Many individuals aspire to achieve their dreams in their respective fields. However, things don’t go as planned, and many are forced to choose a different career from their dreams if they fail or are under family pressure. An established fashion stylist Ananya Mitra has overcome many challenges to reach where she is now.
However, if you desire to achieve something, and your willpower is solid, you can certainly achieve it. She believes in this and has established herself in the fashion industry at a very young age.
A makeup and fashion stylist, a groomer, and a beauty & lifestyle blogger by profession, Ananya Mitra is in conversation with Icytales. Check how she stood against the obstacles to succeed at a young age.
Q) Which current trends would you incorporate in your clothing selection?
Ananya Mitra – Firstly, I would like to incorporate hoodies under blazers. Secondly, there will be bohemian floral prints as those are very much into trends right now. The prime reason behind my liking for Bohemian print is that it is made in India. Anything made in India, which is my country, attracts me. I prefer them the most. Also, I love color blocking and matching up prints.
Q) What is the best thing about being a fashion stylist?
Ananya Mitra – I get to experience a lot of new fashions related things and to meet different types of people in this industry. Also, I get to explore a new trend, new fashion, every day by seeing other creators around me and people creating more fashion trends. And I feel like anything you like or want to bring into the industry is fashion.
Q) What is your Styling Philosophy?
Ananya Mitra – I love fashion, and anything trending comes to my fashion philosophy. But I like a bit on the simpler side when it comes to my styling. I would pair up some nude color clothes, or I would go with a hoodie and jeans, which is what style is for me.
But coming to the styling philosophy part, I would say that do experiment trying out various new things, create on your own, but don’t follow anyone. It varies from person to person. If someone is doing something, you don’t need to do that; if you think that you can pull it off clearly or if you are wearing something and if you think that you are feeling confident, then that is your way of styling your uniqueness. If you feel comfortable in your style and love it, it becomes your styling philosophy.
Q) What is the most challenging thing you have faced as a makeup artist?
Ananya Mitra – It is dealing with clients and explaining to them about the budget thing. People ask why I charge this much, what is there in my products, and all. So I have to explain everything, and my explanation has to be different from others, so people choose me. So convincing clients is the most challenging thing I have ever faced.
Q) Which topics do you generally cover in your lifestyle blog?
Ananya Mitra – I do cover fashion styling, makeup tutorials, skincare videos, advertising different types of products that are in the market, creating awareness about the products that people aren’t aware of, or they might not know about a good brand that is in the market and but not so hyped. Also, I do food blogging product photography, and I am also into tech, so I review technical products. I have collaborated with Boat, Titan, Timex and reviewed their headphones, smartwatches, etc.
Q) Who would you say as your number one fashion inspiration?
Ananya Mitra – It might sound weird. But once upon a time, when people used to criticize my fashion sense and the things I used to do with which I felt confident, people tried to break them. Those criticisms became an inspiration to me. Nowadays, when those people come to me asking for solutions, skincare problems, product suggestions, and fashion tips, I remember them, who eventually inspired me through their criticisms to take me where I am today.
Q) What was the greatest failure, and what did you learn from that in your journey so far?
Ananya Mitra – My greatest failure was when COVID19 arrived. Before that, I was at my peak, as I was working daily, I was earning a lot, but when the pandemic entered, everything suddenly stopped. We stopped working, and there was no brand approach. That was a dreadful stage for me in my life. Then I realized how difficult it is to go from this situation and saw other people working.
The pandemic affected other industries too, but still, many of them were continuing their work, but I couldn’t do much of it. I was very excited and over-confident in my initial days of work, but the sudden blow made me understand that whatever you do, do it with passion but don’t get over-excited. I learned that whatever you do, don’t be over-confident.
When the first unlock happened after the first wave of COVID, I started reaching out to many brands before, which I never did. Earlier, brands reached out to me, which primarily made me over-confident, as I didn’t need to go anywhere; people were coming to me. And when that confidence broke, I started pitching brands with my idea of promotion and blogging.
I talked to them more, met them, convinced them, showed them my social media profiles, and many more. So doing these, things got back on track again after a while.
Q) How do you describe your style?
Ananya Mitra – As I said before, I always like to keep it simple. I don’t particularly appreciate over-emphasizing everything on my face; instead, I like to highlight any one thing on my face that will pop the whole outfit. Like if I am wearing a white dress, I would just put on some gold earrings that might pop in my whole attire. Otherwise, I will go with bold red lips if I am not doing much makeup, which becomes a statement.
Q) What is the greatest satisfaction of being a fashion stylist?
Ananya Mitra – The greatest satisfaction for me is seeing people who criticized my fashion sense once upon a time, coming back to me again for fashion tricks and asking for various fashion helps. And exploring new fashion-related things like new fashion sense and various trends is a great satisfaction to me.
Q) A fashion rule that you never want to break?
Ananya Mitra – My take on that would never stop experimenting with something you love. Never stop experimenting with things that you love. Suppose I will mix and match two dresses and create a style, and then I am backing up thinking that people will criticize it. Never back up, as whatever you do, whatever you wear, people will always be there to criticize you, no matter how far you go or how successful you are. It is certainly not about people, and it is about you.
Ananya Mitra believes that if you want to take fashion as your career and be permanent in this field, don’t just give up. Try convincing your parents in the right way, and they will surely understand. If you can take yourself to the next level in your career, they will be happier than you know it.
Also, she strongly affirms believing in yourself. If you believe that you can do something, you can certainly do it, no matter how many challenges come in your path.
Ananya Mitra is truly an inspiration for those unable to follow their dreams for various reasons. Believing in yourself is necessary, and no one can stop you if you do.
