Sierra Rena (@sierrarenas) is pioneering the wave of a new generation of stylists. The New York-based creative is challenging the boundaries of luxury and streetwear styling through patterns, colors and textures. The model, stylist and designer is making a name for herself, elevating apparel through emotions, with her work catching the eye of professional athlete Iman Shumpert, who wore a custom-made piece from her collection "SIERRASINVOUGE."
Meet Sierra Rena in our first-ever HBX Community Feature and shop all of her favorite pieces, now available at HBX.
What is your influence when it comes to your overall creative style?
I don't think I can label my style as one thing because I think I’m pretty versatile and I’m always playing with different genres of clothing. Plus, I love challenging myself to create different silhouettes depending on what I’m feeling that day but overall, I think I do get a good amount of inspiration from the early 2000s. I’m always wearing something oversized just because that’s what I feel most comfortable and myself in.
If you could describe your style in three words what would they be?
1 of 1.
What inspired you to become a stylist? Is there any specific memory you have of fashion that influenced your love for styling?
I strive to create a story when choosing my own outfits, and I really love being able to convey something more than just wearing clothes for a shoot. It’s like walking down the street and seeing someone in a fire outfit, I always wonder what they do, their thought process of coming up with the fit, and so on. The feeling of being able to really create an image through clothing is always so fascinating to me and will never truly get old. Before I got into fashion, I was really into sneakers and it sort of just came to a point where the fits had to match how dope the sneakers were so that’s when I really started experimenting with fashion and learning all the history behind it, and what it actually entails because, at the end of the day, I don’t believe it’s just clothes — it’s always something more than that. With that, my love for styling really started to come through.
Take us through the outfits that you chose to style. Which outfit stood out to you the most and why?
With each outfit I curated, I don’t think it falls under one specific style. I think it can represent a few different ones. The outfit that probably stood out to me the most was when I was wearing a Thom Browne button-up, which I actually wore backward with Acne Studios denim and JW Anderson heels. Wearing that button up backward really elevated the look because I really like the way I accessorized it as well. When choosing my outfits I always have that one key item that is the first thing that a person looks at, and I think that button-up was definitely doing that job.
What can you say about your overall experience at HBX? How did it feel to pull pieces and have full control over the looks you shot?
I really loved being at HBX for the day and being able to pull some dope pieces that I’ve actually had my eye on for some time now. Sometimes I think I can be a little too demanding just because when I have a vision, I am really big on executing it and making sure my creativity comes to life, but everyone was so sweet and overall I just had a great time. It felt like playing dress up, and who doesn’t love to do that?
When styling pieces what are the elements that you consider when putting together an outfit?
I think I really incorporate almost all types of elements whether it is color, pattern, texture, silhouette or fabric. Recently, I’ve really been loving playing around with colors that people usually don’t put together and it’s really all about challenging myself. Accessorizing is also extremely huge in styling other people, and even styling myself. I really cannot leave the house without jewelry because it really is the cherry on top.
If you could choose one person that you consider to be your style icon, who would it be and why?
One person that is my style icon right now is Amanda, also known as @londongirlinnyc on Instagram.
Her style is what I want to emulate when I grow up and the pieces that she has are amazing. Beyond her style, I think she is a creative genius and I love watching her Instagram Stories where she breaks down fashion articles, referencing old runways and more — it’s really refreshing. Love you Amanda!
What piece of advice would you give to fellow creatives who may want to consider styling in the future?
I would say really learn the ins and outs of styling and the information that you can’t just Google. Experience is very important in this field, and the connections you make are extremely important as well. Always remember to stay true to yourself and don’t let other people think they can take advantage of you because that happens a lot, unfortunately. It is okay to say no to something that doesn’t benefit you. Not all money is good money.
Shop Sierra's HBX looks:
Creative Direction: Rujhen Griffith
Interviewer / Co-Director: Celine Azena
Producer / Photographer: Marc Merchant
Stylist: Sierra Rena
Assistant Stylist: Celine Azena