DREW DONNELLY
Our connection with Drew Donnelly began in a simple way, through TikTok, where her authentic style and natural approach caught my attention right away. From the very beginning, I was drawn to her ability to tell stories through fashion, with a narrative that goes beyond trends and delves into the realm of personal identity. Drew has this rare gift of dressing not just people, but their emotions, creating looks that are more than fabric combinations—they are visual manifestations of what it means to be oneself. It’s that sincerity, that honest and direct approach to fashion, that makes her unique, both in her work and in the way she communicates. Through her style and presence, Drew shows that fashion can be a powerful tool to tell personal stories, connect with others, and, above all, stay true to oneself in a world that often seems filled with artifice. In this interview, Drew invites us to learn about her creative process, where intuition, the city of Los Angeles, and of course, her unmistakable energy all play a crucial role.
.
M -Drew, to start… how would you describe your relationship with style?
D- We’ve got a pretty good thing going on. Putting looks together brings me so much joy—mixing and matching personalities, blending vintage with the present, and creating something that feels totally its own. Honestly, I prefer dressing other people over dressing myself. I’ll test-run some looks at the grocery store just to see if they read as outfits—or if I feel like a little kid whose mom let them dress themselves. I’m just one big experiment.
M- You work in Los Angeles, a place with a very distinctive visual Identity. How does the city influence your approach as a stylist?
D- I get inspired just looking out my living room window. It seems like everyone around me has so much personal style. Im always taking note of what people chose to wear to drop off mail at the post office, or go see a movie, or walk their dog. It excites me to see people show up authentically. I can’t even go grocery shopping without notes apping an interesting color or material combo someone’s wearing. I love all the different identities people try on through style. L.A. is a great place to be anyone you want.
M- How important is intuition in your creative process?
D- It’s all I’ve got! That, and surrounding yourself with brilliant people who have good taste. Intuition and inspiration are everything.
M- Can you recall a styling job/person/situation/project that deeply impacted you?
D- I was lucky enough to move in next to a costume designer when I first got to L.A. At the time, I was just selling clothes on Depop, having recently finished college, when she asked if I wanted to assist her on a short film. The experience was mind-blowing. She sent me to the studio lots to pull from the costume houses. I was in heaven. Watching her build a character from the ground up, I realized that’s what I’d been doing with myself my whole life: building and rebuilding my personal style. I got so lucky with her—she taught me everything I know. People aren’t usually that generous to open the door for you.
M- What inspires you outside the world of fashion?
D- I’d say my number one source of inspiration is friends. Girl-gushing about what’s been inspiring us lately, our future plans, sharing our work— it gets me so charged. Second is music and film. My style in my early 20s was absolutely shaped by the bands I listened to. Lately, I’m more inspired by a good film (most likely strong female lead). Even if I’ve seen it a hundred times, the feeling it leaves me with always gets me moving creatively.
M- How do you balance the desire to tell a personal story with the commercial demands of styling?
D- I tell my story and pitch it the best I can. If the note is more commercial, then we tell a different story—but I always try to keep personality present. Vintage will be involved.
M- What’s your go-to piece or foolproof item in your wardrobe or kit?
D- My silver ballet flats. If the outfit feels a little dull they always save the day.
A bit more about Drew,One book: Duncan Hannah’s Twentieth-Century Boy: Notebooks of the Seventies. I was floating while reading this, so inspiring. I love him.
One city: New York
One dish: Seared trout. Cauliflower. Quinoa. Dill yogurt
One artist: Arthur Russel
One film: Call Me By Your Name. I want to live in it.
One song: Patty Hearst - The Crying Nudes
One flower: Yellow Tulip
One color: Red
One smell: Walking by a house and smelling their fresh laundry
A mosquito jewel: The nautilus hair clip. Brilliant.
