PolishedPractical: Congrats on your latest project working on the Monster Tour. Your hard work is really inspiring. In what capacity were you working with the dancers?
Jessica Rosales: I worked on the wardrobe with Rihanna’s dancers. I really learnt so much from the stylist as I got to see the difference in styling for the music industry. The clothes have to be functional, trendy, and lightweight, the dancers have to be able to move in them.
PP: Is there a lot of difference in the process between street styling and costume styling?
JR: Street styling has a much slower pace to it. It’s not live, all the photography is stills. Costume styling is all about high-level intensity. Working with wardrobe you have to be on stage all the time, and know how to do everything! The little details just appear to you, it’s so fast paced. Oh and you have to have back ups of everything for each dancer.
PP: Wow, sounds intense! So on tour does the vision come from the main stylist or the performer?
JR: Every artist can be different. Some may have ideas or a vision and then some need help finding the inspiration within them. The stylist will make that vision come true by creating different choices and presenting them to the client.
PP: What advice do you have for other young women looking to be stylists?
JR: Work hard. Never give up. Don’t be afraid. Know that you will have to make sacrifices.
PP: You worked in retail though for a while, is that something you recommend or no?
JR: It’s good to start in a store – you learn people’s body types, their styles. It helped me learn how to speak to people and listen to their wants. I got to play with clothes for free! You also need to network all the time and be honest.
Tune back in tomorrow on Polished Practical to hear more about becoming a stylist and balancing a busy work life. While you're waiting take a sneak peak of the photo shoot Rosales did the morning of our interview.
