Meet Stacey Clark, a stylist for intimate gatherings, editorial shoots for magazines such as Hitched (now Hooray), Ancestry Quarterly andEspresso Tales, and is also the Perth representative for Kinfolk Magazine. She hosts events for the Portland based magazine twice a year along with up to 30 locations worldwide.
Getting to the other side of an event makes me beyond happy. Seeing the joy on peoples faces on the evening but also hearing the reviews makes me glad. I just love pulling together a beautiful table that encourages community.
Stacey and I met last fall thanks to Instagram and quickly found out she’d be in town over the Thanksgiving holiday. We knew it was a great opportunity to collaborate and so we did! You can see the full post here, published earlier this week where we make the most insane flour-less chocolate cake you’ve ever tasted.
Stacey styled beautifully and effortlessly alongside Eva Kosmas Flores and it turned out to be such a lovely day. I still wish Stacey wasn’t so far off, as it would be lovely to continue to collaborate with her! She’s so fun to be around and is genuinely good at what she does. I hope you enjoy this interview and hear more about what she’s up to in Australia and with the Kinfolk Team.
I believe in simple yet beautiful dining experiences and the organic conversation and connection that stems from them.
You can find Stacey on Instagram, Twitter & the web .
What inspired you to start Stacey Clark Stylist as a business venture?
My desire to return to the work force after being a stay at home mum for ten years, but also wanting to work in the creative industry.
If you could go anywhere in the world and explore one creative “avenue” in that culture, where would it be and why?
I’d like to explore styling more in the States. It seems to be a lot more common in the US than in Australia. We are still trying to educate people on what stylists do and why they are important.
What aspects of styling makes your heart sing in ways realized through walking out your craft?
Getting to the other side of an event makes me beyond happy. Seeing the joy on peoples faces on the evening but also hearing the reviews makes me glad. I just love pulling together a beautiful table that encourages community.
Where do you see yourself going through creative directing and styling?
This year my business has begun focusing more on long table dinners in Perth and in Australia as a whole. We’ve also started to approach the corporate world and bring people back around the table rather that to the golf greens and bars.
What do you look to create and capture through creative directing and styling for events, workshops and beyond?
For me it’s important to create a natural and welcoming event. There’s nothing worse than to attend a dinner or event where everything looks so polished that you don’t even want to sit down. Or where there are so many knives and forks that you don’t know where to start. Simple. Natural. Organic.
Tell us about the Kinfolk aspect of what you do
I am the Perth representative for Kinfolk Community Gatherings. On behalf of the magazine I host a number of events through out the year. These events too are designed to bring people back to the central point of the home, the kitchen table.
What do you find rewarding about being involved with the Kinfolk team and their global community gatherings?
It’s amazing how quickly it began feeling like a family. The number one desire for human beings is to feel like they fit in, to feel like they are a part of something. To find “their people”. I’ve found my people. It feels great!
Any words of wisdom for someone who is venturing into the world of styling and creative directing, looking to pursue their passion beyond having it as just a hobby?
Be true to your style. Don’t feel like you need to fit in to the current fad. Be relevant but be you. Also hustle. For a while there it will feel like you’re getting nowhere, making no money and wasting your time. But I assure you; it’s just around the corner. And when you get there, you’ll need to hustle again. Don’t. Stop.
We’d love to hear about some of your favorite friends who’s work you admire and why!
I’ve been so lucky to work with some really incredible people over the last few years. These are just a few of the people who inspire me.
Luisa is one of the most generous people you have ever met. This lady invented the word hustle. She is a superstar and an incredibly close friend.
Stefy is another stylist who is based over in Sydney. She is such a babe and real confidant of mine when it comes to work and this industry. She’s an ever talented stylist and has an incredible eye!
The queen of blooms! This lady will forever be my floral icon. There is never a “too big”. I see what she does and it inspires me to go big or go home!
For obvious reasons, Beth is undeniably the queen of food styling. She has an incredible eye for everything styling and we have similar aesthetics, which is what drew me to her work in the first place!
This girl is amazing with yarn and needles. Her products are divine and her aesthetic is beautiful. Her work is truly inspirational.
