The Inside Out Mag Search for a Stylist is Back. Here’s who to Vote for

It feels like forever ago that I took part in the Inside Out Mag Search for a Stylist competition. It was in fact only back on 2014, but it feels like at least five years have passed.

I still remember feeling (and in all fairness, being) completely out of my depth at the time. I hadn’t done a lot of styling work back then – if any – but I was asked to take part, and take part I did. I had no idea that the calibre of work from other budding stylists was going to be so phenomenal. And when I saw the eight mock magazine covers, which is what you’re tasked to create, I was oohing and ahhing at everyone’s work.

Two years on and with a lot more styling and decorating work under my belt, it’s cute (if not a little cringey) to look back at my cover, but that’s all par for the course in this creative journey, and every shoot gives you an opportunity to learn valuable lessons for the next one.

Inside Out Mag is in year three of its Search for a Stylist comp, which sees another eight stylists create their dream Inside Out cover using products from The Home. I’ve taken a look at all eight covers and there’s not a cringe moment in sight. Truth be told, the talent gets better and better every year, and this time around I am so excited that two friends of TLC Interiors have taken part.

Winners receive a chance to style with Inside Out and The Home, plus $1000 to spend on The Home website. Let’s take a look at the two best covers from the competition…

The Inside Out Mag Search for a Stylist 2016

Jessi Deakin’s Cover

Jessi and I studied alongside each other at ISCD (read about our study journey here) and since then this beach-meets-boho styling queen has launched her own business, Dreamcatcher Designs, which produces a whole tonne of divine macrame goodies for the home. I’ve interviewed Jessi about her creative journey on the blog before, so if you’re eager to find out more about her work, you can click here.

Jessi also works in home staging, has a background in fashion and has worked on both product and editorial styling shoots in the past. What I love about Jessi’s front cover is that she’s stayed true to her aesthetic; it really is a stunning mesh of beach and bohemian, and it showcases the power of using texture over colour wonderfully.

If you’d like to vote for Jessi’s cover, which you totally should, just click here.

Rory Carter’s Cover

It goes without saying that the use of bold colour always gives me a little heart murmur for all the right reasons. Rory’s cover definitely does that and a whole lot more. Not only does it feature  vivid blue backdrop, but it also uses my fave flower – the Bird of Paradise – alongside other lush greenery and gorgeous wood tones.

Rory has spent the last few years working with the best in the business, including the likes of Vogue Living, Belle, Country Style, Real Living and more. The best part, though, is that he is now a regular contributor for TLC Interiors, bringing you TLC’s monthly design trend report. Click here to read July’s, and stay tuned for August’s.

If you’d like to cast a vote for Rory, you can do so by clicking here.