Hispanic Heritage Month reminds our community of how ingrained Hispanic influence is in contemporary creative industries and our culture. One such leader in the fashion industry is Nicole Chavez, a celebrity and wardrobe stylist based in Los Angeles, California. 

Chavez (who is of Mexican descent) is a style expert who found her love for tailored fashion in early childhood. Her “over-the-top” style was inspired by her grandmother’s luxe attire and accessories, in stark contrast to the rest of her family’s understated tastes. And where does an envelope-pushing outfit perform better than at the red carpet? Chavez’s all-star client roster includes award-winning actresses such as Kristen Bell, Jessica Simpson, Reese Witherspoon and Ellie Bamber.

Chavez pinpoints her style direction as a celebration of self-expression, optimism, and body positivity that extends to her emphasis on championing up-and-coming talent. Outside of fashion styling, Chavez also designs, curates, and consults for various fashion and talent-led brands (and a proud mom of three).

You can check out more of Chavez’s work here on Creatively and @hellocreatively on Instagram.

What is the first creative project you remember?

In junior high, I became totally obsessed with “The Making of the Sports Illustrated 25th Anniversary Swimsuit Issue” video, which documented how everything came together behind the scenes. Jule Campbell was the fashion editor at the time, and I was fascinated by her. I was so inspired by the creative process that I had to recreate it myself that summer! I convinced my friends to model, styled the suits, scouted the locations (different parts of the backyard), and had the best time directing and photographing my own “swim issue.”

Describe your aesthetic in three words.

Eclectic, luxe, and effortless.

What was the most fulfilling collaboration you’ve worked on?

Early in my career, I was invited to join a group of artists and creatives on a trip to Uganda to bring awareness to an organization called Invisible Children. The goal was to help children affected by the LRA while empowering and protecting local communities from further violence. While there, we were able to attend the opening of a school for young girls. It was such a powerful and life-changing experience, and getting to share that with my clients and colleagues made it that much more fulfilling.

What’s one creative project that taught you something fundamental about yourself?

After years spent hyper-focused on clients and kids (we’ve got 3!), this past year, I committed to creating and building my own brand identity. From the logo and color palette to collaborating with Squarespace on launching a site, the process called for some serious self-reflection at every step. It’s an ongoing project that has reconnected me with my passion – I love being able to share my creative vision and inspire others to experiment, create and play with style. My mission is to help everyone build their style confidence in an easy, accessible way.

Do you think creativity is something you’re born with, or something you’re taught?

I believe it’s both! It’s innate, but it is also something that can be learned and harnessed through experience.

What’s the last dream you had?

It was actually a lovely one—this dream was like visiting the past, but taking place in the present. Rachel Bilson and I were back on the set of The OC (my first “big break” into the industry) with everyone, filming a reunion show. Seeing everyone and knowing we were still working together 20 years later felt full circle and rewarding.

One hundred years from now, what do you hope people write about your work?

I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for the fellow creatives that opened those pivotal doors for me and supported my work. I hope that I can continue to mentor and give back to others in the same way as part of my legacy. It’s the connections and relationships that I treasure the most about this industry.

Follow @nicolechavez on Creatively.

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