Kármen Rózsa

With her work featured in publications including Vogue Italia, Kármen Rózsa, knows a thing or two about style. When she is not at our Budapest office, where she works as an FF&E designer, Kármen turns her hand to styling, working across the arts, on stage, editorial and private client projects.

Since joining the G.A Group in 2017, Kármen has worked on a number of projects including the Ritz-Carlton, Berlin, the Haris Park Restaurant in Budapest and the Crowne Plaza Jeddah.

Taking a break from her busy schedule we asked her to share a few insights into her life as a stylist.

What is your earliest memory of seeing someone with ‘style’?

It was probably seeing my Mom as a child. Somehow, she managed to look elegant and rock`n roll in the same time. I`m still not there, she`s still rockin`…

How did you get into styling professionally?

Halfway through my fashion design studies I realised I was more interested in photo shoots and personal styling than fashion design, so I started searching for a place where I could learn more about it, and I found a French school called Mod`Art. That`s where it all begun.

How do you approach a new styling job? Does the photographer guide your decisions, or do you arrive with ideas?

I usually receive the idea or concept that the project is based on, then I translate it to my vision. My dependency on photographer/client is always based on the project and whether it`s a personal shoot or an editorial/creative one. For personal projects I always discuss the outfits with the client and for creative ones we work more closely together with the photographer, but they don`t really get involved. The reason behind it is, that everyone has a certain style, and this is how teams are set up, so everyone knows what to expect from the other when we are on the job or preparing for it.

Are their similarities between dressing a person and dressing a space? How about the creative process?

There are a lot of similarities between personal styling and FF&E in terms of colours, style or fabrics. The creative process is similar, but we work more individually on each project based on the inspiration we receive. It is also usually up to the stylist to decide on hair and make-up, so we tend to give the hairdresser/make-up artist a couple of directions based on the outfits we would like to use, and then we let them create their own vision.

Have you found that certain types of looks photograph better than others?

I don`t think there`s such a thing as this. It is up to the team to make any idea or outfit work.

What one item or ‘trick’ can transform a look?

Correct size, and shade. Also, always iron your shirt. Makes a huge difference.

What is the most fun element of styling?

The binder clips. You can change a whole look with them.

And the most challenging?

Finding outfits that fit.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Everywhere, really. You just need to put your phone away and be out as much as you can, because inspiration is all around us.

Who are your style icons/muses?

As stylists, Carine Roitfeld and Grace Coddington are my favourites, as designers, Coco Chanel and Yves-Saint Laurent.

Which photographer would you most like to work with and why?

Annie Leibovitz, she`s been a long-time favourite of mine. Her style is quite refined, yet she always knows how to show emotion without a huge background or extreme styling. I think that`s where real talent is, when you don`t need to put everything on a picture, but you`re still able to tell a story.