Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Lynn.
Hi Melissa, 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 grew up in Santa Barbara, CA and my grandmother volunteered for a local (and National) foundation called the Assistance League – a charity thrift shop. I’d spend afternoons with my mom visiting her with a task assigned by my mother “to pick on thing” from the shop. Every visit was different a toy, a tee shirt, dress et al. I’d fantasize about how I’d dress it up.
Those are my earliest memories of playing dress up…and where my love of shopping local, vintage/second-handing and emerging designers; it stems from the joy I got in childhood of making something special again for something/one particular. A fresh eye, inspired only by my inner eye to style something out of almost nothing.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Styling has been a long road, with LOTS of highs and lows and lulls. It’s a fast-paced “hurry up and wait” industry but can be very exhilarating and exhausting at the same time. I’ve found myself non-stop for years and then months with no work. Depending on your clientele, it can be incredibly competitive but you can also see that as a chance to do things differently and challenge your creativity. I take downtime to work on passion projects and find inspiration in adventures and my local thrift/vintage stores. It’s a lot of trial and error when starting out and then learning to let go, have a lot of flexibility and trust your gut as you grow. But I think it’s key to stay true to my “style” type/technique so that I’m bringing an eye to the table that you just can’t teach! I think now especially with Instagram and with the constant access (and noise) its hard to stand out. Anyone can be a “stylist” by being an “influencer” which is a new challenge…
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I work mostly with celebrities, do commercial work as well as private personal clients. Over the years, I helped develop a lot of emerging artists and I’ve found this to be more fulfilling. I believe it’s harder to style them because there are so many visions and goals (from the entire team) but its also an opportunity to try new things and see what fits and be a part of that person’s persona, helping them find themselves or at least strengthen that for them. Being that I love working with lesser known brands, thats also a great way to introduce both of them to new audiences and eyes and collaborate on cool unique projects that showcase everyone’s strength vs one agenda 😉 My clients (new and revolving) always ask for something special, one-of-a-kind options so I’m able to bring in my expertise for finding unique clothing and accessories from vintage vendors to restyle them to create new moments, hopefully in history.
What matters most to you? Why?
I’m very passionate about being true to yourself, shopping sustainably and second-hand. I don’t think that wearing a brand name or a high price tag defines you/it as “luxury” — a “luxury” to me is doing more with less, having options and a choice to try to choose better! I prefer to be uninfluenced by campaigns and trends, communicating to my clients that what matters most is feeling confident and comfortable in whatever you’re wearing from sweats to gowns. What you wear should speak for you. I think it’s so important to support small/local and emerging designers and business’ because they have a lower impact on the planet but can still provide high-style results. Be the trend, don’t follow it. It’s so much more fulfilling when you do whatever it is you do — for you. But when it comes to styling & outfitting, I always say – “Why ‘fit in’ when you can outfit”. I believe that fashion is an industry and style is a state of mind. We should be shopping with a conscious, more purposefully and recognize the personal impact we have on this planet.
Contact Info:
- Email: dressedby@stylistmelissalynn.com
- Website: stylistmelissalynn.com
- Instagram: @stylistmelissalynn
