Conversations with Amani Bryant

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amani Bryant.

Hi Amani, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve been fascinated by fashion for as long as I can remember, and I think a lot of that love began with my grandparents. I used to have fashion shows in their closets, trying on their clothes and paying attention to all the little details that brought an outfit together. One grandmother had a purse collection I was obsessed with, while the other had jewelry and shoes that I loved experimenting with. I remember hoping that one day I would be able to have their clothes and accessories, but even then, I was interested in more than just the clothing itself. I loved seeing how bags, shoes, jewelry, and other details could completely change the feeling of an outfit.

Even at a young age, I was drawn to shows and movies where fashion was a big part of the story. I loved watching Sex and the City, The Devil Wears Prada, and Confessions of a Shopaholic, along with America’s Next Top Model and the Bratz and Barbie movies. I was fascinated by the outfits, the characters’ confidence, and the way personal style could reflect someone’s personality. I also loved reading Fancy Nancy books, which added to my appreciation for all things colorful, expressive, and imaginative. For the longest time, I wanted to be a model because I loved fashion and the idea of being part of that world. As I got older, I realized I was just as passionate about creating the looks as I was about wearing them. I still would love to model, but I became increasingly interested in styling, creative direction, and bringing an entire visual idea to life.

I started creating content in 2022 and became more intentional about it in 2024, when I began developing @amanicoree into a space where I could share my outfits, photography, and visual aesthetic interests. It gave me somewhere to experiment with my style and hold myself more accountable by taking my creativity more seriously. I began to see that the things I naturally paid attention to, from clothing and accessories to colors, places, and little details, could become part of my own creative perspective.

Today, I’m working toward building a career in fashion, particularly styling, editorial shoots, and creative direction. I’m also developing SYN, which stands for Something Yet Nothing, with my best friend. The name reflects the idea that we come into this world with nothing, spend our lives creating something, and eventually leave with nothing. We’re all drawn to the contrast between something and nothing. For example, a wallet can have nothing in it, but the wallet itself is still something because we give it meaning and acknowledgment. That idea reflects how something and nothing can coexist, and how we give meaning to the things we have and desire, such as love, money, ideas, and material things.

I’m still figuring out exactly where all my interests will take me, but I think that’s part of what makes my journey exciting. I don’t want to limit myself to one creative title or feel like I have to choose only one thing. I want to keep learning, exploring different sides of fashion, and building a career that allows me to create, experiment, and bring ideas to life in different ways.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of my biggest struggles has been learning to trust myself and my creative vision, especially when it’s easy to compare myself to other talented people or feel like I need to reach a certain level before taking myself seriously. I’ve had moments where I overthought my ideas or worried about how others might perceive them, and I’ve also caught myself following what was popular instead of leaning into what I genuinely liked.

Another challenge has been figuring out how to turn my creativity into a career. I have so many interests, and sometimes it feels overwhelming trying to decide which direction to take or how to bring everything together. I’m learning that I don’t have to have every step figured out before I begin, and that the things that make my perspective different are often the things I should embrace rather than hide. I’m also learning to put myself out there before I feel completely ready, because waiting for everything to be perfect can keep me from growing.

Overall, I’m becoming more comfortable with the process and less focused on comparing my timeline to someone else’s. I want to build something that genuinely reflects who I am, and I’m learning that it takes patience, consistency, and the willingness to keep showing up even when I’m still figuring things out.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m an independent fashion creative working toward building a career in styling, visual storytelling, and creative direction. Right now, I’m focused on developing my skills, building my portfolio, and creating opportunities for myself while taking on other work to support myself financially. I’m drawn to the way clothing, accessories, colors, and textures can communicate something about a person or create a certain feeling. For me, styling is about more than putting an outfit together; it’s about creating a perspective and bringing an idea to life.

My personal style is very maximalist. I love color, jewelry, accessories, thrifting, and finding unique pieces that have personality. I enjoy experimenting with unexpected combinations and mixing different styles rather than following one particular aesthetic. Some of the creatives who inspire me are Virgil Abloh, Rick Owens, and John Galliano. I admire Virgil for the way he brought together fashion, art, music, and design, constantly challenging the boundaries of what a creative could be. Rick Owens inspires me because of his ability to create such a distinct visual world through unconventional silhouettes, textures, and proportions, challenging traditional ideas of beauty while remaining true to his own vision. I especially love John Galliano’s theatrical approach to fashion and his use of historical references, romance, and intricate details to create collections that feel like entire stories, particularly during his time at Dior and Maison Margiela.

For personal style, I’m inspired by people like Sarah Jessica Parker, Bella Hadid, Zoë Kravitz, and Tracee Ellis Ross, especially their individuality and willingness to experiment.

What sets me apart is that I’m interested in the entire visual experience, not just the clothes. I enjoy photography, editing, graphic design, and creating moodboards, and I’m always thinking about how different elements can work together to tell a story. I’m proud of the creative space I’ve been building through @amanicoree, where I can experiment with my style and continue developing my eye. I’m also developing SYN (Something Yet Nothing) with my best friend. Although it’s still in the works, it’s something we’ve been passionate about for a long time, and we’re excited to keep developing the concept and bringing our ideas to life.

My goal is to turn my creative interests into a sustainable career and continue building something of my own. I’d love opportunities to assist established stylists, collaborate on editorial shoots, and learn more about the creative process behind fashion campaigns. I know I still have a lot to learn, but I trust my eye and want to keep developing a perspective that feels distinctive, expressive, and true to me.

What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was very creative, energetic, and a little bit of a character. I loved making people laugh, coming up with ideas, and finding different ways to entertain myself and the people around me. I was also empathetic and observant, and I’ve always been interested in people, their personalities, and what makes them who they are. I could be social and outgoing, but I also had a shy and anxious side that made me spend a lot of time in my own head.

I’ve always loved creating things, even outside of fashion. I used to make dance routines for my siblings and me to perform for our parents, paint, bake, edit videos, write poems, and fill notebooks with ideas. I loved music so much that I would pause YouTube videos to write down song lyrics because I wanted to know every word. Growing up, I also explored different activities, including gymnastics, dance, swimming, and acting. I enjoyed trying different things and seeing what I connected with, but over time, I started realizing that not every interest had to turn into something I pursued professionally. When I explored acting and went to castings, I found myself more interested in the creative vision behind what was being made than in being the person in front of the camera. I began to recognize that my interests went beyond performing. I was drawn to the ideas, visuals, styling, and all the little details that help bring something to life. Looking back, I think I was exploring different ways to express myself before fully understanding that what excited me most was creating the world around an idea, not necessarily always being the person at the center of it.

I also remember being excited about the idea of growing up, making my own money, and finally being able to buy the things I wanted without having to depend on anyone else. Having that independence was important to me, and I think it connects to why I’m so drawn to the idea of working for myself today. I want the freedom to make my own decisions, create what I want to create, and build something that reflects my own ideas. Of course, being able to afford the things I love is part of that, but I also want to create opportunities for myself and inspire other people through what I do. I like the idea of turning something that exists in my imagination into something real, while building a life that feels like my own.

I was the oldest of three siblings, so I often took the lead in finding things for us to do and coming up with ways to keep us entertained. I also moved around a lot growing up, which exposed me to different environments and people. I think those experiences made me more observant and curious about how people think, interact, and express themselves.

School was a little complicated for me. I often found myself more interested in creative projects than traditional subjects, and I struggled with anxiety around speaking in front of people. Even reading aloud in class could make me nervous, and I would count how many students were ahead of me so I could prepare for my turn. In high school, I became more conscious of fitting in and sometimes felt like I was trying to be the version of myself I thought others expected. Since I attended a couple of grade schools where we wore uniforms, I didn’t always have the freedom to express myself through clothing the way I wanted to. I think that made personal style even more meaningful to me, and I would make vision boards and collect outfit inspiration as a way to explore who I wanted to be.

Studying psychology in college gave me another way to explore my interest in people. I wanted to understand how we think, why we behave the way we do, and how our experiences shape our identities. I think that connects naturally to fashion because the way we present ourselves can communicate so much without saying anything. Earning my associate degree in psychology gave me a different perspective on people and identity, and those are things I still think about when approaching fashion and creative work. I’m learning to embrace who I am instead of feeling like I need to fit into a specific version of who I’m supposed to be.

Pricing:

• Styling and creative collaboration rates vary by project; currently open to editorial shoots, stylist assisting opportunities, and fashion collaborations. For inquiries, contact – IG @amanicoree or amanibryant72@gmail.com.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanicoree?igsh=MWxnYjh6endpMnJl
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amani-bryant-a183a3249?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Amanicoree
• Other: Other Styling page: https://www.instagram.com/amanistyled?vrfl=d3h4MGwzb2Zlam85

Image Credits
(They were all taken by friends)