The Collection MoDA Fashion Stylist - Arnold Milfort

Arnold Milfort is a heavily sought-after New York-based celebrity stylist, consultant, and fashion show producer. His brutally sharp style, bold vision, and ability to create enthralling fashion images, have landed him in some of the world's biggest fashion houses.

Milfort served as the visual area manager for brands such as Gucci, Liz Claiborne, Juicy Couture, and Lacoste. With a successful track record for helping to build each brand while increasing their market footprint and audience, he quickly began attracting the eyes of A-list celebrities, supermodels, new designers, and fashion industry power players.

His artistic style, which creates and communicates designers' visual identities and language, have been seen on the runways of Phillip Lim, Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, Victoria's Secret, Rag & Bone, Diesel, Black Gold, BET's Rip the Runway, Korto Momolu, and The Shane Victorino Foundation.

Milfort will be on the island this week for The Collection MoDa showcase at Hope Gardens, and Outlook caught up with the young star for a few quick questions:

Outlook Magazine(OM): How did you get your start?

Arnold Milfort (AM): I was a visual merchandiser at Macy's Department Store and I met a stylist that was always coming into the store and I would always ask him about his job. I asked for advice and he introduced me to the woman who produces Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. From there, I knew that this was the world I wanted to be in. My first season, I did Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, Donna Karan, and Diesel. I decided if, I'm styling, I should style real people. That's how it all started.

What do you love about styling?

The fact that I am able to be myself. A lot of stylists have to assist before they can do the things that I have done. I am able to express myself through my work ... it seems that people love it, and it brings me joy to make other people happy. Even for a brief moment, I love that I am changing somebody's life and that I am inspiring someone.

What influences you?

I try not to follow fashion too much, but I can't really say. It can be something as simple as a handbag - one small thing can influence a whole photo shoot. I don't want to be influenced by other people's work, so I don't follow other stylists on social media. I like to find a small detail and turn it into a story. It works for me.

Tell us about your first red carpet
moment.

First red carpet was the winner from America's
Next Top Model - cycle 14 - Krista White. I had just styled
her for an editorial and we became great friends. She wanted me to style
her for an event and it was amazing - very Cover Girl just like the
finale on the show. She wore a sequinned jeweled shorts, a fabulous silk
camisole, and nice heels. Very simple and elegant. It made a statement -
the shorts were really heavily beaded. However, I don't get excited for
stuff like that- red carpets, cameras. I am focused on if the hair is
perfect for the look, the shoes. I don't focus on the cameras etc, but
my client just has to look amazing - my client has to go out and be the
best that she can be.

Who (dead or alive) would you
love to style?

Grace Kelly.

If you
were to mentor someone who is just starting out, what would your words
of wisdom be?

Remain grounded in this industry because
it is very easy to lose yourself and that's the easiest way to
disappoint yourself. I'm happy to say that I am one of the stylists to
have worked on the Victoria's Secret fashion show. I've done countless
jobs - and I remain grounded. I'm no different from the person who works
in the airport. It's a job and we are all human beings. I could lose
everything in two minutes, so I'm very grateful for
everything.

What misconceptions do people have about
styling?

That this life is so glamorous and fabulous.
People think it's so easy. When people meet me for the first time and
ask what I do, I say I am a stylist and the first reaction is "OMG, you
get to shop for rich people? How fun!" However, I have to source things
for months, it's not glamorous, it's not that fabulous, but I love
it.

Any favourite looks you have
styled?

Yes. I was just talking about it - Sessille
Lopez, this Dominican supermodel and Victoria's Secret model. I styled
her for Elle in 2012 in a gold headpiece and that
picture is everywhere. It goes back to what I was saying about making
people happy. When you Google her, that picture pops up and everybody is
commenting. All the comments make me so happy. They just love the
picture and this was the first time in my life that I looked at myself
as an artist. Yes, it's fashion, but there are people that love fashion
and it makes them happy. That was my favourite
look.