Podcast Summary: "How Maren Taylor Went from Intern to Styling Paige DeSorbo, Olivia Culpo, and More"

Let's Get Dressed with Liv Perez – November 3, 2025

Episode Overview

In this energizing conversation, fashion expert Liv Perez sits down with celebrity stylist Maren Taylor to explore how Maren built her career from intern to sought-after stylist for "It Girls" like Paige DeSorbo, Olivia Culpo, and Paige Lorenze. They dive deep into the realities of styling celebrities, the art of building a client base, and Maren’s love of vintage—plus specifics like how to build a functional capsule wardrobe, styling hacks (especially for tall girls), and why tailoring is non-negotiable. The episode brims with actionable advice for aspiring stylists, and memorable stories about taking career leaps, making industry connections, and bringing creativity to the everyday.

Guest Intro & Setting the Scene

[01:03–02:41]

• Liv introduces Maren Taylor as the styling mastermind behind stars like Paige DeSorbo, Olivia Culpo, and Paige Lorenze. She describes Maren's journey from working for stylist Dani Michelle, who styles Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber, to building a star-studded clientele of her own.
• First in-person impression: Liv notes, “You walked in the door and I was like, oh, my God, she's much taller in person.”
  Maren: “Yes. I'm six foot. I was like a volleyball player…everyone said, like, why don't you model? And I was like, because I like to eat and I don't like to work out. But now that I work in fashion...I love it.” (02:41)

The Origins of a Stylist: Early Love of Fashion

[03:37–04:52]

• Fashion has always been core to Maren’s identity.
  Maren: “Fashion is definitely something that's always been, like, a huge part of my identity. If you look back at pictures of me from kindergarten, like, I'm wearing sunglasses and a bandana... My parents…let me have full creative vision.” (04:05)
• She was always helping friends choose prom outfits—styling, even before knowing it could be a job.

The Capsule Wardrobe Philosophy & Sourcing Vintage

[04:52–06:39]

• Maren is a strong advocate for capsule wardrobes:
  Maren: “When it comes to dressing for me, I just find that dressing in a capsule wardrobe...is so much easier for me. I mean, everything I'm wearing is vintage.” (05:03)
• Favorite LA vintage stores: Scout, Recess, Decades.
• She loves working with vintage dealers worldwide (Oklahoma, Hong Kong, etc.):
  “Vintage is just such an important part of my job. I love putting my clients in something that someone else couldn't find.” (05:58)
• The emotional value of vintage: “With my vintage pieces, they're the ones that when I go to clean out my closet, I don't get rid of.” (06:34)

Current Trends: Tights Takeover & Monochromatic Looks

[06:53–09:27]

• Maren and her clients are “obsessed with tights right now,” especially in monochromatic looks:
  Maren: “I love to match… when you’re in an all brown look and you have monochromatic brown tights...it just looked so rich.” (07:02, 08:01)
• Styling tip: Use tights to elevate holiday dressing, and opt for less expected colors—brown on brown, for example.
• Styling hack for tights:
  “Calzedonia tights... $12 for tights... They don't rip. The 20s are your go to… no seam in the crotch line, just a band around your waist and then the clean, tight.” (08:56–09:27)
• Cited Tory Burch’s tight styling as an example of using chocolate brown tights to complement a dress:
  “The way they have it styled is with a chocolate brown tight that matches the dress and a chocolate brown heel. I love that.” —Liv (09:30–09:39)
• Non-black tights are now in vogue: “For the longest time…people thought it was either like, black tights or no tights. And now I love that...color tights are coming into play now.” (09:50–09:56)
• Trending colors: Cobalt blue on the runway. All-white winter dressing also highly recommended.

Maren’s Education & Professional Beginnings

[10:35–12:42]

• Attended Indiana University for apparel merchandising; originally considered international studies.
• Emphasizes the clarity she gained after a Paper magazine internship:
  “After I did that internship and I saw a stylist on set, I was like, there it is. That's what I didn't...know that that was something you could do for a job.” (11:26)
• Realized styling could be a viable career as Instagram made stylists visible.

The Value of Internships & Humanizing High Fashion

[12:42–13:25]

• Interned at Parsons Paris and Oscar de la Renta.
• Learned that “it's okay to make mistakes...at the end of the day, we're all just people.” (12:53)

Breaking In: The Power of Cold Emails

[13:25–15:44]

• Maren emailed dozens of stylists on a leap of faith upon moving to LA post-pandemic; unexpectedly got a fast reply from Dani Michelle, leading to an internship the next day:
  “I was on the plane and she emailed me back. I decided to email her. She wrote me back...and was like, can you start tomorrow?” (14:58)
• Both Liv and Maren stress the centrality of cold emailing—at every career stage.
• How to do it effectively: Attach a resume and cover letter, show seriousness, and move the conversation from DMs to email.
  “This job feels very cool and fun...but there still has to be a professional aspect to it. And I think when I see that someone else is taking it as seriously as I took it, I really respond to that.” (15:44)

The Structures of Styling Teams

[17:23–18:30]

• Maren explains the tiers: intern, studio manager, second assistant, first assistant, each with increasing trust and responsibility.
• On becoming Dani Michelle’s first assistant: “I was like, Dani's right hand...and I mean, we. We had that. We still have that. I literally talk to her, like, nearly every day and she's such an amazing friend and mentor to me.” (17:26–18:30)

The Business Side of Styling

[18:30–19:58]

• Emphasizes that fashion styling is as much about logistics as it is creativity:
  “At the end of the day, I still go through my credit cards every single day and make sure all of the UPS receipts...just everything has to be filed in a specific place. Sometimes you're paying for things for the client...all that has to be reimbursed.” (18:49)
• Outsource what you’re not an expert in:
  “If I’m not an expert in something, outsource, Always outsource.” (19:57)

Going Solo: When to Take the Leap

[20:04–21:51]

• Maren describes the difficult decision to leave Dani Michelle’s team after building enough clients and work:
  “...there's no good time to leave...I don’t even really know if I felt ready...I’m just gonna leap of faith it.” (20:21)
• Signing with an agency provided a safety net and more job opportunities.

Building and Maintaining Industry Relationships

[21:51–23:26]

• Relationships make the styling world tick—clients, brands, other stylists.
• Maren's years as an assistant have enabled her to maintain strong ties: “When I now...reach out to a brand, like, these are people that I've been...working with for years.” (22:06)
• Stylists serve as connectors: “You’re connecting people to brands, you’re connecting them to… the better version of themselves.” —Liv (23:01)
• Maren adds: “I’m just a very extroverted person. And I think that's one of the most fun parts of this job...how social it really is.” (23:12)

Social Media’s Role in Modern Styling

[23:26–24:26]

• Being on Instagram is practically necessary: “I think having social media and having an Instagram is important. I don't think that you have to be someone that's like, sharing and, like, wants to necessarily become an influencer. But…that’s how clients…find you nowadays.” (23:33)
• Real example: Paige DeSorbo connected with Maren via Instagram DMs.

Creating Signature Styles for Clients

[24:28–26:24]

Paige DeSorbo

• Paige “fully commits” to every outfit: “She just makes everything a moment. She knows how to get the photo. We...create this character and she just leans into it.” (25:22)
• The high/low mix: “She’s wearing a look that...opened a runway show...and then she's wearing a pair of $100 shoes with the look, because those were the shoes that were right with the outfit.” (26:13)
• Advice: Don’t obsess over labels—choose what feels right.

Paige Lorenze

[27:13–29:43]

• Highly collaborative process: “...we both love vintage...She can send me something, like, a vintage piece that she'll see on Pinterest, and I'll have, like, found it within 30 seconds.” (27:40)
• Example: U.S. Open Burberry look—planning starts months out, includes mood boards, and frequent communication to hone in on the vision.
• Importance of debunking: Sometimes the brand dresses a client, sometimes it’s their own items, often it’s both.

What Stylists Actually Do: The Myth-Busting

[29:43–31:16]

• Condemns the idea that if you’re an influencer with style, you don’t need a stylist: “They don’t have time to be dealing with the vintage dealers…Bringing them things they would not be able to find themselves is always the most challenging. But the best part of our job.” (30:17)
• Fittings are complex: “Sometimes for a fitting, we will be emailing...over 100 brands at one time...We’re emailing the brands that are in Paris and…awake. There’s a lot that goes into it…” (31:16)

On-Camera & Event Styling Advice

[31:53–33:35]

• Consider not just style, but context and comfort:
  “If my client is going on Jimmy Fallon…they're going to be sitting the whole time…we'll pull over a chair and...see how the look sits.” (32:07)
• Example: Dakota Johnson's revealing dress on Jimmy Fallon—“you could tell in that moment that she was uncomfortable.” (33:00)

Tall Girl Styling — and Tailoring for All

[33:35–34:43]

• “I cannot imagine doing what I do...without tailoring. They can completely change an outfit...such an important part of an outfit.” (33:42)
• Advice: Own your height, wear the shoes you love with confidence.

Icons and Inspirations

[34:50–35:36]

• Praises Jenna Ortega & stylist Enrique Melendez as the “most dynamic duo” currently, citing their tailored and on-brand looks.

Advice for Aspiring Stylists

[35:36–36:42]

• “You can’t take no for an answer...if you really want to do this...If someone tells you no, you’re talking to the wrong person.” (35:52)
• The importance of assisting before styling on your own: learning the landscape of showrooms, business skills, and logistics.

Lightning Round: Maren’s Rapid-Fire Picks

[36:42–39:09]

• Favorite brand to pull: “Vintage Courrèges…anything that feels 60s.” (36:48)
• Top styling hack: “Putting hair ties underneath my cuffs...roll up over. The rubber band...perfectly kind of rolled up sleeve.” (37:04)
• Dream client: “Victoria Beckham. I’m just so obsessed with her.” (37:40)
• Trend she’d like to see gone: “I hate logos.” (38:24)
• Timeless closet staple: “A blazer. I feel so confident when I wear a blazer.” (38:54)
• Recent splurge: “A pair of Chanel flats...burgundy and brown suede.” (39:08)

Notable Quotes

• “When I figured out I could make a career out of [styling], like, it was game over for me.” —Maren Taylor (04:52)
• “[Paige DeSorbo] just makes everything a moment. She knows how to get the photo.” —Maren Taylor (25:24)
• “You can’t take no for an answer...If someone tells you no, you’re talking to the wrong person.” —Maren Taylor (35:52)
• “I cannot do my job...without the help of these amazing tailors that I work with.” —Maren Taylor (33:42)
• “Being tall is hot and cool. Just be confident and own it.” —Maren Taylor (34:43)

Key Takeaways

• Styling is both business and art: Organization, logistics, and relationships are as crucial as taste and vision.
• Be proactive: Cold emails and a professional demeanor open doors in fashion.
• Capsule and vintage wardrobes are powerful: For individuality, sustainability, and story-telling.
• Tailoring is a must: Both for stylists and anyone wanting a custom, elevated look.
• Find your own path: There’s no single way into styling; persistence, adaptability, and collaboration set you apart.
• Online presence matters: Instagram is the modern stylist’s portfolio.

This episode is a trove for fashion enthusiasts, aspiring industry professionals, or anyone curious about the hard work behind "It Girl" style. Maren Taylor’s story is candid, relatable, and packed with practical tips—making it a must-listen, or a must-read summary!