The Life Of A Celebrity Stylist: Kev Couture

It's not all glitz and glam

Written by Gus Penton

One career path often misunderstood in the world of fashion is that of a celebrity wardrobe stylist. Many assume it’s all glitz, glam, high profile clients, fashion shows and parties galore.

That’s not entirely inaccurate to a degree, but it also takes the right eye and understanding for fashion, creativity, along with constant legwork, endless hours of travel to accommodate your clients and years of hard work to gain the credibility it takes to really make it.

The GentleManual had a chance to catch up with a rising celebrity stylist, Kev Couture, making his name in the industry by keeping NFL players, musicians, and several other high profile clients looking at the top of their fashion game.

Th GentleManual: Tell me a little bit about your career up to date.

Kev Couture: “I started Kev Couture Fashion Inc. three years ago. In this time I’ve poured myself into this 100%. The most recent major moment was styling a few clients for the Grammy Awards, so that was pretty fun and I enjoyed myself. I got an invite for London Fashion Week, but my schedule was so hectic so I couldn’t make it. I’ll certainly be there in September. I was very excited about my application being accepted for London Fashion Week, it’s a huge bench mark in my career.”

So how did you enjoy your time at the Grammys?

“Oh man, I had never been to the Grammys before so the three days I was there was like a whirlwind. I didn’t really sleep that much. One of the people I styled was one of Adam Levine’s good friend, so I was styling her every day making sure she looked good at all the events she would go to. I actually got to go to the famous Clive Davis party at the Beverly Hills Hilton and that was so cool.”

Where’s the first place you start when styling a client?

“I usually sit down with them for an initial consultation and ask them what look they’re trying to achieve. We get the direction, what colors they like, where they’re going, and they help me figure out what outfits I’m going to put them in. Ultimately I want them to look good, but be comfortable. If you’re not comfortable and look uptight, your outfit isn’t going to project a confident look. Every look for every client is 100% tailored to them.”

How would you describe your life in a nutshell as a celebrity stylist?

“It’s definitely fun. It’s great to be on the cutting edge, to see what’s coming out next. The process can be very time consuming, but at the end of the day, I just have fun. It’s a profession that pays me to make people look good. That’s something I thoroughly enjoy. It’s a job, but it’s the best job I could have. I love what I do.”

What is your personal style like?

“My personal style is pretty much old Hollywood. I like the velvet blazers, bow ties, pocket squares. You know, I like stuff that’s simple and clean but says a lot. Less is more.”

Who are some of the NFL players you’ve worked with? ”

Austin Pettis of the St. Louis Rams, Brandon Marshall of the Chicago Bears, Jim Schwartz of the Detroit Lions. I’ve worked with these guy for events as well as travel. When the teams travel for away games there’s a certain dress code they have to adhere to and the style I enjoy getting clients into most is exactly what they need for these moments.”

How do you feel about the current trends and state of fashion?

“I think if people blindly follow trends, they’re always going to be missing something with their personal style. Because trends come and go. You’ll end up looking like everyone else in the end. I always say you can add trendy pieces into your style, but don’t just look like a walking trend.”

What are some of the top colors for spring?

“You’ll see a lot of sorbet shades and burnt orange.”

What about accessories for men?

“Men’s accessory sales this past year have increased by about 40%. You’ll see a lot of men focusing more on scarves, ties, bracelets, watches, and recently we’ve started to see more pendants on blazers. It helps personalize the outfit.

Where do you see yourself going with your career?

“I definitely want to design menswear later on, that’s my ultimate goal. Rachael Zoe for example was a stylist before she was a designer, she knows how garments are supposed to look and fit after her experience. But I’d like to style for another four to five years.”

Who would be your dream client?

“I like working with a lot of different people honestly. When you work with one client you can become comfortable and that’s not my style. But if I had to pick one, LeBron James would be pretty fun to work with.”

Gus Penton

Gus Penton is a writer for ‘The Gentlemanual’ and a freelance digital marketing consultant.He treats life as if it were an extended working vacation, loves everything surfing, and learning about other cultures. Gus is also a Florida State University graduate. Go Noles!



SOURCE: THE GENTLEMANUAL