We had the good fortune of connecting with Lady Maximo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lady, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factors behind the success of my brand are my belief in myself and my optimistic outlook in life. I never let negative thoughts linger because I believe the universe matches your mindset. If you don’t believe in yourself and trust that your talents and skills are enough, then you are selling yourself short. Being able to recognize potential opportunities and pro-actively create them for myself is key as well.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am a fashion stylist/wardrobe consultant/personal shopper. I style commercial, lifestyle, and editorial fashion photoshoots for brands to use as ads, lookbooks, online and marketing content, etc. I also style fashion shows, provide wardrobe for music videos, commercials, and do style-makeovers and personal shopping for private clients. Some of my clients that I’m most proud of are www.drjays.com, Stubhub, K-Swiss, D’ussé Cognac, Blueshield California, Rich Brian of 88Rising, etc. It has not been an easy road. From coming here from the Philippines and China in 2009 and not really having much of a support-system in terms of family or friends, being a foreigner who didn’t exactly grow up knowing all things American, to being a broke student in LA, the road has in fact been filled with challenges and adversity. Yet it has also been blessed with opportunity, hope, and potential. By virtue of determination, sacrifice, and sheer passion, I was able to overcome these challenges and come out of it feeling accomplished and proud. Proud that by my hard work, humility, and the ability to recognize opportunities or create them for myself, I have built and grown my brand in just a few years. I’m also proud of the fact that an immigrant like me was able to navigate through this very tough industry and through life itself in a foreign country. I believe that what sets me apart is being able to read a client, empathize with who their identity is, understand what their needs are and then conceptualize a solution for them through visual storytelling whether it be through a photo, a video, or simply an outfit. That’s what I am, I am a storyteller. I also think that my extreme attention to detail is key. It’s a factor that separates an okay stylist from a next-level one. I’ve been called “Hawk Eyes” for my precision when it comes to catching details. Lastly, my international background has given me a broader range of experience, perspective, and creativity which has proven to be an advantage when it comes to creative direction and styling. I want the world to know that when they hire me, they are hiring an extension of themselves. I use my creativity, experience, and skills to help them express their vision in ways they have not even thought of. Put me on the team and I add beauty, edge, a cool factor, and that “it” thing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Assuming that my visiting friend probably already did the typical tourist destinations such as the San Diego beaches and La Jolla Cove and Balboa park, the places I would take them would be to Bluefoot bar in North Park for some drinks and dancing, Seven Grand for some amazing whiskey and couple of rounds of pool, The Friendly tavern for some flat top cheeseburgers, a thrift store hop to a few of my favorite thrift stores in City Heights and Chula Vista and maybe even the swap meet. Other favorites are happy hour spots like Fort Oak, Kindred, Uptown tavern, Border X Brewing, Small Bar and restaurants like Madison, Trust, Ironside, and Villa Manila which is a Filipino restaurant in National City where they lay out all the food on banana leaves on the table and everybody shares and eats with their fingers (boodle-style.)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There’s is no single person but a community of people who deserve a shoutout in the story of my life and career. My mom who has dedicated her life to her children, my dad who instilled passion and drive in me, my brother who has always inspired me, the FIDM institution for being the avenue through which I was fully able to explore and recognize my creativity, Kwa Nguyen (Founder of The Fresh Yard brand and my husband) who has supported my career in multiple ways, Pete Nguyen (Owner of Attachment LA) who has helped open up amazing opportunities for me, and all my friends and family who have been supportive of my journey.

Website: www.ladymaximo.com
Instagram: @ladymaximo
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ladymaximo
Facebook: @ladymaximostyle

Image Credits
Photography: @hello.mikee @shotbycaitlyn @graveyardzombie @nathanconcepcion @iamsantifox @duck85_ @lofirobot Makeup: @makeupbyflora