Mariam Soliman Interview

Mariam Soliam is a 2nd year Fashion Studies student at Parsons Paris. I had the pleasure of interviewing her with the intent of learning about her experience as a stylist and an academic. I myself am interested in styling, therefore I was swept up in her incredible stories, not to mention her unwavering charm. When speaking to her best friend Sophie, she mentions Mariam’s vast independent magazine collection hinting at her passion for printed media and visual fashion. This goes to show that her love of art goes past this program and her career. She truly lives and breathes fashion. She tells me how to be tactful in the industry and how to hold oneself and others accountable. Being true to yourself in an industry like fashion is something she has found to be so important and at times, challenging. She uses her love of the color black as an example of this. Another friend of hers, Sophia states, “At her birthday party last year, we were all asked to dress like her and everyone showed up in all black.” She unwaveringly wears what she is most confident in and constantly finds a way to make it interesting. 

Going beyond this, Mariam shares important insight on boundaries and balance when working in styling. She will put blood, sweat and tears into every job she does but she will also say no if she thinks that is what’s right. To me, that’s harder than anything. She is humble when talking about the work she has done, but magnetically confident in herself. Mariam Solimon is definitely the most stylish and inspiring woman I have ever had the pleasure of interviewing. 

Interviewee: Mariam Soliman

Interviewer: Ingrid Blau

Ingrid:

To get things started can you just introduce yourself? Tell us your name, what you do, and how you would describe your work.

Mariam:

My name is Mariam. I’m from the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, and before coming to Paris I studied Styling and Communication at IED in Milan for four years. When I started studying, our teachers told us immediately: if you want to be a stylist, go work. You can’t learn styling only in a classroom, because the core of the job happens in real environments like on set, in showrooms and with clients (in other words, under pressure).

I really took that advice seriously. I started messaging every stylist I admired on Instagram, even the ones with huge profiles. I didn’t care if the job was commercial, small, unpaid, or unglamorous. I just wanted to understand if styling was what I wanted to do. Eventually, one stylist wrote back and offered me my first job which consisted of steaming four hundred pieces in one day. It was exhausting and paid almost nothing, but I was genuinely just so

excited to be there. 

Picture via Mariam’s Instagram @mariamsoliman__

Ingrid: 

Were you nervous? 

Mariam: 

I wasn’t afraid honestly. I’m someone who adapts to new environments quickly.

I kept assisting her on small editorials for magazines like GQ China and Esquire. After a while she said, “You’re ready to come on set.” That was the first time I did feel real anxiety while working. She warned me, “This isn’t like the small jobs. You need to be organized and perfect.” But she was actually really supportive, and that experience became my introduction to how the styling world truly works.

Ingrid: 

Were you doing any of this kind of work in Milan?

Mariam: 

I also assisted on e-commerce shoots in Milan like Bottega Veneta, Valentino and Moncler.. Commercial work teaches you precision and speed. Even though it’s not glamorous, it builds a strong foundation.

Ingrid:

What kinds of tasks are you assigned when assisting on set?

Mariam:

It depends a lot on the stylist. Every stylist has their own system, and the first thing I do when I assist someone new is ask: “How do you like to work?” Some want silence. Some want updates every five minutes. Most want you to anticipate everything.

On set, I prepare and organize the clothes, steam everything, check for damages, assist with fittings, and keep my ‘first aid kit’ on me at all times. Pins, clips, body tape, everything. On set, everything moves fast. The model is changing, the photographer is messing with the lighting, the stylist is making decisions, it is all very chaotic. But I love that chaos. 

Ingrid:

You mentioned you’re working more creatively now in Paris. Can you talk about that transition?

Mariam:

Yes. After I finished my bachelor's, I felt something was missing. I loved styling, but I wanted to understand fashion more deeply. I also love writing, and I wanted a way to combine writing, research, and visual culture. A friend told me about the MA at Parsons Paris, and I realized it was exactly the type of program I was looking for. 

During my gap year I became obsessed with independent magazines. Not just fashion magazines but also printed matter in general as well as visual archives. I wanted to understand what images actually do to us psychologically, socially and culturally.

Paris opened so many doors professionally too. A big turning point was assisting on a Fear of God campaign. That’s where I met people connected to the Paris industry, and they recommended me to other stylists. My network grew quickly after this. I’ve worked more in one year in Paris than in four years in Milan! The scale is much larger. Big productions like Chanel and Dust Magazine.

And honestly, assistants are treated better here. I am often paid more and respected more. In Milan, I rarely got paid unless it was a commercial. In Paris, even though the work is still demanding, there is more recognition which I am very grateful for. 

Ingrid:

Through this course, we’ve discussed the ethical issues in the fashion industry. Have you turned down any jobs for ethical reasons?

Mariam:

Not often for ethical reasons specifically - simply because I am too early in my career - but I have started saying no more often, mostly to unpaid work. At a certain point, working for free becomes kind of ridiculous. I have rent, I live far from home, I’ve been in this industry for five years. I know my worth!

At the beginning you can’t say no because you need the experience. Now, I only do unpaid jobs if the project is personally meaningful or really creatively titillating to me. 

Ingrid:

Do you still send CVs, or is everything word of mouth?

Mariam:

In Milan, I never sent a CV even once. Everything was through connections. In Paris, large stylists sometimes request CVs because they get hundreds of applicants. They need to know you can handle pressure and big responsibilities. But outside of these particular cases, word of mouth matters more than anything. Building a good reputation is important. 

Ingrid:

Was there an early clothing moment in your life when you felt the emotional power of clothing?

Mariam:

Yes, actually. I only wear black now, but before I used to dress very colorfully. When I started assisting, stylists told me, “Wear black, only black.” So I bought black clothing for practical reasons. But with time, I realized black made me feel the most myself and the most confident. It became a kind of a shield and an exposure of who I am. It is my signature now. 

I layer a lot. Even if everything is black, there are different textures and shapes. Sometimes my boyfriend says, “You’re wearing the same outfit as yesterday.” And I’m like, “No. You just don’t get it”

This is a fun story: I was backstage at a Fendi show in Milan. I was deep backstage, completely invisible, and Ellie Grace Cumming, the main stylist, noticed me and asked for my contact through her assistant because she said she liked my style. Everyone wears black backstage, so the fact that she noticed meant a lot! 

Mariam's Closet via her Instagram @mariamsoliman__

Ingrid:

What media inspires you as a stylist?

Mariam:

I look at everything from exhibitions to photography to films and especially archives. I think stylists need to use visual references for inspiration constantly. What inspires me most are older printed materials. If you only look at what’s trending now, your work ends up looking like everyone else’s.

I’m also more aware now of cultural representation and history. I love looking at garments from different cultures, but with respect of course, without appropriating. 

Ingrid:

Is there a project you're especially proud of?

Mariam:

My bachelor thesis project. It was the most stressful but rewarding thing I have ever done. I organized a five day shoot in Matera, which is in southern Italy. I rented a van and then drove ten hours with models, videographers, photographers and assistants. I booked a hostel and then produced both a fashion film and a full editorial. 

I literally cried constantly from the stress. Producing something at that scale by myself felt impossible. But I did it and looking back, it still feels so good. It proved to me that I can manage and execute huge creative visions.

Ingrid:

What are your goals for your career in the next few years? And how do you personally define success?

Mariam:

My biggest goal is to create my own magazine. My MA thesis is actually helping me start that. I want a space where I can combine writing, research, and visual culture. I think the magazine format is perfect for that.

As for success, I really value balance. I think fashion and the fashion industry can swallow your life. It can drain you emotionally and mentally. I have seen it happen to people. I love my work, but I don’t want it to take away from my life or my relationships. Success, to me, is being fulfilled creatively without losing myself.