We were lucky to catch up with Olivia Eslami Cajigas recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Olivia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about the best boss, mentor, or leader you’ve ever worked with.

I have been lucky to have had many amazing bosses in my past. Each of them has taught me different aspects of the fashion industry and many life lessons. The best boss I ever had was my first boss in the fashion industry when I started working as a fashion assistant at Style.com (now Vogue.com). She was extremely demanding, strong, funny, innovative & amazingly creative. She gave me the opportunity to work with some of the most creative talents in the fashion industry, showed me through example how to take risks, and taught me to “run in heels”.

Prior to having worked for her I was not aware of a Brand Creative Director or Stylist but loved every facet of it. Noting trends, making storyboards for photoshoots or product development, assembling creative teams to create an image; working with clothing, designers, artists.

At the time, it was difficult to see past the long hours and lists of tasks. Each day had a wild adventure attached to it that only makes me smile now in retrospect. It all seemed very normal but thinking back I realized how extraordinary they were.

My boss had a strong understanding of fashion– editorial and commercial. So while she was very creative, she taught me the relevance the idea had within the public sphere. Call it left and right brained fashion. We weren’t just creating beautiful pieces or images, but things that resonated with the public and at the same time allowed them to escape into a fantasy that we were part of creating. There is something truly special about that!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

One day I received a phone call from a friend who wanted to transition from fashion to art. She was looking for someone to replace her as a fashion assistant. I was looking to move from art to fashion. It sounds made up but I took over her job and the rest is history. I still remember the day I walked into the Vogue offices to take that interview. It was magic. (And yes, I remember exactly what I was wearing ;)

That story has always reminded me of the beauty that is waiting to unravel if you remain open. Take every call, listen to every request, take time to think about what comes and goes.

As a Creative Director, remaining open to possibility, is part of the process. I love nature and draw a lot of inspiration from there. Being able to put together a photoshoot for a client requires translating a lot of details into a visual language. Location, photography, makeup, hair, styling, props, subtle details are all part of translating their vision. Each artist has their visual language and bringing a team together to communicate a singular language is our goal.

I am very proud of the styling that we utilize both on our on- set projects and for our individual clients. We try to share as much as possible but encourage a less is more approach. Timeless styling that is relevant season upon season is something we strive to achieve in every project.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Being able to create images that tell a brand’s story is very special to me. Crucial to this is styling the image in such a way that answers a handful of questions for the viewer with a single glance. While I always expose the audience to a plethora of clothing options, I shy away from a disposable approach to dressing or styling.I aim to influence with timeless styling that uses a capsule or core collection of clothing and only adding to this collection with a piece here or there based on need. See it all, choose well, buy less.

One day I would love to create my own capsule label with sustainability at its core and of course a lot of attention to the trek from #beachtooffice & #officetobeach.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

There are many variables associated with my job that require me to pivot almost daily. Everything from packages not arriving on time to weather delays to scheduling conflicts. Realizing that “the show must go on” in spite of some of these obstacles makes one resourceful and creative. Seeing traditional “obstacles” as stepping stones is something I try very hard to practice. Work hard, be prepared and have plan B and C in place are all lessons I have learned.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.oec-consulting.com
• Instagram: @oec_consulting
• Linkedin: Olivia Eslami-Cajigas

Image Credits
Sheila Ringel Photography Daniela Federici Vivian Arthur Doug Castanedo VSP Studios