A Collected Style Interview: Ellison DePriest
My name is Ellison DePriest. I’m a student at NC State, majoring in Fashion Brand management and Marketing. Born and raised in Asheville, NC. I work as a personal and editorial stylist. I work with students, teens, adults, magazines, companies etc. My blog? It’s not so much a blog, as much as it is a website. It’s where I post pictures of my inspirations, my work, my life, etc. It’s basically my diary slash scrapbook that happens to be online.
ACG-What’s your definition of Style?
ED-The sartorialistic ability to portray and provoke.
ACG-What inspired you to become a Stylist?
ED-I used to want to be a designer, and I was good at it. I could design collections and create a story but there were too many limitations in terms of the job itself. What I created needed to be wearable, and sellable, but being a stylist… I’m allowed to create a story and make it as dramatic as I want. I have no limitations I just have purpose. At the same time, I feel that there are way too many people trying to have a fashion line, and not enough people actually executing fashion.
ACG-The do’s and don’ts of Style/Fashion?
ED-Try everything, fear nothing, and wear black often.
ACG-What’s your thought process when you’re styling a client?
ED-I approach styling like a pop quiz. Each client poses a series of questions and I just have to answer them. Who is this client? What do they need? What do they want? How do they want to be perceived? Is there a budget? Is there an underlying message? Once I’ve answered all of the questions, I just sit around waiting for more.
ACG-What’s one thing you would take out of the Fashion World and one thing you would add?
ED-I’d take out all the posers and add back all the dreamers.
ACG-Tips for up and coming Stylist?
ED-Try hard, work hard, and remember your manners.
ACG-What’s going to be big this Fall/Winter season trend wise ?
ED-Animals! Animal prints, animal skins, animal furs, prints with animals on them and more. They are a very huge trend right now and I think they will be for a while. Also whimsicality in total. Crazy prints that don’t really makes sense, random pops of colors, the fashion world is screaming for an outlet and all the king’s men are struggling to break free.
ACG-What’s your dream job?
ED-Honestly? I’m doing it.
All time favorite item of clothing or shoe?
My clothes are like my children, I would never hurt their feelings by naming a favorite.
ACG-Who’s your style icon and why?
ED-Anna Dello Russo. She is fashion, in every sense of the word. I aim to be as fearless and fashion conscious as she is.
Explain what inspired your model (Jazsalyn’s) look
Jazsalyn’s wearing a monochromatic print look, with grey heels, a grey beanie, and chunky silver accessories. Basically, I just wanted to show what style really is. You take something, like this pretty printed pants with matching top, add the necessary ornaments- the shoes- and then you make it into something that it’s not. Make it more; take something away and then you’re done.
Ellisondepriest.com
twitter.com/ellisondepriest
instagram.com/ellisondepreist
Photographer-Isaiah Johnson of A Collected Gentleman
