Britt Theodora is a New York City-based Fashion Stylist with Southern California roots. She works with high profile celebrities and specializes in dressing up-and-coming talent while creating relationships with both emerging and high-fashion designers. Britt’s work has been featured & seen in Vogue, the Today Show, WWD, Who What Where, Footwear News, the Oscars, and the Met Gala.
Britt and I met at a mutual friend’s birthday brunch in NYC. I have followed her career trajectory and have been very interested in her “Energy Styling” where she intertwines different aspects of wellness into her work. Read more below!
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED AS A STYLIST?
I feel like this career found me. I’ve wanted to do this my whole life, but I didn’t realize that styling could be a full-time job. I went to school for journalism and was taking the editor route with the dream of working at Vogue. Opportunities were then put in front of me that were too good to turn down, so I just went with it. My internships in college were in Fashion PR in New York City and my mentor eventually led me to assisting a big-name stylist.
WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO GO OFF ON YOUR OWN?
Models and emerging actors who were attending parties and red carpets were asking me to style them. I realized it was maybe time to branch out on my own to put full focus on my new clients.
The dream of my wanting to be a young celebrity stylist was always lingering in the background. I knew it was what I wanted, but I never had the voice in my head saying THIS IS IT, IT’S HAPPENING. That is until the moment I got the courage to fully step into my own vision another 2 years down the road.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE INDEPENDENT AND RUN YOUR OWN STYLING BUSINESS?
Deciding to go off on my own is the most empowering thing I’ve done in my life. I was leading a life where I was neglecting my own wants and needs. I was left feeling exhausted and burnt out.
I do think this is something we all need to do in order to get clear on what our hopes and dreams are. I believe in putting in the time and learning how things work, but it is truly an incredible feeling to get to the point where you’re ready to take your career to the next level and become independent.
YOU ARE NOW FOCUSED ON ENERGY STYLING. CAN YOU TELL ME A BIT MORE ABOUT THIS?
“Manifest what you want by what you wear.” Energy Styling is a concept I came up with when I was working with an intuitive who introduced me to meditation. During my mediation, I found myself sitting in different light colors and I realized that each color has its own energy. This was really healing for me.
For example, red is for root chakra and has helped with healing my gut and digestive issues. Wearing red and creating mantras for myself while wearing red is also something I have incorporated into my life because red helps with physical and emotional survival and healing. If you are branching out on your business and starting a new pillar, I suggest wearing more white. This gives you a blank slate and helps you clear your mind. It’s peaceful and will enable you to start fresh.
WHAT’S YOUR ENERGY STYLING PROCESS?
It is very intuitive. It depends a lot on whether the person I am working with is willing to receive. If they are open with their energy, I tap in with questions such as, “What do you crave in your life right now? Is it dating, success, or writing ideas?” I also ask, “What colors are you gravitating towards?” There is always a deeper reason why you’re attracted to certain colors at a given point in time. While there is no formula that will work for everyone, I can help you figure out your personal uniform and incorporate colors into that.
DO YOU DRAW FROM CERTAIN PERIODS OF HISTORY WHEN STYLING?
I want clients to look at a photo of themselves 10 years from now and still want to wear that exact outfit. In this sense, I am pretty timeless. I love classics, such as Ralph Lauren, Brandon Maxwell and other American Classics, but I like mixing culture into my styling as well with emerging brands like Tongoro and Mia Vesper. I live for button downs, blazers, trousers, and beautiful tailoring with nice clean lines. I never want people to feel like the clothes are wearing them, but always to feel like they are wearing the clothes.
DO YOU FOLLOW THE CURRENT TRENDS?
I’m all about having fun with the trends, but my personal style isn’t super trendy. However, if I am working with a Gen Z client who is funkier and wants to have fun with trends, I will tap into that and am able to style them with their vision in mind.
TELL ME MORE ABOUT ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT YOU OFFER?
For the celebrity styling part of my business, most of my bookings go through my agency: @theonlyagency. This is for the red carpets, editorial and advertising.
I now offer a new virtual styling service where you can hire me anywhere in the world. This includes a 2-hour Facetime where we go through your closet, edit, and make new outfits based on what you already own. I then do your shopping in 10s–10, 20, 30, or 40 items depending on how much newness you are looking for. I call this a “full closet makeover.”
I’m coming out with a collaboration with my friend Jenna who has a company called Spiff Organizing here in NYC. She is a home organizer like The Home Edit. We will come into your closet and do a complete reorganization and then I give you a makeover full of new arrangements and outfits. We will get rid of the things you don’t want either by donation or whatever you prefer to do with them. Again, I shop by the 10s here.
I also consult with different fashion brands, such as ready to wear jewelry brands and help style their look books or make suggestions on different designs they should run with.
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU THE MOST ABOUT WHAT YOU DO?
The people that I work with and their reaction to my work. I do look up to a lot of people in the industry, but I am on my own path right now and try not to focus too much on other people’s success.
DO YOU HAVE A MORNING ROUTINE?
I wake up around 7:45am. I’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t sit on my phone for about an hour first thing but I really try to not do this! I then start with yoga. I use the Down Dog app, which I love. You can pick how long you want your Yoga Session and Savasana to be. Yoga and meditation have become a necessity to my mornings. I then journal because many things come to me during my yoga and meditation. I have my coffee and then have breakfast. I have the same thing for breakfast each day to create more space in my mind for other more important decisions that need to be made. I am obsessed with the CoCoJune Coconut yogurt. I have this with granola, chia seeds, and fresh fruit. I then jump into work. I have 2 interns and an assistant working for me, so I look over their responsibilities and check in with them before getting on with my workday.
DO YOU FOLLOW A SPECIFIC DIET?
I recently started a plant-based diet, which I do during the day for breakfast and lunch. I have the same thing for breakfast each day (see above). For lunch, I make something plant based from the Sakara cookbook. For dinner, I allow myself to have whatever I am craving, but I try to do it in the healthiest way possible. For example, if it’s a Half Baked Harvest’s Crunch Wrap Supreme, I will make it vegan.
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR RECIPES AND DIET TIPS?
I love the recipes from Half Baked Harvest. I also follow Bonberi who recommends a simple plant-based breakfast, plant-based lunch with your raw foods, and then for dinner not to mix proteins and starches because they digest in different points in the digestive system. This means that if you have a steak, eat veggies with it instead of fries.
HOW DO YOU WIND DOWN AT NIGHT?
I have a full on dimly lit shower moment every evening before bed. I cannot sleep without this. I recently learned that you can turn your shower into a major manifestation by feeling the energy of water and being totally present. When you finish showering, open the door or curtain and step out into another portal which is the reality where all of your manifestation goals come true!
HOW DO YOU FIND BALANCE LIVING IN NYC AND RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS?
Selfishness. By doing the things I need to do to stay in tune with myself. I will move my whole day around for the little things that make me feel my best, such as an extra 10 minutes of sleep or an additional 20 minutes of yoga.
A FUN FUTURE AMBITION OF YOURS?
To publish a coffee table book on energy styling <3
IF YOU HAD 1 LIFE TIP FOR EVERYONE WHAT WOULD IT BE?
If someone asked you: “If money didn’t matter, what would you do with your life?” DO THAT.
You can find Britt on Instagram @Britt.Theodora or on her website BrittThrodora.com
♡LF