LIFE OF A STYLIST: WHAT'S IN MY STYLIST KIT?

posted by Elshane on Sep 11 2014, under Life of a Stylist

I'm an industry vet

and my Fashion Stylist Kit can prove it. Best yet, I use so many of these items on any given Saturday night while dressing myself...

Here's why.

Don't leave home without my most-used-and-abused Stylist Kit items:

1. "Fashion" Tape (Strong Double Stick Tape): Use this tape to affix clothing to skin to avoid on-camera wrinkles or wardrobe malfunctions. Tape layers of clothing together to avoid misadjusting of layers. This is, first and foremost, a stylist's most important on-hand accessory!

2. "Gaff" Tape (Gaffer's Tape): As durable as duct tape but minus the residue mess, Gaff tape is the perfect fix to hide (or as us industry insider's say, "Greek") logos. Black Gaff tape can cover an entire Nike swoosh on a pair of perfectly fabulous sneakers for a music video. White Gaff tape can cover a small logo on a white polo shirt during a televised sporting event. Remember, if the brand isn't paying for sponsorship, the network isn't going to promote free advertising! It's the stylist's responsibility to manage the integrity of the client.

3. "Clips" (Mini Spring Clamps): On set of a photo shoot, it's rare that the clothing will fit the talent perfectly. Cue: hard hats (ok, Gucci hats) and trip to local hardware store in search of the strongest miniature electrical clamps. Spring clamps are so strong (and small) that they can cinch the back of jeans in under three seconds! And when you have a photographer breathing down your back, there's no room for error...

4. "Mini Steamer" (Jiffy Steamer): A portable steamer, really?! Best money you'll ever spend.  It's the perfect on-set accouterment {often times "base camp" where you dress the talent is far away from the actual shoot location} if you're far from base camp and your talent becomes wrinkled. When the director looks over and sees you satellite-steaming, chances are you'll be hired again. Plus, I never travel without it. I'm perfectly pressed in every city of the world!

5. "Commandos" (Nude Thongs): Any wardrobe malfunction is the stylist's fault, no matter what. So, when you're on set of a shoot, or whisking away your client to a red carpet, and her undergarments don't fit the bill, a dark, stormy cloud suddenly moves in and pours on your parade. But, if you're prepared, like I always am with extra undergarments in tow, the sun will always shine...

6. Dulling Spray: Ever imagine a belt buckle could ruin your career? Well, you won't have to if you have Dulling Spray on hand. Metals have a funny way of annoying a high-definition camera-- like that eclipse that shines so bright, yet you're not supposed to stare at it directly. Metals can throw off an entire camera shot in that sense, but Dulling Spray can lessen the intensity of the shine, therefore deeming you, once again, hero of the hour!

7. "Chicken Cutlets" (Silicone Breast Enhancers): You never know what kind of body type you'll be working with on any given morning. To play the part of Beverly Hills plastic surgeon for a day is a pretty exciting feat. If they don't 'got 'em', well... now you do!

8. Sewing Kit, Pins, Lint Roller, Scissors, all the basics... freshen up on those sewing skills. You'll need them more than you think.

Oh, and lastly...

Organize all your goods in some fresh n' fly colored makeup cases and store them in an easy-to-tote, and easy-on-the-eyes bag. Just your luck, you'll be staring at this bag a lot!

Shop the Look

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Current location

Los Angeles, CA
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HI! IT'S ELSHANE FROM LOS ANGELES, CA
(BY WAY OF NEW YORK CITY)

I STARTED MY BLOG IN 2010 AS A WAY TO ARCHIVE ALL OF THE ONE-OF-A-KIND RUNWAY PIECES THAT I OWNED FROM WORKING AS THE IN-HOUSE STYLIST FOR DIANE VON FURSTENBERG IN NYC.

THEN, IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST... BIO

EMAIL ME
ELSHANE@ELSHANESWORLD.COM

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