Spotlight

THE ALUMNI

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Part of the glam squad

Behind the styles, Art Conn ’94 helps outfit Hollywood elite. — GITA BALAKRISHNAN

HIS NAME HAD BEEN CALLED AT

the 2019 Emmy Awards. Joy, disbelief and gratitude were all Art Conn ’94 said he felt.

He had been at Hollywood award cer- emonies before — many times before.

As a costume stylist for the Hollywood elite who walk the red carpet looking glamorous, Conn is the person behind the scenes picking attire and styles for the rich and famous.

He had never been nervous at Holly- wood events in the past. But that night was different for him — he was the one on the red carpet — and he remembered all the work that had gotten him to that stage in September 2019.

Conn has earned his reputation for costuming during his years working at American Idol from seasons four through 10 styling Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry, Adam Lambert and Jordin Sparks, among others. His website lists Emmy-nominated shows Top Chef, Shark Tank and X Factor USA as a few of Conn’s TV styling credits. He has helped style mu- sic’s top artists, including Madonna, Pink,

George Michael and Lenny Kravitz. predicted she would be the most famous of his success.

But his path was not initially clear to all winners — a prediction come true. His Midwestern beginnings include him upon leaving Dayton. In 2016, Conn’s eye for fashion led to a riding on his bicycle down the streets and

“I remember after I graduated, I felt personal request from drag queen enterrunning barefoot through the grass in like I could do anything I wanted to, even tainer RuPaul for Conn to work as a cosLouisville, Ohio. Conn went to Catholic if I didn’t know what that was. UD gave me tumer on the reality show RuPaul’s Drag schools starting in elementary school and the confidence,” Conn said. Race, a competition series searching for said he loved the educational challenges

His early days in California, after the next star in the drag queen entertainthat came with it. graduating as a communication management business. “I am a person who loves to learn,” he ment major, were spent selling designer Conn worked on the show for three seasaid. “Not to say I’m a teacher’s pet, but I footwear to stars including Britney Spears, sons, his talent ultimately being recognized was always the person up front in class who Paula Abdul and Christina Aguilera. by his peers with an Emmy nomination. was involved.

His time in retail taught him what fash“I’ve never been so nervous in my life,” “I always felt the best education was a ion did for others: It made people Catholic one.” feel better about themselves. That inclination drove him “When I saw clients put on something they felt nice in, they When I saw clients put on to apply and get accepted to the University of Dayton. He said just stood a little taller and they smiled a bit more. It was nice to something they felt nice in, the decision forged his future path. see that,” Conn said. That helped carve his path they just stood a little taller “I have always loved knowing I grew up in a small town,” into a career in the fashion industry. While in retail, Conn met and they smiled a bit more. he said. “As I grew, I just knew that I didn’t see myself being the person staying in that small stylists coming into the store to town living in a small town all purchase pieces for Hollywood my life. clientele — a profession he didn’t know Conn said of the awards ceremony, “but I “I wanted to go to a school that was goexisted at the time. One of these stylists told myself to enjoy this moment no matter ing to challenge me, and I thought UD was urged him to get into the profession bewhat happened.” a great place to explore what I wanted to cause of his knack of putting glam accesIn excited disbelief, Conn rose from do. And, I was far enough away from home sories together. his seat as he heard his name called to to feel some independence.”

In 2002 he began working as a freeaccept the award for Outstanding CosConn admits most people don’t underlance costume stylist, and in 2005 he retumes for Variety, Nonfiction or Reality stand his profession. ceived his first break — what he calls his Programming. “When people say to me, ‘What’s your “ultimate break.” A colleague whose hus“It was surreal,” he said. “They angoal?’ there are many goals, but the main band worked on American Idol heard of an nounced our show, and I was nominatgoal is to make the person you are working opening for a costumer and told Conn to ed against some of my dearest friends. with feel amazing,” he said. “That happiapply. He got the job. I would have been happy with any outness radiates off the person, and people can

“I grew up as a huge fan of American Idol come, regardless. And they were happy for feel that.” — and now I was going to be there working me, too.” He does know, though, what he does on it,” he said. He said he is grateful for the opportumakes a difference.

Conn recalls going to stores and picking nity to have worked with RuPaul’s Drag “I tell my friends, ‘I’m not curing out clothing for Carrie Underwood, which Race and have his hard work and talents cancer, and I’m not doing brain surgery. she would wear during her life-changing highlighted on television. He acknowledgBut making others feel good has its own performance when judge Simon Cowell es the upbringing that shaped his path to importance.’ ”