I met Cristy during a recent film project.  We immediately seem to hit it off really well.  Cristy came across as someone who was casually chic, very focused and searching.  She also seemed to possess a certain je' ne sais quoi in her presence that announced her arrival into the room. In another place or circumstance we may have simply passed one another with only a casual glance between us, but it was our mutual search and that circumstance which introduced me to the very fashionable Cristy Guy.

     She turned out to be very personable, a serious go getter and was definitely going places.  It was great to see someone that had developed a career within the fashion industry from one of the least places thought of as fashionable, my home town Kansas City, Missouri.

     I often wonder how do the very public and fashionable people dress in their private lives. Better yet how do my fellow style makers dress in their everyday lives.  The moment I scheduled the interview with Cristy there would be one question looming in my mind.  What would she wear to the interview?  Just how up or down would she dress?  How stylish was this stylist?  (Okay so that was three questions...) 

     I had only seen Cristy in a work environment which for most stylist  means dressing comfortable and casual with a little flair but nothing too fussy. Perhaps, the fact that it was her profession to dress people appropriately is what made me focus on this detail with so much anticipation.

     It was the morning of the interview and the anticipation seemed to be spreading like the plague. With this being my first column and the first interview I had done in some years I wanted to be prepared and arrive early.  As luck would have it with only an hour or so to spare I found myself frantically rushing around the city looking for a new tape recorder. 

     Fortunately I arrived at the cafe just in time, ordered a strong cup of coffee; and just as I tasted the first sip, she arrived...

     Cristy walked the cafe, ordered hot cocoa and we began to catch up on our latest projects.  The question had finally been answered.  She had arrived with lightly coiffed hair, wearing fresh makeup, a turquoise velour hoodie, black pants and silver accessories  which all seemed to coordinate down to the pumps.  I thought okay... she stayed true to her style, Casual Chic.  As for me... I stuck with Black, the official color of  fashion industry professionals. Wearing jeans from a season or two or ago, a black oxford shirt, a black and white wool blazer, black velvet loafers, and probably could have used a hair cut.  But hey the theme seemed to be Casual Chic... besides it was Saturday morning.

C. Ford: Cristy you work as a Fashion Stylist who also does Hair Styling and Makeup.  For the average person that may not know, can you give a description of what a Fashion Stylist is?

Cristy Guy: Yes. A Fashion Stylist is someone hired to pick out clothing to dress models for photo shoots and commercials, or are hired to dress an individual person for an event.  We have to convey a message through the clothing, which depends on the person, project or event.  If it's a commercial featuring everyday people or if it's an individual going to an award show,  you have to dress them accordingly.  What a Fashion Stylist does varies, it's  definitely on a case by case basis.

C. Ford: Okay, so you dress people from head to toe?

Cristy Guy: Pretty much... Usually it includes the clothes, shoes, accessories, sometimes a little propping.

C. Ford: What is propping?

Cristy Guy: Well sometimes there may be other objects that are used in a shoot. (Props) There are usually Prop Stylist, that decorate everything else except the model. That's another type of stylist.

C. Ford: What steps did you take to become a stylist?

Cristy Guy: It wasn't planned... I received my first sewing machine at 10.  I always wanted to be a Fashion Designer and ended up going to school in Los Angeles at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising studying  fashion  design.  After school I moved back home, then came to Kansas City and became a graphic designer.  At that point I figured I really wanted to be a Stylist because it would put all my experience into one job and I would have freedom to bounce around since I'm not an office type of person.  I put together my portfolio and started showing it to clients.

C. Ford: I firmly believe that we are born with our talents and display them as a child.  Did you always know that you wanted to be in fashion?  Where there clues that this was what you were going to do?

Cristy Guy: Yea, I was always sewing and creating things.  I liked color, putting things together and working with my hands.  I wanted to be a fashion designer for a long time except for when it came down to actually creating a line.  It seemed really hard to do in Kansas City because you are not as connected to the industry as you are in bigger cities.

C. Ford: You're not originally from Kansas City.  Where are you from?

Cristy Guy: I'm from West Kansas.  Garden City Kansas, a small town.

C. Ford: Have you lived or worked in other areas of the country?

Cristy Guy: I have... I've lived in several places actually.  Phoenix, AZ, Denver, CO, Los Angeles, CA, Pasadena, CA and now Kansas City, MO.  A lot of my work is between Kansas City and Los Angeles.

C. Ford: Although Kansas City has the country's first outdoor shopping center and a historic Garment District, it is not typically know as one of the fashion capitol's of America.  How has your experience been trying to develop your career as a fashion stylist in Kansas City.

Cristy Guy: I guess I would say... it's definitely doable.  Sometimes I have to change my idea of fashion to fit Kansas City because it isn't as edgy or trendy as LA.   It's definitely doable though, there is a lot going on here.  There's a lot being shot, and people need wardrobe.

C. Ford: What kinds of jobs and assignments do you take on?

Cristy Guy: I take on almost everything!  I work in Print, Film, Commercial, all  across the board.  I can say one thing about Kansas City, it's beneficial if you do makeup as well.  A lot of jobs here are makeup based and fashion styling coming later in priority.

C. Ford: That's right.  You do hair and makeup as well, has that always been apart of what you do or did you pick that up along the way?

Cristy Guy: I've picked that up.  In order to market myself better I needed to offer those services.

C. Ford: What kind of people/clients do you work with?

Cristy Guy: I work with everyday people, celebrities, models creating their portfolios, commercial clients, athletes.  That's one thing I love about it.  It's so varied all the time.

C. Ford: What is a typical day like on assignment?

Cristy Guy: This is where it is different for a makeup job versus a styling job.  With makeup you get the call and just show up to work.  Being a fashion  stylist involves  prep work.  I will find out what the client needs and wants,  get the sizes, come up with an ideal then go out shopping for everything.  The day of the shoot I will be fitting and  steaming clothes.  I will be on set a lot.  If a button pops, I've got to fix it.  I make sure the clothes are worn and styled not only the way I want them but also how they should be according to the project.

C. Ford: Where do you get the clothes... Do you have like a big Department store at home?

Cristy Guy: No I don't keep a lot on hand.  If I find something really unique I will keep it in my stash, but try not to get to carried away with buying.  I shop everywhere from vintage stores, to department stores, to boutiques, whatever the jobs calls for.

C. Ford: Where do you get the inspiration for the looks you create?

Cristy Guy: Actually I'm a big music video buff, sometimes magazines, or movies.  I  see things and translate them into new ideas by adding my own touch.

C. Ford: Are there any designer you like in particular.

Cristy Guy: If we are talking couture, I'm a big Jean-Paul Gauthier fan.  His creativity is amazing.  You can't wear most of his stuff, but his approach to clothing is unbelievable.

C. Ford: How often do family and friends want you to style them/

Cristy Guy: They always want my opinion.  Some want the makeup opinion, some want the fashion opinion.  It's funny because sometimes they  are kind of nervous when they come around me and have on an outfit they are not quite sure about.

C. Ford: Oh. So you go around critiquing everyone's outfits? (I should talk...)

Cristy Guy: No. That's what they think, but I tell them oh my god, I don't care what you wear.

C. Ford: You spend a lot of time making other people look good, what is Cristy Guy's personal style about?

Cristy Guy: A little old school and a little new school mixed together.  It's comfort, fun a few trendy upscale pieces mixed in with like Chuck Taylor's and jeans.

C. Ford: Kind of eclectic... What are some of the items in your closet that get the most use?

Cristy Guy: A great pair of black pants, boots with a 3 inch heel.  My Chuck Taylor's, I have three colors.  I love jeans.  I work a lot in comfortable cute clothes because you have to be able to move around.  A lot of hoodies.  I'm more on the casual side.

I believe that feeling good about how you look is always in style.  Can you offer some advice to someone trying to develop their own personal style.

Cristy Guy: Yes.  One thing I would like to say is that just because it's in the magazines doesn't mean everyone should wear it.  It doesn't mean that that the only thing happening at that time.  I really believe in focusing on your assets, taking things that you feel comfortable in and making them work for you.