We often see a celebrity suddenly undergo a major fashion revival, making us wonder how they went from sporting not-so-flattering looks to stunning ones just like that.

Orchestrating such stylish moments is what celebrity stylists are responsible for; they put in a lot of effort to create various looks that you see on the red carpets at different events, fashion shoots etc. We caught up with celebrity stylist and image creator Sana Anver, who is the brains behind styling some of our favourite celebs such as Mansha Pasha, Sonya Hussyn, Saba Qamar and Ayesha Omar. While Sonya has won the Style Icon award twice in the past, Mansha recently bagged the award for her amazing style, and of course the credit goes to Sana who has created all their looks from the get go.

Having done her schooling from Montreal, Canada, Sana Anver headed to Paris to attend fashion school. She studied at the Institute of Marangoni and it was there that Sana learned about a fashion styling course they were offering. “It was a one-year course and once you were done with it you would be officially certified as a stylist internationally,” she tells Instep in a candid conversation.

“So, I thought it was a great opportunity to get exposure and gain experience. Most importantly I felt if I have a formal education in styling it would give me that confidence to pursue my career later on,” she adds.

Sana has been always inclined towards fashion and she recalls that she always admired fashion and was fascinated by trendy styles. Talking about what inspired her to become a stylist, she shares, “I remember as a child I used to go to toy stores, pick up Barbies and select their clothes, shoes and everything related to fashion. It was so much fun dressing up my dolls, because that was the only thing I could do at that time, dress them up.”

Sana went on to say that she was very particular about what she wore, even when she was a little baby and couldn’t speak properly. “As for how I got into this field, it was after I completed my graduation and I was officially a certified stylist, I couldn’t stay in Paris and the next best option was to come to Pakistan. At that time, almost seven years ago, styling wasn’t that popular in our industry, it was not something that people were really aware of here.”

She continues, “In fact, this profession was fairly new in Pakistan, but I tried my luck and sent my resume and a cover letter, describing my profession and what and who I am, to a couple of design houses. Fortunately, I got a call from designer Tena Durrani and I was called in for an interview. I was offered the job of an in-house stylist there and I would give credit to Tena Durrani because that is where it all started.”

The image creator shares that she met her first celebrity client, Ayesha Omar at the design house, where she had come to select an outfit for a formal event and Sana helped her out. “We exchanged numbers. After some time, Ayesha called, asking me to style her for an upcoming event. It was a very last-minute thing, but I agreed to create a look for her. She went ahead with it, and it turned out to be a super hit. I created a few more looks for her and that is how it got going basically,” she says, adding that she met more clients via networking and word of mouth and that there is no looking back.

Speaking of her personal fashion/design philosophy, she says that she goes by ‘less is more’. “My personal style is very minimal, I don’t add too much to my looks and wouldn’t go all out with jewelry and accessories or shoes. Even when I am dressed up, my focus is basically on my outfit, not even the bag and shoes as such,” she reveals.

On how she styles her look on a day-to-day basis, Sana shares that she usually wears jeans - flared or high-waisted - with t-shirts, tops and flats. “I also love wearing lose dresses that I can style with different kinds of belts and wear flats; that is my go-to style,” she says.

The celeb stylist, who keeps herself updated with the latest fashion trends mostly via Instagram, shares that the six pieces in her wardrobe that she could shuffle around would include her high-waisted jeans, black pair of knee-high boots and a camel blazer. The rest three would include a really nice set of active wear (sweatshirt and sweatpants), a cross-body bag that could fit in her phone, wallet, keys and maybe a lip gloss, and a nice pair of classy, comfy heels.

As far as her most interesting styling project is concerned, she tells Instep that it has to be the edgy and dramatic looks that she created for Ayesha Omar. “She was representing Pakistan as Maybelline’s brand ambassador at the New York Fashion Week. So, I had to keep the brand’s aesthetics in mind while styling her and it was really fun and exciting.”

On a parting note, we asked Sana Anver where she sees style going in terms of clothes, hair, and makeup? She responds, “I feel style is very subjective and there is no right or wrong. It is very personal and depends on the way individuals express themselves according to their aesthetic choices. How they put an outfit together by choosing clothes, accessories, hairstyle, makeup. If you are comfortable in something, then you do you. One just needs to have fun.”

Shoes and bags everybody should own…

According to the image creator, it depends on a person’s preference as well. “I feel a medium-sized cross-body bag works perfectly, you can take it sideways or hold that bag, whatever suits you,” she says. As for shoes, Sana is of the opinion that everyone should own a good pair of comfortable white sneakers. Nude heels are a must, as they go with everything. Also one should definitely own knee-high boots in either black, brown or beige.

3 tips for dressing for work…

The stylist suggests keeping it comfortable. “It could be a formal or a casual workplace, whatever it is just keep it comfy,” she advises. “Another tip is to understand your work surroundings and then dress accordingly. The third tip: if you wear a pair of heels to work, make sure to carry an extra pair of flats with you.”

How to dress for an interview?

Sana advises keeping the look minimal. Whether it is your clothes or accessories, follow the less is more rule. “You want to look good, so it is important to think about what you are going to wear a little in advance. Open your wardrobe, take out clothes, mix and match, and pick just what you are comfortable in. When you are comfortable, you’ll have enough confidence to nail your interview. Also, it is a good idea to wear a dark pair of jeans paired with a shirt and blazer.”

Dressing for a formal dinner

It all depends on the venue and the vibe, but adding silk to your outfit – a silk top or skirt – looks elegant. “You can keep your look minimal by opting for studs, but if you want to add more edge, you can wear a statement necklace or earrings,” suggests Sana. “Usually what happens is when you think of a formal dinner you automatically feel that you should wear heels to add that formal touch to it, I don’t think that is necessary. You can definitely go for stylish, trendy flats. My go-to formal dinner outfit would be a fitted turtleneck top with high-waisted formal pants or jeans and ankle boots.”

Cringe-worthy styles

“I don’t understand why bedazzled jeans that have sequins or pearls exist in the first place,” shares Sana. “I feel they don’t look flattering at all. However, as I mentioned earlier style is very subjective and if someone likes it, that is absolutely fine. But I just don’t get that aesthetic.”