Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Karla Guindi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Karla thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I initially learned on my own, my mother is an actress and it was very interesting to me to come up with looks for the different characters she would play. Later, I studied Fashion Design in Mexico City, New York and London. I think I learned everything I could at the time, I was obsessed with learning and soon after I started working, and nothing speeds up your learning process like the pressure of a job. I constantly tell my students that the most important skill is knowledge, good books, good art, everything that can end up being your references for work. Also, by working, just training your eye. Thankfully I don’t think there were any obstacles to learning more, in fact, I now learn from my students.

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?

At the beginning of my professional career I feel like I was playing dress up, I had many musician friends and they allowed me to dress them for shows. Later as they became more famous, I was being asked by others for help and realized this could be a job. I remember the moment when I understood I could make a career our of dressing celebrities.
This realization opened up so many opportunities and I later decided to try editorial styling. This changed everything since I was given the opportunity to style the biggest celebrities in Mexico, who later became my private clients.
Being a celebrity stylist for 25 years means learning how to solve all kinds of problems in very creative ways. I am very proud of all of the work that I have done, and I am more proud to now be able to share all of my experience with students at Instituto Marangoni Miami. Since celebrities do all kinds of jobs that need styling, I have had the opportunity to do editorial, commercial, red carpet, TV, etc.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a stylist is always the way the client feels when you hit the right look. Obviously it is a beautiful feeling to see a printed job and have a great final image, but the transformation a client goes through with clothes is incredible.

Creativity and art to me are life savers, when the world seems like it upside down, as it is now, art is the only escape. I find being able to work in a creative field is the most rewarding aspect of my job, I don’t think I could do anything not creative for a living.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Now as a professor, I am very proud to share my experience with others. Helping young creatives find their own path and find their own personal strengths is amazing. Cultivating in my students with the importance of learning and seeing how they begin to discover their talent is the best.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @karlaguindi

Image Credits

Portrait by @weshootmuch