We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Deanna Durbin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Deanna , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with what makes profitability in your industry a challenge – what would you say is the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge to profitability in the styling industry, is the amount of time it takes to really make a name for yourself and start securing paying clients. If you’re interested in becoming a wardrobe stylist, you must be prepared to “get it out the mud,” unless you are fortunate enough to already have powerful connections within the fashion/entertainment industry. I had to start building my portfolio in 2019 by doing a lot of collaborative projects with other creatives to showcase my talent and skill as a stylist. I’ve put in countless hours, time, money, and other resources into building my portfolio. That’s the sacrifice that’s required in order to make it to the next level. It can also be extremely difficult to be patient during the building phase, because you want to get to the money just like everyone else, but you also have to respect where you are on the spectrum of professional styling.

Another issue myself and other stylists have discussed, is bartering for our services. People see you show up on set with all of these beautiful clothing, shoes, and accessories. and they have no idea how much planning, time, effort, and footwork went into pulling those looks together behind the scenes. Not to mention, after the shoot even more work needs to be done with the wardrobe. I also believe people don’t understand the value of the service of a professional stylist. In a addition to providing a sense of ease by doing the outfit selection for the client, we also ensure the client stays put together during the production, whether it’s for video or photos. We make sure tags are tucked and the outfit is laying the way it needs to in order to maximize results for the client. The photographer is more often than not focused on the nature of the photo (lighting, posing, composition, etc., whereas I’m looking at the overall look of the subject. It takes a team that is well versed in their individual skillset to produce the amazing images we’re able to capture.

It’s so important to know my worth and to know that if someone wants to hire me as their stylist, they trust my vision and execution, because it is unique to me. No one else styles the way I do. That doesn’t mean there aren’t other incredibly talented stylists in Atlanta (because there definitely are!), but I know my eye is different, and I deserve to be paid accordingly, just like anyone else with a valuable trade or skill deserves to be paid.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

This will be my fourth year as a wardrobe stylist. I got my start back in 2019 when Montoya Turner of Made You Look Photo & Film asked me to style some shoots for his clients. I really fell in love with it and in 2022 I decided to focus my effort on styling and stepped away a bit from the boutique side of the business. Originally, I launched Elva Mae as a boutique in 2018 with the intention to provide stylish and affordable options for women sizes small through 4X. While this is still important to me, I just realized that I felt like I had tapped into my God-given purpose with styling. It rejuvenates me. It motivates me and keeps me going. It actually did not become clear until last year, that I had always loved dressing people up, I just didn’t realize it was called styling when I was doing it. I just enjoyed seeing my loved ones looking and feeling like the best version of themselves.

That’s the most rewarding part about my profession. I absolutely live for seeing my client’s faces light up when they see themselves in the mirror once I’m done. It’s like a visible shift that happens mentally, spiritually, and physically when they look the way they feel on the inside. That’s what motivates me when I’m pulling for my clients. I think about what they would never pick out themselves, but they end up loving. It’s also great connecting with different personalities and preferences, because it pushes me to keep growing and learning as a stylist.

There are many projects I’m still so very proud of to this day, including styling a music video for Anthony Hamilton and Levelle, and styling for Playboy in L.A. last year. That was such a life-changing and unforgettable experience!

I want my clients to know that I see them, even if I don’t know them that well. I even enjoy having the client leave on something personal of theirs like a necklace, earring, watch, or something meaningful to them, and incorporating their own personal tastes into the look. The purpose of styling isn’t to hide the person, but rather to bring them out and elevate their presence, which is already powerful on its own.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Resilience is such an integral piece to being a creative and an entrepreneur. I have to know that giving up is not an option, because that’s the only way I’ll fail is if I stop trying. It takes resilience to endure the waiting and to try not to compare myself to other stylists who are more established and seasoned. Even with the significant changes I’m experiencing now as I go through a divorce, I have to remain resilient. There was a time over the Summer last year that I just could not create. I was so depressed and confused about the direction I was headed, that I felt completely stuck. It took encouragement and personal challenges from my mentor and close friends to start slowly creating again. It’s okay to lean on personal relationships sometimes when you just don’t have the fight in you.

There are also many failed campaigns, rejections, and obstacles I’ve had to endure as an entrepreneur over the years. I’ve learned that failures are what lead to growth and wisdom. If I never messed up, I would never improve or get better, I’d be stuck in the same place. I’m proud of every time I pushed through a difficult or seemingly scary situation and took it head on.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson I took away from last year would be setting boundaries with people, even loved ones. I realized I put way too much emphasis on how others viewed me, my work, and the decisions I made. I allowed others’ perception of me to get in the way of who I thought I was. A specific example would be when I styled a few shoots for Playboy last year. I received many judgmental comments about it, and it made me less excited about an opportunity that I was actually really happy about. I regret allowing people (well intentioned or not) to make me dim my light to appease them. I felt like I had to defend my choices, and after a serious bout of depression, I decided I knew who I was and what was important to ME regardless of what anyone else thinks or says. I don’t want to confuse constructive criticism with judgement, however. I’m always open to hearing feedback about styling or best business practices, because I know I don’t know it all. The balance is in knowing when there’s more unnecessary judgement that will affect the way I see myself.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.elvamaestylinghouse.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elvamaestylinghouse/

Image Credits
Photographers: Sebastian Salinas, Caleb Hiers, Joe Mapp, Latisha Guster Set design: Kaye Camille MUA: Mad Thee Artist Hair Stylist: Ayanna High-Ree Models: Neo Wilde, Yumi, Taileanis, Aubri Ebony, Llauryn Hendrix, Ricki Stafford, Bwari Styled by Deanna Durbin of Elva Mae Styling House