In the first article in our new series “Who’s Who in L.A.”, we look at the journey of Memphis native and celebrity stylist, Devin Ford.
Home to Hollywood and Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles has always been the city of glitz, glamor, and big dreams. Celebrities can be seen eating at local restaurants and shopping at boutiques, palm tree lined streets and beautiful sunsets make you feel like you’re in paradise, and people migrate to the West Coast from all over the world to try and make their dreams come true.
I recently made my first trip to L.A. for the Critics Choice Awards and got to see what all the hype was about for myself. I saw the beautiful yet gritty Venice Beach, the legendary Hollywood Boulevard, and of course, Rodeo Drive.
Home to some of the biggest brands in the world, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Burberry, Rodeo Drive is a symbol of the opulence and aspirational lifestyle of Los Angeles, and I fell in love. Contrary to what many might believe, Rodeo Drive wasn’t full of snobby salespeople who turn up their noses at the common folk and make assumptions about what they can afford. Truth be told, I got friendlier service on Rodeo Drive than at any shopping mall or district I’ve ever been to.
That’s when we met Devin Ford―a finely dressed man working at one of the boutiques. But behind the fine threads is a celebrity stylist whose client list reads like a laundry list of some of the biggest names in entertainment, including cast members from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Beyoncé, Jay Z, Rihanna, Tems, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Future, Doja Cat, SZA, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma, Odell Beckham Jr., and recent Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce.
His road to Rodeo Drive stylist was a long one, covering many cities and states.
Ford was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, one of the music capitals of the United States, where his family were friends with Dennis Graham, father of the one and only 6 God, Drake. He then spent his adult years in New York City where he was able to attend some of the city’s premiere events, including the Met Gala and New York Fashion Week. But for Ford, it was his time in Atlanta, where he studied English/Humanities at Morehouse College before moving on to Law, that set him on his current career path.
“New York is truly ‘the concrete jungle where dreams are made of’ but can also be distracting and a struggle for some. But I still occasionally crave a slice of $2 pepperoni pizza, a bacon egg and cheese from the bodega, or a $3 fried rice”, he told SHIFTER. “But those college years in Atlanta were the most influential to the development of my career.”
After living in the South and on the East Coast, his journey would finally bring him to the West Coast in 2016. The move, which would prove to be one of his toughest moments, wasn’t all glitz and glamor.
“If I’m being honest, this was really when I tapped into my faith and stepped out on it. I took an opportunity with Saks 5th Ave in Beverly Hills. Prior, I was between Atlanta and New York. And at the time neither place seemed to make sense. The job markets I was looking in were not as progressive as they are now (somewhat), and L.A. just felt like a fresh start. A friend at the time was here and opened their sofa to me. As we know that doesn’t last long.”
He pounded the pavement and tapped all the resources he had, eventually finding his footing in Beverly Hills.
“The Beverly Hills market at that time was the upper echelon of fashion. So no matter what your role was in retail, you had to come with it. This was also the time for me to really flex those muscles of connecting and acquiring celebrity clients.”
He started at Saks 5th Ave before moving on to help start the new Gucci store in Orange County. It was around this time, when Alessandro Michele took over as the new Creative Director for Gucci, that he began working with athletes who often find it hard to find clothes in their sizes. Fortunately, Ford was up to the challenge. With these athletes now feeling seen after finding clothing in their size, that opened a door of referrals.
After a two-year stint at Louis Vuitton, which included the passing of one of his mentors, Virgil Abloh, he took a break from fashion before bringing his $2 million client book to Burberry one year ago.
The seed that would become his love for fashion was sown at home in the South from an early age, both at church and at home with his family.
“My mom and grandparents always kept me dressed…Being in the south, church was in us all. Seeing the pastors in their fly suits with loafers. And how they coordinated it with a necktie. Seeing the ladies of the church with their fancy hats, dresses and suits. Fashion was always around me. But I give credit to both my maternal grandmother and grandfather. My grandma was the original ‘it Girl’. Always so poised and statuesque. She took pride in her appearance. Always dressed in her best. A self -taught seamstress, she would make her own clothes along with my mom, aunt and uncle. She could literally take a piece of fabric and turn it into a couture gown for her to wear for Christmas dinner…My Grandad is a “‘man’s man’, hardworking and stern. But when it came to a suit, tux, and the finest shoes, he was that guy! A trait I have definitely inherited from him.”
For Devin, his favorite part of his job is the joy of seeing his looks on TV, print and social media and the close relationships he’s been able to build along the way.
“Seeing my work on TV and media is very rewarding. That’s something I am now growing to accept. I used to feel shy about it, especially when my clients would shout me out. I can’t tell you how many times, since working in L.A. for various brands, have I had new clients walk into the stores with a photo of my celebs, wearing looks I’ve curated, then demanding the exact look. But I remain humble and forever grateful for the opportunities my clients have afforded me.”
So what’s in the future for the ambitious celebrity stylist? Well, if he had it his way he would eventually pivot from the showroom floor and follow in the footsteps of the likes of Virgil Abloh, Olivier Rousteing, Dapper Dan and most recently Pharrell Williams, in lending his eye and aesthetic to a major fashion house.
“I have been blessed to work with some of the biggest names in the world; traveled around the globe and sat with some really astonishing people. As crazy as it sounds, I never really saw myself as a ‘stylist’ but more of an image consultant, the jack of all trades. For me, it goes beyond the clothes. We are talking about press interviews, marketing campaigns and brand development. The looks are an important part but there’s so much more that can be tapped into…Ideally, I see myself as Creative Director of a French fashion house, bringing elements of street wear, couture, hip hop and everyday luxury into one cosmic experience. Fashion should be fun, and consumers are always looking for something new and unique.”
Kevin Bourne is SHIFTER’s Toronto-based editor and Senior Entertainment Reporter focusing on Black music and film & TV. He was named one of 310 international voters for the 81st Golden Globe Awards by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and a Tomatometer-Approved Critic by Rotten Tomatoes.
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