Stylists generally work behind the scenes to help celebrities look their best on the screen or the red carpet. But, backed by social media, TV appearances, books, and more, many stylists’ personal fame has grown. And as a result, they have been increasingly featured front and center in the world of fashion collaborations. Some examples from 2025 illustrate:
- Harry Lambert partnered in September with Zara and its Zara x Disney range for an Aw Gee! Wow Collection of 200 pieces, including t-shirts, mouse ear hats, loafers, and more for kids and adults. Exclusive pop-up shops featured the Lambert merchandise at department stores in England, Japan, and China, and it was also available at select Zara stores in Europe, Asia, and North America.
- Stylist Britt Theodora paired with online menswear brand Coofandy, along with Nascar driver Christopher Bell and the JGR 20 racing team, in July for a collection of summer apparel. The Theodora-curated assortment was dominated by linen fabrics and knitwear in different textures that were meant for layering.
- Jamie Mizrahi paired with Tom’s, in a deal announced in May, for a footwear capsule for men, women, and kids. The products were based on the Tom’s brand’s well-known Alpargata slip-ons, previously for men only, given a Mizrahi spin with premium materials and distinctive colors. The kids’ styles incorporated images created by Mizrahi’s children. Meant to be worn at any time of day, the shoes included functional characteristics like stain-repellent finishes. Shoe bags were also included in the collection. Proceeds went to Baby2Baby, which gives diapers and formula to children in need.
- In March, Elizabeth Stewart, an L.A.-based stylist and former editor at WWD, W, and The New York Times, paired with Lilysilk on a capsule collection of 11 silk apparel items specifically tailored to travel and Zoom meetings — comfortable but neat, with bright hues. The sustainable pieces, which included wide-leg pants, oversized bomber jackets, jogger pants, culottes, satin skirts, sweaters, and pajama sets, were available through Lilysilk’s online shop and its New York flagship store. Although Stewart, who had been using Lilysilk to source blouses for her clients prior to this program, has done shoe collections with partners in the past, this marked her first apparel collaboration.
This list shows the continuing strength of a trend that has been growing for years, and these examples from 2025 follow a healthy number of stylist-centric collaborations in 2023 and 2024 as well.
Rachel Zoe, who first gained fame as a celebrity stylist, leads the way in showing the potential that exists for stylists to parlay their core business into a thriving merchandise operation. Last month, Gordon Brothers, whose brand-management portfolio includes Laura Ashley and Nicole Miller, made a majority investment in Zoe’s brand with the intention of expanding her licensing activities into new distribution points and product categories, as well as boosting her experiential activities. Zoe remains as founder, chief creative officer, board member, and significant investor. Over the years, her brand has grown to encompass TV series, books, and an online style destination, along with merchandising initiatives. The latter include her 15-year-old lifestyle brand, the Rachel Zoe Collection, which works with licensees in apparel, home goods, fragrance, eyewear, and children’s products.
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