Welcome this Who wears what podcast. Think of it as you’re directly to designers, designers, beauty experts, editors and tasters who are shaping the world of fashion. subscription this Who wears what podcast exist Apple Podcast and Spotify.
Being an elite athlete is not just your gaming performance. Part of this work includes the way you show yourself online, your sponsored deals and yes, even the way you wear the game. That’s the place for stylists Manny Jay and Brittany Hampton Come in.
Jay started his career as an editorial designer working with actresses and musicians, and even assisted legendary fashion designer Patricia Field. Through the power of expressiveness, Jay said he was able to work with top athletes, WNBA’s Skylar Diggins. “Just last year, I started saying to myself, ‘I’m going to start doing tunnel walks at the top of the year,'” Jay said. “By the end of this year, that was when I met Skylar (Diggins), and yes, I showed it too.”
Hampton started fashion by designing prom gowns in high school. “I have some girls in my class, like, ‘Hey, can you design my prom gown?'” Hampton said. “Myspace was really important at the time when it was looking for new, budding artists, and I had a platform to show that I was a designer and made a few girls’ prom gowns, and it was all the rage.” Eventually, Hampton was moving to Los Angeles.
For the latest episode Who wears what podcastJay and Hampton sit down with Eliza Huber, a high-end fashion editor who wears whom, share how they started the fashion industry, why they decided to work with athletes and more.
For their conversation excerpts, scroll below.
Do you remember the first time you realized you wanted to be a stylist? How did you pursue a career and build a portfolio of clients?
Manny Jay: When I first shopped alone, my parents gave me the will to shop freely when I was 8 or 9 years old. That led me to pick my “fit” and then my sister was like, “Okay, I like the clothes you wear. What about you pick mine?” So I started doing that. That led to my mom’s meaning, “Okay, you have to pick mine, too.'” That’s something I’m just doing naturally.
What ended up happening was that I got cancer right after graduation, and that was when I was 19 years old. At that time, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I know I don’t want to go to college, but I thought, “If I beat it, or when I beat it – I want to pursue some dreams.” I ended up being relieved. I was about 20 years old at that time.
I met some friends on Myspace at the time – Coco and Breezy, and we were just really good friends. They’re like, “Hey, you know, what you’re doing with friends and what you’re doing at home, that’s the style. You can get paid for it. It’s a career. You should move to New York. My friends are making a lot of money and are really satisfied. “I’m like, “You know?” This sounds like my phone number. I think I’ll try to do this. ”
From small towns like Lancaster, Pennsylvania, this is important. No one really left home. (I moved to New York, (used) just assisted. No matter where I can work, I’m there. But I can help, I’m there. Brick By Brick, I’m making something for myself and making connections. I almost showed it. I was like, “I’m a big designer,” even if I didn’t even know I was a stylist until the day I moved to New York.
You start designing, Brittany. When did you happen to this conversion, you’re like, “Okay, we’re going to change it”?
Brittany Hampton: I’ve been designing since I was a kid. My trivial matters are not regular trivial matters. I didn’t wash the dishes. I didn’t pull out the vacuum. My grandmother always likes, “Picking the needle out of the carpet.” When it comes to my age, my grandmother always tells me that if I sketch something I have to physically sew it, which prevents me from sketching. Finally, I was like, “I didn’t want to sketch anymore at that time.”
But I found myself still sketching in high school and I would find that you might not be following in class but just doodling. There were girls in my class, like, “Hey, can you design my prom gown?” At the time, Myspace was really important in finding new, emerging artists, I had a platform to show that I was a designer and made a few girls’ prom gowns, and it was all the rage. I’m making gowns for girls in Houston and Los Angeles
From that to the look, I was like, “Let me let it go.” I have a brand called Dolls Couture. I started to look. Moving to Los Angeles, I was working for fashion shows, runway shows. Los Angeles is the closest to me, so it’s always easy to be a backstage dresser and then eventually get into the styling.
(Manny), you are primarily a musician of style until you meet Skylar Diggins. Is that intentional? Now that you’ve entered the WNBA, will you see yourself leaning more towards sports in the future?
MJ: I am a believer of performance. At one time, I was like, “Oh, I want to work with Disney kids and emerging talent” and I was able to do that. When I get tired of it, I’m like, “Oh, I want to be an actress.” Then, I start to get actresses that show this type of work. Then there’s the musician, I really like it because I’m going to be more creative. That’s my alleyway over the past few years.
Just last year, I started saying to myself, “I’m going to start a tunnel walk at the top of the year.” By the end of this year, that was when I met Skylar (Diggins), and yes, I showed it too. I like it. I think there are a lot of opportunities in the sports styling world and I have realized that many brands like athletes too. It’s fun to work with different brands you want to support. I can see myself doing more sports styles as well.
(Brittany), you have been a staple in different leagues and different levels of staples in sports, but it seems that women’s basketball and W are now, especially you are your biggest styling market. For you, this space is so full and these women are so fun to work with?
BH: This is a unique story. I think we have different views on youth, right? I think it’s because we’ve been wearing their shoes all the time. We know what it feels like to be that age. To be able to determine who I am and then be able to help shape the people they are about to be, especially step into their power – I think that’s my main position and why I’m a woman in this industry.
I think it’s one thing to have Paige (Bueckers) and then when she tear down the ACL, she’s been with her career and she’s a comeback kid. …You have confidence in these children. This really helps define who they are and then you act as their mentor. They like to call me aunty, I like me.
I started working with everyone. I think their point of view is very unique, but then I tried to redefine young girls and rookies and was really just able to help them and lead them into their own way.
This interview has been edited and condensed to ensure clarity.
Explore more:
