A Conversation with Maria Divaris: Editorial Stylist
Maria Divaris is a new face in the Los Angeles fashion scene having recently moved to California from London, where she spent three years as a freelance stylist, writer and television presenter. She worked for a number of high profile clients ranging from Cartier to Diesel. Maria also featured as a regular guest on iconic British chat show Richard and Judy, where she had a weekly spot presenting the latest trends. Prior to her time in London Maria was a Fashion Editor at American Marie Claire in New York for a number of years. In 1999 she earned her start in magazines after sending her portfolio to Anna Wintour at Vogue. This move quickly lead Maria to a position in the fashion dept at Allure Magazine, working under legendary editors such as Polly Mellen and Paul Cavaco. In 2000 she went to work at Marie Claire where she stayed until the end of 2006. During her time as Fashion Editor at Marie Claire, Maria styled and produced countless shoots for the magazine and became one of the magazine’s most valuable creatives. Marriage to British TV producer, Simon Hammerson, led Maria to relocate to the UK. Maria is loving her new life in Los Angeles where she now lives with her husband and 3 dogs.
Tell us the story behind your favorite wardrobe item
Maria: I think I have been obsessed with the Hermes Birkin since the beginning of time. It is such an iconic and classic bag that will NEVER go out of style and while it is crazy expensive it’s the kind of thing I know I will keep forever until I can pass it on to my daughter of granddaughter. The problem is, it is so impossible to get that at one point there was a 3 year long waiting list which they eventually had to do away with because it got so crazy. So, getting one really relies on being at the right Hermes store, at the right time, when the right bag comes in, oh and if the sales person is feeling particularly helpful. One day my husband and I were walking down Fifth Avenue in New York and on a whim he suggested we pop in to see if they have one. I was reluctant as, if they had one, there’s no way I could leave without it and the thought of parting with that much money made me very uneasy. We went in and they had one but it wasn’t the right size or color that I cared for so we continued to look around the store. Next thing I knew the salesman came out with an enormous orange box, which he began unwrapping in front of us. He informed me that he did have one that was held for another customer who had never come in for it. He proceeded to pull out the most gorgeous bag I had ever seen. It was the blue jean color and a size 35 with palladium hardware. I started to sweat as all the other ladies in the store started circling waiting for me to decline the bag. Needless to say, I left with the bag! It is my most treasured item in my wardrobe because it is timeless, suitable for just about every ocasion, and it will always remind me about that romantic stroll down Fifth Avenue with my darling husband who had decided it was time for me to stop rattling on about some bag.
What’s your most memorable ‘panic moment’?
Maria: It was many years ago when I was Fashion Editor at Marie Claire magazine in New York. I had finished styling for a shoot I had the following day and sent the clothes, accessories and my prop kit off with our messenger service to drop off to the studio where we were shooting the next day. I had gone home for the evening when I got the phone call at about 8pm that the messenger had been held up at gun point and everything had been stolen. My shoot was the next day and the call time was at 8am. The messenger was fine and they had insurance but I had 12 hours until call time to figure out what I was going to do.
How did you recover from it gracefully?
Maria: There was no time to freak out so the first call I made was to my managing editor to explain the situation and discuss solutions. I then called my bookings editor and my photographer so that we could push back the call until noon. I then scheduled a car to pick me up the following morning and mapped out my course of action (aka shopping) to hit the stores at 10am when they opened so that I could re-purchase everything from scratch. It was manic and crazy but ultimately the shoot was a success and I learned that sometimes unexpected things happen that you could never predict or troubleshoot and you just have to do whatever is necessary to make things work.
What is your favorite era for fashion?
Maria: I don’t think I can choose just one so I’ll choose the one we’re in currently because it references all of the brilliant eras that precede it. The 20’s, 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s which all have such amazing fashion moments have all be referenced and brought back with a futuristic twist in recent years. The way they have been reinvented is so special because whilst you see the nods to the bygone era its been modernized and twisted to be so relevant, fresh and wearable. If I had to choose I would say how much I adore the flapper period in the 20’s and the bohemian glamour of the 70’s.
What was your big break?
Maria: My big break came in university. I was studying photography and always loved fashion so all of my work was very fashion inspired. I knew I wanted to go into fashion but didn’t know how to go about getting my foot in the door. So, I made a book of my work (in which I photographed and styled my friends) and sent it off to the names I found at the top of the mastheads of my favorite magazines. A couple weeks later I got a package in my mailbox that read “from the office of Anna Wintour.” My heart literally stopped and I ripped it open to find a letter from Ms. Wintour and several issues of Vogue. In the letter she thanked me for my interest and gave me the name and contact info for the head of Human Resources at Conde Nast (whom she had also cc’ed). The very next day I received a letter from the woman at Human Resources saying they wanted to meet me. I called her and explained that I was graduating in a month and she asked me to call her then to come in and meet. So I packed up and moved to New York after graduation and gave them a call once I had settled in. I went in for a meeting the next day. After meeting with Human Resources I got a call about an hour later saying I was to interview at Vogue that afternoon and about 10 minutes after that I got a call from Allure saying they wanted me to come in before my Vogue meeting. It was whirlwind of a dream come true, I hopped back in a cab and headed up to Conde Nast. By the end of the day I had a job as a fashion assistant at Allure magazine, which I started the following day. So, I owe my entire career to the break that Ms. Anna Wintour, who I consider the most amazing, powerful and inspiring woman of our time, gave me. The tiniest gesture on her part changed the entire course of my life.
Whose closet would you most like to raid?
Maria: The two British Kate’s – Moss and Middleton!! These two women have some of the most iconic style of our generation. I consider my personal taste to be classic with a twist so I would love to pick pieces out of both wardrobes – Middleton for the classic and Moss for the twist!
Who are your favorite designers?
Maria: Balenciaga for their forward thinking while still referencing bygone eras and blazing the way for what we will all be wearing in the future. Alexander McQueen for breaking rules and turning fashion into art. Prabal Gurung for the freshness and excitement he brings to his collections and his ability to balance both sexy and feminine. Michael Kors for understanding true luxury, knowing how real women want to dress and never wavering from that aesthetic.
Thanks Maria! Such an exciting career! To learn more about Maria please visit www.mariadivaris.com. You can also follow her on twitter @mariadivaris
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