Style Beyond Fashion: An Interview with Fashion Stylist Marian Kihogo

"I describe my style as like a car crash of '70s luxe bohemian, rock&roll and masculine tailoring." (Marian Kihogo on Twitter)

Marian, wearing a vintage jumpsuit and belt. Photo: Rob Truijen.

I adore Marian Kihogo’s fashion blog. I have been a follower for a long time now, and I know that Marian is not only a professional fashion stylist but also a very kind person whose amazing and funny writing puts a smile on her readers’ face. I wanted to include Marian into my program for the Night of Fashion Blogs event mainly because I admire her work and wanted to give my lovely readers the opportunity to get to know her and explore her awesome art and style.

Marian Kihogo: Fashion stylist and writer

"My background is in fashion design and art. My mother is an artist and so was her mother, so I was encouraged to explore fashion, art and all things creative. I styled my first client when I was fourteen and have gone on since then to work providing editorial fashion styling, fashion writing, personal styling and personal shopping. This has been on both a full time permanent or freelance basis. Prior experience includes working as a fashion stylist, fashion writer, art director, visual merchandiser, editor, celebrity personal stylist and personal shopper for varying clients and publications" – says Marian. – "I currently work for Paris based magazine, Dirrty Glam as their UK Correspondent. This position includes coordinating, styling and writing any London based features, editorial shoots, interviews etc. I also work on a freelance basis on other publications and projects. In addition I regularly provide personal styling (clients range from everyday housewives to celebrities for the red carpet) and personal shopper services."

Hi Marian, how are you? What are you doing right now? Hi Zsuzsanna, I am well thank you! Hope you are having a good day too. I have just finished personal shopping with a client in Selfridges (London luxury department store). She wanted a few things for the new season, such as a great new coat, some knitwear and new jeans etc. I am now just on my way to see a few PR agencies to pick some pieces for clients who have upcoming red carpet events. Before those appointments I will make a quick stop for some hot chocolate and a croissant at the first café I see first!

You do styling for some of the most amazing magazines, designers and models. What is it like to live such a fascinating life? Hard work! {Smile} No it is really an honour by God’s grace to be able do something I love… In my mind, I am still that ten year old practicing my styling on her poor six year old sister! {Laugh.} I enjoy it just as much as I did then. Once I am styling, fashion writing and so on, I am happy. I have had a lifelong affair with fashion, art, great design and innate style so I do not see my life as fascinating, I simply see it as being able to do what I love. Of course, it is a pleasure and utter honour to be able to work with talented and passionate creatives (photographers, models, makeup artists, fashion designers, hair stylists, retouchers etc.) who love their jobs and give it 200%. Trust me when I’m hungry and tired at a twelve hour fashion shoot it immediately takes out any aspect of glamour or fascination. {Laugh.}

What do you like the most about your job? I adore it all… from reviewing season catwalk collections, to interviewing incredibly talented high fashion designers, research, coordinating and styling magazine shoots etc. Maybe the bottom line to me is I see what designers create as their art. It is thus such a pleasure to be able to work with it hands on in shoots, to write about in articles etc. My personal styling also brings me much joy. It is wonderful putting a smile on a client’s face; instilling or renewing confidence through an outfit gives me so much joy and job satisfaction. All I have ever wanted to do is make people feel great and look their best through great styling. It’s great seeing my clients featured in best dressed lists!

I adore your style, so effortlessly chic, feminine but daring at the same time. Tell me, what makes the perfect outfit? Wow that is quite a compliment! Thank you, I am incredibly flattered. I think the perfect outfit is a chemistry created when an outfit reflects the person’s personality combined with working with their body proportions. Personality and attitude fuel personal style. If someone wears something that is not really a reflection of who they are, it shows however fashionable/trendy it is. The clothes then tend to wear them and not the other way round as it should be. Figure, who you are as a person, let your clothes be an extension of you and make sure to take your body type/proportions into consideration as well.

Do the clothes make the outfit or does the person wearing the clothes? Oh most definitely the person! Otherwise everyone wearing designer clothes would automatically look amazing and that is not the case. Personality and attitude are what bring a garment to life. Without that in my opinion the clothes are dead on their own.

Many people here in Hungary are not really confident with their styles; and therefore they don't even try to express themselves in fashion. What would be your advice for them? Possibly discovering who they are as individuals will help. Each person needs to find out what their likes, dislikes, inspirations and personal experience is. I think most people struggling with confidence to express themselves through their garments are unsure of who they are personality wise. Once that is sorted, there is more of a confidence to express one’s self through one’s clothes. Also I would suggest exploring fashion, art, music, design, culture etc as it broadens the mind and serves as inspiration. If one lives in a society or an area where there is not much exposure to fashion sometimes this exploration can be a God send. There were times when I lived in areas where there was nothing to inspire me visually as the people were not interested in fashion at all. So magazines, books and TV were my way off escaping that black and white world into a world full of print, colour, conceptual design and creativity. Do take time out to find out what works for your body type and colouring. If you don’t know, book a professional styling consultation. How can one know what works best for them in terms of shape, cut and proportions if one does not know their individual body type? Most importantly I would encourage everyone that even the greatest style icons and muses were not born that way. The Audrey Hepburn’s and Marilyn Monroe’s of this world became who they are through endless style and fashion experimentation. Remember that great style is not built in a day. Develop a fearlessness when it comes to clothes, it is through the mistakes that the successes are made. Fashion is meant to be fun, don’t be afraid to play with it!

What is the most useful piece of advice about style that you have ever gotten?
{Wear nothing you don't believe in. If you wear clothes that are not you, it shows.}
{True personal style evolves, grows, changes as the person does.}
{It is okay if no one understands your personal style. That is why it is personal to the individual. When it comes to personal style you should not be trying to please anyone but yourself!}
{Experiment fearlessly, experiment, experiment...}

What are your future plans? To work hard but remember to laugh, love and live even harder...

What are you wearing right now? Black Vivienne Westwood high waist tailored pants, a black jumper with splashes of forest and acidic green, mocha brown and neon pink. It has a Rodarte like feel but it is by UK high street retailer, NEXT. Also have a faux leather biker jacket, Kurt Geiger cone heel ankle boots, an Urban Outfitters multi layered chain and neon green fringed necklace. Oh I also have my usual armful of bracelets, cuffs and gold watch.

Thank you so much for the interview, Marian. So inspiring! I wish you every success with your career, personal life and plans.

Marian's client, Tolula Adeyemi, model, actress and muse to Vivienne Westwood, in a Manjit Deu pink sequin dress, London Fashion Week S/S 2010.

Here you will find the program of today's event.