Interview With Stylist Anna Lavo
Stylist Anna Lavo recently spoke with the Garnette Report about where she draws inspiration, her dream clients, along with styling tricks and myths.
Becoming A Stylist
Growing up, Lavo has always been a “fashionista.” After some time styling her family and friends free of charge, she decided she wanted to profit from her skills. Eventually, Lavo would attend the Fashion Institute of Technology and the School of Style in LA.
“I didn’t know anyone in [the] fashion industry when I started,” she says. Eager to network, Lavo searched the internet for fashion-related events she could attend. One of these events was a summit at Parsons School of Design with Dapper Dan, Jason Bolden, and Proenza Schouler — Lavo paid nearly $400 for a ticket.
Another way of getting her foot in the door was by offering her services to different designers, showrooms, and agencies. Lavo adds, “If I see someone either in person or on Instagram who I would love to work with, I would always email them or approach them to start a conversation.”
What she wishes she knew then, however, are the advantages of offering assistance to already established stylists. This way, those just starting out can adopt a hands-on approach to developing communication skills and styling techniques. “I never assisted anyone, so it took me a long time to build my clientele,” she says.
Tips From Anna Lavo
Lavo describes her own style as tomboy “with a flirty touch.”She enjoys mixing sporty and chic aesthetics, for example, baggy jeans and a crop top. Her approach to styling clients typically varies based on each consultation, however, she says she enjoys “elevated” or “fancy chic” styles. In 2022, Lavo made an Instagram post that she captioned with seven fashion tips, tricks, and mistakes. When asked what she thinks are the biggest fashion myths, she mentions that it is not always necessary for accessories to match shoes, rather, “a playful mix of correctly picked colors and shades” will elevate the look.
Recently, she styled her client Ella Halikas, who is plus-sized, recreating one of supermodel Bella Hadid’s iconic Mugler looks. “I think that every body
type is beautiful and the important thing is to style it correctly and follow the proportions of the body,” Lavo states. When all is said and done, she wants her clients to walk away with confidence. Lavo references the psychology of confidence and describes how this applies to styling, saying, “Confidence [allows for] more opportunities in life.”
Her philosophy is not surprising, as when asked to name her dream clients, Lavo answered “Irina Shayk, Emrata, Khloe Kardashian, Ciara, Kylie Jenner, Dua Lipa.” She cites the strength of these women as a commonality, calling each of them “badass.”Likewise, she would love to style her celebrity crush, Bradley Cooper.
As far as her future as a stylist, Lavo hopes to be able to share her skills with others. She even mentions the possibility of developing an online school for styling. Wherever Lavo’s future takes her, it seems this is only the beginning.
Featured image: Drew Botcherby