Written by Marlene Escutia (@mar.cultivate)
The designer creates the masterpiece; the stylist helps get it out into the world and people’s closets. Castillo by Karina is committed to building the full look and telling a story. From dresses to suits, these pieces make you feel like you. But before you wear it, you see it somewhere online or on the street styled, and that places you in a story told by that stylist, and suddenly you become the main character. This relationship between stylist and designer is a tango danced by many iconic duos from the past. Think Nancy Rohde & Dries Van Noten, or Alexander McQueen & Katy England. Here at Castillo by Karina, we have the designer and founder, Karina Castillo who works with the talented stylist Pinkk. She gave us an insight into her creative process, and her vision for the fashion industry. Here is that conversation:
Q: Where do you get your inspiration from?
Pinkk: I get inspiration from everyday life, my culture, and artwork. I love being able to express different levels of creativity all through an outfit! My culture will always be the main impact of my work due to lack of representation in the fashion industry. That being said I want to be THE inspiration for others in the future and even now.
Q: Which specific movies, music videos, artists, books, or TV shows do you gravitate towards that make you think “that’s great styling?"
Pinkk: I’ve always loved the fashion in 90s & 2000s movies and music videos. Not really one in particular, more so as a whole they all brought something unique to the eye which I’ve always appreciated. If I were to say one artist in particular, it would be Aaliyah. She was someone I looked up to when I was younger as far as fashion, so I would definitely give her that credit.
Q: Before styling a client do you have a vision in mind of how you want that person to look, feel, or move?
Pinkk: All 3 yes! Whenever I’m styling a client, we go through a consultation to understand the goals of the client. Once I have a solid understanding of what they’re looking for is when I can start brainstorming. I always have a certain look vibe I want to go for to make them feel uniquely beautiful and confident!
Q: Name an item you take with you on photoshoots that helps you in your profession (it can be a lucky charm, a mantra, or something practical like garment clips or a tripod).
Pinkk: One thing I always have with me is a bag of accessories. Even if the outfit is already planned, sometimes it doesn’t pop the way I want to, so bringing options for accessories will always be a good idea.
Q: How does your culture inform your work?
Pinkk: My culture inspires every aspect of my work. From styling, to my target audience, to who I want to represent my brand. I aim for a higher percentage of representation of my culture in the fashion industry!
Q: Storytelling plays a big part in styling, what visual elements do you hope stand out to people when they see your work?
Pinkk: When I’m creating a look, my vision is always to create drama, and unique beauty. The goal is to showcase how passionate I am about what I do. As it is more than just clothes and accessories to me.
Questions Regarding your collaboration with Castillo by Karina:
Q: How did you meet Karina?
Pinkk: I met Karina during Arizona Fashion week. I volunteered to be a stylist for AZFW and got paired with her which felt like fate. Her and I clicked instantly!
Q: What has been your experience working with her brand?
Pinkk: Working with Karina and her brand CBK has been nothing short of genuine support. She believes in my work and trusts me and my work wholeheartedly and it shows in our collaborations! She uplifts me on a continuous basis and we both strive to see each other succeed, and that’s what I love about working with her.
Q: People often have their own creative process when it comes to projects. How do you combine your creative approach with collaborators when you’re doing a photoshoot or styling a runway?
Pinkk: My goal is to always make sure everyone is satisfied with the outcome so, I tend to ask lots of questions and play around with different things to get the best result for everyone involved.
Make sure to follow Pinkk and her engaging work on instagram @pinkkbluntz
