Keegan Singh Shares His Fashion Week Styling Secrets and Favorite Organic Snacks

You might not recognize his face, but chances are you've seen (and loved) the work of stylist, and previous PAPER Beautiful person, Keegan Singh. With his signature rock-and-roll aesthetic, he's not only become an editorial superstar; he's styled commercial ad campaigns for Equipment, Rock & Republic, and his boyfriend Eddie Borgo's fall collection. Keegan's work is regularly featured in some of the most elite fashion publications out there, including Purple and Love, and he's a frequent contributor to Nick Knight's online fashion collective Showstudio. When he's not busy styling shows -- this season he's working on Kimberly Ovitz, Jenni Kayne, and Jen Kao -- you can most likely find him at Organic Avenue stocking up on snacks, or hitting the sack early to stay refreshed for the next day. Read on to see what Fashion Week is really like through an expert stylist's discerning eye.


How long are your days on average during Fashion Week?
It really depends on how many shows I am working on.  Sometimes I am working on three shows so it can get pretty late.  Since the New York fashion week calendar is so packed you can spend a lot of your time waiting on models for fittings.  After you're done working with one designer, you might have to go meet with another one.  It ends up being long days.  When I am in Europe and not working on shows, I start around 11 and can be out pretty late at dinners with friends.

Describe a typical day of yours during Fashion Week.
I wake up and drink my two glasses of water with lemon and then have my green tea while looking at the shows I missed online.  After getting ready, I go into the studio with a designer.  I put looks together and do fittings.  When I am all done for the day, I'll go home to take a bath and read my favorite magazine, World of Interiors. When my boyfriend Eddie (Borgo) comes home, we chat about the day and go to bed early.  It's super important to keep it fresh for the next day.

In the weeks and days leading up to Fashion Week, what are your primary tasks? Do you help designers edit collections and create looks?
Yes, I work on all aspects of the collection, from deciding what piece is the priority to have made in a certain color to helping choose shoes and hair and make-up direction. I always like to put my two cents in about the show music, as well -- even if they don't listen to me. I'm always there for the designer as a second pair of eyes. I give my opinion since that is what I'm paid for.

Are there any shows in particular that you are looking forward to seeing this season?
I always love to see what Riccardo Tisci is going to do at Givenchy. When I'm in Paris, I love going to see Azzedine Alaia and the Balmain and Balenciaga shows.  I'm really into seeing Versus by Christopher Kane in Milan, as well.

When you go into a show, what's your mindset? What are you looking for? (Do you have specific clients/projects in mind when you  watch the shows, or are you just looking for pieces that you like and that inspire you? Are you looking for emerging trends? Etc.)
When I go into a show, I go in with a totally open mind and let what I see sink in. Sometimes a collection will inspire me or just get me excited to shoot editorial for the next season.  It's always a cool thing when that happens.

After you see all the shows, what's next? (Showroom visits? Grouping favorite looks into storyboards? How do you organize/edit down all of the hundreds of looks you've just seen?)
I look at all of the collections after the shows and print out the looks to be filed in books by country. These will be my references for editorial. I also come up with at least four or five story ideas and accompanying storyboards. Sometimes they are used, sometimes they aren't, but it's good discipline for me.  It really makes me hone in on what I like and believe in each season.

Do you have a Fashion Week "survival kit"? What are some items that we'd find in your bag at any given time during the shows?
I don't have a kit; I hate carrying things except for my Azzedine Alaia accessories look book, which is where I keep all my invites for the day.

Do you have a Fashion Week uniform?
Yes, my skinny black Trash and Vaudeville jeans, my Equipment shirts, mostly all black and navy, since I only carry on.  I never check my bags.

Do you have any pre-Fashion Week rituals? (getting out of town, spa treatments, yoga, etc.)
Before fashion week, I go to the The Shala yoga house and work with my favorite teachers Barbara, Kirsten and Jermey.  I also load up on the raw bars I love from Lydia's Organics.  Eddie and I love Quintessa, it's our new favorite place.  They have the best salad there called the Buddha Bowl.  I also go see my amazing facialist, Negin (917-538-2997).  It was my friend Pamela Love who introduced us.

What's the first aspect of normal life to go out the window during Fashion Week (sleep, full meals, contact with family, etc.)?
I talk to my dad almost everyday and my sister quite a bit.  I try to check in when I can; they keep me grounded.

No matter how tired you are after a long day of shows, are there any parties that you make sure you won't miss?
I always go to Ikram's dinner party in Paris. It is so much fun: all my really good friends all together at this really great Indian restaurant.  I also look forward to my friend Kevin Wendle's house party.

What's the thing you look forward to most once the Fashion Weeks are over?
I love going home to Northern California to see my dad and then to Santa Barbara to see my sister.