Brea Stinson of Stinson Haus
Brea's journey has been a long and winding road. The Detroit-born, LA-based designer took interest in fashion in college when she designed homecoming dresses for her fellow Clark Atlanta University schoolmates. As a student, she also opened her own boutique in Little Five Points, a popular shopping area in Atlanta.
The wheels really started turning after a classmate introduced her to a wardrobe stylist who gave her hands-on experience with tailoring. And during her final Spring break of senior year, a trip to New York changed her life. "The break happened to be during fashion week, and I met Patricia Field, who was the stylist for Sex and the City at the time," Brea told POPSUGAR. The two clicked and Patricia encouraged the rising talent to move to the Big Apple. "She was like, 'If you have some job leads, you can tell them that you're my assistant,'" Brea added. "She was the plug. It gave me all the confidence in the world."
After graduating, Brea ended up helping Patricia with a couple of projects before starting another job in the city as a key assistant to someone she initially met in Atlanta. For three years, she styled some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including JAY-Z as he promoted his 2003 LP, The Black Album. And when she got the call to create a look for Willow Smith ahead of the "Whip My Hair" singer's 2011 appearance on BET's 106 & Park, Brea moved to LA and followed through on making a pair of Gareth Pugh-inspired pants with chain details. From there, "it was off to the races," she said.
"I've always clung to that sense of ownership and having the right to take up space."
Brea has now styled the likes of Beyoncé, Ciara, H.E.R., Lizzo, and Anderson .Paak. She hopes to add Billie Eilish to the list one day. Thus far, her most surreal client has been Stevie Wonder. "Being from Detroit and being obsessed with Motown, I just — I could cry right now — I never would've imagined getting that phone call," she said. "And he was so lovely, generous, and caring. It was a full-circle moment for sure."
Although she's lived in LA for about a decade, Brea's Detroit upbringing heavily influences her work, which she describes as "comfortable confidence with an edge." Her loose two-piece ensembles have a certain coolness, her outwear is embellished with glitzy baubles, and her fabrics are infused with vivacity. "Detroit's a really rough and gritty city," she said. "But then there's something fabulous about the people and their confidence. The essence of Motown is still sprinkled all over that place. There's this element of glamour and audacity. I've always clung to that sense of ownership and having the right to take up space."
She hopes to eventually translate that sentiment into a full-blown collection. "Last week, this psychic told me, 'The world still hasn't seen what you can do.' So this is just the beginning." And as she continues to push herself, one thing remains her biggest motivator: her family. "They've always been encourageing and supportive, so I want to make them proud," she gushed, adding that some of them still don't fully understand her line of work. "I think my grandfather still thinks I do hair because that used to be my hustle in high school," she said with a laugh. "And my grandmother, when I showed her an article about my couture designs, she goes, 'Huh? What's couture about this?' I was like, 'Never mind, grandma.'"
Where to follow: @breabstar