West Village NYC - 2015
Name: Sydnee Paige
Age: 23
Hometown: New York, NY
Undergraduate Major and institution: Fashion Merchandising, The University of Alabama
Take me back a decade, what did you want to be when you grew up? At 13 I probably still thought I wanted to play in the WNBA. We all see how well that turned out lol.
What do you do now? I’m a stylist assistant for celebrity stylist Jasmine Caccamo.
Angela Simmons x Harlem Globetrotters NYFW | NYC - 2015
How did you decide on an undergraduate institution and major? I knew in high school that I wanted to work towards getting a degree in fashion, but settling on a school wasn’t easy. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to continue running track in college or go to a school that specialized in a fashion degree. When I made the decision not to pursue track in college and focus on the industry, I still wanted to go somewhere that I could get the best of both worlds. The University of Alabama allowed me to major in something I was passionate about while also getting a great college experience.
What's your typical workday look like? I used to hate when people said this, but it’s so true when you say “Everyday is so different!’. But I can say that as a stylist assistant, it’s a lot of samples! Picking them up, dropping them off, fitting them, steaming them. So many clothes!
Miami, FL - 2015
What challenges have you faced achieving your career goals? The biggest challenge that I have faced is probably deciding to take the leap into the styling realm of the industry. It’s an extremely tough and intimidating industry to decide to break into, but it was something that I knew God was calling me to do.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In five years I hope to be extremely proud to look at my portfolio of styled clients. If I can do that then everything in between has clearly fallen into place.
Queens, NY - 2015
What advice would you give to someone who aspires to your career? Never underestimate where you currently are in your journey. There are lessons to learn in every step along the way that will help you achieve the bigger picture.
Washington, DC - 2015
What about to someone who wants to ultimately be a stylist? I feel like as with any freelance career, it takes a lot of drive. It’s not all glamorous and you have to be okay with starting from the bottom and making your way to the top.
Ayasa Afi SS16 Presentation | NYC - 2015
If you have a certain vision that you feel is truly meant for you, it is. You just can’t be afraid to go grab it.
How has the move from Alabama to NYC been? What inspired the move? Did you land a job first or did you move first? The move to NYC has been everything I expected and more. There have been ups, downs and everything in between. The industry in itself inspired me to move somewhere fast pace that I could truly see myself growing. I was able to land a job about a week or two before graduating college and moved a few weeks after.
Is it difficult to be so far away from family? My family and I have been moving around since I was born, so it wasn’t as hard as it may be for some. New York is now that seventh city that I have lived. I think that’s something that bonds my family and I, so no, it hasn’t been too difficult.
I'm moving to NYC in June. Any tips for me? For the winter: Get the heaviest coat and scarf you can find! All fashion goes completely out the window when it gets as cold as it was last winter. I had pretty much everything covered but my eyes lol.
Meatpacking District NYC - 2015