Day In The Life // Stylist, Olivia Rodrigues
This week I am featuring my dear friend Olivia Rodrigues. She's become a close friend of mine since meeting her almost a year ago at the Lady Project Summit in 2014. Here is a day in her life as a wardrobe stylist.
How do you start off your day?
My day always starts off with my son screaming either my name or his father's from his crib (laughter). If I'm lucky to be up before he's up, I make myself a cup of tea or coffee or I often opt for a breakfast smoothie with greens and fruits to keep me full and get the energy going throughout the day. Then I check my list of things to take with me, particularly before a big shoot. Because I usually prep all the outfits the night before, including accessories etc, I like to make sure that nothing gets left behind or forgotten, that everything is packed carefully. I am very cautious about dresses and pieces that might be easily wrinkled or are most fragile. I pack my folded clothing racks as well. The morning of the shoot is really about transporting a lot of things in and out of my house/car/location. The day before is when I prep all of the garments, label things by their retail shops (if necessary), and study the theme and outfits to make sure the vision comes to life.
All photos provided by Olivia Rodrigues
What was your big project for the day?
Styling a new ad for a local jewelry manufacturing company. Cat Laine from Painted Foot pulled me in on this project, along with Mihaela Hinayon, who oversaw the production. We had a half a day to shoot as many outfits as possible with one model and my role was to ensure that each outfit was in unison with the client's jewelry line. Cat, Mihae, and I were brought together by working on the Lady Project Summer Guide last year; which led to us launching Les Gamines last fall, which then opened the doors for opportunities such as this one.
Was there anything big you accomplished?
After a photo shoot or any session with an individual client, knowing that I was able to deliver and contributed to the overall success of a team or say someone's understanding of their personal style and made it a time well spent or well invested for the client - that alone feels like a big accomplishment. Particularly in this instance, to see all the preparations come together seamlessly and being able to see the vision being executed and the potential of the final product, all the sweat and hard work put in before and post shoot become validated and that is a tremendous feeling!
Did you face any challenges today?
Ha! I face challenges every day. From chasing my 2 year old around the house to put his jacket on so we can rush out of the house in the morning to finding out that the pants I got for my model is too tight or too lose. But honestly these days I learn to prioritize the level of urgency and put every challenge into perspective. Maintaining a positive mind helps me see challenges not as obstacles but a new way to rethink an idea or a strategy. And when a team also operates with that kind of mindset, magic happens!
Did you do anything fun?
Every photo shoot is fun. What made that day even more special was shooting inside one of the rooms at the Dean Hotel, which are just gorgeous. And secondly, working with hair and makeup gurus, Lulu Locks and Brandon Ward from Suite Tart, for the first time. To finally see them in action was super fun!
Did you do anything fun?
Every photo shoot is fun. What made that day even more special was shooting inside one of the rooms at the Dean Hotel, which are just gorgeous. And secondly, working with hair and makeup gurus, Lulu Locks and Brandon Ward from Suite Tart, for the first time. To finally see them in action was super fun!
