SABA SALEHI
A Conversation with Saba Salehi: Celebrity and Editorial Stylist
Tell us the story behind your favorite wardrobe item
Saba: So many items to chose from! One of my favorite and most unique pieces in my closet is my nude colored Jean Paul Gaultier jacket! This jacket was love at first sight when I set my eyes on it while strolling around boutiques in Paris. The jacket is an original 1989 design as quoted on the tag and also by the store owner that JPG re-made a handful of in 2009 and I was one of the lucky five people to snag it! I love everything Gaultier and finding this particular jacket in a small boutique in Paris made it that much more magical.
What's your most memorable 'panic moment'?
Saba: My most memorable panic moment that I like to try to forget at times because of all the stress I endured during it was during a cover and editorial spread I did for Beverly Hills Magazine. As the fashion editor for Beverly Hills Magazine I was responsible for coming up with the concept and the clothes for all the shoots. This shoot in particular was taking place during all the shows in Paris and Milan and 90% of the items I had requested were not available because they were overseas at the runway and trunk shows and I was left with a few items to shoot ten pages with! It was extremely stressful and nail biting to say the least…
How did you recover from it gracefully?
Saba: It took about five days and roughly 200 emails a day to various designers, showrooms, and PR companies to source alternative looks that would work for the shoot. One thing I learned is that being persistent is the key to getting what you need in a time like that. People have a million things to worry about and you have to put in a lot of effort to pull yourself out of a crisis because others wont do it for you. You need to think outside the box and just make it happen!
What is your favorite era for fashion?
Saba: This is a tough one, but I would have to say the late 70’s into the 80’s and 90’s. Something about the edginess and structure of the 80’s and 90’s has always grabbed my eye and inspired me to this day. I am obsessed with jackets and these decades, in my opinion, offered some of the best designs to this day. The androgynous looks of the 90’s are also among my favorite looks. I also love YSL in the 70’s because of its glamour and perfect balance of femininity and masculinity.
What was your big break?
Saba: My big break came in 2006 when I became the Fashion Editor of Los Angeles Weddings, Orange Coast Weddings, and Beverly Hills magazine the following year. Working for a magazine really opened up a lot of doors and allowed me to form relationships with designers, showrooms, and PR companies internationally. It also helped me get my name out there in the fashion universe where the competition is fierce and saturated. I will always be grateful to them for believing me in me and motivating me to believe I will make it in this industry.
Whose closet would you most like to raid?
Saba: If I had to raid a closet it would be a tough match between Rihanna and Lady Gaga. I like people who have a strong point of view when it comes to fashion and both of these ladies are constantly evolving and pushing the envelope, which I find extremely inspirational. I believe fashion is all about making a statement and being true to your creative inner fashionista and my passion in life is just that- to reinvent and create new looks every single day. I feel like both Gaga and Rihanna look at fashion as art, and are constantly portraying new looks and outfits for all of us to study.
Who are your favorite designers?
Saba: Some of my favorite designers are Givenchy, Gaultier, Balenciaga, Celine, and Alexander Wang.
What is your personal style?
Saba: I would describe my style as unique and edgy with a twist! I love everything with texture, especially anything and everything leather- LOVE leather! I believe in investing in pieces that I am obsessed over and will feel fabulous in every time I wear them. No matter if it’s casual attire or a ball gown, everything in my closet has to be interesting to me. I'm definitely someone who likes everything structured with very strong lines. I love mens inspired clothes and shoes and can be the poster child for ManRepeller I really don’t have a comfort zone when it comes to fashion, and I will wear just about anything that catches my eye no matter how crazy it could be. I’m a vintage fanatic, especially when it comes to Chanel and furs.
Thanks Saba! If you want to learn more about Saba, visit her website www.salehiandschuffman.com and you can tweet her at @SalehiSchuffman.