If you’re a fan of major Hollywood Red Carpet events, chances are you’ve picked favorite looks from the crowd that are the brainchild of stylist, Karla Welch. She is in high demand and her client roster includes Justin Beiber, Sara Paulson, Olivia Wilde, Cindy Crawford, Tom Brady, Lorde, and Karlie Kloss among others. She’s also known for dramatic styling for publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, and Elle.
Recently, she’s been perfecting the look of Music City’s most stylish band, Little Big Town, including all of their ensembles for the CMT Awards show. Here, she shares a bit about what goes into this type of production and what she’d like to do on her next trip to town.
Alecia Davis: You styled the hosts of the CMT Music Awards, Little Big Town (they’re the best!). You’ve styled them in the past, as well. That’s four people, with four different styles and personalities… what is the key to making that work?
Karla Welch: A LOT of options!
AD: How would you describe LBT’s style?
KW: A little bit country and a little bit rock and roll.
AD: Preparing for the CMT Awards, where do you start, what’s step one?
KW:I get creative from the team and then I usually have a good text exchange with Karen Fairchild. Then, my team and I dive in!
AD: How far out do you have to start on a project like this?
KW:I like as much time as possible, but with these clothes being borrowed, unless we are making something custom, it’s usually a week and half of preparation, followed by fittings.
AD: Other than being prepared and organized, what is the key to making sure it all goes smoothly?
KW: A sense of humor and a great tailor.
AD: What would we find in your kit?
KW:Underpinnings, sewing kits, lint roller… and a bunch of other things.
AD: How many fittings do you have them do?
KW:Typically, we plan on one long day of fittings, then we do a fit check after the tailoring.
AD: Are you a fan of country music? If so, who do you listen to?
KW: I like old school country, and then, of course, Little Big Town and Chris Stapleton.
AD: How often have you visited Nashville?
KW:I’ve been coming to Music City for a decade. I love it! One of these days I want to come for fun, not work.
