MEET THE STYLIST: TARA SWENNEN

A Conversation With Celebrity Stylist Tara Swennen

A sought-after stylist known for her exacting attention to each client's personal aesthetic, Tara Swennen is an increasing presence on Hollywood's fashion scene. A graduate of the fashion design program at Cornell University, Swennen interned at Barneys New York prior to assisting two of the industry's biggest names: Andrea Lieberman and Rachel Zoe. Honing her skills on costume design and red carpet work, Swennen was inducted into the Costume Designers Guild after collaborating on NBC's primetime show Cane. Inspired by her international travels and her family's legacy in the fashion business, Tara creates elegant looks, ones that always illuminate the personal style of each celebrity and personality with whom she works. Those celebrities include Kate Beckinsale, Mila Kunis, Sarah Michelle Gellar and Miley Cyrus. Her work has also been featured in ad campaigns for Got Milk?, Canon, Linea Pelle and PETA, as well as in editorials such as InStyle, Nylon, Teen Vogue, and British Esquire. Swennan currently styles: Kristen Stewart, Julie Bowen, Kaley Cuoco, AnnaSophia Robb, Lauren Conrad, Connie Britton and Odette Annabel.

Tell us the story behind your favorite wardrobe item.

Tara: My favorite wardrobe item would be my wedding ring of course! Because it's from my soul mate and represents what we have together :)

What’s your most memorable ‘panic moment’?

Tara: I honestly, and luckily, have never really had one! Not to say there haven't been hiccups along the way of course..but never full blown panic. I am a Virgo so I tend to have all my ducks lined up way before they need to be and have just been very lucky so far I guess! Knock on wood!!!

What is your favorite era for fashion?

Tara: My favorite fashion era is post World War 2 Dior. The silhouettes were magnificent and truly architectural.

What was your big break?

Tara: My big break was my education with two of the greatest stylists in the World - Andrea Lieberman and Rachel Zoe. Both taught me the different aspects of the business and showed me how hard I needed to hustle in order to succeed.

Whose closet would you most like to raid?

Tara: I would have to say most definitely Vogue's!

Who are your favorite designers?

Tara: Balmain, Prabal Gurung, Christian Dior, Emilio Pucci, Alexander McQueen, Zac Posen.

Thanks for chatting with us, Tara!

You can follow her on Twitter @TaraSwennen & visit her site www.taraswennen.com