Bold, Unexpected & Playful x Cassandra Dittmer

My background is in red carpet styling. I have worked in the industry for about 12 years and love aligning people's values to their wardrobe choices. 

My second internship was in styling while I was still in school many moons ago. This was in the Rachel Zoe era where it was still a really new industry. I loved the idea of being able to work with different brands in unique ways and have always been inspired by the creativity that comes along with styling. Every stylist is really their own artist. I wanted to have flexibility and be my own boss since I can remember. I also love that with styling you need a lot of design knowledge as well as entrepreneurship and I love how intimate the whole experience is. 

My entry into the sustainability space was really organic. Once I started my own styling and consulting business, it became clear to me that the ethos of brands was equally important to the aesthetics. Living in LA and in a more celebrity obsessed culture, I came to cultivate a community of talent and clients that would lead with their values. I also have had the privilege of traveling a lot for work and I would always go and visit smaller designers across the globe at every opportunity. I quickly saw many brands doing innovative things as well as some brands having poor conditions that I could not unsee. I always wanted to move the industry forward in a way that I was proud of and “just another PR moment” doesn’t really do it for me. I need more substance! 

Values are at the heart of every collaboration I enter into. For styling, this means my client's values lead and the clothing selection follows. This might mean wanting to work with vegan, diverse or women-led brands to name a few. As far as content creation and design goes, I love exploring and sharing how brands approach sustainability. I find that by sharing and reimagining what sustainability means, it helps create a space that feels inviting. There are many brands and creators sharing aesthetic finds, but I believe that as a sustainable creator we must push beyond the surface and champion brands that are really putting in the work. This means considering every person behind the garment, as well as the planet – the full life cycle. 

I believe in being a student and a teacher at once. In the sustainability space, we have to check our egos enough to collaborate with each other. Education to me is ultimately about continuing to stay curious, being open to collaboration and, of course, holding yourself accountable.

It starts with being open-minded and having the patience and understanding to bring your community along this journey in absolute transparency. 

Challenge yourself to integrate sustainable practices in your life. And this isn't just in fashion. It might be how you grocery shop, prioritize clean beauty or buy from local makers. Being more considerate truly is a muscle. Also, putting yourself in spaces where you align with people and can build community and connection around consciousness is really inspiring.  

My personal style is bold, unexpected & playful. If I had to use one word I would also say it is quite “collected,” which makes it easier to incorporate sustainable practices like slowly curating, buying second hand & not appeasing to trends quickly. A thoughtful wardrobe happens over time. It felt daunting at first, but after years it is now second nature to me to look into a brand before purchasing and not impulse shop. The need for a quick dopamine purchase doesn’t hit me as hard. I have methods like making lists, screenshot-ting items I like for review monthly, checking second hand sites and saving up for sustainable investment brands. Everyone is at a different place in their eco-journey and the best time to start is now!

I keep changing my favorite item every few days as they all fit so seamlessly into my wardrobe. My favorite part has been how all these items feel special, yet they are really easy to style with existing items. I have been living in this Ada Dress all summer. I feel like it is just the perfect every day chic. The cotton poplin is chef's kiss!