http://www.tdfoto.ca/fr_home.cfm and model/ballerina is Tina Pereira.

Whether you are in the fashion industry or not you should watch this...

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When my boyfriend showed me this video I was left dumbstruck. This talk was such an eye opener to not only the question of, "What is beauty?" But also, "What is disability?" A little background on Aimee Mullins; she was diagnosed with fibular hemimelia, which is missing fibula bones, at the age of one. This resulted in the amputation of both her legs. In 1996 she competed in the Paralympics in Atlanta where she ran the 100-meter dash in 17.01 seconds and jumped 3.14 meters in the long-jump. She has had a successful and extensive career in fashion which you can find out more in this video.
Such a fascinating talk. Please have a look and give me your feedback.

Fashion People in Toronto and the GTA...

Tomorrow night I will be walking in a show at Crown Nightclub. This should be a great event and a great way to mingle with other fashion insiders and lovers. You could even say it is a great opportunity to "market yourself"! ;) You can find more information in the poster below. Hope to see you there!

The work and process that comes with making a fashion show...

Trailer for "Material Success" staring Bruno Ierullo, Susana Benavides and more. Directed by Jesse Mann.

Since my main focus for this SIG is the production and business of the fashion industry, I thought for one of my first entries I would review "Material Success" I saw Thursday March 29th as part of the Canadian Film Festival. Directed by Jesse Mann, the film follows designer Bruno Ierullo (who I have had the pleasure of modeling for) as he prepares for his fashion show back in 2009. Ronnie Tremblay, makeup artist and friend, was lovely enough to accompany me to this screening especially so last minute.
It was a great insight on the production and work that goes into making a show. You see every detail that is put into the making of the garments, organising the venues and rehearsal space, the casting of models, organising models, the hard task of picking or rejecting said models, coaching the models, the late hours, the last minute items, the disagreements and most importantly the final moment when everything comes together and see why Bruno does what he does. It was a great film and really gave me an insight more into the fashion industry. I've mostly seen the modeling side but I have been a part of the production process too, only a small segment though. I am inspired now to work more on production and the process for shows and shoots. It was a real eye opener, inspiring and a lot of fun to watch. The best part is it didn't feel staged, it was very real which Ronnie noted too. No one seemed to be playing up to the camera at all. It almost seemed as if you were there with them running around trying to bring this show together. I do have to admit though, the biggest break out star from the movie would have to be "Nana" Ierullo, such a character! I highly recommend giving this movie a look, especially to the designers and aspiring designers. You can find out more information at their website http://www.materialsuccess.ca/. Check out the trailer above and leave any comments or feedback!

Welcome to my SIG (Special Interest Group)!

I am very excited to begin this new blog and share what we all have a common interest in...

FASHION!!!

What I am really interested in knowing is how we can make fashion and the business of fashion work for us? I want to delve into the marketing, social networking and business side of it all. I will be posting polls, videos, pictures, etc and I want to hear from you. Tips, success stories, learnt lessons, anything you just want to share. This is part of my University course but I do believe it is time I made a blog outside of the BAPP course so I can reach out to more people in this industry. If anyone has any input about the business side of fashion please feel free to share in the comments below!

Stay tuned for more updates...
(Photo above taken by Stephen M Loban www.stephenloban.com, makeup by Carmen Rachel Carmen Rachel's Model Mayhem page and modeling by me http://www.facebook.com/Victoria.Ellingham.)