What Are The Challenges Of Dressing Celebrities Like Thalía And Shakira? Stylist Irma Martínez Tells Us

2024 Author: Steven Freeman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 08:15

Stylist Irma Martínez has dressed celebrities such as Shakira, Thalía, Chayanne, Juanes, Pitbull, Carlos Vives and many more. The Colombian businesswoman, owner of Trendy Studio, talks to PONTE BELLA about her fascinating career. "I love all that about clothing and I studied fashion merchandise," she recalls of her beginnings in Colombia. “While studying, I worked in a store that fascinated me dressing the mannequins. People bought the clothes as I put them on and sometimes they were unexpected combinations. I realized that I had that talent, that creativity.”

In 1989 he began working with clients such as María Conchita Alonso, singer Angela Carrasco, and actresses from the Miami Vice series. After touring with Carrasco, dressing her during her concerts, she began working in Miami with television producer Cisco Suárez. "I told him I know how to iron, wash, answer the phone, whatever," he recalls. "She gave me a job as a public relations assistant for the Telemundo network back then." There in the talent and public relations department, she began helping channel talent with her wardrobe. Then she spent 4 years working as a costume designer for the channel's presenters and actresses.

When she was fired due to budget cuts, the world came down on Martinez, who at that time had her first-born Andrea very young. “After I cried for two hours, I said: This doesn't happen to me again. I'm going to work alone, '”she admits. That was how, thanks to her contacts, she met a "Colombian girl who was going to do the crossover." It's about none other than Shakira! “We had a divine and immediate click. We worked the whole album Where are the thieves? The whole tour, we made all the videos for that album. I was with her for about three years.”

When Shakira made the crossover to the American market with her album Whenever Wherever, Alejandro, Irma's second son, who was a one-year-old baby, had already been born and she could not accompany her on her tour due to family duties. He had already started dressing other Sony artists like Chayanne and Ricky Martin and other talents who worked with Emilio Estefan. Little by little, together with her husband Enrique LópezOn the executive and administrative side, they started their company Trendy Inc. "He became a monster," he says of his successful company. "People are afraid to take the first step, and you really don't lose anything by trying," he advises. “If it doesn't work for you, you go back to looking for a job if being an entrepreneur isn't your thing. It is strong because all responsibility is yours, everything depends on you. You have to have courage.”

How to find professional passion? "You have to see what you like, what you enjoy," he says. "You have to see what qualities you have, what your strengths and weaknesses are," he says. “You are not going to be successful right away, but the more you work hard and the more you are good at what you do. Sometimes you work 20 hours a day, I never looked at the clock. If not, you don't get ahead. You cannot do it as a hobby, but as a profession, "he emphasizes.

Your effort has paid off. "My new project is Trendy Academy, I am giving a styling diploma to others who want to be stylists," concludes Martínez, who will be one of the guests of honor and panelists for the Poderosas Live! Event. within the framework of the launch of the edition of the “25 Most Powerful Women” of People en Español. Martinez will speak more about her fashion academy and business advice at the event, which includes conferences, workshops and the participation of multiple celebrities and is 100% focused on women. Women's Empowerment Day will take place on March 16 at the James L. Knight Center in Miami.

Powerful Live! It is a completely free event that brings together top Latina entrepreneurs, community leaders, activists, and artists for panel discussions that invite reflection and themes that inject value into Hispanic women. Register here to secure your entry: