We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sofia Daguano a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sofia, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
To develop confidence and self-esteem, the most important is believe in yourself and what are you capable of.
As a Fashion Stylist myself, start by continuously honing my skills through practice and research, staying updated on the latest fashion trends, and experimenting with different styles to find my unique voice and aesthetic. Build a strong portfolio that showcases my best work, and seek constructive feedback from mentors and peers in the industry.
It’s very important to don’t hesitate to step out of your comfort zone by taking on challenging projects. Embrace the individuality and trust in my gut – aka creative vision. Remind myself of my own achievements and progress regularly to reinforce my self-belief and confidence. As mush as I believe on my work, better the quality will be.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, I moved to Miami six years ago. My career as a fashion stylist began about nine years ago in Brazil, heavily influenced by my family, who are all in the fashion industry. I started by producing and editing looks for fashion campaigns and TV commercials. I continued my career in the U.S., working primarily in Miami and New York.
Moving to a new country as a freelancer was a significant change, essentially starting from scratch, which gave me the opportunity to study Fashion Merchandising, build new contacts, and introduce myself to the U.S. fashion industry. One of my biggest jobs so far has been styling for the Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos TV commercial. Being part of such a well-known company/brand is amazing; it allows me to bring ideas to life and visualize the characters and talent I dress for the commercial.
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?
Looking back, three qualities that were most impactful in my journey as a fashion stylist working on TV commercials and fashion campaigns were creativity, adaptability, and networking.
Creativity allowed me to bring fresh, unique ideas to every project, making each campaign stand out.
Adaptability was crucial in handling the fast-paced and ever-changing demands of the fashion industry, ensuring I could seamlessly transition between different styles and concepts. Also as a freelancer fashion stylist, every work is a different team, different location and different concept, and this is crucial to keep the quality and professionalism on every work.
Networking was essential in building relationships and securing opportunities within the industry. For those early in their journey, I advise continually seeking inspiration and pushing creative boundaries, staying flexible and open to new experiences, and actively building and nurturing professional connections through industry events and social media.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Not only is my partner that is a Fashion Photographer, but he also pushes me to become my best self, encouraging me to explore new avenues in my work, pay attention to the quality of my output, and collaborate effectively.
However, I can also say that I am instrumental in pushing myself to achieve my career goals. I believe that if I don’t push myself, no one else will, especially at certain points in my journey, and this self-motivation is crucial.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sofiadaguano.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sofdaguano/
- Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sofdaguano?_t=8n7XeqoyegI&_r=1
Image Credits
Juan Moreno Bianchi, Carlos Neto, Igor Melo, Yuri Vianna, Jessy O’Bario, Jenny Roura, Francis Suarez, Catarina Tourinho, Candice Huffine, Victoria Cooper, James Robert
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
