This as-told-to essay is based on a transcribed conversation with Lycia Lamini, a 22-year-old celebrity fashion stylist who moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dream career. Insider has verified her monthly earnings with documentation. The following has been edited for length and clarity.
I packed up and moved from Paris to Los Angeles almost a year ago to pursue my dream of becoming a celebrity stylist. I just had to try and make it here and saw it as an adventure.
I struggled for the first few weeks. I reached out to all the people I’d networked with before, but no one was taking me seriously because of my age and they didn’t really know me. I contacted all the styling assistants, costume designers and wardrobe stylists in LA, and eventually Cardi B’s team gave me my first big break.
I started working with her stylist team in July on projects including her McDonald’s campaign with her husband Offset, and for her performance at Art Basel in Miami with her main stylist Kollin Carter. He took me under his wing until December and taught me a lot. Then I started getting my own opportunities and now I earn five-figures a month.
How I got started
My first job in fashion was at a Karl Lagerfeld store as a sales associate in Paris in 2021. I really wanted to style celebrities, but didn’t have access to those kinds of clients or contacts. So, I thought that working for a fashion house was the best option for me. After a three-month internship I was hired by Prada, then went on to work for Balenciaga and Christian Dior.
That’s when I started to build my network. I attended fashion week events, which opened doors for me. I met Lenny S., who works for Roc Nation and is Jay Z’s best friend. He introduced me to people, invited me to events, and my network developed. I started building my portfolio by styling French rappers.
Lycia Lamini
I networked to build my personal brand
Since working with Kollin Carter, I’ve styled Burna Boy and got to work with Lil Nas X. I attended Paris Fashion Week shows in February to focus on my branding and I’ve had a lot of bookings since then. Recently I styled Joey Bada$$ and now I’m working with rapper Kali.
Build strong relationships with fashion brands
When it comes to sourcing clothes, the key is in the relationships you’ve built with brands.
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If you have a very good relationship, they’re going to try their best to source whatever you need.
Don’t get sucked into the LA party lifestyle
When you’re around celebrities all the time, you are also a part of the lifestyle that can include going out a lot, smoking or drinking. I don’t do either and focus on the work.
This impresses potential clients because it shows you’re not going to cross boundaries and that you’re respectful towards the people you work with. To me, remaining professional is the key to prosperity in this industry.
Quick turnarounds are challenging
Styling can be chaotic, especially because most of the time you have a very short time-frame to put together looks. For example, last week I had to style Kali in less than 24 hours.
It’s tough when it’s super last-minute and you have to pull together a look that looks good. With styling, you can’t do it half-heartedly. You always have to give it 100% of your effort because it’s your look, and ultimately that’s what is going to keep you booked.