Meet Los Feliz Wardrobe Stylist & Fashion Designer: Chloée O’Hayon-Crosby

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chloée O’Hayon-Crosby .

Raised between Santa Barbara, California and Paris, France, Chloée discovered the allure of high fashion at a very young age. Born in Málaga, Spain, to a Moroccan mother and an American father, Chloée has always naturally gravitated towards, and embraced other cultures. Sketching since she could hold a pencil in hand, she started designing clothing at eleven years of age. After receiving her education in Fashion Design from the world renowned ESMOD school in Paris, Chloée started her career working as an assistant designer for the distinguished fashion house, Chloe. Chloée also worked as a freelance stylist with Vogue Italia and on various independent films, as well.

Leaving Paris to start Avant-Garde Design & Consulting, Chloée brings with her, her love and prowess in fashion and design. Through keen ability to distinguish between what works and what does not, Chloée enables her clients to create a new and innovative dialogue expressed solely through flattering means of expression in dress.

Below you’ll find edited excerpts of our interview with Chloée.

Has it been a smooth road?
Life is all about ups and downs, never a straight line, always a curve. After all, that’s what makes it interesting.

When I moved back from France to California it was a challenging transition. Most of my adolescence and adulthood was spent in Europe. I had to not only deal with the obvious culture clash, but had to re-invent myself and figure out the answers to the how to’s of starting a business and building a clientele in a new place. I knew only one person when I first moved to L.A. I believe the real test was to put myself out there, never doubt and keep going. There were days where I didn’t want to go to the sixth networking event in four days, but a girl has got to eat and the hunger was what made who I am today.

A good example is on one of my first lifestyle shoots in L.A, I needed to get a specific vintage motorcycle helmet. It was impossible to find, went all over town until I finally found a shop on Melrose. They wanted to rent me the helmets for $300. I was getting paid $350 for the shoot. I was straight with the guy told him where I was coming from, and we started chatting (he had my brother’s name). An hour later I left the shop with three vintage helmets and two pairs of goggles for $50. What I learned was invaluable, always make every transaction about the people and as pleasant as possible, because in the long run that is what truly matters. The people you work with is what makes the experience and creativity worthwhile.

Have you ever wanted to stop doing what you do and just start over?
Challenging moments as I like to call them are a big part of being self-employed. From marketing to bill collecting it’s a one-woman show. There are perks, such as traveling and managing your own work schedule. There are moments when I wish I could put aside some responsibilities and not deal with them.

One of the hardest ones for me was asking to get paid on time after a project and having to run after the money that was owed. The project was a great success and the client was thrilled, the company would keep pushing the payment to later date. The bottom line was my rent wasn’t going to wait, and neither were my upcoming responsibilities. I ended up having to write a letter indicating late fees if the payment wasn’t issued by a certain date. I finally got paid a week later. The challenge for me was that I had to ask for what was already agreed upon three months prior, I had to put my big girl pants on and take a stand. That challenge taught me a huge business skill of asking for 30% deposit before the project and establishing a payment date for each new project in writing. This not only reassures me, but shows clients I mean business.

Be thankful for the challenges they are the things that make you grow.

What advice do you wish to give to those thinking about pursuing a path similar to yours?
1. Network! Network!
2. Show your work any way you can, the more you show the more people will see.
3.Don’t be afraid to start small, but make sure to build strong foundations.
4. You will have to work for free, but the experience will be worth it.
5. Always make it your masterpiece. Work hard and love what you do it shines through.

Is there something you are particularly excited about or working towards?
I have been working on a personal clothing line. We are still in the start-up phases and its the most exciting time where everything is raw just ready to be sculpted and created. Creativity is what keeps me energized. I will be eager to share this as it develops.

Contact Info:

• Website:www.avant4garde.com
• Phone:805-259-6480
• Email:[email protected]
• Instagram:avant4garde
• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Avant4garde/