A day in the life of a stylist

On set with Lisa Lapauw

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Lisa Lapauw foto 1

For around 11 years now, Lisa Lapauw's distinctive styling has been a daily staple of the fashion world, from advertising campaigns to editorials. How about Fibre Mood styling? It’s the direct product of Lisa Lapauw's genius brain (although wardrobe might be a little closer to the mark). Join us on the set of the shoot for Issue No. 4 and find out what a day in the life of a passionate stylist is like: meet Lisa Lapauw!
 

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9 a.m.

Unpack and full steam ahead!. The races are off once Lapauw hits the studio. The racks are her first stop, where she hangs everything up and makes sure it's ready. She takes a quick breather to quickly down a cup of coffee or grab a bite of breakfast – after that the day really kicks off.

A freelancer’s working day never looks exactly the same as the last. One day she's off to the shop on a hunt for the right pieces, the next she's dropping by a press office or two, or she's busy on the set of a photo shoot. Since shopping is the bread and butter of what she does, she obviously favours some brands over others, for example: Acne Studios, creations by Belgian designer Christian Wijnants, Weekday, Arket along with a smidgen of Scandinavian with Samsøe & Samsøe and Ganni. However, her true love remains reserved for the shoe brand ROMBAUT by Mats Romauts.
She says the brand is a touch more on the extreme side, but still exudes cool and goes hand in hand with sustainability and craftsmanship.

11 a.m. 

Fix it, fix it, fix it! Once the models are dressed and ready to be photographed, Lapauw is ready to shout ‘stop’ if a garment doesn't fit just right. She spots it when a belt is too loose, a button hasn’t been buttoned or when a different combination really would be better. In short: she has eyes like a hawk and exercises her job with a high degree of perfectionism (however, never forgetting to enjoy herself while she's at it). 

12.30 p.m.

And… Break! Dinner time! On her well-earned break, it's time to reminisce about the amazing projects she's pulled off. Shoots in Morocco and work for De Standaard Magazine all belong to the list of absolutely smashing experiences she’s had. On one assignment she worked at a unique location (out in the desert!) and was rewarded with a dose of brilliant holiday feeling as the icing on the cake. (Um, where can we sign up?)

Lisa Lapauw styling

2 p.m.

Underestimate this job and you'll find yourself in heaps of trouble. Being a stylist at a shoot requires cleverness and practicality and from time to time – you might find yourself hunkered down on the floor. Armed with tape and scissors in hand, you might have to make a few alterations yourself for the perfect styling.

Can you assemble a bouquet of flowers for a Fibre Mood net bag? That’s just a few of the dozens of miscellaneous tasks that are part and parcel of a stylist's life.

Thankfully, Lapauw has a few tips and tricks in her bag for future stylists: ‘Be flexible about your work and break things up into stages. In the Instagram age everyone things to themselves: ‘I'm a stylist, photograph or model’, because the platform is huge. Anyone can get a ‘like’, however, it's not a reflection of your work's true value. The greater your flexibility while working, the more you're able to develop your own personal style.’
 

Lisa Lapauw styling

5.30 p.m.

It’s a wrap! The shoot for Fibre Mood Issue No. 4 is a done deal. Packed up and ready to go, she collects the bags of clothing to stuff back in the car. Items from her own wardrobe can also be found jumbled up with those clothes. She admits that as a fashion world stylist she has trouble letting go of anything, which means her wardrobe is bursting at the seams. She does see an advantage to it though – she has a wealth of clothes at her disposal for her work. Where her own wardrobe is concerned, she's especially deliberate about her choices. Think vintage and designer items purchased from stock sales. She wants timeless items, ones that retain their value. Either way, we'll be sure to keep an eye on Lisa Lapauw's future work!
 

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