Fashion Stylist Danni Cartisano has worked for some mega-impressive publications, including Harper’s BAZAAR, ELLE, and GRAZIA, and has produced some absolutely stunning work. Now the Fashion Editor at Jones and Mr. Jones Magazine, Danni chatted to us about her creative inspo, her styling aesthetic, and the best shoot she’s ever done. Plus, she gave us some amazing advice for finding our own personal style! Read below to find out all about her incredible career.
Tell us about your career.
I started out in my career in 2010, fresh out of school and VERY eager to immerse myself into the world of fashion. I studied fashion, which allowed me to gain experience with reputable industry creatives and then I started freelancing as a stylist. I was then fortunate enough to land the role of Fashion Assistant at GRAZIA Magazine, which really cemented that this was the right career path for me. I was introduced to a fast-paced, fun, highly creative work environment (and some of my best friends!), which made me want even more. After some changes within the industry, I then continued this role at Harper’s BAZAAR, where I continued to learn the ins and outs of styling.
In 2013, I landed my dream job at ELLE Magazine. Throughout my 5 years at ELLE, I was lucky enough to work very closely with multiple stylists who I love and admire and I began to grow personally and professionally. I went from Fashion Assistant to Market Editor, then to Style Editor/Producer, and finished up my time at ELLE as Fashion Editor, which is an achievement I’ll always be super proud of. Despite the crazy long hours and the seemingly impossible deadlines, I definitely knew this was and is the job for me—I count my lucky stars everyday that I got to be a part of this incredible time of print magazines.
I’m currently Fashion Editor of Jones and Mr. Jones Magazine and I get to work with so many incredible creatives in our industry. I’m very lucky. Working with David Jones has also opened up the opportunity to invest more time into men’s styling, which I quickly learned I LOVE!
What do you love about working in fashion?
I love that every single day is different. Some days see me glued to my desk and others on set creating beautiful images with people I respect and love. While the industry is changing and evolving at a rapid pace, having the freedom to create, conceptualise, and let your imagination run wild is enough to keep going! I don’t think I will ever get sick of that.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
I spend a lot of time trawling the internet for inspiration! My inspiration normally starts off with a conversation with myself about what makes me happy, what is going on in the world at this time, and what I can do to help or at least make someone feel something. I draw a lot of inspiration from music, too—the lyrics in songs spark a lot of ideas for me. In addition to this, I also look internationally at runway shows, recent editorial shoots in magazines I love, and photographers and stylists who I like.
How would you describe your styling aesthetic?
I would say that my aesthetic is relatively minimal and wearable. It is the marriage of structured elements that make you feel powerful with a street touch.
What have been some career highlights?
My most recent career highlight was shooting Lucky Blue Smith for the cover of Mr. Jones. This was my first cover shoot and it was honestly MAGIC! I worked with the incredibly talented photographer Chris Ferguson, who made my image dreams come true! I think it is the shoot I am most proud of to date, which is a nice feeling!
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
Always think about how you can make something better, and make sure everything you do has meaning and purpose. This stemmed from a conversation in the fashion cupboard with a colleague of mine. I was super nervous and putting together my first ever still-life pages at Harper’s BAZAAR. I now adapt this advice well beyond my career—it has helped me through a lot!
What advice would you give to someone pursuing a career in fashion?
Build resilience! It’s going to be hard work, long hours, and you’ll have to do a lot of jobs that aren’t glamorous, but I promise it is worth it!
Top tips for finding your own style?
Focus on showing off the parts of your body that you love and that make you feel good and like YOU. Don’t be afraid to try things that may seem out of your style realm, but learn to adapt them and make them your own. Your style is ever-evolving, so it is important to take new trends and trial them on yourself. Even if it doesn’t work 9 times out of 10, that one time that it does work might help shape your next outfit idea or style move.
