star bright
Bermuda-born, New York-based Shiona Turini is a stylist, consultant and editor who’s spent an impressive 14 years making people and brands look cool. Turini herself? She just wants to channel Diana Ross
Celeb stylist Shiona Turini on her foolproof outfit.
MY CAREER STARTED WITH HAVING THE GUMPTION TO BE TRUE TO MYSELF. In college, I got an internship through the Bermuda Department of Tourism at its New York-based PR agency. I told my would-be boss I was determined to work in the fashion industry, so she put me in contact with her sister at Yves Saint Laurent, where I landed an assistant role handling press and celebrity.
WHEN I WORKED WITH SOLANGE KNOWLES, THE PROCESS WAS INTENSELY COLLABORATIVE. She has a very specific aesthetic and was involved in almost every step of the process, from research to final edits. Her meticulous vision and portfolio of knowledge included references from fashion-industry behemoths to small designers she found on Instagram. In fact, she was the first client I worked with who didn’t care about the name stitched into the label.
SOLANGE’S “CRANES IN THE SKY” AND “DON’T TOUCH MY HAIR” VIDEOS WERE SOME OF MY MOST VISUALLY STIMULATING PROJECTS. We had to be really creative with our resources. We drove from New Orleans to New Mexico, shooting along the way. I’m proud of all my projects because they push me towards growth. A body of work that continues to excite me is helping to develop talent in Bermuda. Whether it’s the mentorship program I sponsor or pitching editorial stories set in Bermuda, I’m always fulfilled when I bring my home into the spotlight.
AS A STYLIST, YOU NEED TO KNOW YOUR FASHION REFERENCES. You can’t know the history of every pioneering designer, but know a little about everyone and, at the very least, know everything about one. To nurture your creativity, feed it endlessly with cultural fashion touch points and new research. Styling is a business. Be bold and fight for your creative vision and make strong connections with other creatives, but have an efficient process and the know-how to get the job done.
AFTER 14 YEARS, I’VE DEVELOPED AN I’VE-GOT-NOTHING-TO-WEAR-PROOF FORMULA. A Norma Kamali crop top, wide-leg pants that cover the heels and a stacked-heel mule. It’s simple but chic. If in doubt, Diana Ross in Mahogany is my sartorial lodestar – enviously sleek, regal and elegant.
THERE ARE A SLEW OF DESIGNERS I ADMIRE AND RESPECT – Azzedine Alaïa, Raf Simons and Tom Ford. But I’ll never forget Stefano Pilati’s SS05 collection for Yves Saint Laurent in which he showed patterned tulip skirts cinched by wide-waist belts. It received scathing reviews, criticisms of the generous silhouettes and prints, but the collection eventually changed the way women dressed – we never really know what styles will have true staying power. The emphasis is capturing the right audience at the right time.