Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Draffin.
Hi Lauren, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve worked in fashion my entire adult life — I just learned it from every side of the table. My first industry-relevant job was in highschool, working at a local boutique, Indigo. I studied fashion merchandising at The University of Alabama, then finished my BPS in Fashion Merchandising & Marketing at the University of Memphis.
In 2009 I moved to New York and worked in wholesale at a multi-line showroom called Seamless Showroom – and that was my crash course in how fashion actually moves: buyers, line sheets, order cycles — the business underneath the runway.
Back in Memphis, I took a buying gig at a local retailer (which didn’t last long) then became a fancy ‘custom clothier’ selling bespoke shirts and suiting, then became involved with Memphis Fashion Week before launching my wardrobe styling business, Styled by LD, in 2016. During my reign with Memphis Fashion Week, I lead a team of stylists and models while working closely with local retailers… and this gave my styling business credible validation. Beg & Borrow Apparel followed — my apparel line of tailored menswear pieces, but structured for the ladies. I began teaching as an adjunct professor in the fashion program at the University of Memphis in 2019, and am still teaching fashion merchandising today.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No — and I’m suspicious of anyone in fashion who says otherwise tbh!!
The biggest challenge was building a fashion business in a city without fashion infrastructure. In New York, fashion is all around you as the industry is largely acknowledged and celebrated! In Memphis, you build that supply chain yourself — I already knew NYC gave me life and all the inspiration, so budgeting accordingly to afford to travel back 2-3 times a year to work trade shows was a non-negotiable. I was determined to be relevant while making my own path in Memphis.
The second, and still current, is the juggle of growing and managing my styling business, a clothing line, a classroom and any sort of personal life. Some weeks that looks like chaos. I actually handle chaos relatively well, thanks to my amazing therapist, but I’ve learned I cannot run on adrenaline or run alone. I am oh so grateful for my support system and fellow creative community!!
We’ve been impressed with Styled by LD, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Styled by LD is a wardrobe and branding styling practice. I work with clients of all identities to build wardrobes that work as hard as they do by focusing on dressing by design, not by default. I help my clients navigate and learn to ‘wear your clothes, don’t let your clothes wear you!’
Styling services include closet audits and inventory management, personal shopping, seasonal purging and merchandising, travel packing, special event or wedding styling, and personal branding for individuals, professionals, celebrities and businesses.
I’ve worked really hard to establish my creative value, and I can confidently state the ‘style of my styling’ will never be the expected option.
My years spent in retail, wholesale, merchandising, and production built my nerdy composition knowledge, which I am proud of I must say! I understand a garment from concept to creation… so, specifically recognizing which fibers or fabrics are most suitable for that garment’s function, where cost and retail pricing should range, the ‘wear and tear’ or sustainable ability to outlast one season, etc. There’s such a powerful science behind styling and dressing for different body types, and it is my responsibility to learn and then teach my clients about their individual strengths by first understanding their own bodies. If you haven’t heard it before, allow me to lighten your load… “Not every trend is for every body.”
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I crave structure, but am not wired for it! Anyone that knows me knows I LOVE a calendar invite!!! If it’s not on my calendar, it isn’t happening 🤣
Discipline about details is important… fashion should look spontaneous from the front row; but backstage so much time and checklists and processes have made that possible. Fashion should be fun, self expressive design and a flex to speak values without speaking at all! Mix that with music, culture, production and you build a show – true storytelling, and that takes a village of creatives!
Pricing:
- Hourly rate $175 @ 2hr minimum
- Retainer pricing upon request
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.styledbyld.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/styledbyld/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/styledbyld1
Image Credits
Ally Perkins Photography
