Getting to know Zarah Elizabeth

She’s a self proclaimed creative spiritual being, loving all things fashion, art and music. We caught up with one of London’s very own Fashion Stylist and Creative Director; Zarah Elizabeth to find out all about her styling life and more.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work: Hello my name is Zarah Elizabeth I am a freelance fashion stylist/ Creative Director from London I started my creative fashion career in 2013, but I would say as a child growing up I have always been in to my fashion, beauty and personal style, I remember I use to get so excited for “own clothes day” back in school because I was able to get all fancy and dressed up, I would plan my outfits weeks before the day ha and even sometimes win best dressed ha! I would describe my work as open, sexy, free, no limits basically: crazy sexy cool! Ha!

How did you get into styling? And who are the people that inspire you the most? Well I was actually studying at university back in 2012 (psychology & business) and I just use to remember myself sitting in the library watching style videos, fashion shows at Paris/Milan fashion week, vogues latest fashion updates & trends instead of revising for exams ha! And then after graduation a friend of mine in the industry knew how bad I wanted to get in to styling and hooked me up with my first fashion styling internship with a celeb stylist Joel Dash and that was it from there..

My inspirations: Maeve Reilly she’s a fashion stylist based in LA (Janelle Monae, Hailey Baldwin, Jordan Fisher and more) I just love her work ethic, how driven and hard working she is as I know how hard it can be in our industry! And this might sound weird but my best friend Tajana Bunton Williams is one of my biggest inspos she’s now one of Beyonces dancers.. Her hard work, drive, effort determination and never ever giving up on her dreams no matter how hard or scary it seemed inspired me! And of course Anna Wintour inspires me daily, I read somewhere she got fired from many jobs before landing her leading role at Vogue magazine and that just goes to show know one can get in the way of your destiny no matter how many times you get knocked down, if you don’t give up!

What’s your personal favourite styling job to date and why? I would say the time I got to shoot for Galore Magazine as a creative director/fashion stylist, that shoot meant more to me than anything in my fashion career! I called the shoot fearless and we all got to write a lil extract on what we believed it meant to be fearless!I basically put it all together myself, from recruiting the amazing all girl team of models/dancers MUAs/Hairstylist Videographer and Photographer to styling and creatively directing everything, It was a time where I was finally ready to show the world who I am and what I am capable of, no hesitations, no caring about what people think and just genuinely doing what I love:

What’s been your biggest challenge to date? I think it was my first fashion job as an assistant stylist as I had know idea what I was getting myself in to, I didn’t go to fashion school where I was taught the basics I had to figure it out all by myself.

If you could change one thing about your career what would it be? That I wish I had started sooner, but I guess everything happens for a reason.

Favourite designer of all time? BALMAIN!

If you had one wish, to work with anyone dead or alive, who would it be and why? The one & only Bad Gal Riri! Ha.. Rihanna..Ahh there’s just so much reason why.. she inspires me DAILY her unique sense of fashion and style, she is so down earth and will wear anything and not care what people think of her, she has no limitations with her fashion and she is very expressive through her fashion and I feel that is how I am, I’ve always been told I have a very daring sense of style and I don’t care what people think of what I chose to wear/style also we are both from small islands in the Carribbean striving to make our countries and better place, helping people.

I just love how she makes an impact on the world and speaks to people through her fashion and I guess that’s how I express myself through my work, I reckon she & I could create magic together one day!

If, in some Freaky Friday-like situation, you could live the life of another creative, for a day, who would it be, and why? Maeve Reilly, seeing her work & work ethic through her social media inspired me to go out to LA, she’s always working, always travelling with her work and always staying on top of things, so many people from the outside looking in can think our job is glamorous and easy you know because we get to go to all the big events, hang out with our celeb clients but I can see how hard working she is and I would just love to experience that for a day to see how she balances it all.

How would you define success? Do you think you’ve found it yet?: I would define success as true happiness, inner peace and loving yourself for who you are! and all those elements happens when you are doing what you LOVE! I believe I have to some extent, as I believe you have to think like how you see yourself in the future.. BUT there is always more you can do in this life, we are constantly growing and learning about ourselves, so I’d rather say I’m on a journey to my definition of success.

Where do you see yourself in 10years?: In 10 years I see my self living on a island with my partner, meditating on a beach at sunset 🙂 I’ve always said after achieving my dreams and goals I’ll settle on a island somewhere away from the norms of society, just living and being free 🙂

Paigey Cakey music video ‘Pattern’ styled by Zarah Elizabeth

And finally, what tips would you give to anybody who is looking to get started in fashion styling?: I would just say stay true to your inner self, believe in yourself and know that you are capable of doing anything you put your mind too! Research your favourite designers & stylists and reach out to them to assist, try and assist as much as you can and PAY attention when on set, watch how the stylist works, also pay attention when doing returns and sample pick ups from PRs as you will or may need them later on in your fashion career and always stay humble as you never know who you could meet along your journey who could help you 🙂