Because the daughter of first-generation immigrants, stylist Katie Qian recollects her mom often sending pre-med necessities and programs all all through faculty. However Qian was sure of her path. “In my head, I knew I needed to pursue styling the entire time,” she says.
Rising up in San Diego, Qian devoured Style Week clips on YouTube and sartorial posts on Tumblr as a teen. “I acquired right into a rabbit gap of watching high-fashion runway reveals of outdated McQueen and Dior by [John] Galiano,” she recollects. Whereas volunteering at a hospital reward store, she would flip by means of style magazines like W and British Vogue, turning into impressed by the editors. Her analysis paid off; considered one of her first movie star gigs was for a neighborhood journal, styling Tori Kelly.
She went on to double main in psychology and enterprise on the College of California Los Angeles, however continued accumulating editorial styling credit on prime of a full schedule of courses. That intense workflow helped her amass a secure of star purchasers, and since graduating in 2018, Qian, now 25, has labored full time as a stylist. Regulars embrace Conan Grey, Hayley Kiyoko and NIKI, together with most of 88rising’s roster.
“It’s noticeably tougher [to pull clothes] for Asian individuals,” says Qian of the challenges she has confronted thus far. “I feel [fashion houses] normally have a goal record of expertise they assume is an effective match for his or her model … [there’s a perception that] there haven’t been that many Asian artists who match that profile in America. I don’t assume we’re tremendous seen but.”
Her rising portfolio – which features a latest journal cowl for Rina Sawayama – helps change that notion. And whereas Qian has already dressed many stars on her want record, she all the time has a watch on who could possibly be subsequent: “[I’m most interested in] actually cool, different artists who aren’t afraid to do one thing loopy or funky. To face out.”
Beneath, Qian breaks down some favourite moments she styled this yr and past.
CONAN GRAY
After first assembly by means of Lauv on the set of their “Pretend” music video in October 2020, Qian and Grey teamed as much as create the singer’s gender-bending appears. “I keep in mind the primary time I put him in a corset once we have been becoming in his storage two years in the past. His face lit up,” says Qian. “Since then, I stored bringing him riskier and riskier stuff to experiment.”
Working example: Grey’s monochromatic fuschia match of customized Valentino trousers, platforms and a wind-catching cape that he wore for his Coachella efficiency earlier this yr. Qian says that individual look proves simply how a lot his model has advanced from the white tank prime and denims combo he usually adorned at first of their working relationship. “Conan trusts every little thing,” she says. “That’s considered one of my favourite issues about him.”
NIKI & 88Rising
Qian says she manifested working with the music label 88Rising. Based by Sean Miyashiro and identified for repping Asian American artists, “88Rising was an enormous aim of mine. I like what they stand for, so I used to be attempting to get in contact with them for some time,” she recollects. In 2018, the stylist acquired her probability when photographer Silas Lee tapped her to model one of many label’s artists, NIKI, for a Guess style marketing campaign. “That’s after I first met anybody from 88,” she says. “NIKI preferred me and continued reaching out. After that, I began doing Wealthy Brian, Larger Brothers, Joji. It form of unfold all through the entire label.”
Close to the top of 2022, Qian was making ready to hitch NIKI on the Asian leg of her Nicole Tour. When dressing the Indonesian-born singer for the stage, Qian says NIKI will give her a sense to work with: “‘I wanna really feel scorching. I wanna look badass.’ I’ll then provide you with new methods to painting that.”
SABRINA CLAUDIO
When requested which of her purchasers excites her essentially the most, Qian blurts out her muse: Sabrina Claudio. “For each stylist, they should discover a shopper that matches them. You may’t shine till you discover a shopper that allows you to create to your fullest capability.” In keeping with Qian, Claudio’s confidence and embodiment of “divine femininity” is what makes dressing her so enjoyable.
In 2021, Qian enlisted the assistance of designer Michelle Hébert to create a glance that captured that actual ethos. Specializing in ethereal robes, Hébert made Claudio’s silk butterfly costume for a livestream live performance tied to her album About Time. Utilizing ’90s-era Versace as a reference, Hébert hand-stitched silk-printed butterflies and sewed them over an uneven, orange charmeuse robe that includes strategic cutouts. The look loved a viral second on the web, about which Qian says: “It was simply magic.”
