Konichiwa or shall I say, Konichiwear! It’s only been a month and I think I’m a few days behind from updating. Bad blogger, bad! So anyway, I styled for a clothing brand just about a few weeks ago–I’ve mentioned previously (more like in my about page) that I take on styling offers from time to time. I’m not picky, I can do it for fashion shows, portfolios, magazine features, ad campaigns, and/or clients with clothing brands–so as long as I have the time. So you know, if you want to collaborate, you can always drop me a line or just send me a message over here.
The thing with styling is that it’s a lucrative sideline–but it’s something you do for fun, not for profit. Yes, some people make money out of it but it’s a gruesome process. The fashion industry, especially in this country, is a bit fickle–you have to cultivate your name, your presence, as well as have perfect timing, support, luck, and sufficient connections. It’s not to say if you don’t have the aforementioned, you’re doomed to not make it but it involves a hell lot of “patience.” Also, money from styling isn’t always regular or steady, there are days where you get a lot in a week, and weeks where you don’t do anything. Since I don’t have that much patience and I figured, there are others out there who are far more deserving than I am, I’ve decided to take on another career (see Marketing). Now, I style for fun and that’s that. Payment is awesome but not always necessary!
Anyway, I started styling “professionally” (God, I hate that phrase) two years or so ago. Back then, I was idealistic and I thought it was the industry I wanted to be in. I wanted to be, Dominique Tiu the Stylist for the prestige. I was screwed up and pretentious, I know. Though it’s still part of my job description, I use it from time to time for shameless self-promotion (that leads to extra cash)–definitely not so I can go: “Oh my God, I’m a stylist!”–because really, even when I’m shamelessly self-promoting, I still get iffy (it’s a paradox).
So okay, I had this notion where I had to wear fancy clothes while styling. I thought it seemed ironic if I claimed to be a stylist but didn’t dress accordingly. Imagine, I had five inch heels on all the time, piles of bangles, necklaces, styled hair, a beret or a scarf sometimes, and makeup–as if I were the subject to be photographed and not part of the crew. Eventually, running around in five inch heels (true story: I had to walk from the studio to some obscure mall five blocks away in a bad neighborhood wearing five inch heels just to buy the model a tank top that fit him which, I later found out, he discarded in lieu of going topless) and ironing clothes with bajillion metal hardware clanging together on my wrist, lost its luster.
Fast forward to 2010, my new adage is: “comfort in fashion is paramount.” Of course, you can’t look like you rolled out of bed or anything, you still have to look presentable and pleasant but you have to dress appropriately all the time. I don’t mean it in a manner where you have to dress appropriately in order to please people–yes, that’s a factor, but to widen the perspective, I mean you dress appropriately so nothing will hinder you from getting your job done. Styling, as surprising as it may sound, is physically demanding, so you have to be efficient. If five inch heels are comfortable for your feet then by all means, go!
So I know I look like crap without makeup but when you’re under the sun and sweating, a clean face is better than makeup melting!
So dear friends, out of curiosity, how do you address comfort? 
Black Cardigan: Mango | Black Tank Top: Lady Hathaway Intimates | Floral Frilly Shorts: Zara Trafaluc | Cut-out Salmon Oxfords: Poptart
Photo by: Regine David (She used me to test her composition)
