Meet Caliyah Valentine | Fashion Stylist & Creative Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Caliyah Valentine and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Caliyah, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I have always had a love for fashion and putting different elements of an outfit together to make it all work cohesively. One of the many things I love about fashion is that there are no rules and that there isn’t a right or wrong way to do it, which allows me to experiment and get as creative as I would like. I enjoy expressing myself and developing ideas through fashion. As a stylist, I get an indescribable joy when I can help someone convey their ideas and personality through their clothing.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
What sets me apart from other people in my industry is the age and time of my life of which I began pursuing my career. I began my business while in high school and have been learning the business as I go. Many stylists start their careers either through their connections, already having a name in the industry, or knowing different celebrities. I, on the other hand, had no connections. My first ever shoot was majority funded by money that I had been saving up for months prior; all of the models were friends of mine, and I had to reach out to several small businesses to provide me with some free pieces to use in the shoot on my own. Thankfully, they were willing to take a shot on someone who was up and coming.
I got to where I professionally am today through prayer, having a strong support system, and by putting in lots of time to network. As I mentioned earlier, at the beginning of my career, I had no connections with people who were already in the industry, so social media apps such a Clubhouse and Instagram were a core aid in my success. My mother always tells me, “Your network is your net worth”, which is very true because the more relationships you build, the more successful you’ll be in not only a creative career but in any line of work.

Being in this business has taught me many universal lessons…. to never give up on yourself and that you will need to work hard to get where you want to be in life. However, it has also taught me subjective lessons like to always show up 30 minutes early and to always bring more options for looks for a client than discussed.

Building my brand and growing my business has not been easy. I’ve had to miss out on time with friends and family to pursue my career. That was a big sacrifice because time and memories are things you can’t get back. Luckily, all of my friends and family were supportive of my dreams and aspirations. Starting my business as a high school student was another big obstacle, because I didn’t always have time to socialize or do regular things that most teenagers do. Experiencing that made me learn early how to develop a good balance between work and personal life.

I am most proud of the fact I was able to build something from nothing with little to no resources…. just vision and hard work..

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We would go to art museums such as the High Museum of Art in midtown, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and MODA (Museum of Design Atlanta). Our breakfast/brunch spots would include Toast On Lenox, Breakfast at Barney’s, West Egg Café, and The Hive. My picks for lunch would be a salad place called Upbeet, South City Kitchen, and Copeland’s. I am a person who loves international foods, so throughout the week we would go to a Mediterranean restaurant, Kabob Land, an Italian restaurant, Maggiano’s, a Mexican restaurant, El Indio, a Japanese restaurant called Fumi, and a couple of Caribbean restaurants, Negril and Apt. 4b. I love vintage clothing, so we would definitely hit up the vintage shops in Little Five Points. We would also do some shopping at Phipps Plaza. We’d have a day of self-care where we’d go for a morning hike at Stone Mountain Park, then to a spa called Aviary Beauty and Wellness Collective. Some other sights for us to visit would be the Beltline and Piedmont Park.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my mentors/management team, Candis White (who is also my mother) and Zsa Zsa Lambert-Hall. These two have always motivated me to keep my business going and to never give up on myself. Watching them start up their own management company, really made me want to take the steps to start my own business. They also taught me everything I know about business management.

Website: styledbyvalentine.com

Instagram: @styledby.valentine

Image Credits
PS Pictures, BDP Films, Rahtography