stylist |ˈstīlist|
noun
1. a person who works creatively in the fashion and beauty industry
2. a person noted for elegant work or performance

Photo courtesy of Almanza Photography

Spring into Style is Phoenix Fashion Week’s event dedicated to showcasing and celebrating  “the stylist”, an almost allusive creature here in Arizona, as we seem to have a million of them, and yet seemingly none at all (with a small exception of people like Shannon Campbell and Tiffany Tank who are actually paid to style clients and editorial shoots).

Over our 3 years of attending this stylist showcase, we began to wonder if any of the people being featured understood what the term “stylist” actually means. Of course, there’s always the standout (i.e. Amir Saebi‘s MIM Rocks Fashion show from 2013), but for the most part, we have seen what could be called lack luster performances from some of AZ’s top “stylists.”

My original goal for this story was to feature 1 hopefully decent stylist from Spring into Style 2015 and use their show as an example of what the word truly means. I set out to pin this 1 in 100 gem against the rest of the “stylists” doing it wrong to give our audience a comprehensive view of the title and who should actually be called a stylist.

Photo courtesy of Almanza Photography

However, what I experienced at The Arizona Center on Saturday night pleasantly surprised me. I enjoyed several of the shows and thought that they truly represented the creativity, elegant work and performance that is necessary to really call yourself a stylist (see definition above).

Let’s break it down to see how this played out in the Spring into Style show.

Creativity

From Nuvia Magdahi’s Sia wigs, to Jenesis Laforcarde’s flowing manes and facial jewelry, to Jackie Marin’s colored eye brows, to Tim Boado’s pattern mixing, these stylists pushed the limits of creativity and showed the crowd something unexpected. That is exactly what I expect from a stylist… I do not want to see the same thing I see everyday on the street or on Pinterest. I want different, unique and eye catching, and these 4 stylists delivered just that.

Photo courtesy of Almanza Photography

Photo courtesy of Almanza Photography

Elegant Work

“Elegance is refusal.” – Coco Chanel

Elegance can mean a number of different things, especially when it comes to creative work, but for me Coco Chanel says it best. It is refusing to be anything but yourself. A great stylist knows what their vision is and will execute it with no compromise.

Photo courtesy of Almanza Photography

Nuvia Magdahi, Jenesis Laforcarde, Tim Boado, and Jackie Marin each did this in their show. Even if I would not wear a look myself, I was able to understand their aesthetic and respect the fashion. Everyone will have different taste levels and a truly great stylist will get raving reviews from one critic and harsh criticism from the next. The refuse to compromise their vision to appeal to the masses, and with that end up creating something that speaks strongly to a group of people.

Photo courtesy of Almanza Photography

Performance

One of my favorite things about watching one of Jenesis Laforcarde’s shows is how much fun I have! Her music, live entertainment and bold fashions are engaging and get the audience excited. Fashion does not always need to be so serious, and Laforcarde understands how to bring out the wild side of the industry. Although her style wouldn’t be appropriate for every occasion, she does show how attention to these details (music, styling etc.) can bring a show to life.

Photo courtesy of Almanza Photography

So overall, Spring into Style highly exceeded the expectations I had for the event, and got me excited about these true stylists we have in Arizona. Let’s take a closer look at the fashion in the show now.

I believe part of what made this show better than previous years, is that designers were not asked to work with one designer or boutique, but instead were given a “trend” (although according to the fashion queen, Anna Wintour, in her Style.com interview trends are no longer, so instead let’s call it a THEME) by Phoenix Fashion Week and were able to curate items from different sources. This gave stylists a wider range of items to select from, allowing them to show their completed vision no holds barred.

 Vanessa Gonzales styling Neutrals

Photo courtesy of Almanza Photography

Too safe to be considered anything more than basic, the show overall was a bit boring. Sponsored by Dillard’s, this show was perfect for a college campus fashion show or even a fashion presentation at the store itself, but lacked the pizzazz required for a full fledged runway show. The all white palette showed a very one sided view of monochromatic dressing (which I typically LOVE), and left me yearning for more.

Clothes & Accessories by:
Dillard’s

Nuvia Magdahi styling Denim

Photo courtesy of Almanza Photography

Magdahi just took denim to a whole new level. Incorporating the material beyond the typical blue jean, the stylist showed how edgy something so seemingly safe can be when done correctly. She played with layering and different silhouettes, but most importantly stuck true to her personal style. I saw the multifaceted artist in every single one of her looks and could picture her wearing any of the outfits on her next night out. Bravo.

Clothes & Accessories by:
Finally Made
Clutch Crowns
Zara
H&M
BCBGMAXAZRIA

Jenesis Laforcarde styling Boho

Photo courtesy of Almanza Photography

Laforcarde showed vintage in a whole new light. I adore the clothes at Vintage by Misty, and really enjoyed seeing the young stylist’s fresh perspective on these classic pieces. The show was a bit more Bollywood than Boho in my opinion, but was perfect for showcasing the stylist’s over the top power woman aesthetic in a way that was new, but still amazingly true to herself. From the long hair extensions, to the facial jewelry, to the henna and flash tattoos, the whole show played with fantasy and striking the perfect balance of fashion and entertainment.

Clothes & Accessories by:
Vintage by Misty
Lana May
The Henna Shoppe
Delbamé

Tim Boado styling Distinct Prints

Photo courtesy of Almanza Photography

Boada selected the perfect vendor to showcase distinct prints for men. The pieces from Robert Graham were loud and playful, but styled in such a way that read as modern gentleman rather than frat boy free for all (not an easy task with that much color). The only thing that kept this show from being a perfect 10 was the distracting ill fit of the jackets. Overall, I really enjoyed Boado’s show and found it contemporary and fresh.

Clothes & Accessories by:
Robert Graham
Skincare by:
Simplicity Simple Skincare

Audree López styling Florals

Photo courtesy of Almanza Photography

López went for a floral meets punk aesthetic for her show in order to prevent the theme from feeling so cliché (We all know that sarcastic line from The Devil Wears Prada…“Florals for spring? Groundbreaking). I really liked the intention of the show, but felt the looks were forced and inauthentic. I didn’t believe the story López was trying to tell, and didn’t see much consistency from one look to the next.

Clothes & Accessories by:
Boutique to You
Ted Baker
Ruby Mae
Never Nola
Rag-O-Rama
Pitaya
Pepper
Rhinestones & Relics
Pitaya
Whole Foods

Jackie Marin styling Bold

Photo courtesy of Almanza Photography

Marin did a wonderful job taking the theme of bold and translating into fashion that was colorful, but not obnoxious, had interesting silhouettes and details, but wasn’t trying too hard. Her models radiated confidence which, to me, is the ultimate meaning of bold. I really enjoyed the designers she chose to work with and the way she transitioned her show from ready-to-wear to couture pieces. The colored eyebrows on the models added a theatrical element that took the show to the next level, and showed that Marin understands the world of runway fashion.

Clothes & Accessories by:
San Cora
Jean Louis Saraji

Again, I was very impressed overall with the stylists this year and hope that next year we see even more improvement. To truly improve the fashion scene in Arizona, we need our event and the caliber of fashion shown at them to improve more and more every year. Stylists, I’m challenging you to continue stepping outside the box and creating looks that get people talking. Don’t let us down.