Anastasia Walker: Styling with influences and passion
Living in the fashion capital of the United States and, arguably, the world, “Manhattan is so large and has so many people, it’s easy to just get inspired every day,” explains Anastasia. “There are so many parts of the borough and each is different, so it’s perfect for me.” For Anastasia, who styles some well-known personalities, this inspiration is a must. While most people turn a hobby into a passion, becoming a top stylist has been Anastasia’s main goal for as long as she can remember. “I have always known I wanted to be a stylist. My grandmother worked in Hollywood, so it was a career I knew about growing up and a career I knew I wanted to pursue. There never was another option for me. This was always plan A and there was never a plan B. Instead I just ask myself ‘how I can improve’ instead of ‘what else I can do’ [because] there’s nothing else I want to do.”
For a prominent stylist, having the skill to style is not enough. Anastasia’s ability to manipulate someone’s style in a way they never could or find their overall style separates her from the rest of the pack in the overpopulated city that swallows the hopes of many. “Sometimes they don’t have their own personal style so it’s up to me to decipher it and help them find it,” she says of her clients. “It’s all about training them and incorporating what I know that will help them develop their own style.”
As far as what the expert thinks of celebrity styles, sometimes it’s the quietest that speak the loudest. “Steve Nash has a very classic style. Nobody ever really notices but he has a very nice style that’s not flashy and not out there like other athletes,” she explains. “I can respect someone who has their own style that speaks more about them, rather than just trying to stand out.”
The self-proclaimed “stubborn Virgo” promises that this is only the beginning for her and she obeys her thirst by pushing herself harder each day. “I’m never satisfied with my work and always want to do better and evolve,” she says. “The things that make me great at what I do are also what constantly make me want to improve.”