To Sicily and Back
I remember so well one of the first things I was told when I wanted to go to fashion school was, “it’s going to be so hard to earn a living and only a few make it”. For so long that statement retained space in my head. It nudged my fear, propelled my self doubt and to be honest, it wasn’t until I saw my client sitting front row at Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda with legendary actresses, Sharon Stone and Helen Mirren, that I was able to take back that space to dream a little bigger and finally take my place.
Like anything, this journey was 99% hard work and a good stroke of timing. In May of this year, I was tired. I was talking about taking some time off and going to plant myself on a beach in Maui, thanks to a delightful invitation from a good friend. Around the same time, I received a request to style three clients for the Goldhouse Gala in Los Angeles. My instinct was to say, I am going on vacation but my gut screamed to not pass up this opportunity.
As it turns out, always listen to that feeling. I think it's some of the most magical and valuable advice one can take away. Dolce & Gabbana had agreed to work with us to style Vanessa Yao, Tzi Ma and Ludi Lin. One custom gown and two couture suits later, carefully planned and hand carried from Milan, the gold carpet sizzled.
And, as I write this, the song by The Fixx, “One Thing Leads To Another” is blaring on my iPhone. It is so true. Dolce & Gabbana loved the way Ludi was styled and wore the suit from Goldhouse and extended the invite to us for the 10 year celebration of Alta Moda and Alta Sartoria in Sicily, Italy. This is the couture women’s and men’s show and is considered to be at the pinnacle of fashion.
This is a stylist’s dream and it was a strange feeling to be living it. We created three custom looks for each night, women’s show, men’s show and the closing party. It was important to me that they were all different and fitting for each show.
To the women’s show, Ludi wore a custom wore a custom double-breasted Sicilia-fit tuxedo in a white brocade with high side splits. I finished his look with a criss-cross shirt in crepe de chine and beaded pointed shoes.
The next night in Marzamemi, Ludi sat front row with Leslie Odom Jr. and Ellen Pompeo wearing a custom black poplin Martini-fit shirt embellished with floral crystal embroidery combined with black trousers. I completed his look with Swarovski embellished derby shoes.
And finally, to the closing party at Castello Maniace, Ludi stunned in a custom teal silk criss-cross shirt paired with black trousers and black patent derby shoes.
This experience has been truly the highlight of my career thus far and to say I am grateful, is in an understatement. One of the most important things that I have learned is to continue to dream bigger, push for more and continue to trust your instincts because every overnight success is 10 years in the making.
Sicily, you were good to us!