The Hollywood Reporter (Weekly)
THR’S SOCIAL MEDIA STYLIST OF THE YEAR
Dani Michelle drives trends and sales with her looks for Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber (and their 329.3M followers)
How is styling for Instagram different from styling for the red carpet?
The biggest difference is how they are prepped. Red carpet styling is mostly done as a holistic thought: We are calling in full looks from designers and then accessorizing and tailoring it to make it our own. Street style, or “real life” styling, is a collection of different designers head-to-toe intertwined together to tell a story. We create a lifestyle for the client.
What was your most-liked post this past year?
Hailey in New York City wearing a pleated MISBHV skirt, a Saint Laurent coat and polo sweater. We completed the look with Proenza Schouler loafers, a Bottega Veneta purse, stockings with socks, and a great pair of sunglasses. It was an effortless moment that we never knew would hit as hard as it did, but it was an embodiment of a few working trends, combined with her brand-new chopped hair seen out and about for the first time.
How did you get into styling?
I worked in the accessories department at a fashion magazine in New York. Styling wasn’t something people advertised. Once I understood that this creative position was a job, it’s all I wanted to do. I moved to L.A. and found myself in Barney’s assisting a stylist. Kendall and I met on a few different sets, and every time we’d have these little creative moments that felt synergetic and collaborative. We didn’t officially start working together until 2020.
What are trends that you (and your clients) have helped drive?
I’ve heard from designers that their websites have crashed after a client wore their jacket, or from luxury labels that sold out worldwide after an earring was worn. I’ve seen tops they’ve worn from small brands get mass produced. I’ve seen runways styled in ways that reflect the way we styled it.