I remember what it was like to be a senior in high school and having no idea what to go to college for.  I felt like I wanted to do everything: marine biologist, crime scene investigator, fashion buyer, graphic designer & the list goes on.  So this new blog post series is just for high school seniors!  It interviews successful career women so you can see what it takes to get where they are now, what a typical day looks like for them, etc.

Up next is Alex Evjen, a local phoenix Fashion Stylist.  If you ever wondered what it’s like to be a Fashion Stylist, read on!  And don’t forget to checkout what’s it’s like to be a Special Education Teacher.

Photo provided by Alex Evjen- Copyright Melisssa Jill Photography

What do you do?
I’m a fashion stylist.

How long have you been doing that?
3 years

Is that what you wanted to do when you were in High school?
Sort of. =)

If not, what did you want to be?
I wanted to be a fashion designer, but I soon realized that career path is more suited for detail oriented, slow paced, artistic introverts. I’m fast paced, I like immediate satisfaction, I’m super social and I’m more of a big picture kind of gal.

How did you get started in your career?
After graduating from ASU in business and communication and doing public relations in architecture for 4 years, I found myself unhappy. I soon realized it was because I wasn’t spending my time doing what I wanted to do. So, I applied to FIDM, was accepted to their fashion design program, and was set to move there until the economy crashed. My husband couldn’t find a job out there, so we couldn’t afford to live in L.A.  Instead, I did some market research and learned there weren’t too many stylists in the area. I got together with my photographer friends, and I just started styling shoot after shoot after shoot. That’s the only way you learn styling. There aren’t any schools out there that have a styling degree.

Did you go to school for that?
Nope! 😉

What do you love most about your job?
I love making things that were once in my imagination a reality.

What is the hardest part about your job?
Collaboration. When ever you work on a photo shoot you have about 7 people on set. Each of them are significant to the project, but they also have their opinions. It’s important that everyone be heard, but at the end of the day you have to come to an agreement on hair, makeup, clothes, model, poses, location, etc. It’s all about communication.

What does a typical work day look like for you?
Put on comfortable clothes and shoes (no high heels on set), steam all of the clothes, organize the clothes by model and look, de-tag anything, put the accessories in baggies with the outfits, pack up the styling kit, head to set, have a fitting with the models, talk to the photographer about what to shoot first, dress the model outfit by outfit until each shot is over, pack everything back up, and fall asleep at 8pm after a 10 hour day.

If I’m not heading out on a shoot, I’m usually at my desk and on the computer most of the day like the average person (answering emails, collecting inspiration, blogging, etc.)

What advise do you have for seniors who want to get started in your career?
Just start creating. Dress your friends and take photos of them. Create you own photo shoots. Dream up ideas and then try your best to make them reality with the resources you have in your closet or your friends’ closets. Do as much as you can to build a portfolio!

What were you like when you were a senior in high school?
Nerdy, obsessed with fashion magazines, spent hours sketching clothes in my bedroom…a dreamer.

 If you could tell your 18 year old self something, what would it be?
Your dreams are possible. Half the battle is just wanting it enough. The other half is just plain, hard work.

Any other advise of life or business that you have learned over the years that you’d like to add?
It really is all about who you know, and building a network of good relationships. The key to doing that in the fashion industry is KINDNESS. Leave the fashion criticism to Anna Wintour.

Learn more about Alex:
Website: http://www.avestyles.com
Business Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/AVE-Styles/166899016680822
Twitter: twitter.com/alexevjen