With a classic yet contemporary take on femininity and masculinity in his work, Steven Doan is known for his attention to details and pursuit of perfection. Steven came from a modeling background and studied Fashion Styling and Creative Direction at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design - University of the Arts London. He has already been recognized for his unique fashion sense, seen in Vogue UK, Elle UK, Esquire UK, Tatler, Glamour, and Harper's Bazaar.

Steven works with the most prestigious clients in fashion, runway, beauty and red-carpet. Our clientele includes Vogue, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, Esquire, ELLE, Tatler, L'Officiel, L'Officiel Hommes, South China Morning Post, Prestige, Target China, and L'Optimum. ​ Currently, Steven teaches Fashion Styling at the renowned Istituto Marangoni London since December 2016.

WSI's contributor Djordje Bukvic had the opportunity to have a fireside chat with Steven about his work, a fresh take on contemporary fashion and styles that inspire him the most.

Which country, out of all countries you had the opportunity to be well longer in, had the most impact on your personal style?

It has to be the UK, London to be exact. London style has inspired me in my work and my personal style. People use their clothing to express their own individual personality. Here you can experiment and try new things without any fear at all.

Which fashion rule should be broken?

I don't follow rules! Everyone’s as eccentric as each other, you’re able to celebrate your uniqueness. Rules are meant to be broken!

How much is your personal style different from the style you propagate through fashion editorials?

My personal style is quite similar with my work in fashion editorials: sophisticated, elegant and timeless. I’d like to think the clothes I wear to express confidence. I want to see the models look confident in my editorials.

Which brand is the closest to your sensibility?

I love Valentino and Dolce and Gabbana.

Is there any movie or an era in general which is related to your style?

I got inspired a lot of 60’s and 70’s fashion. It was the era of the girl group, the gamine supermodel and the original IT-girls. I love all the influencers behind the sixties’ fashion scene: Twiggy, Mary Quant, Jackie Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn, Jean Shrimpton, Jane Birkin, Cher, Brigitte Bardot. The sixties still provide designers of today with endless inspiration.

Many fashion traditions were broken, mirroring the momentous social and political changes of the decade. It was the era where no skirt was too short and no beehive too high. Today, we can thank the decade for culottes, geometric prints and boxy silhouettes.

To which extent did Istituto Marangoni influenced your career?

I studied at Central Saint Martins and it had opened many doors for me in my career and teaching at Istituto Marangoni is one of them.

Being a teacher at a fashion school made me realise how much I love fashion and want to inspire my students with my experience and knowledge.