Meet Ashley Cherney | Wardrobe Stylist & Owner/Creative Director of TheRedCowgirl

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

Hi Ashley, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I grew up in a small town in the center of Wisconsin called Marshfield. I lived there through my senior year of high school and then went on to attend and graduate from The University of Wisconsin-Madison with my Bachelor’s of Science in Communications and Film. Growing up in Wisconsin I can only describe as slow paced with a lot of emphasis on nature. My early years consisted of camping all over Wisconsin in the summer and snowmobiling in the winter. I also started figure skating when I was 5 and continued to skate for 14 years into my freshman year of college. Figure skating for me was a great physical workout, but also helped me develop my personal creativity and social reach. Creativity through figure skating came in the forms of costuming, choreography, and acting, which really expanded my creative blanket of interest well beyond the sport. Always being in love with creating through figure skating as well as the overload of art classes I was fortunate enough to be offered throughout high school, I really was able to see my future beyond the boarders of Wisconsin. While attending UW-Madision I fell in love with the idea of moving to Los Angeles to pursue my career and can only be thankful for the years I spent in Wisconsin for shaping me into the young creative I am today. I believe that a slow paced environment where there was a large emphasis on helping others, creating a community, and being able to create within whatever you choose to pursue really gave me an amazing foundation to my outlook on community and my constant strive for creative pursuit today.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
While attending college I got an opportunity to try out wardrobe styling with one of my friends who is a photographer with models from a local modeling agency. After a few test shoots, I was approached by the owner of the modeling agency and she offered me a contract as a wardrobe stylist. From that point on I worked styling models for photoshoots through my agency and got some amazing opportunities to work on a national eyeglasses campaign as well as work in Chicago for a big-box retailer. I stayed with the agency for two and a half years, ending my contract when I decided to move to Los Angeles. At times it was difficult for me to balance being a full time college student and a professional wardrobe stylist, but I do admire my persistence to make my dreams happen while also attending school. Since moving to Los Angeles I have shifted my focus away from wardrobe styling for other people to focusing on my personal style and brand more heavily. I am excited to announce that in the coming weeks I will be dropping my first batch of necklaces and earrings with my jewelry line TheRedCowgirl. TheRedCowgirl (@theredcowgirl on Instagram) is an alter-ego character that I created last summer during quarantine and I have been consistently posting on Instagram for the character with a focus on portrait photography and personal style. The necklaces in my jewelry line will be made from vintage watches inspired by other creatives using the similar materials such as @bysweatypigeon on Instagram. I want the world to know that TheRedCowgirl is all about self expression and personal style, while also emphasizing the importance of using recycled materials in new ways to slow the trends of fast fashion. Throughout my new adventures creating a brand, I have learned that creating a new product takes much more time and planning, on top of creating the pieces, to be successful. What sets my brand apart from others is the strong emphasis on design, personal style, and uniqueness. I can’t wait to see how other people will be inspired by my pieces and how they will incorporate them into their everyday style!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The activity that would be first on my list to show someone visiting Los Angeles would be the Melrose Trading Post that is held every Sunday. Living in West Hollywood the trading post has in my opinion the best options for unique jewelry as well as curated vintage clothing and art. After the trading post, we of course would also have to check out the collection of Melrose curated thrift stores including Crossroads, Wasteland, and American Vintage. Another weekend activity that I would suggest would be driving to one of the many Malibu beaches. In my opinion Malibu has the best atmosphere and the beaches are much quieter compared to the ones nearer the city. At night I would definitely take my guest to an underground rave in downtown or a dance club like Los Globos. I am much more of a home cook than a restaurant frequenter, but if I had to take someone out I would definitely choose WeHo Bistro for their brunch.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my parents: Ricky and Teresa Cherney. My parents are the hardest working and most genuine people I have ever met. Both of my parents go out of their ways consistently to support me, but on top of that they make such an amazing effort to reach out to others and expand their community at any chance they get. The energy my parents have put into their community as well as into the world will always inspire me to continue to grow and be the best version of myself that I possibly can each and every day.

Website: www.ashleycherney.com

Instagram: @ashleyperforms & @theredcowgirl

Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/ashley-cherney