For anyone who loves fashion, and in particular, loves to shop, becoming a wardrobe stylist seems like a career fallen straight from heaven. Spending your days shuffling through gorgeous clothes, and playing dress up with beautiful models and celebrities sounds like fun. For that reason, we’ve decided to reach out to one of the top fashion stylists to find out exactly how they did it. Here, Amal Qadri from Shake Things Up by Amal Qadri shares her journey and some of her favourite things.
When and how did you decide to become a stylist?
Amal Qadri : I didn’t really decide it on my own. I started off as a personal stylist and shopper until a good designer friend of mine, Sanober Azfar, hired me to style her outfits for a shoot. Soon after, Anoushey Ashraf contacted me to style her for her morning show through Instagram. After that, she asked me to style her for red carpet looks and since then there’s no looking back.
What was one of the most elaborate styling projects that you loved doing?
AQ: I did one project, which was themed ‘steam punk rock’ and it inspired me to collect a few motorbike parts, leather and spray paints. I even made jewellery and accessories out of the parts, which was fun to work on.
How do you go about getting your hands on the best fashion for a photo shoot?
AQ: I have always kept an eye on anything unique I find and make sure to either buy it or keep it in mind to use it for a certain shoot.
What’s your first fashion memory?
AQ: I remember always being excited to go through a fashion magazine when I would go to the salon with my mom.
Most fashion stylists, when they first start out, are primarily attracted to editorial work. How do you balance editorial and commercial work?
AQ: Well, I do love editorial work but my interest is more into what would make a celebrity or brand stand out more through a combined vision.
Who are some of your favourite photographers that you’ve worked with?
AQ: There are so many good ones in the industry; it’s too hard to just pick one.
What’s the number one thing that really turns you off about a photographer, and makes you unlikely to work with them?
AQ: I haven’t had a bad experience yet, but one thing that would surely irritate me is if they start commenting on how the styling needs to be done.
Who are your go-to designers for styling?
AQ: The Pink Tree Company, Misha Lakahani, Sonya Batla, Sanober Azfar, HSY, Hussain Rehar, Maheen Khan, and Sanam Chaudhri.
What is the best part of your job?
AQ: I get to give that oomph and spark to make a collection or a personality look even more amazing.
Can you take us through your thought process in creating an outfit “style”? Is it the colours, shapes, or textures? What runs through your head in this creative process?
AQ: Each and everything counts, as I like to know the concept of the clothes that the designer or brand have.
How do you prepare yourself for an upcoming photo shoot?
AQ: Once I have sat down with a brand or a celebrity as to what the requirements are, I will start working on a list. Then, I’ll prep for it and see what is available and what needs to be customised.
As a fashion stylist, what would you take in your styling kit to a photo shoot?
AQ: Other than the jewellery, shoes and all, I never leave without black and nude vests/tube tops and a bag with my safety pins, threads, markers, masking/double tape and glue.
How do you keep up with the changing trends in fashion?
AQ: Trends are always changing, so I give little importance to them and focus more on which ones will last longer, and then how those trends can be styled.
What trends are you loving right now?
AQ: Colourful leather, metallic and shiny material, plus coat dresses. These are the few trends I’m loving for now.
Fashion Weeks for you…?
AQ: Need to be more inspiring.
What is most challenging about what you do?
AQ: Convincing others to experiment more.
What do you do in your free time?
AQ: I’m usually with my family and friends, as I don’t get a lot of time to spend with them when I’m busy.
Describe your personal style.
AQ: Fun, quirky and edgy.
What’s your favourite colour?
AQ: Yellow.
Celebrity crush?
AQ: Jared Leto.
Less or more?
AQ: It always depends on what would look good with that specific outfit.
Styling to you is…?
AQ: Showing your individuality.
Heels or flats?
AQ: Heels.
What’s the most treasured item in your closet?
AQ: I have this gorgeous vintage dress that my mom had and a cool jumpsuit from the 70’s, which I love. Syra Shahroz wore the dress at the HUM Style Awards as we had a last minute wardrobe malfunction.
What are your beauty essentials?
AQ: Face cream, mascara and tinted chapstick.
Massive tote or little clutch?
AQ: Massive tote.
PHOTOGRAPHER: COURTESY AMAL QADRI
