Styling celebrities is a multimillion naira industry —Elvis, celeb stylist

Elvis Ikenna Obiaraeri is  a celebrity  wardrobe stylist and project coordinator. He handles the logistics of all kinds of projects like fashion shows, musical concerts, private parties, beach parties, auditions, seminars, conferences, etc.

He is also a fashion consultant. His strength is the ability to offer creative solutions to certain issues as well as manage change. He is known for his interpersonal skills. He has also managed the lives of top celebrities such as Karen Igho, Toyin Lawani, among others.

His work successes are Music Meets Runway(MMR5), Mr Ideal Nigeria 2016, Peppersoup (The Movie), Heavy Beauty (Movie), Romance Is Overrated (RIO the movie), K1Unusual Concert 2014, The Wedding Party 2, Royal Hibiscus hotel, Castle & Castle (Ebonylifetv)  and the list goes on. He is the CEO of Tasharoks Empire, an entertainment and event management company.

He speaks to Rotimi Ige about his job in a recent interview. Excerpts

You dress popular people. Why? Don’t they have clothes?

(Laughs) Of course they have clothes, but for every time they have to step out for a function (whether formal or informal), they need to look the part. That is where I come in.

How do you get clients?

Referrals and of course, social media. I put my work out there for everyone to see.

How easy are they to work with?

It’s easy for me because I’ve been able to put a structure in place that keeps a balance between myself and the client in question. You can only have problems, when you are not disciplined.

Tell us about some of the people you have dressed?

RMD, Dakore, Blossom Chukwujekwu, Deyemi Okonlawan, Dre Beatz, Banky W, Iyanya, Nengi Adoki, Ade Laoye, Anee Icha…the list goes on.

How do you choose what they wear and for what reasons?

Every function has a theme to it, whether it’s emphasised or not. I simply go with the client’s taste for that particular theme, mixing every now and then.

Do you prefer foreign designer labels or local?

I love them all, but every client has his/her own preferences. So it’s best to go what he/she wants,  unless the client is oblivious of the designers out there.

Do you think the local industry has what it takes to compete with foreign labels?

100 per cent yes. I support them as much as I can. You’d be surprised.

What do you do with clothes that have been worn by celebrities?

I return them back to the label, but most times my clients buy them off the label…they don’t like to see what they’ve worn on someone else.

How did you get into this industry?

I left Kaduna and came to Lagos some years back. I started working at a fashion house and that was it…