#kellywilliams

We spent an afternoon with the captivating wardrobe stylist Kelly Williams, the other half to the incredibly talented styling duo JAK, at her beautifully curated Silver Lake home in Los Angeles.

What inspires you in terms of personal fashion?

My inspiration comes from old Hollywood and from a bit of a dark place. I also find inspiration through my job. I have a career in fashion where I get to dress people up every day. I don’t necessarily have to dress myself up during the day to feel like I’m expressing myself truly, I have the luxury of getting to express myself through styling someone else.

 How would you best describe your personal style?

I feel like my personal style comes from my body type, I have curves so I feel like I’m always playing a bit of the vixen card, whether it’s from the 20s, 50s, 80s or 90s. I think the one thing that keeps my style consistent is that I like to keep it kind of sexy and simple. On the other hand I am also an avid vintage t-shirt collector myself, so when I’m working, I usually end up wearing an oversized blazer, vintage t-shirt, and jeans as my daily wardrobe staple. But when I get dressed up and I’m going out on my own time I like to play it up and have fun with fashion.

What led you to becoming a wardrobe stylist?

 I was working for a magazine at the time. I always had an interest in trend forecasting and I always wanted to work in the publication industry as a fashion editor, but as the industry was changing I saw how being a wardrobe stylist was a different version of being a fashion editor. It sort of fell into my lap, I met Jessica Loria, my styling partner, through a mutual friend and it all just came together.

In terms of your work as a stylist what is your creative process?

 It begins with a vision, a combination of our personal style and what we see happening in fashion, which then presents itself through a curation of ideas that have come together through various sources of inspiration. That’s what makes our career so fun and interesting and mentally stimulating and challenging at times. We’re working with companies who already have their aesthetic and you have to find a way to open their eyes or find a way to make it work.

We all have days when we’re feeling a lack of creative or personal inspiration how do you remedy this for yourself?

 As a creative person, I feel that sometimes part of the process is being uninspired. I like those moments when I’m feeling blank, or when I’m tired of what’s happening trend wise, it sort of sends me off in a direction where I’m able to search for something different and then it will come to me. I’m always looking outside of fashion. It feels as if fashion moves too fast these days, I’m not able to connect with how trendy it is to be “trendy” and I don’t know if there’s much longevity in that. I like being part of creating the type of images and photos that are timeless. I remember digging through fashion magazines and I still have those tares from 10 years ago, and they’re still timeless and that truly is what you hope to achieve.

When you’re not working where can we find you?

 I have become a bit of a loner in my free time. When I have downtime during the week, I take my dog Jackson for a run around the reservoir near my home. I also recently discovered a passion for water coloring, just for myself with no judgment, it’s challenging and I enjoy it.

On a perfect day you could find me wearing a really cute bathing suit and laying by a pool!

Fashion Icon or muse of the moment:

 I absolutely love Michelle Violy Harper’s style. Everything about her is super conceptual. She totally has that look where she obviously planned it out yet it comes across as effortless and everything is so on point. But then again, I love the natural ease of Jane Birkin, simple with jeans and a t-shirt, which I can appreciate.

 Film of the moment old or new:

 So many, from The Women, to Boogie Nights, to The Hunger. All three of these films really take me to another space. From the actors, to the costuming, to the sets and locations - I like watching films where I can completely check out. All three of these films, while very different have a commonality to them. These women are evil, drug induced, even vampiric but at some point in the film you watch Joan Crawford, Catherine Deneuve, and Julianne Moore and you're completely captivated by their strength and presence.

 Read of the moment:

 I enjoy reading anything really by Anais Nin and I am currently reading Big Sur at the moment. I like the neurotic, poetic moments that Kerouac gives the reader and the same goes for Nin, but in a different light. She has a dreamy quality to her writing - and then it slaps you in the face with a bit of crass sexuality.

 If money were no object what would you be doing?

I would probably be a bohemian woman, with a skin care line, and I’d spend my days styling my friends and surrounding myself with other creative people. We would just listen to music, and create, and eat amazing food. I mean, that’s the dream fantasy.

Best advice ever received?

On a personal level, I would say from my parents and the example that they’ve set with the balance they’ve created in their lives. They’ve found a way to have a career, and a life and still enjoy and travel, that’s the dream.

 Professionally the best advice ever received might be from my boyfriend (J.G. Francis of Mercedes Motoring). Which would be to never cut corners. He has such a strong business himself and he never cuts corners, financially, professionally, creatively, he just doesn’t do it. I think that’s what makes a lasting business, it’s finding a way to create a strong and recognizable presence, and that can only be done by not cutting corners.

Do you have any advice for someone seeking a more creative path?  

 I didn’t get anywhere in this industry without stalking people, for lack of a better word.  When I want something I will go and get it. When I wanted to work for a magazine I was emailing every magazine, when I wanted to style I just did it full force 100%, and again no cutting corners. You have to put yourself out there all the way, and that goes for any industry.

 If you could travel anywhere right now:

 Japan. That’s always my answer.

Kelly is styled by and wearing vintage pieces from Sew it Goes Vintage

 Last but not least, favorite vintage score: