MARKE T STUDY ST YLE NOTES
S
tylist to the stars Micaela Erlanger knows that adding the right accessories is the key to creating a great look. In her first book, she takes the guesswork out of choosing what to pair with different items in your wardrobe by providing a simple formula to follow. She offers readers the same style advice that she gives to her clients, which includes a roster of accomplished actresses like Michelle Dockery and Lupita Nyong’o. We spoke with the stylist about how she started in the industry and the moment that changed everything. Can you tell us about your beginnings in New York and Los Angeles? I went to college at Parsons and each semester I interned. My focus was to receive a well-rounded education and to get as much experience in the field as possible. I thought I wanted to work at a magazine but when I graduated, all of the publications were firing and no one was hiring—the economy had crashed, so I had to get creative. I ended up interning with Annabel Tollman, the late stylist, who became my mentor. After my internship, I moved to Los Angeles for about a year, where I gave costume design a try. I bought a one-way ticket to California and had a whole coming of age experience there. I had to jump into the deep end—it was really sink or swim. I gave it my all and that same costume designer I assisted asked me to come back to New York to work on another project. During my time in LA, I had stayed in touch with Annabel—I missed the energy of Manhattan, the fashion and celebrity styling. I moved back and the timing was right; Annabel ended up hiring me and I worked with her for more than five years, until I landed my first client, Michelle Dockery. Being a stylist is hard work and the fashion world can be challenging, plus you took a huge leap in starting your own business with only one client. How did you do it? I went through a very difficult time when Annabel passed away very unexpectedly. I had one client to my name but I had a lot of really great relationships that I had established over the years, in addition to having a great support system. Michelle ended up introducing me to Lupita [Nyong'o]—I had no idea that things were going to turn out the way they did.
A Lesson in Accessorizing with Stylist MICAEL A
ERL ANGER
THE FINISHING Interview by Alison Engstrom Photographed by Polina Protodyakonova Styled by Ana Tess Portrait Courtesy of Micaela Erlanger
32
