Meet our alumni
Alexandra Gabris - Fashion Design
Original program: Fashion Design
Alumni Information
School: LaSalle College Vancouver
Grad Year: 2010
Program of Study: Fashion Design
Degree: Diploma
Employment/Professional Information
Company Name: Espy Experience
Location: Calgary
Job Title: Stylist/Visual Merchandiser
Primary Responsibilities: Style clients according to their body type and show how to pull outfits together using accessories, layering techniques, and finding the right fit. Merchandise and display product aesthetically and effectively in store and windows to give clients inspiration for different seasons and trends.
Describe a typical work day:
Espy specializes in jeans, so I do a lot of denim fittings in a day. I work with clients to explain what to look for their body (the right fabric contents, rise of jean, and the style of jean). I show clients different tops and ways to wear each style according to body type and lifestyle, how to accessorize and pair colorsall are important steps in my daily styling sessions. Also maintaining the boutiques flow with product and face outs to make it easy for our customer.
What accomplishment(s) are you most proud of?
I have accomplished quite a few things over the past year at Espy. I have had some great privileges involving media locally in Calgary and nationally. I was featured in an article about the style do’s and don’ts of the Calgary Stampede. This article was in newspapers across Canada. I also did a live segment on breakfast television explaining different trends for the 2012 Calgary Stampede. I styled four models with four different trends and explained why and how I styled each outfit.
What are your creative inspirations or influences? Who are your heroes?
I get a lot of my inspiration from magazines and blogs. I am such an avid blog reader, and pinner on Pinterest. These sources give me a ton of ideas to bring to my clients and for myself. As a stylist, one of my hero’s is Emily Shuman from the blog Cupcakes and Cashmere. I look up to her in a way that will help me further myself. I would love to start my own fashion blog, and looking at her blog for inspiration is motivating for me. I also love her style, and use a lot of her fashion tips and ideas to help me when I am styling my own clients. As a designer, Sarah Burton is my hero. She is such an incredible designer and has done so well with Alexander McQueen. Her designs create a mood that is hard not to get lost in. The fabrics and execution of everything is so beautiful. When I design and create sketches on my own time, I definitely look to her work for inspiration on how she makes such a statement piece that is still wearable and flawless.
What do you enjoy the most about your career?
The things I enjoy most about my career, is that I get to make women feel confident and beautiful. I can’t tell you how many women I get that come to me with body issues and low confidence and they leave feeling amazing and excited. Showing my customers how to dress for their body to make themselves look and feel better is definitely rewarding and most of all fun! I love being creative and showing my new ideas, and getting excited about them with my colleagues and my clients.
How did your education at LaSalle College Vancouver help prepare you for your career?
My education at LaSalle College Vancouver helped a lot with being confident on the execution of garments and knowing my fabrics. Being a stylist, it is good to know how fabrics fit, feel and wear. Also the merchandising in the program is useful for me as a merchandiser. I know what not to do and how the consumers mind works when shopping. I still aspire to be a designer (I have the opportunity in the future to possibly help design a label for espy) and my schooling has played a huge part in me having this opportunity.
What advice do you have for people beginning their careers in your profession?
My advice to people who are starting in the fashion industry is to be persistent. It isn’t easy, but getting yourself our there and following through with it will pay off. If there are fashion events in your area, go to them because you might meet the right person. In this industry it is about who you know. Be sure to be confident, yet humble and remember that this is something you are passionate about.
Your profession is constantly evolving, from the technology you use to new career opportunities that didn’t exist five years ago. What trends do you see on the horizon that will affect how you do your job or your profession at-large?
Being a Stylist is a hands-on career, although people can turn to magazines and shows for fashion advice, they still don’t have a clue until a stylist is dressing them and physically showing them how to wear it. Closet interventions are something we offer our customers. They get a stylist to go to their house, and we go through their wardrobe and show them what to get rid of, and what to keep, and how to wear what they have in different ways. We then go shopping, for the key things they need in their closet. I think this trend will catch on and more women will be inquiring about these types of services. It will save them time and money in the long run.
