August 23, 2016

Meet DTLA Fashion Stylist & Creative Director: Stacey Dabney

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacey Dabney.

Stacey, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was introduced to the fashion industry as a career after following my gut instinct and moving to LA 6 years ago. I have always had a knack to be able to put together a great outfit. I first started working a stylist as a personal shopper for musicians and entertainers , dressing them for their performances, promo shoots and music videos. I was quickly able to build my clientele base through referral and word of mouth. Shortly after I was introduced to the film industry doing short films and indie features. After getting a few under my belt I decided that I wanted to fully submerge myself in learning everything I could about the styling industry. Without any traditional schooling, I knew that the best way for me to learn was to just jump right in and get hands on. After 2 years in LA, I moved to New York where I landed an internship with Morgan Pilcher at Vogue China, April Hughes with Sarah Laird Agency and Holly Suan Gray.

During that time I became a sponge, working for three different stylists each with their own aesthetic allowed me to quickly learn the ropes of the industry. After a year and a half in New York, I was ready to come back to LA and apply everything I learned to the growth of my own platform as a stylist. Shortly, after getting back I was able to land job after job because I had learned to train my natural eye to convey my aesthetic to industry standards. I have been blessed to be a part of some amazing projects in all sectors of styling to include film, television, commercial and print ads.

Currently, I have my eyes set on launching my fashion blog FAD Forever that will feature a first for me, which is virtual styling. I will now be available for booking from anywhere in the world! I look forward to developing new client relationships + bringing everyday style to everyday people.

Has it been a smooth road?
There has definitely have been challenges along the way. As a newbie in the industry you have to build a report with showrooms and designers in order to be able to have access to be able to pull wardrobe. One way that I overcame this obstacle was to build a professional web presence, if you take yourself seriously then others have no choice but to take you serious. I began to produce my own shoots to serve as a representation for the clothing I wanted to be able to access to. I was constantly researching and reaching out to emerging designers for collaboration. I did not limit myself to just LA, I branched out to designers in other states and even other countries. Although this approach is a bit more costly, due to shipping, studio time, and other factors – I was able to quickly build my portfolio to the status where I was viewed as an equal in the fashion industry and not just a newbie.

Another challenge that I faced is learning how quickly the industry can change. I had to be able to adapt and continuously evolve as a creative professional. I did so by staying current with trends, runway shows, street fashion, blogs and even art. I have learned that being complacent in this industry is an easy trap to fall into but the key to overcoming that is to stay inspired!

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
In the next decade I think the industry will still be the same, just more sustainable. I also think there will be a shift in focus, more on style + not so much the label. The shift will celebrate the unique creative expression in fashion + welcome more collaborations.

What has been the primary challenge you’ve faced?
My biggest challenge over the years has been balance and the power to say ‘no’ to certain projects. Balance, when it comes to interning and a steady job. Interning is an integral part of learning the inside mechanics of becoming a fashion stylist. Also important, is the ability to pay your bills. What worked for me, was to find a stylist that I admired and was inspired by and was honest about my schedule restrictions. This worked because when I worked for those with an aesthetic I appreciated it made assisting them a lot more fun and intriguing. Being honest about my schedule restrictions allowed for proper growth and consistent work.

Getting over the fear of saying ‘no’ was also a big challenge for me. At a certain point in my growth, I had to turn down certain projects – which was tough in ‘downtime’. I quickly learned that saying ‘no’ to projects that didn’t directly impact my direction in growth turned out to be beneficial. Being selective with the projects I collaborate on and accept has allowed me to set my standard and establish my voice as professional.

Let’s change gears – is there any advice you’d like to give?
1. Keep evolving. Times change, and fashion changes even faster. Don’t ever get complacent, stay inspired!

2. Do your research. There is a so much information at our fingertips and new designers emerging constantly. It is important to stay informed.

3. Find your voice. What do you connect with? For me, by finding what I connected with in regards to fabric, hues, or concepts, it opened up new possibilities that helped me grow as a stylist. And, it helped sharpen my eye.

Pricing:

I am available a personal shopper starting at an hourly rate of $50 + wardrobe budget
I am available for productions at a day rate starting at $450/day + wardrobe budget.

Contact Info: