International Women’s Day is Thursday, March 8, and I am back with my 10th Whitterview to bring you the hard-working mom of two, celebrity stylist, Cary Robinson. A powerful woman in fashion is who you’re about to get to know in my latest Q&A. She went to school to be a court reporter to follow in her dad’s attorney footsteps.
But along the way, she discovered the fashion industry, and here she is today to talk about herself, her family, and of course, style.
Tell me about your background/family.
CR: “Well, I’m Cary Robinson- a fashion stylist. I’ve been in the business for about 20 years. I have two daughters ages 27 and 8. I was born and raised in California.
You are your daughter, Jasmine (Tookes, Victoria Secret Angel)’s stylist, do you both have the same taste?
CR: “We have the exact same taste. We’ll be looking at lookbooks, and I’ll look first and not find anything, there will be one or two that are okay, and she will say the same thing about the same ones. Looking at lookbooks and being at fashion shows, we always pick the same dresses that we like.”
What is your daily routine?
CR: “It always differs, days run together. For this week, it’s the Oscar’s week, so today, my day started out by making a list of designers to reach out to for those that I am styling, then I’ll reach out to designers after I make my list. It’s hard because Fashion Week and the Oscars have never been this close. So dresses are being shuffled around, and I have to decide which designers I want to work with. I spend a lot of time on the computer and make a lot of appointments.”
Where are some of your favorite places to shop?
CR: “My go to is Zara, they’re affordable and have clothing for men, women, and children. I also love Bloomingdales, Barneys and Saks Fifth Avenue.”
You’ve also worked as a costume designer- are there any major differences between a stylist and costume designer?
CR: “There is a huge difference. Being a stylist you have to follow current trends, stay in the know with high fashion and what’s hot right now. As for being a costume designer, it’s in the script and you get the feel on what wardrobe shoudl be. You don’t get that much creative room, it’s not as fun as being stylist and is very different from being a stylist. I prefer styling over costume design. Maybe when I’m older I’ll enjoy costume design.”
If you could style someone for one day who would you pick?
CR: “Beyonce, I love her. Or even Oprah. Or Michelle and Barack Obama. Even Ellen! But Beyonce is my first.”
The Oscars are coming up, one of fashions biggest days of the year, how are you preparing for the show? And who will we see on the red carpet that you styled?
CR: “I’ll be styling my daughter Jasmine Tookes and Josephine Skriver, both Victoria’s Secret Angels. They will be attending the Oscar parties for Vanity Fair and Elton John.”
What is some of the best advice you’ve gotten that has helped get you to where you are today?
CR: “Networking is the best advice. Be seen, be out there. It’s who you know. Relationships and networking are huge. It all leads to other jobs and referrals.”
But as a stylist, it’s not always easy to nail the perfect outfit. I’m sure you too, have a hard time trying to put together the perfect outfit, whether it be for just going to work, going out to eat with friends, or even a date. That’s where the app STYL comes in, an app Cary too, uses to perfect the perfect outfit for whoever she is styling. I asked Cary about STYL and how we can use it for our everyday lives, as we all have to get ready for something!
CR: “Everybody asks themselves the question, “What am I going to wear today,” so right off the bat this is an app that provides a solution to an everyday problem. It doesn’t just end with, “What am I going to wear,” STYL can be used to get a second opinion while shopping in-store or online, deciding what to wear from your closet for an upcoming event, first date, job interview, and it’s a great spring cleaning tool to help you decide what you still wear and what you can donate.”
Join Cary, join me, join others on STYL, together we can help each other put together the perfect outfit for any occasion.