Episode 07: Corin Wright
Corin’s love of sewing began as a teenager when she enrolled in her high school’s fashion textiles program. It was here that she learned how to drape, draft and sew on an industrial machine. Knowing she wanted to be a fashion designer, Corin received a BA in Fashion Design at Norfolk State University. Unable to find work in the industry when she went to New York, where she went on to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology for Fashion Styling.
Corin’s first internship was with the trade publication DNR, where she was afforded the opportunity to actually do work an assistant stylist would do. It was through this internship that she got her first freelance styling job for a trade show. Although sewing always came naturally for Corin, and she excelled at it, she used to say she hated sewing. Once she discovered tailoring, however, she realized it wasn’t sewing she hated, but the type of sewing she had been doing.
“What I do love is tailoring. It’s fast. It challenges my brain. I do it. I’m down with it, and then I can move onto something else. (8:12 - 10:10). The joy comes in not knowing what challenge each tailoring assignment with present. Corin shares that when she’s tailoring on set for a Broadway show, she feels like she’s walking into something new every day. She likes not knowing what kind of fabric she’ll be working with or what type of tailoring she’ll be doing. Once she discovered the thrill of tailoring and reconstruction garments, she knew she’d found her niche.
Her story of how she originally got into Broadway and TV is fascinating; how she managed to get into the wardrobe union, and then tour with the acclaimed Alvin Ailey Dance Company. After 9 years of touring domestically and internationally with Alvin Ailey, she was ready to be home (13:50 - 16:34). After returning to New York, she started stitching and dressing on continued to be referred for jobs. She was on e-Commerce job, when a stylist asked her to take her place working with a celebrity performer. Then that stylist referred her. And then another. And another. “That’s how it works,” says Corin, “whether it’s Broadway or TV on on-set tailoring, it’s showing up and being the best person you can be.” (19:05 - 20:18).
Speaking of celebrity, Corin’s story about some unexpected on-set tailoring for Maria Carey’s Christmas show. “All I Want for Christmas,” is not to be missed. Armed only with two safety pins, she was able to fix and outfit malfunction, and do a little free-styling with Mariah. You can hear the delightful and amusing story on the podcast (29:13 - 33:55), and then watch the actual event on Instagram.
Styling for Broadway isn’t the only thing Corin excels at. Her passion for dressing women from all walks of life is evident as she talks about Style Haven experience: an online store, brick and mortar fashion and accessory boutique, and a 24-ft. traveling boutique truck that provides women with an immersive styling experience. How does she successfully juggle being a swing dresser on Broadway, taking on tailoring gigs and running a successful retail operation? Planning. Lots of planning.
You can learn more about Corin on Instagram @Stylehaven, shopstylehaven.com, or by emailing her at hello@thecorinewright.com