Vancouver Fashion eZine - Online Fashion Magazine | Fashion Stylist

Stylist Heidi Farnola never graduated from fashion school. Not that she's knocking it - she just happened to learn quickly that motivation is the greatest secret weapon. She's not a stylist with a standard package of protocol although her can-do attitude is enough to lead any pack of fashion-hungry photographers and models. With a distinct preference for street wear style, she brings something special to every shoot. "I'm inspired by street wear fashion," said Farnola. "I want to do underground magazines doing what I'm doing and working hard."

Photos by (left to right) Fiona Garden, Kin Chan, Kyla Hemmelgarn, Trevor Brady, Renat Touichev

Farnola loved fashion as a kid and even has some sewing skills to thank for that. "My mom taught me to sew when I was five," she said. "I crocheted and knit. I've always been into fashion." She enjoys styling for fashion shoots although Vancouver's market offers a varied range of jobs. "I get more commercial stuff, catalogues, look books," says Farnola. "That's where you'll make all your money."

After trying her ropes in marketing school years back she focused instead on "trying to detach from what people tell you." Heeding advice from pros that "you have to be willing to work a lot for free," fate eventually started sorting itself out. After breaking into the industry she found herself working on the sets of photo shoots. A domino effect occurred hereafter, and before she knew it she was signing a contract with Vancouver agency Lizbell. Since then she's had the pleasure of working with many of the city's fashion nuts. Of course, it's much like a game of give and take - starting out posed many challenges until Farnola realized that a little confidence goes a long way. "It's really hard in Vancouver," says Farnola. "I had to expose myself for people to accept it and publish it." More than anything it was a strong commitment to her work that made Farnola grow as a stylist. "You have to know your concepts are strong. That's what will make you or break you. Fashion's one of those things where either you love it or lose it."

Farnola advises aspiring stylists who want agency representation or work experience to accept that it's a long road. "Get out there. Trust your mind and never be afraid of people rejecting you," she says. "People might turn you down, just be determined and know that you want it. You do it for at least ten years before you're making lots of money." Getting herself "out there" will be a never-ending task since Farnola plans on traveling far and wide for her career. "I want to work on a global scale, travel more, live in Europe," says Farnola. "I really like the U.K. market. It has a mix of street wear with high fashion, an edgier medium." Still, Farnola has a special kind of loyalty for what Vancouver has to offer. "It's important that people who work here, stay here. It's a small city, but it's a little better to stay local and support the local industry."

Who does she want to thank for her success? More than anything she feels indebted to the people she met along the way. "I want to thank everyone I've ever worked with. A team is really important. That's what makes or breaks the shoot." Much like Vancouver's growing fashion industry, it's the little things for Farnola that will create the greater whole. To check out Farnola's work online go to www.lizbellagency.com where you can find her under "artists."