Meet Haili Pue | Celebrity Fashion Stylist

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

Hi Haili, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I majored in journalism and was hired in fashion journalism after college; syndicating my column to magazine and editorial print. I was styling models and doing my own photography for my editorial features. After publishing my column people started requesting me to style them and to reconceptualize their closets and wardrobes. That was in 2007 and I’m still doing what I love. It wasn’t so much as a thought process behind starting it as a business, it just occurred naturally to me. When I was little I would envision what people should be wearing and give them makeovers in my head; I always saw people at what I thought was their best.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me apart from others? What am I most proud of or excited about?
As a stylist I love to consider new up and coming designers and since I have started styling I always find designers before they make it big – I always know who’s going to be next – it’s just a knack I have, I guess it’s intuition. Most stylists go for designers on Rodeo – I really love to dig and I love to attend various fashion weeks, find new shops when I travel – and give new up and coming designers the spotlight that is much deserved. I love giving new or unknown designers a voice and combining it with high end. If you look at my instagram and scroll bag a lot of the designers I used 10 years ago are now household names. It was always my dream to be a fashion editor at Vogue that my talent for finding new and up and coming would serve me for a career like Vogue – but I do love styling and am in somewhat of the same realm and love the career I’ve ended up in here in Los Angeles. I get to be creative everyday and do what I love. I’m most excited about seeing what’s next in my career and what clients I’ll eventually end up styling. You never know what tomorrow will bring; it’s exciting to think about. A proud moment in my career was getting to style Nicola Adams to receive her OBE at Buckingham Palace. I had the opportunity to work with the Victoria Beckham team at the flagship store in London. It was 3AM during our meeting since I was in the US – I was styling Nicola virtually while secretly breastfeeding my newborn son and got the job done for her to receive her OBE from the Prince of Wales.

Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way?
I have always loved being a stylist but there is much more than talent that goes into it; you have to have grit and you have to accept that it is a roller coaster of a ride full of ups and downs in the industry in Los Angeles. It was not easy for me and full of sacrifices. As a single mother I always have to find a good balance between work and family – in which family, my son, always comes first for me. I put 110% into my work, and I also put 110% into time with my son. I have to be clear about boundaries in the industry in the industry and love people to respect my time but clients and my job also have my full-focus when I am on a project. I have become more respectful to myself and my own personal life, and I also know when to give 110% to my job; I have learned to protect my space and know when I need to push myself for work.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I have overcome so many obstacles to reach this point in my life. My message to anyone following your dreams – it’s not always an easy ride. I want people to recognize both the love and the passion I have for my work – and I hope it is evident throughout the projects and clients that I style. I hope that people recognize my potential because although I’ve given it my all – I don’t feel like I have reached my fullest potential and the highlight of my career (yet). I feel like I have so many interests to tap into within fashion that I can accomplish – I hope that people follow along on my story because I feel like it’s just starting. And if you’re a single mother – I want you to know that you can do it! You can both accomplish your dreams and be a great Mother – and if anything I hope that others take inspiration from that.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would start at one of my favorite breakfast spots; the Fountain Room at Beverly Hills Hotel or over at a little hole in the wall breakfast spot close to where I live – it is nothing fancy but it is the best breakfast. I would also take them to a candlelight concert during their trip. Of course the beach is a must – I love all of the shops, wine tasting rooms, and restaurants in Malibu. It is so beautiful at Sunset. Musso and Frank is a must – I love that their grill is the original grill they’ve had in there for decades so it brings an amazing flavor to the steak – it is one of my favorite steaks to eat. I would take my guest to Griffith Observatory to walk along the trails and to grab a coffee or matcha along the trail, end at the observatory to view the stars through the telescope at the top – which is a great way to end the hike. When my friends and family visit a styling trip to style them and shop with them is always a must and I always have one day to do a shopping trip with friends or family visiting; everyone always loves doing that with me – so I guess it’s obligatory to include it. I always take guest to Tam O’Shanter; I love the Disney history behind the tavern of the tavern inspiring Snow White’s cottage, Walt Disney’s table with his sketches on the table where him and his imagineers would work on Disneyland during their visits to the tavern. I just love the ambiance of it and the Scottish flare to the tavern – it’s a cool spot. It’s right by Griffith Observatory – so I could actually wrap the day at the telescope after the tavern. I also love the margaritas and mocktails served in the donkey glasses at The Hideaway off of Rodeo – it’s not a normal Texas fajita plate but their fajitas are amazing. I am originally from Texas so of course I have to include steak and fajitas into the mix. Huntington Gardens is so stunning and all of my guests always love to visit. If we have time we grab tea at the Rose Garden Tea Room, the afternoon tea and their food is lovely. Speaking of tea I love Sunday tea at Ye Old King’s Head in Santa Monica they have a proper tea that they serve and I love their breakfast. It just depends on who is visiting but these are typically the spots that I would recommend. There are so many shops to visit that I love supporting here but for those visiting Los Angeles could book a styling or shopping tour with me; I have a page full of my favorite shops that I love.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
What was your thought process behind starting your own business?

I majored in journalism and started in fashion journalism syndicating my column to magazine and editorial print. I was styling models and doing my own photography for my editorial features and after that everyone started requesting me to style them and to organize their closets. That was in 2007 and I’m still doing what I love; It wasn’t so much as a thought process behind it but just occurred naturally to me. When I was little I would envision what people should be wearing and give them makeovers in my head; I always saw people at what I thought was their best.

What’s one thing about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?

Even with talent and creativity here in Los Angeles there is a system to becoming a top stylist; I’ve been at it for 17 years as a stylist and am still climbing uphill. Not always in Los Angeles – also working in the UK, Australia, and Italy – this is my second time giving Los Angeles a go and it’s always a hard market to break into.

Another aspect that outsiders do not realize is that the looks I choose aren’t always set looks – I’m pulling together various pieces of clothing – 4 racks worth of clothing and two racks of shoes just to put together one final look. My job looks glam but weeks of work goes into that one look that you see me style for a red carpet. The final look may not be the initial look I intended for my client.

Risk taking: how do you think about risk, what role has taking risks played in your life/career?

I started in the Australian industry after graduating university, then also worked in the fashion industry in London. I decided to move back to Texas (where I’m originally from) deciphering if Los Angeles or New York was the right move for me. I took a risk starting in an entirely new market in Los Angeles four years ago and starting completely fresh from scratch not knowing anyone. I am a single mother as well so this was a huge move for us. It was risky and I’m still wondering if it was the right decision but I put 110% into my career and still stand by my decision to be here in the industry. I have gotten to work with some really incredible clients, and am proud of the work I’ve done thus far.

Other than deciding to work for yourself, what was the single most important decision you made that contributed to your success?

I would say I am successful in taking risks for what I believe in which is my work and my worth; but I am not known as a stylist in the industry yet. I would say I’m successful in creating this career for myself in Los Angeles but it’s still an uphill climb for success as a stylist.

What is the most important factor behind your success / the success of your brand?

Believing in myself, also the belief from my clients that pushes me to do better, and the support of my family.

What’s the most difficult decision you’ve ever had to make?

Completely starting over in Los Angeles and not having a strong support system here – due to not knowing anyone. I have a strong support system from family and friends back home but starting over anew in a completely new market – same job (I’m still a stylist) but staying over in a fresh market calls for new connections, new networking. Moving here during COVID prohibited me from networking at all, and limited time on set, limited interactions – it was an interesting time finding a home and networking for my career, while finding a school for my little one who at the time was just starting kindergarten. It was difficult leaving family again after moving back from overseas. But it was the best move for my career.

Work life balance: how has your balance changed over time? How do you think about the balance?

Work life balance changed drastically after leaving Australia. Australians put family and their lives first and I love that – here in the US we put work first and your personal life and family comes last; but not for me. Family comes first – always.

Do you have a favorite quote or Do you have a favorite quote or affirmation? What does it mean to you / what do you like about it?

“Aim small, miss small.”
It means always aim for exactly what you want and you’ll never miss.

Why did you pursue an artistic or creative career?

Creativity has always come easily to me. And I thrive in creative-lead environments.

What do you want your legacy to be?
What do you want people to remember about vou?

I want people to remember how I made them feel when I dressed them – and I want that to be special. Because each person is special and I navigate looks to showcase that; to showcase their own personal voice. I love for the looks that I style to exude confidence and bring out that confidence within my clients. I want to be known for keeping my finger on the pulse of fashion and making people feel special when they wear an outfit I have put together. But also I want viewers that see my outfits that I have styled to take inspiration from it for their own wardrobes. I really love to navigate fashion and really want to lead in fashion and I want people to pay attention to it and take something from it. People can always come back to specific moments in fashion and put their own certain spin on it. But I want to be known in encompassing feelings through fashion, and I hope I will be remembered that way.

So is there a person, group, organization, book, etc that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Most people know that I love animals and animal shelters – I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to all animal shelters. My hope is that one day the US will be a no EU city here in Los Angeles and hope that other cities follow suit. and to make it illegal to EU healthy dogs or animals in the shelter system. I would like to urge others looking for an animal to go look at your local animal shelter. If you are not in a spot to adopt or foster an animal you can always volunteer at your shelter. In Los Angeles we have a reading program where you can go and read to an animal in the shelter; it is the most calming experience and the animal appreciates the company and the reading. There are also programs where you can take a dog out for the day to get them out of the stressful confines of the shelter – take them on a hike, to the beach, or simply to a cafe to eat with you – the shelter typically puts the dog in an “adopt me” vest and you may find them their forever home while you’re out for the day with the dog. It’s a really exciting and fun experience for those that love animals. I’d like to shout out to the animal shelters of Los Angeles that are currently overcrowded and in great need of volunteers.

Website: https://allzedetails.com

Instagram: @allzedetails

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haili-pue-58198454

Facebook: https://facebook.com/allzedetails

Other: TikTok @allzedetails

Image Credits
All image credits go to Aarron Hans @aaronhanz.photography