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| Sadia Seymour, Fashion Stylist and Instructor at Fashion Institute of Technology for Fashion Styling |
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| Sadia showing students how to pin properly for photo shoots |
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| Madame Q taking notes from Sadia's magnificent class |
Written by Madame Q
"Reality t.v. has also hurt fashion styling. People see the celebrity, fancy labels and think it's a glamorous life and easy. It's not. I love my career but, I work hard for my career. There is nothing easy about what I do. Every job is different and a challenge, being both wonderful and exciting. In addtion, the market is saturated with people who call themselves fashion stylists and it makes me sick. Every one who can take an outfit of the day picture or copy information on a blog, is not qualified to be a fashion stylist! One photo shoot does not make you a fashion stylist! I'm sorry, am I ranting? *steps off soapbox*"
- Sadia Seymour
It was an exciting day for me, I was meeting with one of the most dedicated senior stylist in the industry. She truly lives this lifestyle many of us hope to experience. I was invited to her Fashion Styling Pinning Class, held at the Fashion Institute of Technology to review and interview her for our lovely Madamettes and Messieurs.
And it Begins...
Sadia starts by introducing herself, "My name is Sadia Seymour, I am a professional Fashion Stylist and adjunct Instructor here at FIT, some of you may know me already, some may have heard about me from peers and some may not know me at all. This is a fashion styling class where you will learn about pinning garments properly. By the end of this class you should know how to pin. If you don't grasp this, you won't have consistent clients".
True wardrobing is about knowing how to get the details of garments to appear spectacular so pinning garments is an essential skill, every stylist must have.
Sadia gets her students in that frame of mind, "Think about it, have you ever walked pass a fabulous window display and gazed at the outfits? The clothing is amazingly fitted, which makes you want to go and try on that whole entire look. That's the outcome of great pinning".
She adds, "I'm sure you can all recall seeing the opposite as well. Your job is to get it right. One day, you will have an assistant on set to help you with small details but it's your job as the stylist to make sure the end result is perfect".
The students are intrigued, bent forward in their chairs, curiosity on their faces. Before the class starts to practice pinning, Sadia pulls out her tool belt and goes over each and every item. She gives them testimonies about her past styling experiences and how she started out in the fashion industry.
With passion and joy, Sadia says " I know this class is about pinning but it is important to know that this industry is glamorous but it is hard work. You have to be about your business. I learned the hard way. It is important to build strong relationships to keep your clientele. You have to be a go getter".
Watching Sadia talk to her students was definitely inspirational. Yes, she doesn't appear to be as glamorous as some pop star stylist but that doesn't mean she doesn't know how to when needed. "When I'm working, I'm in relaxed attire focusing on what's important, the client" says Sadia.
She's been in the industry over 10 years and gets just as many gigs or more than some of your favorite celebrity clients. "June Ambrose and Rachel Zoe are just the few of the many of us that are out there" says Sadia. She is a true thoroughbred, tell it like it is professional.
Her secret "Enjoying what I do and being nice to people is important. Besides doing a great job, you must be likeable. That's how I was able to keep clients for a long period of time" says Sadia.
The Interview
MM: Why did you choose a career in fashion?
SS: I have been sewing since I was 4 years old and have always been fascinated with clothing. As I got older, the only job I had ever heard of was a Fashion Designer so, naturally I thought "that's what I want to do". While completing my fashion design degree at FIT, I discovered I didn't want to design anymore. I was blessed to be presented the opportunity to work in production before I graduated and I began my career in fashion. My entire career is one huge blessing! I couldn't have asked for it to happen any other way.
MM: How long have you been in this field?
SS: I have been in the fashion industry professionally since 1992. My first 7 years were in knitwear production and then I transitioned in to Fashion Styling.
MM: Please explain your transition from knitwear production to a wardrobe stylist
SS: I was having a meeting with a yarn vendor and she told me I should be a fashion stylist. She told me that they dressed artists for performances and said I would be good at it. I thought "yeah, I could do that". I called my friend who was Naomi Campbell's assistant and asked her what a fashion stylist did and she explained it from her experience working with a Supermodel and confirmed that she thought I would be good at it too. She called a Celebrity stylist friend of hers and she called me. She booked me as a second assistant for the 1997 Essence Awards.
MM:What was your first styling gig?
SS: My first styling job as a key stylist was for the Chadwicks of Boston catalog. It was a 10 day shoot in Naples, Florida. They were clients that I had assisted on with other stylists and they saw my work ethic over the years and offered me my first gig!
MM: What's your most exciting gig thus far?
SS: I just did the wardrobe for my first national commercial for Cocoa Pebbles in September 2013 and it just aired in January 2014. I saw it on my way out the door to go to church. I had a praise break (jumped around) and went to church very happy! It will be posted on my website soon!
MM: How do you stay above water in this field?
SS: I have been a fashion stylist for 16 years! What I have learned is to budget your money well and live within your means. During 9/11 my world as a stylist came to a major halt. I didn't have work for 6 months! I had to learn really fast how to live. That was a great yet unfortunate lesson for me. You are also as good as your last job. You have to be a good person and do a good job in order to keep clients. I also don't stress about what I can't control. God's got me and I am a hustler.
MM:How long have you been teaching at FIT?
SS: I have been teaching the Introduction to Fashion Styling course for 12 years, Styling FIT Fundamentals for appx 5 years and the Pre-College High School Workshop for 3 years.
MM: Why did you decide to teach others about fashion styling?
SS: I took a Vintage shopping class and I was the only fashion stylist in the class. The instructor asked me to be a guest speaker in the Fashion Styling class and I met the creator of the program. She encouraged me to come aboard and teach a course. It was an internal struggle to decide to teach. I thought why should I tell people how to become a fashion stylist when no one told me. Then a light bulb went off. I can't teach someone to be a stylist, I can only tell them what it's like and the path they should follow to get there. Once I embraced that, I freely gave of myself.
MM: How do you feel about the styling/wardrobe industry now?
SS: It has changed alot! Fast fashion has changed the catalog business tremendously. We can no longer wait for next month's catalog, we have to go online and see it now! For stylists that means 40 - 60 shots per day in studio instead of 25-30 on location for a catalog shoot. Reality t.v. has also hurt fashion styling. People see the celebrity, fancy labels and think it's a glamorous life and easy. It's not. I love my career but, I work hard for my career. There is nothing easy about what I do. Every job is different and a challenge, being both wonderful and exciting. In addtion, the market is saturated with people who call themselves fashion stylists and it makes me sick. Every one who can take an outfit of the day picture or copy information on a blog, is not qualified to be a fashion stylist! One photo shoot does not make you a fashion stylist! I'm sorry, am I ranting? *steps off soapbox*
MQIs there any stylist you would like to work with?
SS: Beyonce's stylist Ty Hunter and Patti Wilson.
MQ: Who is your favorite designer?
SS: I adore Donna Karan! I also like Rachel Roy, Givenchy, Vera Wang, Tracey Reese, and Calvin Klein.
MQ: Where do you love to shop?
SS: I love Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off 5th, Bloomingdales, Marshall's, Zara and Century 21.
MQ: Which pop star do you feel has the best style?
SS: Beyonce of course. I just love her on and off stage. I'm loving her style right now.
MQ: Which pop star style do you feel needs the most help?
SS: I don't want to say and offend their stylist but, trust there are a few!
MQ: What makes the ultimate wardrobe?
SS: Good foundation garments! A bra can take 10 pounds off of you and your panties can hold everything in place. A great pair of jeans (I am jeans girl), I love dresses for 1 piece dressing with impact, lots of accessories and shoes!
SS: I kind of gave it away in the previous question. I love a good pair of jeans! You can dress them up or down. I also buy alot of accessories and shoes. No matter how much weight I gain, I can always fit a shoe and my accessories. LOL. You can buy something basic and amp it up. Now that's style!
MQ: What's your favorite wardrobe piece/item ?
SS: I love my African clothing. It is who I am. My mother is from Liberia West Africa and I love to be reminded of where I'm from. I wore lapas and tee shirts as a kid and didn't care what people thought. I loved how I looked in them. Even if I don't wear my gowns often, I love to look at them.
MQ: What city do you feel has the most influential style?
SS: New York of course!
MQ: What is is the most important thing you want your students, clients and others to remember you for and/or as?
SS: My students: that I empowered them with the information they needed to decide for themselves what they wanted to do with their lives. My clients: that I did a good job and I was a good person. For everyone else: I love what I do! I followed a passion a found out there were ways to make money doing what I loved. You can find that too!
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| Madame Q and Sadia during Chantell Walter's NYFW #fall2014 Collection |
The top three things we hope you learned from Sadia's Interview and this article:
1. Go after your dreams and expect to work hard yet smarter because that's the only way you'll truly be able to stay above water in this business.
2. It's great to have strong creative skills but in order to be successful you must be a business person. That's the only way the checks will keep coming.
3. Learn how to properly pin.
visit www.sadiaseymour.com for more info!!!
xoxo Madame Q
