Petra Flannery. Hollywood Stylist

Celebrities are constantly under a watchful eye, and the pressure to look perfect weighs heavy on their shoulders. That is why they turn to one of the most helpful people in their entourage: the Hollywood Stylist. 

Emma Stone has been voted the most fashionable woman of 2012 by Vogue and InStyle magazines. Whenever she makes an appearance, whether on the street or on the red carpet, she always looks fantastic. So the question is: How does she do it?

Emma Stone’s secret is Hollywood Stylist Petra Flannery, a San Franciscan with classic yet bold taste. She is known to be a risk taker, because she sets herself as a trendsetter, not a trend follower.

Petra Flannery actually started her career at Elite Models as an agent. She would take care of the models, of booking editorials and of handling the photographers. That gave her a unique perspective on the fashion industry, and she progressively developed her personal style and vision throughout those years. Eventually, she became the Hollywood Stylist that we now know as the one successfully styling not only Emma Stone, but also Mila Kunis, Zoe Saldana, Taylor Swift and Megan Fox, just to name a few.

What she does best is establishing the personal style of the client and working from there. After all, her client list involves very different people: from innocent to sexy to trendy to fashion forward. It is very important to her to maintain who they are in her work, and that is what has made her famous.

So what does Petra Flannery recommend us for our own style endeavours?

Whenever we are scared of taking risks, it is always best to start with the accessories and go from there. For example, if we want to be part of the “metallic” trend, but we don’t know how or are afraid to look bad, we start with the shoes, the purse, or the jewellery. Like that, we can get used to the look without feeling overwhelmed, and then possibly move on to a shirt, a skirt or a dress.  Also, we do not want to overwhelm an outfit with texture: if the top is sheer, then wear an opaque bottom, and vice-versa. In prints, mixing is great as long as it is in the same colour palette and it isn’t the same print from head to toe.

At the end of the day, don’t be afraid to try things on, because the worse that can happen is that is doesn't look good, which isn't irreversible. Simply develop your style by staying true to yourself.

About Author: Fanny L. Fortier is a business school student from Canada with a passion for everything fashion. Currently living in Barcelona, she inspires herself by her surroundings, and the other cultures she encounters. Her goal is to constantly improve herself by diversifying her knowledge and abilities, in order to take part in the creative industries of this world.