Blue Ivy's stylist is helping to popularize celebrity children's style. Here, he shares all that his job entails.
Manuel Mendez is known to plan as many as 90 outfits at a time, all of which are for one very famous seven-year-old.
Much like her contemporary North West, Blue Ivy, the eldest daughter of Beyoncé and Jay Z, has made headlines in recent years for establishing herself as a young fashionista. Last year she wore a custom Valery Kovalska tuxedo pantsuit to the Grammy Awards and a Billie Blush dress in Jay Z’s “Family Feud” video. In July, she appeared in the video for “Spirit” from Disney’s “The Lion King” remake, in which she wore a custom purple tulle dress by Microwave and matching Alejandro Collection top.
Mendez is the fashion force behind these looks and others Blue has worn, as WWD confirmed last year, and has been quietly styling the young celebrity since before she was even born. He began his career with the Carters nearly a decade ago as Beyoncé’s personal assistant. In 2011, when the famed singer became pregnant with Blue, Mendez was tasked with keeping stock of and organizing the many gifts that poured in for the expecting mother. Eventually, that job turned into shopping for the newborn.