Photo: Shahin Alipour via asvae.wordpress.com

How the World Started Watching Stylist Ellen X

POSTED BY DANIJEL VUKOJA

Stylist and creative mastermind Ellen X has been all over the internet. The East African born and Swedish raised girl is well known for her style and unique taste. We finally got the chance to sit down with Ellen to find out more about her irrepressible confidence, her style and how she dressed for herself, but the world started watching.

Ellen, please introduce yourself to the people that don't know you yet...

Hi, I am Ellen X.  I am creative individual from Stockholm/Sweden.

What is your secret? What is your superpower?

My superpower? It has to be that I attract good energy and make the right choices.

We're asking that because you are low and high key the next big thing. You have worked in styling and are part of the fashion scene, especially in New York. A real fashionsita. How did it all start? 

Well, thank you. Actually, I don’t like to call myself a fashionista. That label is just not for me. I am a creative person, that’s why I prefer to call myself a creative mind.

Styling was always a part of my life. When I was a child, I used to style my friends and family members and forced them to wear different garments and outfits. And then as I was getting older people were coming up to me, offering me jobs. It’s funny because I have done it all my life. I was doing it without knowing it. And then it came to me. One thing basically led to another.

How did you get into the fashion scene?

That was maybe when I was 19 years old and traveled to NY for the first time. That’s when I was introduced to the fashion lifestyle. I thought it was pretty cool.

Since then, you have been featured in a lot of magazines and on Instagram and Tumblr profiles with your street style. How would you describe your style?

My style changes every day, and that’s why it hard to describe it.  But I always try to put something from my culture (because I am originally from Eritrea) and mix it with urban fashion elements.

And your style is very dope. We can see the Eritrean influence. But since it’s so edgy, was your style always well accepted?

Of course you have people throwing their opinion on you, asking you if it’s Halloween time. People didn’t always (and sometimes still don’t) understand my style. People called me weird, and then one day it shifted; they started to call me unique. Like you can never be just a person. At the end of the day, I just want to be me. 


How do you handle the negativity?

I don’t get offended by it. That’s it.

Let’s talk about positive things. Where do you get your inspiration from?

I really don’t know where I get it from. I just have my own visions. I think my inspiration comes from everything and nothing at the same time.

But how do you get an idea or vision?

When it comes to myself, it’s easy because I have no boundaries for myself. If I have a vision I just go for it. Only if I work with clients, sometimes it’s hard to be as creative as possible, because both have to compromise their vision of the styling.  Styling is a place where people don’t trust a lot because you really don’t trust another person to dress you.

Where do you find people that intrigue you?

I find them everywhere in the world. When I am traveling is when I find the most interesting people. People’s energy really intrigues me.

Tell us about a project or accomplishment that you consider to be the most significant in your career.

I did a whole TV series with no assistant and no help as my first job ever. I didn’t know shit about the business, but it actually turned out great.

Besides the TV show, you are styling music videos, magazines and so on. Where do you find the motivation for it all?

I motivate myself.  I always want to do better than I have been doing. So you kind of compete with yourself. You become your own motivation.

Any interesting projects happening right now or in the future that you can talk about?

I am working on a lot of different projects right now. I am about to produce a fashion festival in Stockholm. And there are a bunch of other fun projects, but I can’t talk much about them, so you need to stay tuned.

2017 just started. But if we’re sitting here a year from now celebrating what a great year it’s been for you, what did you achieve?

I want to overcome my fears. Let things go. Believe in myself more than I have ever done before and start to see myself the way other people see me.

What are you most proud of?

That I always took my own path although everybody said don’t do it.  I live my live the way to live my life.

You are part of the fashion scene. Do you have any advice for those who want to start working in the fashion industry?

Be passionate about what you do. If you are not, then it’s not the right place to be for you.

Last thing. Where and how can we reach you?

You can find me and DM me on Instagram: @ellenxtellnobody

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