FindStyleLLC: What inspired you to become a stylist?
D. Ni'Cole: Honestly, I was inspired to be a stylist based off of my own style. When I started gaining weight in college, I was freaking out like, "OMG, what am I going to wear?" I began investing in my closet and personal style. Taking it to social media, I noticed more plus size women who were clueless or at least lacking inspiration for their own closets. I took that and created a fashion platform that showcased my style and how I wanted to see them dress with their own unique style and personalities. That concept birthed "Style by D. Ni'Cole." After a few months, I started including women [of all sizes], not just plus sized women.
FS: Do you put outfits together in your head daily? On the train? Eating dinner?
DN: Fashion is what I eat, breathe, and sleep. It's a part of my life now. I'm always thinking about fashion and putting looks together for current projects, future projects, and potential projects.
FS: What would you say is your greatest success thus far in your endeavors?
DN: My story is still being written, so that question I cannot yet answer. Give me another year.
FS: Do you consider yourself an artist?
DN: Actually, I do. Styling is not just putting clothing together. If that was the case, everyone would be a stylist. It's an art that I honestly love connecting with. I view bodies as canvases and the clothing, shoes, and accessories as the colors. My creativity is the paint brush.
FS: Where do you see your business and brand in 5 years?
DN: I see Style by D. Ni'Cole in major department stores on the mannequins, in speciality boutiques on display, in fashion magazines, and labeled as a household name for fashion and sex appeal.
FS: What are your top 3 favorite songs on your iPod?
DN: Top 3? That's so hard! Right now my top 3 to listen to when I'm creating fashion sets are Seluh Sue's "This World," The Weeknd's "Often," and Elle Varner's "F*** It All." I allow the beats to let my mind run free.
FS: Does the music industry influence your styling ideas?
DN: Honestly, not really. I mean, I've learned to have tunnel vision: I only see what's in front of me. I'm more influenced by everyday fashionistas and male stylecons who are just doing their thing. When I'm listening to an artist, I envision them in what I would style them in, not necessarily who's already styling them. Sure, I might sound arrogant, but I have to be totally honest because if I'm ever going to be respected as an artist, I have to always remain authentic, just like my own personal style.
FS: Which celebrities do you consider to be best dressed at the moment?
DN: Kanye West, Kim Kardashian, Solange, and Claire Sulmers.
FS: Who is your favorite designer(s)?
DN: Top Five (like the movie...lol) Saint Laurent, Giuseppe Zanotti, Celine, Christian Dior, and Chloe.
FS: What is your favorite quote?
DN: "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything!"
FS: What keeps you motivated and how do you balance building your brand along with your daily responsibilities?
DN: My main focus is my brand. I even use my earnings from my job to fund my business ventures because I know my job is temporary. What I do is neither here nor there if you ask me, however, God keeps me going because he gave me the vision for this brand and I'm doing what's possible to make sure the brand doesn't stay a vision but [an] actual action.
FS: Anything you want potential clients to know?
DN: I'm here to produce fashion killas, PERIOD!
Here is some of D.Ni'Cole's work:
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To learn more about Style D. Ni'Cole, visit her website at stylebydnicole.com, or one of the following:
Polyvore: stylebydnicole
Instagram: stylebydnicole
Twitter: stylebydnicole
Tumblr: stylebydnicole
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