Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Mundy.
Molly, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Growing up, the one thing I always had an unforgiving passion for was clothing and shopping. Not necessarily purchasing things, but just experiencing what a creative compass clothing and fashion offered. I always knew I wanted to do something in the world of creatives, but I just never knew what. I tried designing and sewing for a while but I just didn’t have the patience for it, so I knew that wasn’t my calling.
Then, in my last two years or so of high school, I was talking to my cousin, who is a freelance make up artist, about fashion and how I could incorporate it into my lifetime career. She then explained to me what freelance styling was. I was ecstatic as I had never been introduced to the idea for and right then and there it clicked and I knew that’s a field I would fit right into.
I was 17 at the time. I had spent no time in fashion school or had any experience in the industry what so ever.
So, I had my cousin reach out to some of the stylists she had previously worked with on sets or for events and asked if any of them needed interns.
A week later, I worked as an intern on my first set. I fell in love with the workspace instantly.
At the time, I was living in San Diego and already planning on graduating high school early.
I spent about 2-3 months using all of my off days to commute to LA from San Diego for intern opportunities. I eventually quit my job and spent weeks at a time, just staying on my cousin’s couch and accepting all of the work that came my way. And on my slow weeks, I would spend that time in San Diego, working for my father’s company for extra money so I could pursue my fashion dreams.
About a year into interning and assisting under multiple established stylists I felt secure enough to make the move up to LA myself, get my own place and really put my all into this goal.
That was two years ago, I’m now 20 and I have been pursuing the fashion industry for just over three years now and I don’t plan on stopping any time soon.
The last two years, I’ve really spent a lot of time learning as much as I can from assisting and interning. No matter how long three years may feel to me, I know I still have so far to go and so much to learn.
Has it been a smooth road?
I’ve been extremely blessed with a family who backs me up on my road to success. But with that being said, there are still going to be obstacles.
This may seem a little ridiculous, but what I feel has held me back a lot is being young. Not being able to go out and network with the people I meet from events, or on set. As I am still only 20, it does make it difficult to really get my name out. Getting invited to events that could really benefit, me to advertise myself and my brand; and being unable to attend because I am not of age.
I feel like also just being young, you have to shine twice as bright just to be seen.
My biggest point of advice to anyone trying to work for yourself is, watch how you are branding yourself.
Your face, your name, that’s your brand; you don’t have a big corporate brand to hide behind. First impressions are important. People I met when I was first starting as an intern from the girls helping me pull at showrooms to photographers. They all have a say in the industry and you don’t want anything bad on your name. So, always put your best foot forward. Networking is key.
What do you do? What do you specialize in?
I specialize in women’s styling. But I also do personal shopping.
I really do want to expand and start in men’s styling and trying to make a footprint in that side of things.
I am most proud of how far I’ve come at such a young age. That I’ve had the drive and motivation to push myself and even though I have second guessed myself numerous times, I’ve pushed through and remembered why I started. That’s something that I also feel really sets me apart is that I will never forget why I started. When I was younger, my mom would print out these simple, body outlines and I would sit there for hours and draw/color different outfits on them; that was my favorite thing to do. And it is just little things like that that brought me joy when I was younger, that I will never forget my pure, raw love for the art of fashion. Which is why I feel like my taste and work will always be the rawest form of my creativity. And also, why I’m always proud of the work that I do.
Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well positioned for?
Absolutely, as terrible as some of the things that we hear about happening in the industry are, I feel like we come out stronger on the other end. As vulnerable as women can be in the industry, it pushes us further as a whole.
It is definitely scary to think about being taken advantage of, but I don’t like to look at that as my main image of workplace I find myself gravitating towards.
And I don’t think there is one specific opportunity I can pinpoint. I think any gender can really be well positioned for any opportunity, as long as they are in the right headspace and really want it, they can absolutely succeed.
Contact Info:
- Website: mollyraemundy.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mollymundy/
Image Credit:
Both white bikini photos, Photographer Delaney Teichler, Laverne Cox, Key stylist Christina Pacelli, Assist me( Molly Mundy), Ashton Sanders, Key stylish Jessie Jamz, Assist me (Molly Mundy)
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