Fashion done your own way

The New Year is on its way which can bring about many mixed emotions, particularly with the current economic climate of our country. When I think about entering a new year, I try and stray away from the often toxic idea of “fresh starts” and strict goal setting. Whilst there is a lot of good to be found in setting realistic goals for ourselves each new year, I do wonder whether it creates a pressure that makes them impossible to meet; it can create a lot of unnecessary disappointment which can never be good. Instead, I prefer to have a think about what new adventures I can embark on, from weekend trips to online courses and everything in between. Last month I had the pleasure of speaking to a very successful fashion stylist, Ellis Ranson, who really got me thinking about how to achieve new things and find joy in brand new career opportunities. Having started a new job this year, I strongly believe that engaging with new challenges and putting yourself out there can bring a positivity to your life that can’t be found elsewhere.

Sat in my kitchen on a very dreary afternoon, the wonderful Ellis brought lovely positivity to such a miserable day. Having worked in the fashion industry myself (on a much smaller platform might I add), I felt an immediate connection to her passion towards her career. Starting off as an ice-hockey player during her younger years, Ellis changed her career intentions as a result of watching her family members engage with the fashion industry. She said, “My aunt was a press officer for Phillip Green. She used to come home with bags of Tammy Girl clothes, so that was when I started to get an idea of fashion. Her and my mum were both massively into fashion.” Like myself, the women in her life had a huge impact on the

by Molly Dutton

progression of her career, creating a space for a fun and individual take on fashion trends.

This unique interpretation of fashion continued as she progressed through school, guiding her decision to attend Haven Sixth Form College where she studied fashion. Whilst completing this course, which she called “the worst fashion course I’ve ever done in my life”, Ellis was doubted by her mentor, an interaction which could have stilted her career in the fashion industry if it wasn’t for her admirable resilience. She said of the conversation, “I remember getting called into the office by my tutor and she said we just don’t think fashion’s really for you. And I just thought, I don’t think it’s fashion, I think it’s this college. I don’t think I’m going to get anywhere in here.” This was a moment in our conversation that resonated a lot with me as, for so many young creatives, an unsupportive environment can massively prevent them from persevering with their career goals.

It was after this that Ellis discovered the Fashion Retail Academy, a distinguished fashion college in London. She interviewed with them and left her college to attend. The atmosphere at the Fashion Retail Academy was so different to the fashion scene

in Essex, she said, “I started to really dress quirky. It was such a difference from being in an Essex college. I think I started to really find my own style”. She began to build a strong fashion portfolio and at 19 years old, Ellis embarked on an internship with Topshop, an extremely desired position for many in her age group at the time. This was extremely influential as Topshop was a standout fashion company throughout the 2000s.

Across platforms, Ellis has gained success from her use of social media interactions, particularly on Instagram. Whilst she sees the positivity in this social media platform, Ellis has experienced the impact that it can have on its users, particularly developing stylists. She said, “I think sometimes you go on Instagram, and I think Instagram is one of the best things in the world, but it is also one of the worst things because you can get really caught up on it”. Meeting one of her main clients, Ferne McCann through the platform, the pair built up a strong relationship in which Ellis began to style the TOWIE star much more frequently.

Ferne began liking Ellis’ Instagram content which prompted the young stylist to reach out. This confident interaction led to an invitation for Ellis to come and view Ferne’s wardrobe and create some potential looks for her. From this moment, she was given the opportunity to style a roster of celebrities such as Kate Ferdinand on the red carpet of the National Television Awards and Pride of Britain, as well as demonstrate her creative mind at Glastonbury through the styling of Megan Mckenna.

With a key focus of conquering the inclusivity of styling and breaking down the financial barriers that exist in the industry, Ellis began her own styling course, School of Style, on Instagram. She wanted all ages and genders to have access to styling, “it’s a six-week masterclass, it tells you all the real things that will get you into those jobs. Also, you don’t have to have a massive fashion background if you know style. And you don’t need a degree to be a stylist; you either have style or you haven’t, and it’s so personal as well.”

In the upcoming future, Ellis has plans to adapt her ‘School of Style’ to become a TV series in which she can document the journey of her students on a national platform. It is a privilege to witness the personal care that Ellis has for the students on her programme and the extent that she goes to support their every needs. Fashion can be an extremely competitive and demanding industry yet she has found a part of it that can be enjoyed and shared amongst passionate individuals.

You can see Ellis’ work documented on her Instagram, @ellisransonx.