Stylist Tony Logan’s Shares Insights On A Career In Fashion Along With Tips & Trends
Tony Logan is an experienced fashion editor utilizing imaginative and creative ideas as well as knowledge of fashion current trends to create novel clothing items.
Read about Tony’s passion for his career in fashion, writing, and tips on style.
Where is home?
Home for me is Fredericksburg, Va. My wife and I recently moved back to Virginia from Baltimore and bought a house. Moving back allows me to be closer to family and friends and be surrounded by the things I grew up with. It’s a beautiful, small town, like something you would see in a Hallmark film.
Has fashion always been your career plan?
Fashion has always been a major influence on me, but I had no clue how much it would impact my life. At age 12, I started reading GQ when at the barbershop with my dad and fell in love with the Style Guy column written by the late Glenn O’Brien, rest in peace. I loved the way Glenn was able to break down and translate fashion for the everyday person in an editorial form that was intellectual and comical. That column always kept my attention and influences my writing to this day.
So, I started writing editorials for early Menswear blogs that later transitioned into writing for print magazines, which later allowed me to become a contributor for GQ.
I believe becoming a personal stylist came later, from being exposed to and inspired by fashion from websites like Tumblr, Lookbooknu, and of course, from walking the streets of NY. The inspiration I got from seeing clothes being worn in so many different ways and styles made me want to give it a shot.
How much has your style changed since you started in fashion?
My style has been changing constantly throughout my career, there’s a big difference between now and my early 20s when everything was about sneakers and streetwear.
Now that I’m in my 30s my sneaker purchases have slowed down dramatically, and my clothing choice is much more focused on classic pieces. I like to think that I’m more of a conscious shopper now, I’ve realized you don’t have to spend a lot to look good. Style to me is all about comfort, and that is different for everybody. I enjoy looking back at old photos to see the wild things that I wouldn’t dare to wear today.
Do you have any fundamental fashion tips for young professionals?
My fundamental fashion tip would be to stay current with what’s going on. With fashion having such a widespread reach on the internet, social media, podcasts, and magazines, it’s always good to stay in the loop with these things. And, always be observant, the best fashion ideas and concepts can come by simply being aware of the things you see!
Fox Magazine is all about inspiration. What/who inspires you the most?
I’m truly blessed to say that when it comes to inspiration, I don’t have to look far. I’m always inspired by creatives in all industries who just look at the world differently. I am very inspired by Pharrell Williams; I love how he influences different industries while staying true to himself. I’m also inspired by business owners like my wife Melody, and the entrepreneurs in my family.
What’s it like being a digital stylist?
To me, being a digital stylist feels almost like a music producer must feel, you are constantly pulling images, searching the web, and remixing looks with your own personal twist ─ all from a computer screen. It gets crazy and can get hectic at times but, I love it, and it’s the best feeling to deliver looks to clients who enjoy your work!
How do you translate trends to your audience?
That’s a good question. I always refer to stylists as translators. It’s our job as stylists to translate what that particular customer is looking for. I like to translate trends by providing some context behind what I’m doing so they can know why I’m choosing that particular piece. For example, if flared Jeans are trendy, and I just choose them without considering how they will fit, feel, and what shoes will complement these jeans I would do the customer a disservice. So, it’s all about helping the customer, guiding them to find their own style, and giving them a chance to try it to see if it’s for them.
Do you like pointing your clients in the right direction or taking a more hands-on approach to creating their style?
I enjoy doing both because every client is different. Some clients know what they like, what brand fits them the best, and their price range. From there, I will point them in the right direction. For people who have never worked with a Digital Stylist, I like to slowly walk with them through the process. This starts with a Style Questionnaire they fill out to give me a better understanding, which also helps build a foundation and trust.
After a short consultation, I will fully understand what they’re looking for and start a plan that reassures them that their input has been truly heard and valued, which is important to me before we begin their individual style journey. So, every situation may start differently, but every journey ends with me creating what they’re looking for!
What are the economic and design challenges of the industry?
My main concern with fashion has always been how to create less waste and avoid reckless consumption. Often, as consumers, we live with the belief that “more is better,” but that’s far from the truth. I truly believe you can be fashionable with nothing more than imagination and creativity, but of course, marketing and advertising from brands and companies push a different narrative.
These brands tend to make us feel like we need more, so we shop at fast-fashion retailers that produce more. There’s a lot to be said for shopping at second-hand stores or buying gently used items. It’s a battle that will be here for the long haul, but I believe consumers are becoming more conscious and are willing to thrift and make smarter decisions when shopping, which helps their budget and reduces waste.
What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?
I’m not sure if they would be surprised, but I hardly ever shop for clothes. I enjoy clothes, I’m totally absorbed in them every waking minute when I’m building looks for Nordstrom clients or on my own for freelance work, but I hardly ever shop for myself. I sometimes feel almost hypocritical recommending specific pieces of clothing for people when I rarely buy anything myself.
What’s your best advice for people looking to get into fashion?
My advice is to simply be open to everything that fashion has to offer and don’t let it stop there. I’ve been a Digital Stylist for 7 years, without a degree or formal schooling, but I have always been a student of fashion by simply exposing myself to it. Fashion is all about establishing and defining your taste, which is formed by what you see, what you hear, and what you’re exposed to. I would also encourage anyone to take classes or attend workshops and conferences to gain more insight into the industry, you’ll be that much more knowledgeable and confident about it.
What is your favorite fashion-related motto, quotes, or words to live by?
“Let your clothes make a statement without you making a statement.”
When something looks good, you just know it, you don’t have to explain or justify it. I feel like every day our clothes make a statement about us, but it’s up to us to determine what that statement is!
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