Celebrity stylist Natasha Guttenbeil has a smile that can light up a room. Editor Trudi Brewer steps into her airy family home to discover what matters most in her world.
Image Milana Radojcic
There is an energy about Natasha Guttenbeil that is infectious. When she is not working as a freelance stylist on commercials and magazine shoots, her focus is family. Here's a slice of her life.
Career
How did you become a stylist?
I had always worked in television and media, and after two years of living in the UK back in 2009, I decided to come home and give styling a focus. I assisted on the first series of New Zealand's Next Top Model, without pay for a few weeks. It was a good move, I learnt so much about the industry and got to meet so many contacts.
What’s a typical working day for you?
Being a freelancer means there is no ‘typical’ day. I try and get up early, read, do some yoga or meditate to start the day. I also need to eat pretty quickly - breakfast is my favourite meal. Then I get my kids to school, and if I have a shoot that week, I’ll either be sourcing clothes, working on set or doing returns after the shoot. I also run two other businesses; one is a product I designed called ‘Mapes’ (a mask and cape combination) that sell as NRL Fan Merchandise and the other is a direct sales skincare, makeup and nutrition line. I work out at least three times a week - either the gym or social sport like indoor netball or touch rugby. I’ve been committed to keeping fit lately, it’s so important for my health and sanity, which are essential for a busy person.
What do you love most about your career?
The variety and the creative outlet. Also working with incredibly interesting people, from actresses to All Blacks to stunt people to reality TV stars.
What are the challenges when you're dressing women for a red carpet event?
I try a lot of options before I find a style that suits. There are so many factors - not just the obvious like getting a dress that fits and flatters but organising a designer or label who is happy to support and lend a garment in return for credit. Social media has helped that. I style the lovely (actress & stunt woman) Zoe Bell, who lives in L.A, so that distance presents some challenges, but we have got the 'remote styling' down to a fine art now. Together on Facetime, we decide on the entire look, including hair, makeup, nails, and the shoes using samples from PR agencies. She loves representing New Zealand designers, and it’s been great to dress her in the likes of Zambesi, Stolen Girlfriends and others.
Where do you get your style inspiration?
Almost entirely online now. I buy the odd fashion magazine more for nostalgia. However, it's always Instagram and Pinterest that offer endless inspiration. I have a few bloggers I love for my personal style- Elle & Tash from They All Hate Us, Sincerely Jules and Audrey Lombard.
What’s the best fashion advice you always share?
Dress to accentuate your best assets instead of dressing to hide flaws. This often ends up highlighting that flaw you may obsess over.
What has been your career high to date?
It was with my Mapes business, the first year I trialled them at the NRL Nines, Heidi Klum was in town, she saw the Warriors boys wearing them and tried one on. She took a photo of herself wearing my Mape, her Heidi Klum bra and jeans then posted it to her Instagram. When a friend sent me the link I had to sit down, I felt woozy. It was hilarious that after eight years of styling and trying to get great jobs, I finally got to dress one of the world’s top supermodels, in one of my funny little Mapes. I’m now trying to get the design licensed in the US, and I always have in the back of my mind that I’d love to send Heidi a Mape of her favourite NFL team, the Patriots - watch this space.
Home
How would you describe your home?
Light and minimal. I love a home that lets in lots of natural light. And a reflection of us as a family, filled with things we love and the best memories. I am constantly working on keeping out clutter, trying to stick to the Marie Kondo theory of only keeping things that spark joy.
Where do you look for inspiration when starting your home?
Again, online is my greatest resource, Pinterest and Instagram. But I also look to the family and see what we all love and find a way to have those things on display in a way that’s aesthetically pleasing to us all.
What makes a great interior?
It needs to reflect the people that live there, have plenty of light and space to live in. I don't like things so structured that you can’t relax. A home should be a haven for everyone who lives there.
What do you always have on your bedside table?
Books. I find that I can easily get on my phone first thing in the morning and one of the best ways to diffuse that is to have a mixture of books, fiction and non-fiction within reaching distance so I can wake my mind up with books instead of technology.
What is your favourite room?
My bedroom, I love the high ceilings and bay windows so much that I moved my home office desk in there. I find it helps me keep my desk tidy, and my work more enjoyable to be in a space that I love.
What are your most treasured possessions?
I try not to treasure possessions; I work on being attached to my memories over things. It came from losing my mum at 25; she was only 45. That taught me her ‘stuff’ was not important, it can easily get lost, but the memories attached to that stuff are what I treasure most, that can never be taken from me.
Fashion
Who is your fashion icon?
I can’t pick just one, my list changes. From bloggers to Nicole Richie, Jackie O and Emma Watson. I admire anyone who is fearless or effortless with their styling. My 11-year-old daughter is both of those things, so I guess she’s one of my icons.
What is the one investment fashion item you will be buying this winter?
A coat and boots. I haven’t settled on a coat yet, but I’m eyeing up a pair of Kathryn Wilson boots. It's a good idea to invest time into researching to buy each season. I try not to impulse buy and have more of a courtship with pieces before I invest.
Who are your favourite local and international fashion designers?
I’m not particularly snobbish about designers; I like what I like when I see it. I like Isabel Marant, Zuhair Murad and Ellie Saab. My best dressed at the latest Oscars were all in Ralph and Russo. As far as New Zealand designers go, I love Knuefferman; her clothes make women look so feminine. Also, Zambesi and Stolen Girlfriends never disappoint.
What handbag will you carry this season?
Deadly Ponies - I love that they’re handmade in New Zealand and they age incredibly well, which is important because they take a bit of a battering in my life.
What is your fashion weakness?
I wish I were more obsessed with shoes. I love them, like works of art, but I feel like I don’t study them enough. However, shoes do make or break an outfit. Instead, I find myself distracted by other accessories like jewellery and handbags.
What's your favourite fashion look right now?
The 90’s revival but I have to admit it makes me feel a bit weird because I wore this stuff the first time around when I was in school. It feels like I’m dressing up as my younger self, but I love it on other people.
Beauty
What does beauty mean to you?
I’ve found that the most beautiful thing about someone is often the thing they are completely unaware they have.
What is your one beauty indulgence?
Eyelash extensions. I don’t know why but even waterproof mascara ends up giving me the Panda eyes look, so dark extensions are a better option for me. They are my one indulgence, the service takes around 40 mins, and I have to have my eyes closed during the treatment, so I can justify having a nap in the middle of the day.
What would we always find in your beauty bag?
I am partial to the odd Kylie Lip Kit or Eye Palette.
What beauty advice do you find yourself sharing?
Be kind to yourself - so many women, of all shapes and sizes, have a terrible amount of negative self-talk going on. The beauty products or routines you use are pretty pointless if you’re beating yourself up on the inside.
What’s your favourite fragrance?
Forever and Ever by Dior, it was my wedding day fragrance. Right now, every day I’m wearing Marc Jacobs Decadence which was a present from a lovely stylish friend, and I get a lot of comments when I wear it.
Photography Milana Radojcic
Makeup MAC
@stylist_tash
@originalmapes