‘Learn the mantra: Less is more’, says a fashion stylist

Not only did this alumna pursue her Bachelor’s in fashion design from Apeejay Stya University (ASU), but she has also been an Apeejayite from the word go. She joined Apeejay School, Faridabad in Sector 15 in the nursery. Therefore, pursuing higher education at ASU was something that happened organically.

“My journey with Apeejay began much before ASU; it began when I joined Apeejay School, Faridabad in the nursery. After class XII, I joined the Apeejay Institute of Design (AID) for two years and then shifted to ASU. It was natural for me to choose Apeejay since I already knew about the teaching methodology and the great teachers I had in school. I know that the faculty at Apeejay was good as well. I had the option of dropping a year or taking a programme. I decided to go with the latter and found it interesting and here I am,” Aarushi Dawar said who is a fashion stylist at Clicker Studio.

Excerpts from an interview.

What is a typical day like as a fashion stylist?

It is like any other day in any other office – come into the office, organise, and prep for photo shoots. I also have to make a list of targets and see that they are achieved. Talk to the clients and understand what they want. We do a lot of photo shoots for e-Commerce sites like Myntra, Amazon, and Flipkart and creative shoots for the websites that are clients of our company.

How correct is it to summarise that the fashion world is glamorous?

It is true to a certain extent; more so when it comes to people who are not from the industry. But if you look at the industry closely, you will see the hard work that people have to put in to make it appear magical to the outside world. One has to put in a lot of effort to make everything look beautiful. And it is not as if there are two or three people involved. There are a plethora of people backstage who make it look easy.

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The fashion world may appear to be glamorous but one has to put in a lot of effort to make everything look beautiful. There are a plethora of people backstage who make it look easy

–Aarushi Dawar, Fashion stylist, Clicker Studio

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Was being a stylist something that was always on the cards?

To begin with, I wanted to work in merchandising. But once I took up the course at ASU and learnt more about this sector, I changed my mind. I realised that I wanted to explore how the shoots are done and everything that comes with it including celebrity styling. This led me to become a fashion stylist.

What is the attraction of working in this field?

To be honest, the most attractive aspect is that one can end making having huge contacts. You come across some of the biggest names under the sun by virtue of your work. Second, it is an extremely lucrative sector; the pay packages are great. I have been working in the field for the last two-and-a-half years and before joining my present job, I was part of several internship programmes. Each step that I took helped me hone my skills and helped me reach where I am today.

How different is ASU different from Apeejay school?

It is different. I loved each moment I spent in school. I live in a joint family and each child has studied at the Faridabad branch. Almost every teacher in the school knows us by our name. They knew we were siblings and lived together. ASU is a little different of course in some ways. We are taught to be more independent and how to make our professional journey smoother.

How would you define fashion?

I would say make your style statement. Wear what you are comfortable with. At the same time, one can be comfortable in sync with the latest trends. If you love baggy pajamas, look for designs that are trending.

What are the must-haves in everyone’s wardrobe?

One must always have basics like black and white T-shirts. The best part is that these can be styled differently each time. A lot of people think that wearing formal entails wearing a suit with a plain shirt. But this is a myth. Women can wear a printed shirt with a pencil skirt or even pants.

What are some fashion no-nos?

Learn the mantra: Less is more. One should avoid too much layering. Even when one is wearing cords, ensure that there is a break; wear a plain shirt or even a crop top.  The best part of cords is that they can be worn in different ways.