I’m sure many brands are dying to dress him.
It’s funny. I am someone who likes to clear an inbox, and I’ve had to learn that I can’t get through all my emails now. But it’s champagne problems, having these amazing brands in my inbox. And also, I don’t think they get shouted out enough, but the PRs for these brands have been incredible to work with. Not only are they good at their jobs in terms of getting things out on time, accommodating tailoring and fittings, but there’s a genuine enthusiasm from these brands to dress him because they love how he wears their clothes.
As he gets more attention from brands, perhaps some that have an established look, how do you make sure that what he wears still feels authentic to him?
It’s keeping the same sense of what Connor and I both want to collaborate on. We now have these large fittings with huge amounts of clothing where I’ve tried to accommodate as many brands as possible. We’ll systematically go through the rail before we start, trying things on, and that way we narrow down the vision. And then sometimes we’ve tried things that are a complete surprise, like the look for the Chanel Coco Crush dinner, which was Giuliva Heritage. That one I wasn’t sure of, but he put it on and I was like, wow. That’s the kind of surprise that leads to joy in being a stylist, those moments where you try those things that are slightly off what you were thinking, but they still work anyway.
Heated Rivalry fans are very passionate. They’re really enthusiastic and protective of Connor and Hudson. Do you pay attention to their feedback, or do you try to focus on building something that is more related to Connor’s feedback than the fans?
Having done live TV over the years, when Twitter was really in its heyday and I would get live feedback of what she would wear, I’ve become good at ignoring the noise. Ultimately, and I think a lot of stylists would say this, the moment you start looking left or right or listening to other people, you can question your vision. And that’s the reason you have the job and have the client, because you have a vision that aligns with theirs. It’s also what leads to that kind of great collaboration, because it is about me and him finding the best possible looks. I try not to let too much noise in, though I really appreciate the enthusiasm. And I’ve had things sent to me, fans have been on Vogue Runway and they’ve sent me looks [for him to wear]. I love that the fan base is so passionate that way. It’s truly more about the collaboration with Connor and what we are trying to build through having fun with the clothes.
Because Connor and Hudson are personifying these beloved characters, the fans also get attached to seeing them as their characters. Sometimes we blur the line between actor and role, and see the person as an extension of the world they’re building onscreen as opposed to a separate entity. Has that been tough to navigate from the styling perspective?