Today we’d like to introduce you to Brittany Diego.
Brittany, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Since I was ten years old, I knew that I wanted to be in the fashion industry. Back then, I didn’t know all of the avenues I could pursue. I only knew of the designers and models, so I dedicated a huge chunk of my life to pursuing fashion design. I attended a fashion-magnet high school in DTLA and majored in fashion design in college. It wasn’t until my first internship that I realized that being a designer was not exactly what I had imagined.
My first boss described it perfectly: being a designer was 90% problem-solving and 10% creativity. I got to see the entire design process from start to finish. The department that fascinated me the most at that internship, though, was styling. I was there for the whole summer, so I got to take part in collection presentations and see the behind-the-scenes of photoshoots. I thought, “THIS is what I want to do.”
I’m very type A, so I already had my life planned out as a designer. Now that I knew this was no longer what I wanted to do, I was lost and had to start again from scratch. I kind of had an idea of what styling was but shied away from it because I thought you could only get into it if you had a lot of industry connections, which I did not. I had a design portfolio and a resume of internships and roles that weren’t really relevant to styling. During my senior year, as I was designing my final collection I was simultaneously starting from square one, I started doing internships with celebrity stylists on the side to get experience in that area. Most stylists won’t hold your hand, it was very much “learn as you go”. I did a few internships, moved up to an assistant, and eventually, felt like I knew enough to branch out on my own, and I’m still learning new things every day.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The biggest struggle was getting started. I went to fashion school, so I knew people who knew stylists, yet no one really wanted to give me a chance. I wasn’t asking to be handed anything; I had peers who were referred to actual jobs by professors, but I couldn’t even get recommended to shadow or intern for stylists. Those experiences taught me how to be independent and take initiative. I do everything in my power to make things happen on my own.
Aside from that, I quickly came to the realization that was styling is no longer just a hobby that I do on weekends; this is my business. People see the beautiful images and clothes but not the hard work that goes behind the process. Despite shows like Rachel Zoe Project or Project Runway showing what happens behind- the-scenes, people still think it’s all glamorous, but it’s not. I learned a lot through trial and error and now know the importance of conducting myself as a brand.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Brittany Diego – what should we know?
I’m an editorial/celebrity stylist. It might sound cliché, but my goal is to bring out the confidence in my clients. You know when you see someone getting a makeover on TV, and they start crying because they’ve never seen themselves look that good. That’s what I live for. Clothing can truly transform how you view yourself, and in turn, how others view you.
Think about the last time you got dressed up whether it was for a birthday or other celebration. Think about how you felt-you probably carried yourself in a different way than you did in your normal T-shirt and jeans. In our social media-dominated world, it’s all about your personal brand, and your overall image plays a significant part in that. My goal is to bring that part back into the styling equation. It’s not just about putting a dress on someone and looking good but feeling equally good.
As far as what sets me apart, it’s my eye, as well as my varied experiences in the fashion industry. I’ve worked in visual merchandising, design, trend forecasting, and more — all of these have contributed to the unique perspective that I bring to every client or project.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My family has always been extremely supportive of my creativity since the very beginning. I think they always knew I was never going to be a doctor or lawyer, so I’m grateful for all of their constant support through the years because it hasn’t been an easy journey.
My biggest mentor in the industry has been Rebecca Raleigh. Google her because she’s amazing! We hit it off right away, and she’s been a constant source of support ever since. I can talk to her about anything and everything, and she will always be there with an honest and insightful response. She gives the best advice because she’s been there and done that in the industry, and always tells it like it is.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.brittanytdiego.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: brittanydiego
Image Credit:
(Photo of me) © Edgar Omar Images
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