Taryn Bickley grew up in Birmingham, Michigan during the age of spandex, tent dresses and 1990s color blocking. A fashion follower since the age of 7, her first influences included her grandmother—who famously owned the same chiffon trapeze dress as Zsa Zsa Gabor—Vogue, and the portraits of Slim Aarons' après skiers.
Eager to cultivate her writing experience, Taryn received a B.A. in English/Creative Writing from Denison University. It was here that she began her throng of fashion internships, the first in PR at menswear label Joseph Abboud in New York City, followed by an assistant position at Sydney-based fashion distributor Papucci Imports, and an editorial internship at Hour Detroit magazine.
Upon graduation from Denison in 2000, Taryn moved to Chicago, where she worked in corporate sales for the luxury giant, Tiffany & Co. Realizing that her dreams of studying fashion abroad were attainable, she applied to Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design in London and moved during the summer of 2002. One of five students in an intensive Masters of Fashion Journalism program, Taryn excelled, gaining distinctions for her features on Dita von Teese, Ralph Rucci and Zac Posen, to name a few. During her time at CSM she also worked for Vogue.co.uk, Time Europe (her first article on Sonia Rykiel was published in the December 12, 2002 issue) and for the celebrated British designer Alexander McQueen.
It was the launch of Metro Detroit Bride magazine that brought Taryn back full circle. With an MA of Fashion Journalism, she moved back to Birmingham, Michigan in 2004 to begin work as Associate Editor on Hour Detroit's new bridal magazine, a publication that required her to both write and style photo shoots. Promoted within two years to Senior Style Editor, Taryn later became the leading stylist for a plethora of Hour Media publications, including Detroit Home, Hour Detroit and D Business. Writing and styling allowed her a multitude of inspirations and experience, which later contributed to her position as fashion editor for two luxury mall publications; Somerset Collection and the Mall at Millenia, and as a freelance writer and stylist for clients like Elle Décor, Time Out Chicago, Chicago Magazine, Luxe, Ford, GM, Expedia, Clek, AeroBed and Crypton Fabrics. Her styling work has won a variety of awards, including a silver medal from the Alliance of Area Business Publications and First Place from the Detroit Society of Journalist's, and she was recently featured in Michigan Avenue Magazine's Street Style section as a "Dainty Dresser."
Enamored with Chicago, Taryn moved back in 2007 with the idea that Chicagoan's perspectives were the perfect fit with her stylish Midwestern sensibilities. Managing clients in both Chicago and Detroit, she continued working as a freelance stylist and writer for numerous national and regional publications. In fact, during this time she broadened her client base to include such notables as the Detroit Zoo, Eureka and the Orient Express Hotels & Resorts.
Joining juliewatsonstyle in 2011 was a natural and exciting step for Taryn. After years of styling for editorial and advertising clients, it became clear that her knack for fit, color, shape and silhouette was an ideal match for the women who seek the expertise of the juliewatsonstyle team. Putting to use her extensive knowledge of labels and trends, Taryn is helping clients discover an individual style that's consistent and in tune with the current fashion climate. After all, she says, "fashion is about mixing fun and frivolity with function and accessibility."
When Taryn isn't working with styling clients, she writes fashion, décor, art and culture articles and styles editorial shoots for a variety of publications and advertisements. She lives in Chicago with her husband Brian and son Hopper, where she's often reading, writing and dreaming of her family's next travel destination.
If you'd like to bring Taryn Bickley's insight and expertise to your clothing concerns, email taryn@juliewatsonstyle.com.
