Friday Fashion Flashback: An Interview with Misa Hylton (2005)
PUFF’S FIRST BABY MOMMA, STYLIST, DESIGNER AND CEO
She is the woman behind some of the biggest fashion trends in urban music of the last decade. Remember the “ghetto fabulous” look of combat boots and sports jerseys demonstrated in the early Mary J. days. That was her. What about the switch from the baggy, tomboy look to feminine, high-end designer styles on female rappers that Foxy Brown and Lil Kim trademarked. Guess what, she was the brainchild behind that too. And who can forget the famous cut-out catsuit with matching pasty sported by Lil Kim at the 2000 MTV VMA’s (you know, the one that got her felt up by Diana Ross). Well, she was the mastermind behind that outfit too. While to some people, Misa Hylton-Brim is known more for her former relationship with a certain Bad Boy, those in the know recognize her as the behind-the-scenes trend-setting force to be reckoned with that she is.
Named one of the most beautiful people in 2002 by Paper Magazine, Misa Hylton-Brim, has maintained a successful career, for over a decade, in a field where you are only as good as your last job. As owner of Chyna Doll Enterprises, the styling company Brim founded in 1994, 27 year-old Brim, who entered the business at the tender age of 17, is a success story inspiring to fashionistas and all sistas in general, everywhere. With a belief in the motto of letting your work speak for itself (in addition to networking and building business relationships) Brim’s creativity and talent is such that she’s attracted a clientele list that includes Missy Elliot, Q-Tip, Faith, Mary J. Blige, Foxy Brown, Lil Kim, and even Puffy himself, to name a few. In addition to the red carpet, TV, and commercials, the work of Brim and the stylists of Chyna Doll have been featured in the pages of Vogue, Vibe, Harper’s Bazaar, and Paper. Chyna Doll, which aside from fashion styling also provides services in artist development, personal shopping, and image consulting, was even awarded in 2002, the Image Make Award by the Power 10. Brim, herself, recently lent her ingenuity to Hollywood with the completion of her first stint as a costume designer in 2004’s “The Cookout”, starring Queen Latifah, Danny Glover, and Eve, among others. Her styling expertise has even landed her appearances on shows such as MTV’s House of Style, and as a guest host on E! Entertainment’s “Grammy Fashion Review” with Joan and Melissa Rivers. She also worked with the Bob Costas Show designing new NBA uniforms. In addition, she is the former-Fashion Editor of the Source Magazine and currently serves as creative director of Nelly’s clothing line Apple Bottom.
With the impending launch of a fashion line of her own, Madison Star (named after her daughter), and a boutique in the works, Misa Hylton Brim seems destined to leave an undeniable imprint on the fashion world at large for years to come. We recently caught up with this busy fashionista, who in addition to her other titles is also a happily married wife and mother of four, for a talk about her career and, of course, fashion.
Sole: How did you get into the styling business?
Misa: I started off as an intern at Def Jam when I was 17. I originally wanted to be a publicist. So I worked with Jodeci, and then got to style them. From there I got to work with Mary [J.Blige] and after that everything took off.
S: What determines whether a person has style?
M: Confidence, individuality, and creativity. There are so many different styles that are beautiful: Afro centric, conservative, etc. But when you see someone wearing something with confidence and showing his or her individuality and creativity, that person has style.
S: On your website you said that you like to work with people who inspire you. Who is someone that you haven’t worked with that fits that description?
M: I love Gwen Stefani’s style. I just admire her, and it’s all because I can appreciate her style. I wouldn’t necessarily work with her though, because, like they say, if it’s not broke don’t fix it.
S: Is there anyone else who you would like to work with that you haven’t?
M: The one person I would work with is Mariah Carey. I would completely revamp her.
S: What all would you do?
M: There is too much to list here (laughs). She needs life blown into her. [There is] so much talent and stuff to do there.
S: Out of all the clients you’ve worked with and styling jobs you’ve had, what or who has been your favorite job?
M: Well I’m proud of every opportunity I’ve done and I’ve been successful with every opportunity I’ve had. But if I had to choose, my favorites were Mary and Lil Kim. With Mary, that [look we created] changed what an R&B singer looked like. We came with the young and edgy [style]. Before that, [R&B singers] were all into gowns and stuff, which they’re kind of going back to now. With Lil Kim, and also Foxy Brown who I also worked with, we were able to see how to mix high-end [designer] names with hip-hop. We made it more girly with them and [in the process] changed what a female rapper looked like. [We] got the [hiphop] industry interested in fashion with them. Now everyone [in hip-hop] is into fashion, but once upon a time that wasn’t the case.
S: How did you make that shift from being a stylist to owning your own company and having other stylist working for you? Was that always a goal?
M: It was the next logical step. I’m a Capricorn, so I’m very business-minded. My company is my way of giving back to other stylists, in terms of my experience and my contacts. I had no role model [when I first got in this business], so I had to learn on my own. But I always had younger people coming up to me asking how to get into the business. At the end of the day it’s all about business. So I figured if I’m going to be a role model [for other stylists], I’m going to represent them.
S: How has your former relationship with Puff affected, if at all, your business life/deals?
M: It made it harder. People assumed that I was given a lot so I had to prove myself more. The good part though, was that he introduced me to the business and people, because he was already involved in the business.
S: What makes Chyna Doll different from other stylists and stylist companies out there?
M: Chyna Doll is a company with very hard-working and very creative people. We are very in tune to our clients and into being service-providers. We tap into what our client wants to represent and we make it happen. We also always set trends. We don’t intend to, but it always happens.
S: What advice do you have to any aspiring stylists out there?
M: The first thing I would say to do is do research. Get to know about the business you’re getting into and make sure it’s what you want to do. After that, work and intern. Learn the ropes and get the experience you need. From there you’ll see there’s a lot involved [in being a stylist] and you can decide if [being a stylist] is for you. It’s not just shopping, which a lot of people think. It’s very difficult. You’re always on call. You’re only as good as your last job. There isn’t a steady check waiting every two weeks.
S: What can you tell us about you upcoming clothing line, Madison Star?
M: I don’t want to give too much away because I want it to speak for itself when it comes out. But I will just say that it is representative of Chyna Doll.
S: After you’ve met all your initial goals (your clothing line is in the stores, your boutique is open, your team of stylists are working and successful) what’s next for you?
M: I would like to completely give back to the community and form a charity for teenage mothers. I was a teenage mother and I was still able to persevere and achieve and be successful even though I was in that situation. So I think I’d like to focus the rest of my life on just giving to charity.
