Carnita Nicole is the stylist and creative consultant you call when you need the job done right!

I recently had the incredible opportunity to meet Carnita Nicole through a digital cover she did with Cynthia Kaye McWilliams. The cover was for Cynthia’s new role in BET+’s Average Joe. The way she styled and showcased that cover, along with the other editorial images, was truly breathtaking in terms of creativity. It seemed appropriate for me to delve deeper into this creative force and present it to our readers.

She is someone who will remain on our radar because her work speaks for itself. Carnita is a rising star, and her journey is just beginning.

Carnita Nicole, who are you? I’m curious in where and how this incredible wardrobe stylist and creative consultant got her start.  
Let’s start at the beginning! Carnita Nicole is the only child to Carl & Alneta Whimper from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. I’m an Honors graduate with a bachelors from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and a master’s from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. Growing up, my mom and I would go shopping almost every weekend in Little Rock, Arkansas. I can see us going from store to store, looking through every rack for the perfect outfits to wear, like it was yesterday! I’m pretty sure my mom lit that fashion flame inside me. 

Fast Forward to 2013, I had been working in Marketing for Sam’s Club in Dallas, TX for 2 years and felt a little unfilled as my heart has always been in fashion. I did some research and a found certificate course for Wardrobe Styling. I attended the course and my instructor advised if I was seriously interested in this career path I should move to LA or New York. I’m not a fan of the cold and not having a vehicle so sunny LA sounded like the place for me. My 2nd to last class, I stood up in class and asked if anyone would like to move to LA with me at the beginning of the following year to pursue our careers. A fellow classmate chimed in and declared herself as my roommate on this new journey.  

My classmate made the journey with me to LA but only stayed a few months before leaving. Braving out my new LA life alone with the new realization that getting paid work as a brand-new wardrobe stylist with little experience is fairly difficult, my next 4 years was spent working as an Apparel Buyer for a major retailer and a vintage brand. While working corporate, I started to build my portfolio, collaborating with photographers, brands, models, Makeup artist, and hairstylist. While working with the vintage brand, I also took on the role of Stylist for our product & marketing shoots.  

From posting my work on social media, in 2018 I started to get clothing brands, showrooms, and magazines that reached out to work with me. One opportunity led me to the next and 5 years later I’ve worked with celebrities, brands, and networks we all know and love like Meagan Good, Duke Deuce, Savage X Fenty, TikTok, Bobbi Boss Hair, and most recently BET, where my client, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, was listed “Best Dressed Couple” at the BET Awards by BET Network.  

Please walk me through your clothing style procedure. What are some of your most important needs when it comes to bringing the look and mood to life?  
The primary start of bringing a look to life would be comprised of a few things. There needs to be a clear budget & terms, moodboard or style direction, having showrooms, brands, and designers I can call on to execute my look(s), and a fitting to secure our hero looks when possible. Whether I’m on a music video set, campaign set, or getting ready for the red carpet, I am my client’s personal ball of positive energy and boost of confidence. In the words of Deon Sanders, “When you look good, you feel good,” and that’s my all jobs rolled into one.   

Before you think my job is over, I’m also on set helping my client “get the shot” when necessary. I’m giving posing suggestions, playing their music, collaborating on creative ideas with the team, and ultimately creating an environment where clients feel comfortable and free to express themselves.  

Do you have any preferred brands?  
Oh Im a fashion girl… I definitely have a laundry list of brands I’ve worked with and/or admire for my current & future clients. The list should honestly be a directory, it’s so long. I’ll have to work on that for my fashion friends so be on the lookout for that on my website. In the meantime, I’ll give you a few to check out 

Ropes Clothing  
Aime Leon Dore 
Sergio Hudson 
Jeofroi 
Hanifa 
Atelier Ndigo 
Lionne  
Harrison Studio 
Kendall Miles 
Andrea Iyamah       

What about when you are consulting? What does that look like?  
When consulting with me, some of the key touchpoints are discovery, ideation, establishing teams, timelines, and execution. After the project, I like to review the takeaways and identify areas where I could make improvements to enhance both the project and client experience. This could involve adding personal touches to elevate the client experience or refining the overall workflow of the project.    

You’ve worked with celebrities from television, cinema, music, beauty, and brands. What is it about Carnita that makes people believe you will accomplish the task?  
The 1st thing that comes to mind is “if you build it, they will come”. I pride myself in building a quality portfolio over the years. People trust what they can see. I believe it’s more than just showing past work, it’s executing and being a pleasure to work with. I’m always in the mindset of editorial quality content and going above and beyond for my clients. Doing this gives my currents clients and their teams confidence to reference my work and their experience to others, which a lot of times will lead to your next client or project.     

How has your journey been in this industry?  
Eye Opening! The possibilities are endless! You know, I do something you can’t go to college for, in an industry where most people gate keep information and resources. Entrepreneurship is not easy but even so, I’ve managed to build a community and a career that I’m proud of. I’ve met some awesome creatives that trust my expertise and have learned to create space for my point of view rather than waiting for someone else to amplify my voice.  

This is a competitive market; how have you managed to distinguish and expand your brand and clientele?  
This is also a collaborative market! I network across and find others that I feel like my current & future self-aligns. You can’t get where you’re going alone. I realized that early on and have expanded my brand through collaboration and strategy. I’m a business owner at the end of the day, so planning, marketing, and strategy are key to sustainability and growth.   

What have you discovered about yourself at this stage of your career?  
I’m living my prayers and I’m just getting started!     

What’s it like to work with Carnita? Is there anything you don’t allow in the space to keep things running smoothly?   
Good vibes while getting the work done! There are no bad vibes on my set.  

Many people want to be where you are, but business comes first. When it comes to the business aspects, being a stylist or consultant, what advice do you have for creatives in this space? 
Treat yourself as a real business by clocking in for yourself every day, just like you would for a job. It is important to schedule your goals, invest in your skills, build your portfolio to attract the type of clients you want to work with, and seek business mentorship and a supportive community. Additionally, as an entrepreneur, it is crucial to establish multiple streams of income within your industry.  

What’s next for Carnita?  
I gotta tell you there’s so much more! I’m expanding and taking my collective talents into new spaces. You’ll have to wait and see for any more than that.