Adrienne Nettles is a makeup artist and hairstylist in Atlanta who I conducted my first interview with. She’s styled models in some Atlanta fashion shows and photoshoots. She does freelance work; works at the Red Carpet Salon and Spa, and is in her last year at the Aveda Institute in Atlanta.
Me: [So first, tell me your first and last name, where you’re from, and where you live now]
Adrienne: I’m Adrienne Nettles .I’m from McDonaugh, GA. I’m 25 years old. I live in Atlanta.
Me: [What school are you enrolled in?]
Adrienne: The Aveda Institute of Atlanta
Me: Have you worked as a stylist before this? What made you want to enroll in Aveda to get your certificate?
Adrienne: Actually I started doing makeup when I was in highschool, after working for Sephora, I decided to go to school to get my certificate in hair because they go hand in hand. I thought it would just help my business.
Me: I believe you said previously you were able to work on fashion shoots or been involved in the fashion scene in Atlanta?
Adrienne: The director [of her most recent fashion show] came looking for stylists from Aveda. I had to style the models in the way the director specifically wanted — the natural look. A lot of people want that look these days. You know the big bright eyed and natural face and lots of glow. I did two shoots. One was very casual, there was one that was high fashion. The high fashion one involved a lot of crazy makeup, that was really fun.
Me: [Do you have a preference of which of the two you’d prefer? Like what’s your style? Do you have a very different fashion sense in the day-to-day then what you like working on? Or are those two things similar?]
Adrienne: I actually like to do dramatic makeup. More than I like natural — I mean that does bring out your inner beauty. But the more dramatic makeup brings out more of your personality and people can see, “Oh wow, she must be really fun to wear all that makeup, ya know?” It makes people smile. It’s more fun to do.
Me: Speaking of wild makeup, you were at the Imagine Festival in Atlanta this past weekend, right?
Adrienne: Mhm. Yes
Me: What was some of the craziest or stand out trends this year? What did you like? What did you not like?
Adrienne: The craziest things were the pasties. People wear something on top of them but you know, very see through, crop tops, aliens, holographic pictures…it’s really out there. I’d say the worst would be — the guys in choo choos. That would be the worst. It’s really funny to look at though.
Me: [It’s weird how- I think you’re more familiar with this scene but — it’s weird how raves have their own little subculture, isn’t it?]
Adrienne: I think for the EDM culture- it’s mainly neon colors, very accessorized. But mostly people dress in colors– just at this very moment, people are very go with the flow. EDM in general, has so many subcultures, that you can pick any genre. They have country influences and hip hop influences.
Me: It seems that the fashion and the music are very intertwined in those ways, don’t you think?
Adrienne: Mhm, definitely.
Me: Changing the subject a little, I know you’ve traveled a bit, from like Atlanta to NYC — how do you think the fashion scene — including makeup and hair — how do you think the scene is different, Atlanta’s scene is different versus NYC?
Adrienne: I think Atlanta is more open to more body types. I think in NYC you see more slender people. I think in Atlanta, they wear what they’d like to. I think in NYC, larger people dress more for what makes [other peoples eyes] comfortable. But women in Atlanta, they’re very carefree. Crazy hair in Atlanta. You’ll see piles and piles of extensions in Atlanta. And it’s not just African-Americans, it’s all kinds of people. That you see rocking these crazy hairstyles. I’d say, we’re the national hair capital of the world.
Me: So [Atlanta’s] a much more diverse fashion scene? It’s not like New York, where it’s like monochrome skinny models?
Adrienne: Yeah.
Me: What are your goals? Do you want to stay in Atlanta for your career or go someplace else?
Adrienne: I want to stay in Atlanta. Everyone’s moving here. Why would I want to leave Atlanta when everyone’s coming to this place that could be as incredible as NYC.