The art of fashion styling does not lend itself to easy definition. For so long, these shadowy artists remained beyond the curtain of wider public comprehension, lauded only by those within fashion’s inner circle...
The art of fashion styling does not lend itself to easy definition. For so long, these shadowy artists remained beyond the curtain of wider public comprehension, lauded only by those within fashion’s inner circle. Yet, as the dynamics of the industry have shifted, as new media outlets have come to the fore and the formerly closeted worlds of art, culture and commerce have forged new alliances, the fashion stylist has emerged from the shadows to take on an unprecedented position at the heart of the fashion industry. Like alchemists, they work to transform mere clothes into visions that startle, inspire, excite and entrance, simultaneously changing the way people dress and the culture of our time.
Now, in Stylists, author Katie Baron has made the first foray into analysing these visionary figures, exploring the breadth of their working practices as they expand across art direction, design, art and photography. It is a celebration of contemporary styling, telling the story of the development of the craft through stunning imagery and exclusive interviews with the pioneers themselves. And as the practice of each individual is explored, what becomes more and more obvious is that, while it goes without saying that a stylist must understand fashion, what pushes them towards greatness is a comprehension that iconic and lasting fashion imagery is forged by forces far bigger than just clothes.
"It is a celebration of contemporary styling, telling the story of the development of the craft through stunning imagery and exclusive interviews with the pioneers themselves"
What is interesting is seeing how this capacity, shared among all those featured, is expressed in such a wide variety of ways. There is the provocative, demonstrated in Nicola Formichetti’s collaboration with Lady Gaga that has propelled the notion of celebrity stylist into the vernacular, there is the revolutionary, shown in David Bradshaw’s work at GQ, which was instrumental in moving male fashion stories from outré spectacle to aspirational style. And of course, there are the extraordinary array of talents who have emerged from the creative hotbed that is Dazed & Confused, where, for the past 20 years, an atmosphere of unsurpassed creative freedom has cultivated some of the biggest names in styling. These include co-founder Katie Grand, now editor of Love, Alister Mackie, now creative director of Another Man, and Katie Shillingford, the newly elected fashion director of AnOther Magazine. As a new era starts, amid the proliferation of new technology and an ever-changing zeitgeist, the work of stylists must be considered as one of the key sources of cultural commentary for our time.
Stylists: New Fashion Visionaries is out today, published by Laurence King.
