1. Please tell us something about your early days & career story?
I started off with campaign shoots then got introduced to movies. It’s a funny story actually on how I ended up here. I wanted to learn styling and costume design. I wanted to assist some designers and join. A few weeks after which, he was arrested for something. I had to take over and I didn't know anything at the time. There was no looking back since.
2. How did you get your start in styling? What is your greatest accomplishment?
I think the greatest thing I have done personally for myself is two things. I think these 2 are the reasons why I am here today.
● I never scaled a work opportunity based on how big or small the actors or client is. When I started off, even after working with a superstar I worked with many actors who hadn’t even begun work on their first project. I was always hungry for opportunities and never scaled them based on the client but only on my personal work potential for that particular client.
● I wanted to quit many times but I managed to not do so when it was hard. Consistency in any field is rewarding.
3. What advice would you give an up-and-coming fashion stylist?
Assist someone. That’s such an underrated place to start. It’s the safest.
● Don’t take yourself so seriously as soon as you finish one or two shoots. Give it some time.
● Stop thinking that your pictures with celebrities can work as your portfolio for more work to pitch to others.
4. What is the biggest misconception people not working in your field have about your job? What challenges do you have as a stylist?
I think as technicians, we all have phases.
When you first break-in, there will be hype about you. It will be gone before you know until your next big gig. So we are always hungry for that next body of work. We are always hunting for work mentally if we are not working I feel. It’s such a never-ending commitment. I think because of the social media age, people who see our professional life see only the travel, the fancy celebrity photos and think that it’s the best job to be in because we kinda unknowingly make it look easy I guess? But the mental strength it takes to be in any such field is unmatched. You work even when you don't work.
5. What are your thoughts on current fashion trends? How do you stay up-to-date with the latest fashion trends?
Today’s time we know that the world is getting smaller via virtual mediums. I can follow and learn from stylish people, stylists, actors, and musicians from across the globe sitting on my couch.
So virtually there is almost nothing that you cannot learn and keep up to date. I follow a lot of fashion weeks internationally. I follow a lot of fashion influencers based in the Netherlands, Milan, Paris, America, and London but I truly believe our Indian designers, artisans, and talents are so fiercely evolving. It’s hard to keep up but I try.
6. What would you consider the most rewarding aspect of being a personal stylist? What are your strengths and weaknesses?
The most rewarding is undeniably the appreciation you get. Even a “good job” comment on social media honestly makes our day. When the clients' fans keep coming up virtually or outside and appreciating the work we did on their favorite actor, it’s a dopamine hit, to say the least.
The strength I would have to say is my experience in itself. I keep saying, I am ancient here so it comes with a lot of skills that include not just costumes and styling related but also people management, damage control, working against time, team pressure management, PR, etc which might sound like things that are related to my job but this is most of it.
I have many weaknesses at work, namely the fact that I have always been a control freak, I used to leave very little for assistants and for the longest time, I had none. I started having a team relatively very recently compared to my peers.
7. Imagine that you style a client for a gala. They are not happy about your choices and suggest something you consider a terrible idea. What will you do in this situation?
I always try to keep their opinions in mind because the outfit will never work if they don’t carry not just confidence and comfort but also love. The person wearing it has to love it. I do strongly recommend a certain thing but that being said I always reassure them and find out if they are enjoying it also. I try to balance it because it’s also important to understand that when the client is in a movie, you don’t get to dress up as himself/herself/themselves. They have to dress up as someone else, a character they play. So at galas and events, it’s important to include them.
8. Job of a stylist can be very stressful at times. How do you want to cope with the pressure?
The pressure is there in every field and everyone learns over time to manage it.
I really like switching off my phone. During covid lockdown that’s the first thing I did. I was truly enjoying that complete lockdown momentarily because as a human race itself in many ways we probably needed that pause even though it was catastrophic to many. There was damage but I looked at this as a silver lining. Since I don’t have the luxury to switch off now, I just sleep when I can or travel if I can.
Brief Bio:
Shravya Varma, is an Indian film industry producer, celebrity stylist, and the South's biggest and most followed lifestyle influencer. Shravya has dressed superstars such as Vijay Deverakonda, PV Sindhu, Keerthy Suresh, Saina Nehwal, Rashmika Mandana, and Ram Charan to name a few. While her early beginnings are rooted in the south Indian film industry as a costume designer, she at present caters to a clientele that includes business persons and celebrities from pan India.
Having established herself as a celebrity stylist for over a decade, this stylist turned producer is a two-time TEDX speaker and a sought-after name surrounded by an impeccable network of commercially valuable faces and brands from the south industry. Her previous collaborations include Jack & Jones, Kama Ayurveda, ONLY, Mac Cosmetics, and Sugarbear Hair to name a few.
Interviewed By - Aarya Gode
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