Sabrina Carpenter has been on tour wearing some iconic looks from—not to toot our own horn—us. But have you ever wondered who the brilliant mind is behind sharing these timeless looks on the big stage? Well, that’s stylist Jared Ellner, and we sat down with them to learn everything from professional inspiration to personal tips. Read on to get the full scoop.
Q: What was the inspiration for the VS looks?
A: “The VS look is very inspired by 1950’s swimsuits and playsuits. They feel both retro and classic at the same time which was the goal for the opening look.”
Q: Can you take us through the process of you collaborating?
A: “Sabrina is the creative genius behind her entire world, so it first starts with a conversation about what she is envisioning. From there, I work to turn those brilliant ideas into reality and explore how they can be executed to the best of their ability.”
Q: Where do you start to find inspiration for the looks?
A: “Inspiration can come from a variety of sources. Often times, I find references from books, old movies, documentaries, and the depths of the internet. I usually do a sweep of a variety of digital and analog media to find inspiration when starting a project.”
Q: Of all the VS looks, is there one that stands out to you as a favorite?
A: “The tartan bodysuit is a personal favorite. I loved how unexpected it was and how it so closely it related to the city that she was performing in.”
Q: If you could only use one word to describe the looks, what would it be?
A: “Timeless”
Q: How did you break into the styling industry?
A: “After graduating from Parsons, I began working at GARAGE Magazine. My first shoot working as the lead stylist was styling Emma Chamberlain for a GARAGE editorial. A couple years later, Emma was searching for a full-time stylist and her team reached out to me. Our work together grew and as the years passed, I took on more clients along the way. It all sort of snowballed quite quickly!”
Q: Did you always know you wanted to be a stylist, or is this something you discovered later?
A: “I always grew up wanting to be a fashion designer. Styling was a happy accident, but it has become the joy of my life—I am deeply lucky to do what I do!”
Q: What advice would you give to those looking to get into styling professionally?
A: “Work with as many people as possible. Try to get on as many sets as you can and meet as many people as you possibly can. The more people you meet in the industry, the better.”
Q: What’s something people may not know about being a stylist?
A: “Being a stylist is just as much about logistics and organization as it is about fashion. Our job is to bring fantasies to life and a majority of that work requires a lot of less exciting tasks to get the job done.”
Q: Who is your style icon?
A: “Great designers of the past: Alexander McQueen, YSL, Christian Dior, and so on.”