Today we’d like to introduce you to Ali Levine.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I think about my story, sometimes I laugh at how all over the place it seems to me, or how many paths I took to get there and still am as I grow in my career and transition and everything in between.
So, starting at the beginning, I started at Target. I was an intern for Target in AZ. I went to college at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ. That is where I found my internship with Target as an executive of soft lines intern. I learned about this opportunity from my club I was involved in and the President of at the time, NAMA, northern Arizona merchandising association. I was looking for internships for my fellow classmates and ended up falling in love with Target myself. From there, I learned all the ins and outs of their amazing company.
I also learned how to handle multiple departments, work with many customers, team members, understand retail, and much more! From there I landed a job with Target as an executive of soft lines, after graduation. I moved back to New York to work at their flagship store. After a few years of an amazing experience managing all of my soft line departments and sometimes even acting as the head store manager, I decided to move on and find a job in the corporate world. I started working at a company in NYC called Fragments. I became their product development and design assistant. I learned how to develop all different private labels for jewelry design, and help work with their factories overseas. After learning quite a bit, I decided to move on with a larger company, and I received a position at Coach. I started working on their handbag and accessories team. I was part of helping design or unique bag for their non “cc” team. I loved the experience of getting to really use my creativity to make fashion come to life.
After a couple more years, of being successful at Coach, unfortunately, circumstances out of my control occurred, and I chose to move on from the corporate world. From there, I started freelancing and assisting shoppers, and helping with fabric choices, outfit choices, sourcing, etc. A “stylist” wasn’t really a term yet, but I wanted to learn a different side of fashion than the corporate world. After some more hard work and learning, I was given an opportunity to interview with the amazing director – Oliver Stone. I landed a job as the production assistant, and eventually wound up in the costume design department, to work with the incredible costume designer – Ellen Mirojnick. I had the incredible opportunity to work side-by-side with Ellen and her team, and learned the ins and outs of the costume department. I worked on the movie Wall Street Money Never Sleeps and this is where my true love for fashion and the entertainment industry truly began! After working on several movies and TV shows, I relocated to Los Angeles to pursue my dream in styling and costume. After working with an amazing team on the east coast in Atlanta for Big Mama’s House w/ Martin Lawrence, that team from LA encouraged me to make the move and so I did. After some more time working on shows like Happily Divorced with Fran Drescher, films such as Snow White w/ Colleen Atwood,
In time with Justin Timberlake and many others, it was time to move on from movies and television. This is when I realized I wanted a more fast-paced environment and trending modern day fashion and this was now known as styling. I had to start all over again and gain experience in styling directly, and I started interning for Renelou Padora – Kanye West, World Throne Tour, Emma Stone’s team, Lady B, Akerlund, Monica Rose- Kardashians, and the list goes on. I started to intern and then finally assisting to learn the styling world of celebrities and red carpet fashion! This brings me to my career in styling and Ali Levine Design was born. I started my own company styling celebrities for the red carpet, editorial, tv, music videos and so much more! Years of styling amazing celebs, reality stars, music artists, so many being named Best Dressed or magazines copying my looks, for getting the look, or who wore it better, that’s when my styling career really took off. I have been styling for over 10 years celebrity and personal clients as well as been part of the costume design guild as a member. I have gotten to work with some of the biggest names in the business and worked hard for this career especially as a freelancer, I am my own boss and business.
From styling so many amazing names, my own name was built and I have become my own brand. I started being requested to appear on camera to give fashion tips and must-haves, on local and national shows. Shortly after that, I was on national television for Bravo’s new hot show the stripped down podcast with Hollywood mom, celebrity stylist, and bravo reality TV star Ali Levine! Join in with her weekly as Ali dishes on all things motherhood, the real, the raw and everything in between! I regularly guest and host segments now all over the west coast talking fashion, beauty, and now mom must-haves. As the social media world has also taken off, I have also become an influencer in the space. I also have a podcast that came out of all of my blogging and influence with my cohost, Things Were too Lazy to Blog About. I am constantly creating content to inspire my audience as well as blogging my experiences as a stylist and now new mama. Which brings me to my current newest job, of being a working mom and mommy influencer. And my mommy podcast coming soon, this summer, Strptd Down with Ali Levine.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Haha, a smooth road?! Definitely not, been quite the opposite actually. I feel like transitioning from one job to the other alone was hard, and then moving from a steady corporate job to the freelance world was even harder. Not having stability, not knowing when you would get paid or get that next job. It can all be quite terrifying at times and overwhelming. After years of dealing with the ebbs and flows of the entertainment industry and fashion industry, I learn to ride the waves and learn along the way. It is still hard at times but I know hard work always pays off! As I transition in my career and change and grow, I find more challenges but also more rewards.
My advice would be a very obvious one, if you want it, don’t quit! Work hard, and see the light at the end of the tunnel. Know that you’re working towards something big. Set small goals to make it realistic for yourself but also larger goals for down the road. Always set new goals and check in with yourself. Write down what you’re grateful for to help keep yourself balanced and positive. Learn as much as you can from others and never take anything or anyone or experience for granted. Be determined. Trust yourself and believe in yourself.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Ali Levine Design – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
As I mentioned before, I am a stylist, and I dress everyday people and celebrities. I make people feel good by dressing them and helping them find their confidence in what they wear. I always say ” Confidence is your best accessory”. I dress people from head to toe and help them find what works best for them. This is where I started my business. Now, my styling career has changed and evolved so much from just dressing people. I am now talking style, must have and trends on national and local segments to teach others how to dress and shop, I am also getting to work with so many amazing brands and showcase them on my segments to talk about why they are my must-haves. My influence on social media is part of my everyday work and creating content to empower others who follow me and work with amazing brands that align with me and who I am as a celeb stylist, tv personality, podcaster, and new mama. I am proud of many things in my career. I am proud of the fact that I am a true brand and my own entrepreneur. In the styling world, I have had many best dressed moments, features in national magazines and newspapers, major red carpet moments, huge national segments for TV, I recently even had a jewelry line I designed called Hearts on Fire w/ Sterling Forever, sell on nordstroms.com currently. I have had many accomplishments in my career. I think what sets me apart is my authenticity and my commitment to being true to my audience and really taking everything seriously that I create and putting 150% passion into it to inspire and help others. Whether it be a fashion choice, a brand choice, or just a positive take away from me as a brand. I am proud of what I have built over all these years and my heavily engaged audience and followers that have continued to follow me and watch me grow and change in my business and personally. Now that I have become a mom, being a working mom, mompreneur, showing my daughter how to work hard and be able to inspire her to know that it is not easy but you can do it, and you can do it all. I think the fact that I show this regularly on my social media and talk about this on my platforms, sets me apart from others. I want to always keep it real for my followers and most importantly my self.
Who have you been inspired by?
My grandmother had always inspired me when I was a young little girl. She taught me fashion, she encouraged me how to sew, draw, paint, be creative. Be independent. She always encouraged me to pick out my own outfits and style myself. She let me go through all her amazing fashion and jewelry and play dress up and create my visions. She was my best friend, and now, my daughter is named after her, Amelia.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.alilevine.com
- Email: ali@alilevinedesign.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/alilevinedesign
- Facebook: facebook.com/alilevinedesign
- Twitter: twitter.com/alilevinedesign
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/things-were-too-lazy-to-blog-about/id1234042975 https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/sterling-forever-hearts-on-fire-set-of-2-chokers-lariat-necklace/5014135?origin=keywordsearch-personalizedsort&breadcrumb=Home%2FAll%20Results&color=gold
Image Credit:
MOVI INC – photographer credit for first photo, pink carpet photo – Kelly K PR, jumpsuit pic – Kent.la
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.
