Interview by Carol Wright | Photographer: Allie Hine
Kenzie Welch has restored people’s self-confidence through her work as a stylist by pursuing her true passion of connecting with real people and bringing their dream style to life. Welch talked to NYOTA about building an eye for style, her viral makeover series, and building relationships with brands.
Was there a certain store or piece of clothing that initially sparked your interest in fashion?
Growing up my parents were divorced, so on the weekends, I would spend time with my Dad. He would take me and my sister shopping and teach us how to style pieces together, and it was his way of bonding with us. My Dad has always had impeccable style, and his love of fashion really made me fall in love with style.
It’s one thing to enjoy putting together outfits for yourself and a whole other thing to want to style outfits for others. What motivated you to want to become a stylist?
To be honest, becoming a stylist was not what I envisioned for myself when I graduated from college. I got my Bachelors of Arts in Apparel Design & Merchandising and I thought I wanted to work for a fashion publication or become a buyer. I landed my first job in fashion at a lingerie store and this job had a lot of different roles which included bra fitting women and styling photoshoots for their marketing and runway shows. It was there that I realized I loved connecting with real people and bringing their dream style to life. I’m very motivated by the confidence a person feels when they put on a great outfit.
Understanding how a piece of clothing will compliment someone else’s body type and skin tone etc, is a true skill. How do you continue to build a good “eye” for fashion?
Building an eye for style takes time and practice. I often say, I’m forever a student of style. I never feel like I’ve mastered my craft but I’m growing stronger every day. I love experimenting with textures, shape, and color. A big part of it for me is learning the art of taking risks – especially with clients who aren’t as open-minded to new fashion. I find that I’m inspired most by the energy of people. When I meet a new client, I’m able to visualize a style for them that compliments the essence of who they are. While I always add my personal touch to a look, I try to personalize every client’s style to who they are authentically.
On TikTok your style makeover series has been going viral. Did you expect your content to resonate with so many people when you initially started posting?
Yes and no. I’m so excited that my series is connecting with so many people, it feels like a dream come true. A big reason why I started my series is because I felt like the fashion industry, especially on social media, wasn’t speaking to the every day girl. Yes, there are thousands of fashion influencers who can inspire new outfit ideas, but most people don’t know how to build that “aesthetic look.” My series is about teaching the everyday person how to build an elevated but realistic style while still looking fashion forward. I focus on giving people the tools to build great style through helping them find their personal style, teaching them how to shop with intention, and owning their inner confidence.
Outside of the great outfits you style, it’s always incredible to see the people in your videos get their self confidence back once the makeover is complete. Do you hope that after watching your videos viewers will see the importance of dressing for oneself and feeling good versus wearing things to seem “trendy” or “cool?”
Absolutely! I always hope that my videos inspire people to take more risks with their style and have fun with fashion. I like to think of my platform as a safe corner of the internet where women can learn about fashion in a non-intimidating way. I really try to focus on showing ALL types or people in my series so that someone watching sees themself and feels inspired.
You started working with influencers Avery Woods and Emilie to style them and clean out their closets. Since you could watch their videos before meeting them in person, did that make it easier to understand their sense of style?
In some ways it helped but as I mentioned before, a big part of my styling process is tuning into the energy of the person I’m styling. So, while seeing their videos gave me a little idea of who they were, it wasn’t until I met them in person that I felt like I had a full vision for their style. Once I met them – by the way, they are so kind and sweet – we were able to sit down together and really come up with an aesthetic that complimented their personalities and lifestyle!
How do you go about building relationships with brands or designers to source their clothing for your clients?
Time, trust, and persistent outreach. When I first started I didn’t have many relationships to pull from. But over the years, I’ve built relationships through sharing about them on social, frequent client purchases, and/or fearless outreaching. When you are new to this industry you can’t be afraid to put yourself out there and send the first email or dm!
What advice do you have for aspiring stylists?
My advice to aspiring stylists is to be yourself and don’t be afraid to put your art out there. I know it sounds cliche but I worked in the industry for 10 years before I felt comfortable sharing my skills and I wish I would’ve started sooner. Putting yourself out there helps you get better at your craft. Don’t be afraid to take risks – sometimes people won’t understand why you’re styling something together, but your idea may start a new trend or inspire someone else!
This story first ran in issue 36: The Art Is Life Issue. Read more from the issue here.
