Stylist Shawn Lakin Talks Vintage, Spring Style, and Mixing High and Low
Shawn Lakin seems to have been born to be a fashion stylist. From making her own clothes as a kid, to moving to London and working as a stylist’s assistant during college, Shawn’s always had a creative mindset and a knack for creating new looks. Intrigued, we visited her Williamsburg loft to talk about her childhood in Michigan, mixing high and low, and why it’s great to have a mom with a huge vintage archive. 
You’re from Michigan, a spot not traditionally associated with fashion. How did you first get interested in high fashion and style?
Detroit has a lot more style than people give it credit for! Plus my mom has an incredible vintage archive that I’m usually wearing from head to toe on most days. When I was younger and didn’t have access to the fashion I wanted, I would cut up my clothes and super glue them together in new styles… thankfully they never fell apart in school.
From there, how did you start working as a stylist in New York?
I went to London for a summer where I started assisting stylists, then transferred to Parsons and moved to New York so I could have access to stylists, publications, brands, and the rest of the industry.
We love how your work mixes high and low themes and styles, even if most of the garments seem to be from high fashion labels. How conscious has this aesthetic been? What’s the most challenging part of working like this?
I probably do this equal parts out of excitement of working with luxury fashion houses I’ve idolized forever and new brands that my friends and people around me are constantly creating. I don’t really find this a challenging thing because I can always draw inspiration from both ends of the creative spectrum.
What’s your favorite thing about leaving winter style and outfits behind to step into spring looks?
Bright colors and funky patterns.
What are a few menswear trends you think women can wear this spring?
I’m always down for suits and tailoring or monochromatic workwear.
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