Derek Beckman, Stylist from Los Angeles who has worked with celebrities such as Daisy Clementine, Don Benjamin and Hart Denton, told us about his passion for vintage and his favorite look: the “Greaser” one!
Nice to Meet you, I Am: Derek Beckman.
Location: Los Angeles, California.
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How did your passion for styling begin?
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My passion for styling began when I realized I had a good eye for what looked good on other people! I grew up working in retail stores, so I was always around clothing. Styling to me is like breathing, it comes so naturally, and I can’t see myself doing anything else!
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How would you describe your personal style?
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I would describe my style as “edgy.” I wear a lot of black, because it’s slimming, and looks good for any season! I’m always looking to push the envelope with my own personal style, I try to be as different as I can.
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You did the styling of Daisy Clementine on different occasions: what is like working with her?
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Daisy Clementine is hands down, one of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. She is very respectful of my creative vision, and she also uses her platform to teach younger girls to love and appreciate themselves.
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You work a lot with men too: what is your opinion about male style?
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Men are honestly easier to style; they require less clothing options, and I often think about what I would wear when styling a male. But each photoshoot is different, so my inspiration tends to change with each new project.
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Who is a celebrity that you would love to work with and why?
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Brad Pitt is a celebrity that I would love to work with. He’s an icon when it comes to men’s style, and I’ve loved seeing his style change and evolve over the years! So if any of you have any connection with Brad Pitt, let me know!
Trend: A great trend that I’m seeing all over, is a return to vintage fashion, primarily the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s! The “Greaser” look, as I like to call it, is one of my favorite looks to style. Think James Dean meets Elvis: black leather jackets, clean and simple shirts, dark denim, and your favorite pair of converse or boots!
#Inspo: My favorite fashion season and runway show of all time was the Men Fall/Winter 2015 show for Saint Laurent. I watch the show online often when I need to be reinvigorated, and every time I watch it I find new inspiration!
Styling Tip: Less is more! There’s nothing worse than a “busy looking” outfit, aka clashing colors, excessive layers, or too many accessories. Keep it simple, if you think you’re doing too much, you probably are!
My Favorite Way To Wear It: When it comes to my closet, you’ll find that I tend to stick to neutral colors (black, white, gray, navy blue). These are easy to pair with anything you are re-wearing and can be interchanged for new looks throughout the week! Adding a ring or two, and maybe a necklace is a perfect way to add a little flair to your wardrobe. Remember, keep it simple and less is more!
“Keep it simple and less is more!”
Trendspotting: I’d recommend this simple vintage trend to anyone who’s looking to clean up and elevate their wardrobe. Classic pieces never go out of style, and it doesn’t take much to invest in your wardrobe. There are so many affordable options when it comes to purchasing GOOD clothing, but my favorite way to find those options are thrift stores.
Epic Fail While Doing A Styling: One of the most embarrassing moments for a stylist is not being completely and totally prepared for a photoshoot! On one of my very first photoshoots, I had accidentally left my styling kit behind (inside being the tools I needed to complete the photoshoot), so I had to run to the nearest drug store, mid-shoot, and buy whatever items I needed. It was highly unprofessional, but we learn as we go!
Your Favorite Fashion Book: As of right now, my favorite fashion book would have to be the one I have on my coffee table: “Yves Saint Laurent” by Bernard Blistène, Farid Chenoune and Florence Müller. He’s arguably one of my favorite designers of all time, and his earlier work was extremely groundbreaking.
Steal Style: Right now my style icon is Harry Styles! He wears the vintage look so well, and every outfit he wears (whether on stage or out and about), is perfection!
Your Fashion Superpower: This is a tough one, but I think my desired fashion power would be to think ahead of the trends, be a pioneer in fashion before it becomes mainstream!
“Classic pieces never go out of style.”
Follow @derekbeckman
