Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Wu.
Michelle, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
While I was in USC Rossier School of Education studying to become an educator, I decided to take on another education path at FIDM that truly identified with what my heart desires, which is fashion. I graduated from both schools and I was a fashion designer before I became a fashion stylist.
To further my studies in the field of fashion styling, I went to a styling school in Hollywood and was told that in order to become a stylist one needs to first be a stylist assistant. But I had a different idea. I began to do TFP with various photographers to build my portfolio as a stylist.
Soon after, various magazines reached out to me to work with them on celebrities editorial photoshoots. With God’s blessing, that was when I realized my potentials and was able to be interviewed by ZWTV and World Journal, two of the largest media in Chinese speaking world.
Has it been a smooth road?
Being a stylist is never easy, especially in LA, it is really competitive, and I believe it would have been impossible for me without God’s guidance. The biggest struggle for me was to choose to become a fashion designer or a freelance stylist.
If I chose to be a fashion designer, I would have a regularly paid job but I would have to sacrifice my time with my family. But if I chose to become a freelance stylist, I would be able to take care of my kids and make money at the same time. So… I prayed and God guided me to become a freelance stylist and I learned to enjoy the work greatly.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Michelle Wu Stylist story. Tell us more about the business.
As a freelance stylist, I specialize in creating looks that magazines, celebrities and fashionmongers want. What sets me apart from other stylists is that because I have the designing background, I can mentally design the specific looks that people are looking for. It is consistent with the designing philosophy I had. I believe the key is not how good you are as a stylist but how good you are as a person, and to be a good person… honesty and be true to your words are always the best policy.
Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years? Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc?
Netflix is producing their own movies and TV shows so next 5-10 years there will be more celebrities for fashion stylists to style celebrities for the red carpet or editorial photoshoots. And because people have to update their social media, there will be more opportunities for stylists to bring unique designs/looks to style people.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://michelle-wu.format.com/
- Phone: 3109688735
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michellewustylist/
Image Credit:
Karamo Brown from TV Show Queer Eye Kristen Hancher, Abigail Ratchford, Angela Zhou from Hell on Wheels & Supergirl TV shows, Rydel Lynch
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
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