Meet Carlee Wallace: The Fashion and Advertising Stylist That Will Never Go Out Of Style
Jude Lee.
Equipped with a keen eye for style and unique perspective on the world, fashion and advertising stylist Carlee Wallace is a triumph in the fashion industry who is making her mark on society. Her distinctly stunning style, which she describes as “classic luxury with a streetwear edge,” can be seen on some of the industry’s top clientele, including: Finneas; Kaitlyn Dever; Lana Condor; Lewis Capaldi; Julia Stiles; and more. Carlee Wallace’s talent, creativity, and expertise in clothing is evident in her work, and, when looking back, has always been there.
“Even as a very small girl I was drawn to clothing,” Wallace says. “My parents tell me I changed outfits often throughout the day and was extremely into hats.” Wallace attributes this exploration of fashion to the culture of her hometown. “I grew up in a very eccentric hippy place called Saltspring Island,” Carlee explains. There, “people were free to express themselves through clothing and art.”
With a population of just over 10,500, Saltspring Island was the perfect place for a young Wallace to cultivate her creativity and express herself through fashion. So much so, that by the time she was 16, she was ready to begin working as an international model. “Traveling to Milan for modeling at 16 was a big adjustment,” Wallace says. “I learned to use the subway for the first time; Saltspring Island didn’t have any buses growing up – there’s not even traffic lights.”
From a place with no traffic lights to a place full of photoshoots with flashing lights, Wallace fell in love with the fashion industry. “I realized I loved being on set and working in fashion,” Wallace recalls. “But modeling wasn’t the right path for me.” Alternatively, it was while modeling in Milan that Carlee heard about Istituto Marangoni, a fashion school.
Jude Lee.
“Their styling program had so many interesting courses,” Wallace explains. “I absolutely loved it! My courses went from Art History to Graphic Design to Fabrics and Materials.” These classes helped Carlee realize her passion. “It was during my first year studying there in London that I knew I had found my dream job,” Wallace recalls. “And I’ve never looked back since.”
Indeed, there is no need to look back when there is such promise and opportunity ahead. “I’m so grateful to have this education as it truly shaped who I am as a person and as a stylist,” Wallace says. However, “the work doesn’t stop after graduating, in fact it only just begins.” Upon graduation, Carlee began assisting stylists in London to gain hands-on set experience, before she began shooting her own editorials and submitting them.
“I just emailed anyone at magazines I loved and tried to pitch ideas to them,” Wallace recalls.
Between pitching to magazines and routinely attending fashion week in London and Paris, Wallace began to establish herself in the business. “I was able to meet editors and other industry people face to face and stay in touch,” Wallace explains.
Today, Carlee’s work encapsulates anything and everything, from collaborations with top brands and industry-leading talent, to freelance assignments. “I love the variety of projects, people, and places,” Wallace says of her job. “Each day is different and I learn something new from every project I do. It’s always challenging and I know I’ll never be bored.”
Undoubtedly, getting to work with some of the biggest names in music, Hollywood, and sports is far from monotonous, especially when tasked with bringing their own personal styles to life through fashion. “An actor or musician already has their own personal brand and style typically,” Wallace explains. “I’m there to elevate what already exists and make sure they’re wearing something they feel amazing in. It’s often a more personal type of styling work.”
Conversely, when styling for advertising, Carlee utilizes an entirely different skill set. “For advertising, it’s typically the art director that determines the storytelling aspect of the shoot,” she notes. “As the stylist I am there to ensure the looks are set and that everything fits the model to perfection. I need to make sure the key clothing items are being represented in the best possible way.”
This versatility, coupled with Carlee’s own individual styling prowess, makes her a force in the styling world. With a keen understanding of the business side of a shoot, she is able to satisfy the brands’ needs while also fulfilling her own stylistic vision. “It’s always about keeping an open dialogue and making sure I’m executing the brands’ needs when introducing my own techniques and ideas,” Wallace shares.
Jude Lee.
Similarly, Wallace strikes a perfect balance of personal style with project goals when working with talent. “I always like to push people a little outside their comfort zone,” Wallace explains. “As a rule, I’ll make sure to have multiple looks I know the talent will love and feel comfortable in and also have a few looks that I think push it a little further than what they’d typically go for.”
Wallace reflects fondly on working with some of the biggest names in the industry, such as six-time Grammy Award-winner Finneas, Booksmart’s Kaitlyn Dever, and To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before’s Lana Condor. “I’ve been so lucky to work with such talented and lovely people,” Carlee shares. “I really respect Finneas’ work, so it was such a pleasure to style him for Paper Magazine – he could not have been nicer and was happy to wear whatever I suggested.” Wallace also worked with Dever at Paper Magazine “and likewise we had a great time and she was easy to work with,” Carlee says. “I styled Lana for the cover of Euphoria Magazine with such a stellar team,” Wallace explains. “She was so excited about all my outfits and made the day so fun.”
While Carlee Wallace herself is an inspiration to so many in the fashion styling world, she notes that some of her own personal inspirations include “Jane How, Grace Coddington, Ibrahim Kamara, Alastair McKimm, Simon Foxton, Robbie Spencer, Lucinda Chambers, Melanie Ward, and so many more.” She continues on to note that she gets inspiration from “anywhere and everywhere,” including muses that have been largely inaccessible this last year. “Travel has always brought me lots of inspiration,” Wallace says.
It is Wallace’s versatility that has gotten her through the logistical difficulties of styling during a pandemic. “It’s been a rough year for everyone,” Wallace remarks. “Learning to remote style and quickly adapt has been key during all this.” Moreover, as the industry continues to re-open, Wallace is right back where she wants to be: styling on set. “I’m lucky to have clients who trust having me on set,” Wallace explains. “And I’ve been able to continue working here and there, which is great.”
Reflecting on her career, Carlee has exciting goals for the future, and a powerful perspective on the past. “I’d remind my younger self to slow down and enjoy the little things,” she says. “Celebrate the small wins and be patient.” Looking forward, Carlee is outfitted with ambition and dedication. “I’ve always said I’d love to style a Prada campaign,” Wallace explains. “But that said, I’d love to style any luxury fashion brand in the future.” It would seem that just like many of Wallace’s previous goals, it is only a matter of time before this dream, too, becomes a reality.
Carlee Wallace is a shining light in the world of styling. Her projects and perspectives exude the love she so clearly has for this industry. Wallace sees the power of style to fundamentally be about self-expression. “What we choose to wear is a visual representation of how we are feeling that day, month, or year,” she says. “I believe there is no right or wrong, just choices to make.”
Jude Lee.
To Learn More about Carlee Wallace check her out at
Meet the Author
Ashley Vitarelli is an aspiring writer currently majoring in Film & Television at Boston University. She is the Head Writer of Bay State, the longest-running college soap opera in the country, and is also a writer for BUTV10’s sitcom The News. In addition, she is a writer for two satirical newspapers at Boston University. Ashley is the co-creator and co-host of Alligator Pitch, an interview series focused on sharing advice from business professionals to help women get their start in the entertainment industry.