When celebrities hit the red carpet, they’ve got to look their best from head to toe, and that includes what they’re wearing between their makeup and their pedicure. Fortunately, there’s a person who can help with that — a wardrobe stylist. Local woman India Kerr (who also goes by the name India McElwain), has made a living of helping people dress their best.
With her business, Stylish by India, Kerr dresses people for a variety of occasions, from fashion shows to magazine editorial photo shoots.
Kerr, who is also a licensed hair stylist, said she’s been interested in fashion and hair since she was a child.
“Since I was a little girl, I always played with Barbies, clothes … I used to get in trouble taking the flat irons or curling irons to iron my Barbies’ hair,” she said, recalling the time she burned the couch while working on her dolls’ hair.
Kerr first got to officially put her skills to work in 2011, when she began a position as a fashion stylist for AMPS Magazine.
Her first styling job — which she says is still the most memorable — was dressing members of the singing group Dru Hill when they were in town for Indy Black Expo.
“I grew up with their music; to finally meet them was like, ‘Wow,’” Kerr said. “Ever since I dressed Dru Hill, I was like, ‘OK, I can do this!’”
Though she lives in Indiana, Kerr’s work has taken her to destinations across the country, including New York City, Philadelphia and even Hollywood.
“I (styled) a TV show in Hollywood once,” she said. “I was down there for two weeks. Hollywood is a whole other world. You feel like a country bumpkin.”
Kerr also traveled to work with the State Property/Roc-A-Fella reunion.
Indiana’s fashion scene lags behind that of other major American cities, so Kerr said she’s faced some challenges in the Hoosier state.
“Sometimes I might have five to six models that have to dress alike, and I have to find the same outfit. Some boutiques in Indiana, they want to be advertised and published in magazines and say, ‘Oh, I have that,’ and you get there, and they don’t have what you need.
“The market in fashion (in Indianapolis) is just not … In the past two years, it’s been getting up there in fashion. There are a lot more fashion shows, there are more stylists in Indiana, we shoot a lot of commercials here, but there’s just so much more opportunity in bigger cities.”
Though she’s styled fashion shows, Kerr said she prefers to stick with editorials, magazines and fashion ads, so she can move at her own pace. Kerr has worked with Indiana Minority Business Magazine, the Indianapolis Recorder’s sister publication, on styling models for cover shoots.
When choosing clothes for a client, Kerr said her process depends on the project.
“Most of the time I do editorials, so there’s a story. So I try to picture a story in my head and go with it,” she said. “I always look at what the person looks like. I have to see what their hair looks like, I have to see their body form. I try not to go off what I would wear; that’s why I always ask people what they’re comfortable in.”
Ultimately, Kerr said she would like to do more work in advertising, and she has her eye on one particular person she wants to dress.
“I would love to style for big perfume ads and big commercials like Gucci and Versace. I’ve been published in a lot of magazines, but I hope one day I can dress Beyonce.”
For anyone who wants to follow in her footsteps, Kerr recommends attending fashion events to start making connections and following relevant users on social media sites. Also, starting a portfolio is a must.
“Start a portfolio, even if you’re taking pictures of yourself and what you’re wearing,” she said.
Most importantly, embrace your passion.
“Never stop. Keep going … you know in your heart this is what you want to do.
“I think when you love what you do, no one else can stop you.”
To contact Stylish by India, email stylishbyindia@gmail.com or tweet @stylishbyindia.
