Meet Dina Cerchione | Hollywood Stylist and Imagemaker

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

Hi Dina, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I would say being willing to just go for it even if that means failing, which for me isn’t an option which is why I think I’ve gone so far in my career lol! For instance, when I first got into my Hollywood styling career I was creating looks and styling 1- a few people at a time for TV shows. Whether it was a TV host, a celebrity guest, a musician or a panel of hosts. Then I was offered Deal or No Deal. I didn’t know how to do a show THAT big and there was no roadmap for a show like that, it had never been done before. Was I scared yes, did I do it anyway? Yes! Because for me, I knew it was going to get done, and if anyone was going to do it, I was. So I jumped in scared, figured it out, worked my butt off, go the right help and that show ended up being one of the most gratifying shows of my career.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have been a Hollywood Stylist for over 20 years working on shows like America’s Got Talent, Deal or No Deal, The Tonight Show, Dr Phil , Ricki Lake and a slew of others. One of the things I love most about what I do is the creative process of working with the talent and producers to create the right image not only for the show but for the talent. I’m a huge believer in if what you wear doesn’t feel like who you are or what you want to project, it will never work. Especially when you are going on TV in front of millions of people. You have to be grounded in your look so that it supports how you want to look and feel but you’re not thinking about it. Lot’s of times producers want one thing and talent wants another so it’s my job to find the balance that will make it work and make sure both sides are happy with the outcome. I love the variety that comes with what I do. Every show brings new challenges and new opportunities to do something different. For example one show I did was called Mobbed. It was a flash mob show and we go t one chance to get it right because it was based on a storyline of one person surprising another person with a flashmob. It was one long live take and there was a domino effect, if we didn’t make the change the dancers wouldn’t be in the right spot at the right time. We had all kinds of costume changes, showgirl dancers that had to turn into choreographed swimmers, rollerskating diner workers and a even dress that had to turn into a wedding dress in 30 seconds. It was again, something I had never done and a challenge for sure but not getting it right is never an option for me. If I take something on I’m all in no matter what it takes. It’s a mindset that if someone is envisioning this, someone can make it happen and that someone is gonna be me. There may be mistakes and “slightly offs” but there will never be a fail because that’s not an option in my world. I surround myself with a team that if I don’t know how to figure it out, someone from the team will. I work with the best in the business and the way I get to do that is to keep elevating and doing the things, it’s creativity for sure but it’s also a mindset. Even when I’m working with one person over a period of time as I have with Howie Mandel for 18 years, you have to keep evolving, looking forward and trying new things. Some will work, some will not but if you don’t try you will become stagnant and irrelevant. I believe that’s true for most creatives and one of the things that keeps us all moving forward, that striving for excellence and getting it right.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love the variety of options we have in LA but I’m a beach girl at heart so my trips will always involve taking people to Venice, Santa Monica, Laguna, Malibu…anywhere there is a beach! I also love taking people on a car drive around all to see all the very LA and Hollywood touristy things: Rodeo, Sunset Strip, the Hollywood walk of fame. We even know the perfect spot to grab a photo with the Hollywood sign in back of it, out of towners love it! Also like fun food places like Mama Por Dios on 3rd DTLA strolling around the Arts District for interesting shops and trendy spots for nibbles and a glass of wine, and always a bonus when there is a great band in town and I can take people to the Hollywood Bowl!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I want to thank my all of my team members through out the years – my assistants, tailors and skilled craftspeople who help make my visions a reality. Doing what I do is never just about me, it indeed takes a village! I also want to thank Stephen Brown who hired me for “Deal or No Deal” because he had only worked with me when I was styling 1 person, Donny Osmond for Pyramid back in the day. He said “Hey, I want you to do this with me”. He believed in me more than I did myself and not letting him down was reason enough for me to make it a success! And of course my mom and dad who have loved, supported and believed in me my entire life!

Website: www.dmcstyles.com

Instagram: @dmcstyles

Linkedin: Dina Cerchione

Twitter: dina cerchione / dmcstyles

Facebook: dina cerchione

Image Credits
@beccabautista photography did the 1st image of me behind the rack of clothes