Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to LaRae Wilson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi LaRae, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I have always been an over-achiever. In grade school I had to be the first one done with my assignment and I needed it to be an A+. It is just in me. I actually had my first job at 10 years old. A distant relative owned a bed and breakfast and I made the beds, polished the silverware and baked muffins. It was hard work, but the reward of of buying what I wanted at 10 years old, set me on my path.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am building, what I had started.
I am building a legacy for my family of art and culture. The final destination is still unknown, but the journey is where the beauty and artistry is. My first career was in the education industry. I did everything from teaching students, training principals to building schools and supporting over 100 schools as an education specialist to a FASHION DESIGNER over 15 years ago.
I found myself very successful but depressed everyday going to work. I knew there was more to my life, I prayed.
I asked, “Where my life was going and why I was dreading my daily grind?” I listened for a response, immediately I had visions of a clothing line. However, I didn’t sew or have a sewing machine at the time, so that was just a little unsettling.
I bought a sewing machine from Wal-Mart and spent many nights on YOUTUBE learning to sew.
I had a friend who was a photographer, he introduced me to a few designer who were going to be in a fashion show, and I should show my stuff. I was hesitant to say the least. But I followed, God this far don’t stop now. So I showed my line “Bipolar Gear”, it was a young street wear line. It was well received, and everything changed from there. I produced a ready to wear line that got noticed during LA Fashion Week. My designs were showcased on GOOD DAY LA and LA TIMES, I won a reality competition fashion show, (sadly it never aired) and was featured designer on runways across the US.
It wasn’t that simple, but it kinda was that simple. I had success with fashion, but later made the leap into Costume Design. I had another scary life changing fork in the road. I had several people telling me to stay in fashion and just keep moving forward in that direction. But, I was feeling led to move another direction.
I costumed a small short, “Awful Pretty” for $250. It was a WILD experience, I designed a couple custom gowns, we had bloody scenes and a child actress actually vomited on me. I WAS IN MY HEAVEN!!! The pace is insane on a movie set, but my problem solving, sewing and creativity skills are right at home on set. I have been the Costume Designer on over 50 projects, including international projects in Lima, Peru. I fell in love with the movie industry so much that during the Covid-19 Pandemic I wrote and produced a feature film, “Social Disturbance” a psychological thriller. It was a labor of love from me and the entire team. We released “Social Disturbance”, the fall of 2021. The art and business are ever changing and growing, and I thank God for that!!
I went on to write, direct and produce my passion project “FIRE” the series, with most of the team from, “Social Disturbance”. “FIRE” is set to be released winter 2023. I have a few projects in development and I look forward to bringing those projects to life.
With all that going on I have a podcast with another costume designer Trina Brown, “Designed with Soul”, where we breakdown costumes in your favorite movies and I still costume for TV & Film.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three qualities I have developed that have aided me in my journey are: resilience, humility and confidence.
The film industry is not made for people who break easy, I mean that! The hours are long the work is hard and you may get not always feel supported. I have had to become my own support and I have made it a point provide that support to others at work. I decided I wasn’t going to break so I thrived.
I let my work talk for me and my reputation. I am very confident in my talent of being able to create anything and bring stories and characters to life. However, I don’t let my ego get out of control.
I would advice anyone on this path, to practice their skill, so they can become confident in that and don’t need to lean on anything else. I would also advice them to do a couple student films, learn what other people do on set. I have found that people love to share what’s important to them with others.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
Who Moved My Cheese? is still one of my favorite books.
The message is that life won’t always give you what you want when you want it; sometimes things change unexpectedly. But if we can find ways to adapt and overcome our fears, then good things will come around again for us.
Contact Info:
- Website: laraewilson.com
- Instagram: @laraemycheldesigns
- Youtube: @DesignedwithSoul-xn5jj
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6693172/
