Stylin' the Celebs After College
by Elise Zito
Alexander Allen, a Brooklyn, NY native, knew since high school that he wanted to be involved in the fashion industry after college. "Fashion was always my interest," he says. "I was one of the best dressed in school, and I knew people in the business so I was always on a video or movie set."
Fast forward to present day -- not only has he worked with celebs like BEYONCE, PINK, EVE, and SHAKIRA, but in 2001, he launched his own celebrity fashion styling company, Transformers, Inc. "Right now it's just me, but I'm thinking eventually it'll expand," says Allen. "The sky's the limit."
How did he get to where he is today? "One foot in front of the other," says Allen. After graduating from Morgan State University (Baltimore, MD), where he majored in public relations and telecommunications, Allen returned to Brooklyn. "From sophomore to senior year, I was so anxious to start working. All that built-up ambition and love for the entertainment industry -- I was ready to get working," he says. So after college, Alexander stepped out into the real world to find a job.
His first job experiences out of college, ranging from an internship with Marie Claire to a position in the public relations department at DKNY, taught him valuable fashion know-how and bolstered his clientele. But it wasn't until he had the opportunity to assist a major stylist that Allen found his niche in the industry. "That's when I knew I wanted to be a stylist," he says.
Helping stars take their style from so-so to so-fierce has plenty of perks, says Allen, like working with GWEN STEFANI. "And of course, winning the VH1 Vogue Breakthrough Fashion Award," he adds. With regular clients like TONI BRAXTON, the girls of Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group's MAKING THE BAND 3, and female rapper TRINA, Allen is a busy man.
"In my free time, I read fashion magazines and learn more about the industry," he says. "I work 24/7, but it doesn't feel like work because I love what I do." He admits that being his own boss helps lighten the load. "I make my own hours, so I can do research at 2 or 3 in the morning if I want," he says.
Allen's advice for aspiring stylists? "Be passionate. And don't get caught up in the 'fabulosity' of it all -- it's a lot of work," he says. "Hone in on your skills and find what makes you stand out, because you've got to differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack."
Fast forward to present day -- not only has he worked with celebs like BEYONCE, PINK, EVE, and SHAKIRA, but in 2001, he launched his own celebrity fashion styling company, Transformers, Inc. "Right now it's just me, but I'm thinking eventually it'll expand," says Allen. "The sky's the limit."
How did he get to where he is today? "One foot in front of the other," says Allen. After graduating from Morgan State University (Baltimore, MD), where he majored in public relations and telecommunications, Allen returned to Brooklyn. "From sophomore to senior year, I was so anxious to start working. All that built-up ambition and love for the entertainment industry -- I was ready to get working," he says. So after college, Alexander stepped out into the real world to find a job.
His first job experiences out of college, ranging from an internship with Marie Claire to a position in the public relations department at DKNY, taught him valuable fashion know-how and bolstered his clientele. But it wasn't until he had the opportunity to assist a major stylist that Allen found his niche in the industry. "That's when I knew I wanted to be a stylist," he says.
Helping stars take their style from so-so to so-fierce has plenty of perks, says Allen, like working with GWEN STEFANI. "And of course, winning the VH1 Vogue Breakthrough Fashion Award," he adds. With regular clients like TONI BRAXTON, the girls of Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group's MAKING THE BAND 3, and female rapper TRINA, Allen is a busy man.
"In my free time, I read fashion magazines and learn more about the industry," he says. "I work 24/7, but it doesn't feel like work because I love what I do." He admits that being his own boss helps lighten the load. "I make my own hours, so I can do research at 2 or 3 in the morning if I want," he says.
Allen's advice for aspiring stylists? "Be passionate. And don't get caught up in the 'fabulosity' of it all -- it's a lot of work," he says. "Hone in on your skills and find what makes you stand out, because you've got to differentiate yourself from the rest of the pack."
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