Forget celebrities, stylists are the true fashion influencers

WHEN the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival gala runways kick off in style tomorrow, eyes will be not only on the catwalk but on the faces sitting in the “Frow” — or the front row.

Stylist Elliot Garnaut, model Rebecca Harding, model Steph Claire Smith and stylist Suzy Eskander. Picture: Alex Coppel

WHEN the Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival gala runways kick off in style tomorrow, eyes will be not only on the catwalk but on the faces sitting in the “Frow” — or the front row.

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While there’s no doubting celebrities drive sales in their designer outfits, it’s increasingly the stylists behind them who may be the true fashion influencers.

Models, TV stars and WAGs all turn to stylists to help pull together killer looks for big events including VAMFF, the races and other red carpet occasions.

Celebrity stylists Suzy Eskander and Elliot Garnaut, along with models Steph Claire Smith and Rebecca Harding, agree the role of the stylist has never been more important.

“Girls are being styled more than ever, when they would normally have dressed themselves in the past,” Smith says.

“Stylists help you to push the boundaries. You look at something on the rack and you think, ‘There’s no way I’m putting that on’, and then they put it all together and you put it on and you think, ‘That looks really good’.”

Eskander, who has styled Smith for the races and other red carpet events, says a good stylist takes into account their client’s personal style and then injects other elements to elevate the look.

“The key reason you would get a stylist is to put together something you wouldn’t ordinarily put together, whether it be the accessories or the colour combo. Anyone can go to a store and pick up a dress and put a shoe with it, but it’s about being creative and unique,” she says.

And when they get it right, it rings at the cash register for fortunate retailers.

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Stylist Elliot Garnaut, model Rebecca Harding, model Steph Claire Smith and stylist Suzy Eskander. Picture: Alex Coppel

“I dressed Steph last year in a red boot. That boot sold out nationally and they call it the Steph boot now. I went in to return them the next day and they were saying girls were coming in with their phone showing them that picture,” Eskander says.

Harding, long-term girlfriend of comedian Andy Lee, says working with stylists like Garnaut has helped her step outside her comfort zone when it comes to fashion.

“I’d just be wearing jeans, a heel and a nice top just because it’s easy and I’ve always got that in my wardrobe,” she says.

“If you can work with a stylist, especially for things like fashion week and big, important events, it’s nice to have someone who will help you push the boundaries a bit.”

Harding turned heads at the recent Portsea polo in an outfit styled by Garnaut she says she “wouldn’t have had the confidence or the thought to put all the together” on her own.

Garnaut says his key focus is on always trying to do something different and pushing the boundaries.

“It’s about working with celebrities to diversify what they already know, educating them on what they don’t and then pushing them into something they never would have before,” he says.

“That doesn’t mean you have to go all Lady Gaga, but it might be like Bec has great legs and she always wears a skinny leg jean. I’m like, no let’s do a straight leg pant and dress it with a flat or a sneaker and make it more street.”

He says stylists are more in demand than ever because of the power of social media and the fact there are more red carpet events and parties where celebrities need to make their mark.

“The girls can solidify themselves as fashion authorities working with someone who is passionate about what they do in fashion and come together as a team to create different looks every time,” he said.

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