Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dayton “DAYTime” Page. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dayton “DAYTime”, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
When it comes to finding my purpose, I wouldn’t say that I went on a journey to find it, as I felt that it was something that was always innately a part of me since I was born. As I grew over time, my purpose in fashion was something that revealed itself slowly.
Since I can remember, fashion has always been a part of my life. When I was a little boy growing up in Detroit, I used to wrap blankets/sheets around my mom as if they were for my “new collection of couture gowns for my latest show at Paris Fashion Week” and make her model walk down the hallway in our house. She and other people would tell me that I was going to be the next Michael Kors, and that’s great, but I always wondered what it would be like if I was the next me. I could even remember when my mom got me my first sketch book for Christmas and how excited I was to create and design new pieces. I was even more excited at the fact that when my mom and I’s favorite show, Project Runway, would come on and the designers had to sketch their design before getting their fabrics from Mood, I too could feel a part of the experience of creating new pieces with them.
As I got older, I taught myself different things like fashion illustration, hand sewing, machine sewing, and even a few simple draping techniques. And in 2019, the release of the show Styling Hollywood on Netflix was when I discovered that even though fashion design was something that I loved, my purpose was fashion styling. Fashion stylist, Jason Bolden, and his interior design husband, Adair Curtis, worked together to create the empire JSN Studios, which styles looks and curates homes for some of our favorite celebrities. Through this show, I realized that it wasn’t the designer but the stylist who put people in the clothes that made them feel and look good!
From this moment on, I knew I wanted to be a fashion stylist, and I realized this journey in fashion was teaching me things. It taught me how to be myself, but it also taught me that my purpose in life is to use my talent for fashion to help other people feel confident and beautiful inside and out. My whole life, I have wanted nothing more than to be able to have a career in fashion and fully embrace it as it is something that I can’t go a day without thinking about. My whole life, I have found myself using fashion to help me through hard moments or obstacles. My whole life, I have craved the desire to be able to share my creation with the world and inspire change in the world, too.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m currently a fashion marketing and management student with a minor in fashion journalism at the illustrious Savannah College of Arts and Design (SCAD), but more than anything, I’m a fashion stylist with a clear vision.
I would say the most exciting part about being a fashion stylist is working with people. Before I fully committed myself to my fashion journey, I experimented with a different career option which was nursing. And while I realized that this was not the journey I was destined to do, I realized that there were paralleles in both fashion styling and nursing. Both play a major role in helping people to feel good on the inside and out. As a fashion stylist, I collaborate with people to help them find more than just a sense of style but ultimately a sense of self. I set out to make people feel better and I give people an armor of confidence that will not only protect, uplift, and give them a sense of purpose, but also a realization of how truly impactful clothing can be.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Work Ethic.
Styling looks glamorous on the outside, but behind every beautiful final shot is a mess of garments and accessories, long nights, and problem-solving under pressure. While I am still early in my career I have learned that talent means nothing if you’re not willing to show up, stay late, and carry the weight even when you are not supposed to. My work ethic is what gets me not only noticed but invited back and it’s what built my reputation so far when no one knew my name yet. My advice for those just starting out, please please please do the work when no one’s watching. Say yes to learning. Show up not just on time, but ready to do anything. That consistency builds trust, and trust is key in this industry.
Compassion.
What people wear is so deeply personal and it’s often tied to identity, self-worth, even confidence. So when it comes to fashion styling, I don’t take that lightly. Whether I’m styling a model with experience or a client who’s never previously been interested or focused on fashion, I always lead with compassion and care. I want people to feel seen, heard, and confident in the clothes they wear. Styling, for me, is about helping people step into their fullest and my undiscovered, authentic self. My advice for those starting out would be to remember that fashion is all about people. If you care more about the clothes than the person wearing them, you’re missing the point of everything that fashion stands for. Lead with heart and compassion, and your work will always stand apart.
Integrity.
The fashion industry is full of noise, whether that be comparison, people not giving you credit for your work, or pressure to compromise your values just to get ahead. I’ve had to learn the hard way how to hold my ground, protect my vision, and ultimately move with integrity even when it’s hard. But I don’t just want to be known for my styling, but I want to be known and respected for how I carry myself as well as how I treat the people I work with. My advice for those starting out, protect your name. Its ok to not chase every opportunity, but definitely to align with the ones that align with you truly. The right people will respect and admire you for sticking to your values, and the wrong ones? You don’t want those people around anyway.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
When it comes to my ideal client, it’s anyone. I believe style is for everyone, not just celebrities or fashion insiders, but students, parents, creatives, professionals, people rediscovering themselves, and people who’ve never felt seen in their clothes before. If you’re a person, that means you have a story to tell. I want to help you tell it through style. No matter what a person’s position is on fashion, my goal is to change their perspective and unlock the person in them that has yet to be discovered through clothing. Whether you’re bold and experimental or quiet and classic, I meet you where you are and help elevate you to where you want to go. What matters most to me isn’t your background or budget—it’s your willingness to trust the process and let fashion be a tool of self-expression.
As for what’s next or anything new coming up—stay tuned. My styling work that I did in collaboration with a SCAD senior fashion design student was just featured on Vogue Runway for the SCAD 2025 Fashion Design Show, and I am so incredibly honored and grateful to have the opportunity. I also have some upcoming creative collaborations and styling projects that will push my aesthetic even further and make an impact within my community. I’m also beginning to build a digital portfolio that reflects the full spectrum of my work and perspective. At the end of the day, I don’t just style people—I remind them of who they have always been. This is just the beginning for me and so many others, so watch closely. As always, Love, Dayton “DAYTime” Page!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamdaytime?igsh=MWFvYWQ3eTZhbmU0dQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DAYTimeTV.
Image Credits
Image 1 & 2: Model: Dayton Page and Photographer: Sarah Ankney
Image 3: Model: Hope Shelnutt and Photographer: Dayton Page
Image 4: Photographer: Mandee Bertone
Image 5: BTS Styling Imagery
Image 6: Model: EDC and BTS Styling Imagery
Image 7: Model: Leilani Castillo and Photographer: Rumin Zdravchev
Image 8: Model: Leilani Castillo & Dayton Page and Photographer: Rumin Zdravchev
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