Patrycja Helena
Bielawska
For this month, we sat down with Patrycja, a Poland-born, Barcelona-based stylist with a fresh take on fashion. Our conversation flowed effortlessly—from trends and personal style to the beauty of embracing change.
With a fun and insightful approach, she shared her thoughts on why fashion should feel authentic, evolving with you rather than boxing you in. We had a blast chatting, and we’re sure you’ll love getting to know her just as much as we did. Let’s dive in!
Hey! So nice to meet you! Could you please give us a brief intro about you, your work, the journey you went through to get where you are right now?
Hi! My name is Patrycja, I'm actually from Warsaw, Poland.. I guess in my case it was a lot of trial and error. I always liked to dress outside my comfort zone and the comfort zone of the society I grew up in. And maybe I wasn't too into fashion per se, but I always liked the creativity behind dressing up and standing out a little. . Obviously, growing up, it wasn't anything crazy, but I did enjoy it. In high school, my friend, who was into photography, suggested I try styling. At the time in Poland there was an online platform where you could connect with other creatives for photo shoots, so I gave it a shot and it became just a fun hobby, you know. My original plan was to be a scientist.
Hahaha yeah… I was studying biotechnology. Becoming a stylist was not my career goal at the time. But you know, upon finishing the studies I decided that it's maybe not what I'm looking for. I'm also terrified of public speaking and being a scientist, or at least a successful one, means basically that you have to do a lot of conferences and public speaking. I was like, nope, I don't think this is for me. I kept coming back to this creative outlet. I was working in fashion stores, also as a visual merchandiser. I was here and there, somehow always circling around the topic. And I guess after I moved here to Barcelona, there was this moment where this transition for it to be my full-on career happened.
Oh hahah, that's a big shift, huh?
I think it's always Barcelona that brings everything together.
Could be, could be hahaha. For me, definitely it was somethingeasier to focus on because when I moved here I did not speak the language. And without it, it was tough to find a job. On top of everything, I moved right before COVID, a month before the lockdown started, so it was not an easy time to find a job Early on some networking happened, and actually it was quite funny as one of my photographer friends that I met in Poland and shot with many years ago, was in Barcelona, too. We just started shooting together and I guess it naturally happened here, you know, the shift of my focus to styling…
Yeah, I think that's the beauty of the journey when it's really organic. You don't really plan to meet this person now and you meet them again and it all makes sense and it's beautiful. No, that's very true.
Yes, exactly. And everything falls into place unexpectedly.
Yes, everything makes sense. This is lovely. Thank you for sharing that. So now we're going to hop into more stylist specific questions. So I would like to ask a bit about jewelry and how you incorporate it in your work. And are there any rules that you follow when playing around with jewelry and the outfits that you style?
Yeah, I don’t think there's that much to it, really. And I definitely don't think about any rules when I create looks, they are the last thing on my mind. I just like to play around and try different options and see what feels good, what feels beautiful, what feels powerful. Whatever I'm drawn to, is what I end up choosing. I do like using jewelry in my work, maybe I just don't have a deep philosophy behind it, you know?
Yes, yes, it's more about the way it fits into the whole thing.
Exactly. For me, it’s a whole composition.
Yes, makes sense. Okay. So can you describe the relationship between the model you're working with, the look, the makeup, the hair, all of these components… Also the photography, the location, how do you really combine these pillars and how do you make them work?
Yeah, I mean, it's always a process and it's key to have a team that is excited about the project, and has inputs. It's important to remember how equally important are all these elements in a photo shoot, because all of them combined will create this specific context for the storytelling that you're trying to achieve. The moment you think something is more important than the other thing, is when you lose it and it starts falling apart. And even one of the elements just being not there or just being off, it makes the whole result feel off. In the end it's very important to look for this connection between all these elements in order to create the visual story you want to tell.
So when you disregard something or make it more important than the others, the imbalance is going to be super obvious, right?
Exactly. If you put together a certain look but the hair and makeup is not corresponding for example, it just pulls it into different directions. You have to mind all these elements when planning the shoot.
Yeah…I think it's very important to acknowledge everything and not to think about it as like one item. It's more of an ecosystem that's working together.
Yes, an ecosystem is a very, very good comparison. All the dependencies are there. Each part is very important and you cannot think that yours is the most as in the end, the result is the reflection of every single part and contribution of each team member.
Yes, that's totally true. And also, I think to respect each other's work because each one of you maybe is bringing something to the table.
Absolutely. All of us have our experiences and our visions, and that's what makes it cool and exciting.
True… I like this take on it. Okay, so how do you consider a person's personality or mood when working with colors and textures to ensure they feel comfortable with what they wear?
Yeah, this really depends on the type of work you do because one thing would be the styling for a photo shoot and one thing would be personal styling. I’d say that for me, the common part of the creative process is thinking about certain personas that the looks would project. And, obviously, with personal styling, it's slightly more complicated and delicate because you have to consider that this is a real person who has a certain personality that you cannot ignore, you have to help it come to the surface through clothing.
I mostly work with photoshoot styling, but I've been lately also doing more personal as well.
So you do both, right? Like usually.
Mm-hmm. Wow, okay. That's nice. How would you describe it?
When somebody comes to you for personal styling, they come because they are lost and they need directions on how to express themselves through fashion. I think it's very important to start allowing this person to explore a little, even if it may be out of their comfort zone and not exactly matching them yet. The goal is to help them try out things that they would have never thought to see themselves in. And once they do, once they explore and check options that are out there, they can easily decide for themselves: okay, you know what, actually, I feel this. It feels like me, I feel good in this. And same with finding out that you actually dislike something… Trying things and knowing is what eventually helps you navigate. But sometimes it's just hard to dive into this on your own.
That's my approach to personal styling and with photoshoots, you know, I think it's still a matter of the concept. In the end, when you're creating imagery, you want to achieve a certain result so you don't directly take into consideration the personality of the model when creating the looks. Of course, there are models that have so much personality, so choosing the right model for a project is something that will define the outcome. So I would say that this happens more on the stage of casting and then the girl’s energy reflects in all of the elements, you know? The right face can be just as inspiring for the stylist as for the make up artist…
True.
Yeah, it might be part of your inspiration process or how you go about discovering the best fit for this look.
Exactly, exactly.
Okay, cool. Very, very insightful. Honestly, that's what I like about interviewing someone who's actually practicing their work and not just passionate about it without actual experience. It's very cool to know the process behind things and your personal take on things. It's very interesting, yeah.
Hahaha yes I understand.
Okay, so! How would you describe your personal fashion style? The clothes you usually wear when it comes to your everyday life? Has it been changing over time?
Yeah, it definitely has been changing, Of course, there's some core parts of my style that I've been loyal to over the years. I always loved suits. I love oversized fits. I love a lot of black. Colors are kind of overrated to me, you know? I also have been exploring my style for the past few years and adding some elements to it. I definitely believe that one’s personal style is bound to change over time, because we change as people. We experience things with time and we meet different people, we move places… This is such a big factor actually, moving to a different city gives you a different energy and makes you feel different. So there's nothing weird about the fact that people change their style over time. It's like with music - you cannot expect your favorite band to have their fifth album sound exactly the same as the first one, simply because they're growing as people as well and they are not in the same place anymore. So, it just has to change, to progress. There's no way for the way we express ourselves to stand in one place.
Yeah… maybe some things stay a bit common throughout, but changes definitely come.
Yeah, that would be the core parts of your style, but there's nothing wrong about the fact that it's changing over time. I think it's very natural and inevitable really.
Yes, you're kind of describing it as like a personality changing over time, it's very organic and normal. OK, so I don't know if you do have one of these “icks” that I will ask you about, but is there something that really doesn’t resonate with you as a stylist, like big NOs. For now you told me you’re not a huge fan of colors.
Yeah hahaha… absolutely. I try to use colors in my work obviously, because the fact that I appreciate black so much doesn't mean that other people do. It probably would be a bit boring for other people. But I do have an ick, yes… And it's probably going to be a bit of a hot take, or people may hate me for what I'm going to say.
Hahaha no worries, honesty is much appreciated.
Okay, I hope I will not be canceled or something. I have a bit of an issue with Y2K fashion. I feel like a lot of its elements are borderline tacky. And stuff like tooth gems, I just can't hahaha… I understand that right now people are into this very much, but I don't know. Maybe being a teenager at the time when this was all the rage for the first time and experiencing that in 2000s Poland took a toll on me. It was wild in terms of aesthetics and not in a good way, let me tell you. And maybe that's why it's forever a no for me.
Obviously some elements are interesting and incorporated and mixed up with other stuff can look cool, but as a whole, 100% Y2K style is: thanks but no thanks.
Okay, fair!
Okay, actually that's what I wanted from the question, for you to really express yourself honestly! Do you think you have others or that's just it?
No, I feel like with time I really opened up. From this phase when I was younger and I was like not that much into fashion and then I was slowly starting getting more interested in fashion itself. A lot of things became more acceptable to me. I mean, obviously in the first phase there’s acceptance but then actually being excited about certain things. But I think this is the only thing that right now gives me this strong ick. Maybe also because right now is the time when everyone is obsessed with this very trend. So I see it everywhere and I'm just like: when will this end already?
You take a deep breath and you come back to yourself… hahaha, this too shall pass.
Hahaha yeah… Maybe also... skinny jeans.
I was gonna say, I swear, I was gonna say skinny jeans! For me, honestly, it's skinny jeans for sure.
You know, skinny jeans can be styled well, but it could be another traumatizing visual from Poland. A lot of Polish women are still stuck in this fashion–the skinny jeans, short trench coats and ballerinas. 10 years later the trend came back but they never stopped wearing it. That partially killed this trend for me too. In the end, that's what fashion is, these cycles. We get bored with things, and we go back to other ones that we were bored with before, right? Maybe there will be a time when skinny jeans will be exciting for me as well after not seeing them for a while. Right now, they're not so much.
Oh yeah of course! There was a time for me when I was wearing skinny jeans and wide leg was like–what? But again, things change, people change.
You know, it's like - the more you see something, the more you accept it, it becomes a norm which can be a scary tool when it comes to certain things, but I don't want to get all political now. So let's leave it at that.
Yeah, let's hope because honestly, years back, I used to have a lot of skinny jeans and all of my girlfriends would also wear them, and we could never wear wide leg pants for example. It was like a no-no. I looked like a cowboy.
Hahaha true… Okay, so our last question. If you could give one piece of advice to someone trying to develop their style, what would it be? For example, I'm trying to develop my style, what would you advise me to do?
Okay, but is it supposed to be just one sentence or...
Alright, so I wrote down those things that I think are important. First, keep trying things that you're drawn to. Don't get discouraged. Don't compare yourself with others. And most importantly, don't care about the weird looks that boring people give you on the street. Because that's the most discouraging thing. The issue is within the people that give you these looks . It's just their lack of comfort. It's their insecurities and their unhappiness that are being projected onto you. You're not hurting anyone with the way you look, so just have fun with it and do what you want.
No, no, no, no. We don't like one sentence answers here hahaha… We like to talk.
That's very true. I think also it really ties back to the idea of culture or where you live. For example, I'm from Lebanon and at the time, now it's way more open… But at a time there was this specific trend, this is what girls wear. And when you get a bit more creative, you feel like people are looking. So when I came to Barcelona, my style really went up. And I think a big part of it is that I allowed myself to play around with fits, and like I would wear things that I could never wear there. Not saying about showing skin or anything. I'm just talking about something just out of the blue.
Yeah, out of people's comfort zone. I can relate to this absolutely. I was born in the 90s Poland, okay? When I was growing up people were not very open about fashion. There was this clash of fresh memories of communism where people could not buy any goods and free market in free, capitalistic Poland. Suddenly fashion became a tool for display of wealth rather than self-expression, so naturally people started hating fashion and demeaning it. It is also true that we did not have much education in aesthetics.
So, you know, it was very tough for people to accept that you can put on something that isn't very basic and like demure. The norm was mainly looking like everyone else. Which is, if you think about it, if everyone looks the same, it kind of feels like some weird utopian society. It's just weird to me. My point is that it was difficult to get through this. But I think you just have to keep trying until you build this resistance. Maybe also with time, as in with age, you just end up giving less fu*** about what people think. Because one thing is when you're a teenager and you're looking for approval from your peers and all this stuff. And another thing is when you're already a grown-up person, you're like, this is my life and I don't care. This is how I want to live it.
No, I totally agree. And also the clothes that are available in a certain country play a huge role, for example, the collections that are sold in Spain versus in France or any other country. If you're not exposed to looks or to certain clothing collections that are sold in shops, you wouldn't be encouraged to explore your style.
Absolutely. We have those big fashion capitals that have a unique vibe or a specific way that people dress. If you think about New York street fashion or about London street fashion, as a general vibe, they're completely different.
You could feel the difference for sure, yes. I agree.
And when you're there, when you live in these kinds of places, you also absorb this inspiration. In the end it's gonna influence you. So I think an interesting way to explore your style is also traveling or living abroad.
That's very true. Being open to mold yourself within this vibe because maybe some people just, okay, they travel, they live, but they don't let themselves get immersed in the style that's there or the vibe or whatever. So yeah, I think being open as well is very important.
Yes, absolutely, absolutely.
Well, thank you so much for this. It's been lovely. I love this conversation. It really felt more of a discussion than an interview.
Thank you. That was very good!
