Karolyn Pho

KAROLYN

I’m a wardrobe stylist and brand consultant working between Los Angeles and New York. I’ve had an interest in fashion for as long as I can remember. I began putting together outfits starting in preschool and created my first “magazine” when I was about 10 years old. After studying fashion merchandising at university, the obvious move was New York where I was thrown into somewhat of a gauntlet.

Moving to New York was a major change in my life, the singular experience that has shaped me most. I learned a lot of hard lessons and met some of the most loving, influential people in my life. I’m also lucky to have a mother that instilled so much strength and confidence in me. Without her support I wouldn’t have been able to endure the cut-throat nature of the fashion industry, or life in general!

I currently live in Los Angeles. However, I was born and raised in Orange County. That's probably why I am forever inspired by surf and skate culture, and explains why I’m happiest when swimming in the ocean, pool, lake... or any body of water. The water is where I feel most alive.

Italy was— is —my favorite place to visit! I love the people, the food, and the sea. One day soon, I hope to spend a few months traveling around Europe, working if I can, and eating all of the food. In the meantime, I’ve curated a travel playlist which includes Googoosh, Depeche Mode, and almost any track on the Laurence Anyways soundtrack.

My morning rituals encompass work emails from bed, taking vitamins and drinking lots of water. I’ll take my dogs for an hour long walk and then either Pilates or Yoga. I stretch for at least an hour a day, after a work out and/or before bed. For my skin—I wash my face, apply serum then moisturizer and sunscreen. Always sunscreen. When I need to recharge, the things that make me feel renewed are long showers, my boyfriend’s cooking, infrared saunas, and hot yoga. I love a long shower or epsom salt bath early in the morning to prepare for an intense day—or to decompress after a long one. When I need to wind down, I’ll smoke weed or stretch. A combination of both is ideal.

Lately, I’ve been practicing not internalizing stress, and to let go of people who don’t uplift, support or inspire me. This, I've come to learn, is constant work and if, perhaps, I’m still working on this five years from now, I’d be OK with that.

Karolyn photographed by Drew Escriva.