5 Questions With…Stylist Mary Fellowes

Uber stylist Mary Fellows started her career with Isabella Blow, followed by 4 years at British Vogue. She created a fashion & Style section for The Economist on their Intelligent Life supplement and launched Turkish Vogue as their Fashion Director. Mary has dressed celebrities including Liv Tyler, Mischa Barton and Clare Danes. She has also contributed to Chinese Vogue, Spanish Vogue, Italian Vogue, Vanity Fair and Teen Vogue. Mary also gives talks at Style School and can be found on our Meet The Pro’s page.

Above: Mary Fellowes

1) Did you always know from a young age that you wanted to go into styling?

No, as growing up I had no idea what a stylist was…but I always knew I wanted to create. From an early age I was always creating, painting, drawing, making clothes, cooking, building things, anything. I also loved taking pictures from the age of 4, so when I discovered styling I realised it married my love of creating things with my hands (in this case outfits and looks) and also telling stories through pictures.

2) How did you get to where you are today?

Extreme hard work, relentless networking, being highly passionate and ambitious…and always managing to see the funny side of it, fashion is after all quite extraordinary and if you take yourself too seriously, you are setting yourself up for a fall.

3) What has been your most career defining moment?

I have had so many – working for Isabella Blow, calling up A.S Byatt to brief her on what to write to accompany my fashion story on couture, working with Arthur Elgort who is the most special man in the world.

4) Which aspects of your job do you most enjoy?

The lack of any routine – every day is different. Also the fact that it is essential to continually be stimulating myself with anything and everything from the visual arts, cinema, theatre, contemporary art, newspaper images. It is an honour to be part of the wider visual community.

5) What advice can you give to those starting out as stylists?

Do not be fooled into thinking that this job is about being able to team up the right shoe with the perfect coat. Styling is no different to set design or make up or hair dressing – all you are doing is using a different medium (in this case clothes rather than furniture or hair products) to aid in building up an image. Also, the job has flash moments of glamour once in a while, but the reality is a lot of VERY unglamorous hard work, long hours, physically demanding. Also, the best stylists are those that know how to brief their teams and who can build up strong working relationships with photographers and clients.

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