TheShoeGoddess.comThe Shoe Goddess

Michelle Wendell, Owner of Chic Little Devil Style House, has a job that any fashion lover could only dream of. Running her massive studio, Wendell looks out on a world of couture, from vintage wonders and one-of-a-kind fascinations to ready-to-wear loves and accessories everywhere. Upon walking into Chic Little Devil Style House to meet Michelle, I instantly thought I had just walked into the fashion heaven that I have visited many times in my dream. But, it was no dream. Michelle has put together a true style house, which has become home to our favorite designers and many more that we will watch grow. Michelle is creative, business minded and truly a pleasure to be around. For those of you in Los Angeles, or planning a trip, Chic Little Devil Style House is a must-go-to place for all of your shopping needs, making celebrity style beyond accessible. And for those of you not in Los Angeles, visit the Chic Little Devil online store to satisfy your designer duds needs. In the meantime, get to know Michelle Wendell, the luckiest business owner I know!

Name: Michelle Wendell

Profession: Owner/Principal of Chic Little Devil – LA’s Largest Style House

Location: Los Angeles, CA

The Shoe Goddess: What is your typical day like?

Michelle Wendell: A day at our studios consists of meeting with our clients to help them pull the best look for their Editorial shoot, Red Carpet Appearance, Movie Premiere, Music Video, TV show, movie scene and more. We see about 5 to 6 clients a day looking for the best fashion pieces in Southern California. I manage a wonderful staff of 7 full time employees and 30 interns. I also do ALL the buying and designer signing for my company.

Giambattista Valli

TSG: What is your typical day like during Awards Season time?

MW: CRAZY AND HECTIC….The Oscars, Golden Globes, Grammys, People’s Choice, SAG – we’re doing them all! Awards season is one of our most hectic but also our most favorite time of the year. We work hard to balance making celebs look perfect, satisfying all of our designers with the right placements and just making HISTORY on the red carpet is our ultimate goal.

During Awards season we go beyond just the red carpet; we dress clients for media events, press junkets and the likes. Our collections provide a whole array of different style choices guaranteed to get them on the Best Dressed List. Today alone we had stylists pulling for Ashley Olsen, Allyson Hannigan, Sofia Vergara (Modern Family), Rachel Bilson, Nya Rivera (Glee), Samantha Harris, and many more!

We provide everything for our clients – from the dress to shoes, bags, belts and accessories. Head to toe. J

TSG: What celebrities do you think are always at the cutting edge of trends?

MW: Lady Gaga – isn’t she always pushing the boundaries? The Olsens march to their own drum. Obsessed with how Rodarte is currently mixing fabrics. Bianca Jagger, Francois Hardy, Pat Penetar and Axl Rose from Guns and Roses are some old-schoolers from whom I draw inspiration. In general, I also love reading international magazines to get outside the box of American fashion.

TSG: What are the biggest trends that you think we will see on the Red Carpets this year?

MW: With the economy still on everyone’s mind I think the looks this year will try to bring about a more positive outlook. So goodbye black and hello bright colors! Look for stylish accessories to create dramatic impact on otherwise simple gowns.

TSG: What trends should we expect to see on starlet’s feet this Spring and Summer?

MW: The higher the better – we love ourselves some ULTRA-HIGH platforms and platform pumps and with the runways showing off some sky high heels we know there are going to be some starlets that tower over the competition – style wise that is! Also, you heard it from me first…seasons from now, everyone is going to be sporting Americana-inspired looks: red, white and blue will reign.

Dolce and Gabbana (LOVE these)

TSG: What celebrity would you love to personally style?

MW: I’ve already styled most of the ones I would love to style. I’d like to work with some 80’s goddesses like Naomi Campbell and Stephanie Seymour.

TSG: How did you start Chic Little Devil Style House?

MW: The story – Seven years ago Fashion and Fate collided on a summer’s day at the Barney’s New York Warehouse sale. LA stylist Michelle Wendell poured through the racks looking for that rare piece another fashionista missed the first time around.  After 5 pairs of Manolos and Louboutins, 2 to-die-for Prada gowns, 9 Diane von Furstenberg dresses and 1 YSL bag later, Michelle knew she has found jewels and started an online store. Every penny of the sales (and some from her former career) went back into amassing more and more amazing fashions to sell in her ebay store, soon to be named Chic Little Devil (www.chiclittledevil.com). She would comb everywhere from vintage stores to celebrity stylist’s closets, yard sales in Bel Air, estate sales in Beverly Hills, flea markets in NYC and more…

Always one to share the wealth, Michelle let all her friends know of her budding archive of fashion history to dress her friends and any poor girl in dire need of a fashion intervention. Her stylist career was born, and Michelle moved the business, now Chic Little Devil Style House, from a 900 sq ft place in Santa Monica, CA to a 10,000 sq ft penthouse loft in a famous historic art deco building in downtown Los Angeles.

As more requests for her services came in, Michelle realized there was a need for a central Style House in Los Angeles for stylists, costume designers, celebrities, photographers, models and the like to find must have pieces for TV, movies, photo shoots, press etc. Michelle called her designer friends to help answer the fashion call.  The mission? A fashion and style takeover of Los Angeles by providing the tastemakers with access to the best in fashion. And thus, Chic Little Devil Style House was born.

TSG: What exactly does Chic Little Devil Style House do?

MW: CHIC LITTLE DEVIL STYLE HOUSE is LA’s largest Style House & offers Studio Services for professional costume designers and wardrobe stylists to select from our stock of over 40,000 designer garments, accessories, and shoes from over 200 top designers (from couture to contemporary to vintage). We also offer top-notch designer PR, personal client wardrobe styling and location & event services.

TSG: How can those not in Los Angeles reap the benefits of Chic Little Devil Style House?

MW: Shoppers literally ALL around the world can shop with us at www.chiclittledevil.com. We also sign and rep designers from around the globe and we love to help give great international designers a US presence.

TSG: What in our closets should we keep from last season? And what new items should we stock up with for next season?

MW: Keep leather jackets, high shoes, monochromatic big stacks of cuff bracelets. Stock up on rad bags.

Alexander McQueen

TSG: What colors do you expect to see a lot of on the red carpet?

MW: I expect to see cream, gold, black and red, and I wish I would see marigold

TSG: Where are your favorite places to shop? And your go-to designers?

MW: Honestly, not to sound contrived, but I really online shop at chic little devil, we have EVERYTHING. I buy directly from all my designers so I get great deal. The 10 most recent things I bought (not from myself at CLD)….hahah

1. a navy and white stripe Alexander Wang loose-fitting burned out basic tee from the Alexander Wang site

1. a Raquel Allegra raw leather tank dress at Elyse Walker. I work closely with Elyse and we carry a lot of the same brands.

1. cherry red YSL Tribute 2 slingback pumps

1. Chanel quilted thigh-high boots

1. a vintage Chanel huge cuff bracelet on ebay (it looks really chunky and gold like the modern CC skye braclets)

1. some Fendi 7″ heel leather ankle high motorcycle boots at Intermix

1. a long Balenciaga gown, directly from the designer, one of a kind

1. a Manoush fur coat in navy with a puff-ball collar, also directly from the designer

1. Gasoline Glamour gown and huge rhinestone “clowny murder” necklace for the style house, we are the ONLY ones in LA who have gasoline glamour.

1. Missoni bedding

TSG: What is your go-to outfit for work, and for play?

MW: For work, tall platform/heel Balenciaga harness boots, black tights and shorts with a 60’s inspired top…so comfy. For play…a mini and super duper huge statement heels.

TSG: What are your go-to shoes, for work and for play?

MW: For work, Givenchy booties with a small-ish wedge and a chain wrapped around them. For play, Guiseppe Zanotti big huge platforms in dark wine.

TSG: How does your career affect your personal style?

MW: I am so busy setting other people’s personal style that I don’t have as much time to think of mine anymore. It’s more a labor of love now.

TSG: What are your favorite hobbies?

MW: Flea marketing, traveling, reading fashion books, animals (love them).

TSG: What can always be found in your purse?

MW: My gold metallic mykita aviator shades. Pink lip balm.

TSG: If you were stranded on a desert island, and could only bring one item of fashion (clothing, accessories, shoes, etc.), what would it be?

MW: My 7″ platform John Galliano wedges to help me pick the coconuts off the trees! And, if I can smuggle one more….a large floppy hat.

For more information, visit Chic Little Devil Style House.