I Don’t Want to be Where I Started From in Styling

Sometimes exotic. Sometimes simple. Sometimes extraordinary. Celebrity fashion stylist and designer, Jeremiah Ogbodo, aka SwankyJerry, is a world apart from other stylists. Down-to-earth in thought, deep in philosophy, consistent and astute as an enterpri

What makes you stand out in the crowd?

Well, I really think my originality and creativity make me stand out. I don’t know what others see in me.

You have been in the public eye for over five years. What does it mean to be a celebrity stylist?

To start with, I have yet to mark five years. I launched Swanky’s signatures in July 2012. So, I’ll be celebrating five years this year. It’s never been easy and it will never be. As we all know that styling is one of the most popular emerging professions in the fashion world globally. Being a celebrity stylist means you have to select clothing and accessories for published editorials, print or television advertising campaigns, music videos, red carpets, concert performance and any public appearances made by celebrities, models or public figures. Note that a celebrity stylist is often part of a larger creative team, collaborating with fashion designers, makeup artistes, hair stylist, and photographers, etc., to put together a particular look for a client. Celebrity styling is such a large topic.

What is the major drive behind your creativity?

To be on top of your game as a celebrity fashion stylist, you must be extremely creative. You must come up with new ideas very often. The fear of not being on top is the major drive behind my creativity. I have worked so hard over the years and I realize that once you stop being creative as a celebrity stylist you have pretty much lost it. My motivation to do great things is extremely beyond where I have been. I never want to be where I started from.

recently bagged an endorsement deal with Ciroc. Can you tell us about it?

Well, I must thank God for constantly blessing the works of my hands. This is my second endorsement as a brand ambassador or as an influencer. I’m proud to say that in Nigeria I’m the first and only fashion stylist to be endorsed by brands, and it’s definitely a great achievement. I really don’t know why they keep choosing me but I guess my work speaks for itself. As we speak, another endorsement is rolling my way but let’s keep it hushhush for now until we are ready.

What are the challenges that stylists face in the industry?

There are multiple challenges for stylists in the Nigerian industry. I’ll state a few. Firstly, I think stylists and designers need to have a better relationship and understanding. I personally enjoy working with designers on projects from the scratch. Secondly, fashion items are not really accessible in the country which is a major challenge. I have to source for fashion items all over the world. If I travel to any part of the world I take time to go around and pick selective items I know it’s hard to find in Nigeria and just take home for rainy days even though I don’t need them at that exact time. But we are improving. So, I guess soon that’s going to be history. Thirdly, designers are getting access to celebrities and public figures, thereby making the stylist almost without a role to play. It is forgotten that a designer is not a stylist.

For example, a designer can contact a celebrity and say, ‘I have a beautiful dress for you.’ He sends the dress to the celebrity and that’s it. The celebrity wears the outfit and looks completely crazy even though it’s a beautiful piece. Why? Because there was no proper coordination, dress might not be for her body type, wrong makeup choice, wrong hair style, wrong shoes, wrong clutch, wrong photography, wrong accessories, etc. It’s the job of a stylist to make sure all these things