Celebrity stylist maintains roots in Springfield

March 5, 2012

By Katelyn Gendron
katelyn@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD — It's a common conundrum for young adults entering the professional world today: They're certain of their career choice but not sure how to get their foot in the door.

Ask fashion stylist Nolan Wells, 20, of Springfield, how he's managed to build his brand and come to dress celebrities just two years after graduating from Sabis International Charter School, and he'll tell you that careers, like fashion, are all about "making your own path" to the runway.

"For six months after graduation I would just sit in front of a computer [at home in Springfield] learning about the business and calling managers trying to generate 20 contacts every day because everybody in the industry is connected," Wells recalled. "With email and the Internet you can do anything and find anyone. It's all about using your resources ... last year I only got one invitation to Fashion Week and this year I got 22 invites."

Wells said he refused to let his geographic location impair his dream of becoming a stylist in a major market.

"I'd be closing at H&M [the night before] and getting up at 6 a.m. for a train at 7 a.m., making $8.50 an hour. By the time I got to New York, I'd have 10 bucks for Starbucks coffee and that's it. Everybody starting out has to do that," he continued.

Wells now earns a whopping $150 per hour to style celebrities such as Karina Smirnoff of ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," among others. His New Year's look earned Smirnoff a best-dressed nod in People Magazine.

"I've definitely matured a lot in the past two years. I've been forced to because I'm going up against kids who have parents on Wall Street with thousands of dollars to spend," he said. "I need money 24-7 for everything that I do from pulling [fashions from major labels] to shipping them back to New York. The money goes quick. It's month to month and it's nerve-racking. Sometimes I'll do three pulls [of clothing from designers] with no money to ship them back."

In order to keep costs down, Wells borrows clothes and accessories from local boutiques or buys them at thrift stores and asks area cosmetology students or professionals to donation their time for photo shoots.

"It's about mixing high end with not so high end and having one statement piece [to make an outfit]," Wells explained of the ensembles he creates, noting that he mixes Christian Louboutin shoes with H&M clothing. "H&M is worn by celebrities. It's a worldwide brand and you can get great outfits there. High fashion is about combining what you don't think is correct such as a prom dress with combat boots. It's about creating a well-developed layered look so that you still have the full look once you remove one layer or another."

Despite his plans to move to New York City in June, Wells said he plans to keep true to his roots in Western Massachusetts. He'll debut his next seasonal looks here in April. His spring/summer show, which took place in Chicopee on Jan. 14, was a sold-out event. The April presentation will also be a fund-raiser for another Sabis student, Naim Mafuz, who suffered severe injury due to a car crash in 2010.

Wells is also hoping to find an intern from Western Massachusetts who can also help him with his latest offering: a $500 prom package for high school students, complete with outfit, accessories and fittings. Prospective interns, age 18 or older, don't need to have any experience in the industry or a degree in fashion. "They just need of have passion and want to learn and be available to invest in the brand," Wells said.

For more information about Wells or to apply for an internship, visit http://nolan-wells.com or email thenolanwells@gmail.com.