Interview with Celebrity Stylist Lucas Armitage

Lucas Armitage is a London based stylist with a rising profile and a string of celebrity clients. He has previously worked with Made in Chelsea's gorgeous Lucy Watson and currently works with TV presenter Katie Piper but his main focus at the moment is working under Gemma Sheppard on this year's X-Factor. We caught up with Lucas ahead of this weekend's live shows to find out what goes on behind the scenes and to get his tips on dressing stylishly this party season, from standing naked in front of the mirror, shapewear and why an LBD will never let you down. I moved down to London four years ago to begin my styling adventure; it's flown by so quickly but has been very fun and rewarding! I moved here with no job or experience but I love my job everyday so it was worth taking the risk! I'm based in North London and work mostly from home, so I'm lucky to have a lot of freedom in the way that I work. I also have a dedicated fashion room where I keep all my styling bits and pieces and do fittings with clients. It was after studying a degree in Fashion Styling at the University of Salford that I got into the industry and although I really enjoyed uni, it doesn't quite prepare you for a career in styling as you have to intern and learn a lot of new skills as you go. I think the most important thing to do if you want to get into styling is to be open to learn and work hard for very little and network a lot. At the moment I'm lucky enough to be working with a mix of celebrity clients, brands and exciting TV projects. The X-Factor is such an exciting show to work on as it's very instant and you get an instant reaction from what's just appeared on stage from everyone, including people watching at home! Social media has changed the way we watch TV which is great as we all get to voice our opinion and have a dialogue, and whether good or bad, it's all a fun conversation that I enjoy being involved with. It's also great working for Gemma Sheppard who is an amazing Head Stylist to work under. I think fashion shoots are exciting as anything can happen and when your vision comes together exactly how you planned it's just the best feeling. Working with amazing photographers is great too, I'm lucky enough to work with Nicky Johnson who is a judge on Britain's Next Top Model. There's never a dull moment though, they say to steer clear of working with children or animals – I once had to do a studio shoot with a dog, I won't go into too much detail but let's just say we forgot to take him for his afternoon walk..! Not pleasant. I hate style rules and I think people are too constrained by thinking about what they should and shouldn't wear. That said, shoes for me are crucial in finishing off a look and I think too many people wear shoes that are the wrong size for them or don't suit them and their look. I'm pretty smart from day-to-day and I usually keep my look dressed down but tailored – for a Saturday night I love a classic white shirt and black tie combination with a black leather biker jacket thrown into the mix for a bit of a high-low edge. For inspiration I look to the red carpet but I also love how street style, Instagram and blogging have all opened up and become sources of inspiration for everyone. I think seeing what celebrities do is great but I personally love looking to bloggers because it's more real. I'm friends with a lot of bloggers and I think that what they do is just amazing. Talking about celebrities…I think Kendall Jenner always looks amazing! She is effortless but always so chic and understated – she wears clothes so well. I'd absolutely love to work with her! My ultimate piece of style advice is to keep things classic but give it a twist. The Little Black Dress Audrey Dress that was recently worn by Rosie Fortescue is a perfect example, it's classic but the feather trim adds a fun and unexpected twist. When party season hits it's glam all the way! For A/W I love simple lines and edgy, dynamic cut outs, the new season Little Black Dress Kim Dress is perfect to tap into this trend! But what's important is to find a dress that enhances what you have. Get amazing underwear, shaping underwear can be expensive but it's worth investing in as will last you for a long time – Little Black Dress has a great selection. Look in the mirror and look at your shape and think about what your best bits are and then go for dresses or looks that showcase them. Don't be afraid to try new styles and shapes, you can always send them back if they don't work for you. And if all else fails, an LBD will never let you down. Shop the new Little Black Dress party collection and follow Lucas on Instagram @lucasmarmitage to keep up-to-date with his latest work and enjoy behind-the-scenes images of what goes on in the X-Factor style cupboard...