Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatiana Wise.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Originally, I was born and raised in San Diego, CA. Although I had always been interested in fashion and loved playing around with it, I was actually a full-time dancer with the dreams of opening up a dance studio. I wanted to save those who needed it with dance, as dance saved me through various difficult times. Dance brought me to San Francisco where I remained with that career path for a few years. Over time I lost my love for dance and knew it wasn’t my end all, be all. From there, I knew that I belonged in the fashion industry and changed my major as a Junior. It took time for me to figure out exactly what I would do within the industry but I knew that I was on the right track. One day over three years ago, a good photographer friend of mine, Barbara Rios, put on Twitter that she needed help with styling her shoots. Although I was sorta joking, I offered my help just because why the hell not? This was the first photoshoot that I had ever experienced and if I could type the feeling that I had during that shoot I would. I fell in LOVE and I’m really telling you, IN LOVE with fashion styling.
From then on, I connected with numerous Bay Area creatives to start making this my true hustle. I wanted to be a Fashion Stylist and I had never been so sure of something in my life. As someone who tends to be pretty outgoing, meeting new people and putting myself out there wasn’t something I did regularly and it honestly fueled my anxiety. With styling, that all went away. Yes, I get nervous before every shoot but once I see the art being made it literally makes me want to cry tears of joy (I do that a lot, lol).
Two years pass and I started to build a regular group of people that I created with and started getting recognized as a Fashion Stylist in the Bay Area. People started reaching out to me wanting to become actual clients which blew my mind. I couldn’t believe people wanted me to style them and wanted to create with me. My time in San Francisco came to end when I moved to Los Angeles, CA to further my styling career. I craved more than what the Bay Area could give me and after almost ten years in the amazing city that allowed me to find myself, I was ready for the next chapter. I’ve been in LA for about five months now and the amount of work I’ve gained for myself still has me shook. I never knew that I would get to where I am today, this quick, with still so much more to gain. I’ve worked with people I used to dream of working with, I got a photo studio in DTLA with my dear photographer friend, Devon Trunk and I’m finally a full-time freelance Fashion Stylist. If you would’ve told me, hell, even four months ago that I wouldn’t need a 9-5 job to help support my styling, I would’ve laughed at you. I’m here now, as my own boss, running a female, black-owned business in one of the most crucial times this country has experienced and it truly is only up from here. I’m extremely blessed and can’t wait to see what’s next.
Great, 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?
Hmm, smooth? No. Nothing worth it ever comes easy but honestly, I’ve been so in love with the process that I’m not even mad at the struggles that have come with it. When I started, I knew nothing. Researching for hours, on top of going to school full-time, working full-time and balancing a social life was difficult for sure but I knew if I wanted this, I had to do the most to be the best. It was hard living in one of the most expensive cities while still trying to make my career happen. Financially, it was difficult but I knew it would pay off over time.
Now, I moved to LA in the middle of a pandemic and two weeks before the bulk of the BLM protests throughout the country. With that being said, mentally, it was hard to get up everyday to work with everything going on in the world. I mean even my first shoot in LA was during one of the most intense days of protests where the National Guard was driving around in tanks with insane weapons and I’m just over here driving to a photo studio to create. It was wild. It was hard to balance the mix of emotions between anger and sadness to being so happy that I’m getting so much work in the midst of a time where others don’t even have jobs. I struggled internally for a while with the idea that it was wrong for me to be happy in a time like this but I knew that what I do, the art I create, can bring light to those who experience it, so I kept working my ass off to provide inspiration throughout such a difficult time. I think it’s important to realize your power within times like this and to use it to create a safe space for yourself and others.
Please tell us about Styledbytati.
“styledbytati” is what I kind of grasped on to when I started styling. It was never an intentional business name but it just worked and people started to refer me as that after I made it my current Instagram name. As I’ve said, I’m a Fashion Stylist and I specialize in editorial fashion while still dipping into other genres that come along, such as music videos, press content and social media content. I specifically love editorial fashion because there are literally no rules. I’m not a huge fan of being told what to do or being put in a box so I grasped on to fashion styling that wasn’t going to be seen in one’s everyday life. I think I’m known for my use of pattern, texture, print and color mixing. I love when people say “Wow, I would’ve never thought to put those pieces together”. I’m a weirdo so I think it just translates into my fashion sense and it just works. I want to put people in looks that make others double-take when they see them walking down the street.
I’m definitely most proud of finally becoming a full-time freelance Fashion Stylist. I have full control over my business and nothing to stop me from doing what I love to do. To be able to live on what I love to do is a concept that I couldn’t grasp even a few months ago, so to be here now is absolutely insane but so beautiful.
What sets me apart? I mean it’s such a saturated industry but I think I have the ability to truly styling anything if I put my mind to it. People always think designer this, designer that when they see successful stylists and yes, I love me some designer but I think a good stylist can take a paper sack and make that shit fabulous.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.styledbytati.com
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Breyona Holt and Christiano Hermoso
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
