Meet Steffany Allen, style expert and fashion designer. Read on to learn why she became a stylist, the importance of almost exclusively working with plus-size clients, and how she moves past feelings of discouragement.
I’m originally from Cincinnati, OH—born and raised. Growing up, Cincinnati was very suburban and very middle class, so when I moved to New York, it was a culture shock. I went to a performing arts high school where I majored in vocal and instrumental music. I’ve been singing all my life, but fashion was really my draw. I learned how to sew very early on from my grandfather. I’d make clothes for school every day, just so I wouldn’t look like everyone else. Back then, everyone wore Polo and Izod—that just wasn’t me. I was wearing MC Hammer pants and making more pieces like that. My mom would ask me, “Why are you wearing a diaper?” I’d say, “This is fashion.”
Personal Style
I’m not the classic suit and skirt kind of person. I love a little edge. I’m obsessed with motorcycle jackets and anything that’s flowy. When it comes to shoes, I’ve never been a high heel person. I like to stand out in a way, just to be interesting. Sometimes when you don’t know what to say, your outward appearance can speak for you. When I lived in Ohio, I would wear more color, but everyone in New York who works in fashion wears black. That’s just what you do. Now, I’m starting to move away from that transition. There are days when I tone it down, but I always have on my jewelry. It’s like a neon sign that helps me stand out.
You don’t really see plus-size women in high-end editorials and stories—I want us all to see the fantasy.
Building a Business
I ended up going to school for fashion design in Atlanta, and then I moved to New York. My dream was to work for Donna Karan and become a fabulous designer, but that never happened. I decided to go to the Fashion Institute of Technology and study in their accessory program. I worked in retail at first, then my first design job was for a family friend. That was my first fashion internship—cutting fabric and that kind of thing. I did that for about two years, then I started at Manolo Blahnik in 1995. I was there for a long time, and I learned a lot about myself and about business. But jobs are kind of like relationships: you know when it’s time to end things. They ended up making the first move, so I felt liberated. My husband suggested that I begin a styling career, and though I’d heard about it, I hadn’t been in that part of the fashion world. I had been religiously watching “The Zoe Project,” and my husband said, “Why don’t you figure out how to do that, but for curvy girls like you?” So I decided to run with it.
I work with women of all sizes, but most of my personal clients have been plus-size women. I think that dressing women who look like me helps me seem more relatable to my clients. Like, “She looks like me, so she gets it.” It’s just a connection that I feel that I have with them because I live that life every single day. And a lot of women don’t feel comfortable, so when they see me walk in the door or see my picture on my website, they feel more comfortable and are a little more open to trying different things. My goal is to bring high fashion to the masses. You don’t really see plus-size women in high-end editorials and stories. I want us all to see the fantasy.
Elevated athleisure with a printed tote bag.
Stacked bracelets gives your outfit layers.
I want to get women to see themselves differently. My objective is to help them expand their points of view by trying something they wouldn’t normally try. I’ve had clients cry after I’ve styled them and say, “Oh my gosh. I look good.” And this is without hair and makeup—it’s just trying something on that really fits. That they feel beautiful and confident in. I had a client for the Grammys, and it was her first time in the limelight and on the red carpet. She sent me images of outfits she thought she would want to wear, and I said, “We’ve got to sparkle this up, girl.” She fell in love with absolutely everything that I found for her. It was kinda like a prom experience: to be in the spotlight, to fit in, to look the part, and be confident and comfortable. She felt like a winner.
A few years ago, I added another business to the mix: I returned to my design roots and started making my own maxi skirts. The skirts that were available in stores were never long enough for me—I like them to hit the floor, not stop above my ankles. A few people asked me about them and began ordering from me, so I eventually started SteffanyAllenLimited in the summer of 2017. Now I design maxi dresses, skirts, and sheath dresses, all custom-made to my clients’ measurements. (Steffany’s pictured below wearing one of her own designs.)
Diversity in Fashion
Diversity never felt like a problem at Manolo Blahnik, other than when I first interviewed. I could tell they didn’t expect me—I think I was the first black women they’d hired. However, across the company, there was a nice mixture of folks. But twice a year, they had a press sale for PR people, where you could get Manolos for around $100. When I went, I could sense people were thinking, “What is she doing here? Who’s that girl?” But then they would see me behind the table, taking their money and working for Manolo Blahnik. Now that I work on this side of the industry, I see how important it is to have diversity in fashion buyers and in marketing so that you can speak to and cater to a broader audience. So many are 5’10” and a size two—how is that person going to buy something for me?
Staying Positive
There are times when I’ve felt discouraged and I think, “I can’t do this anymore. Nobody’s calling.” Keep positivity around you in those moments. Find your sounding board—the person with whom you can communicate and express yourself. And don’t be afraid to cry. I’ve cried my lashes off so many times. You gotta just do it. And now, because there are so many more voices and brands representing the plus-size community, there are so many more offerings than there were in the past. It’s a little easier to sort of see yourself and prop yourself into all these different scenarios. And even though there are 16,000 plus-size fashion bloggers, or however many there are, no one is you but you. So your point of view is still gonna be different no matter what. Stay true to who you are, maintain integrity and professionalism 100%, and follow your own journey. You’re gonna bring what you have to the table.
Photos by Ken Robinson
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