With years of experience under her belt, Em Millan has solidified her place as one of the industry's top stylists. A co-founder of image consultancy and representation agency RXM Consultancy, she's gained invaluable experience within the realms of fashion and entertainment. Alongside her partner Rain Dagala, she's been in charge of dressing superstars such as SB19, Kaila Estrada, Maymay Entrata, and more.
As expected, her tenure as a stylist has also cultivated how she dresses herself. While Em has always had a grasp on what looks good on her, her line of work has pushed her to try different styles and to constantly update how she views her wardrobe. In an exclusive chat with Preview, she breaks down the thought processes behind her day-to-day looks, and what tips she has for any aspiring fashionistas.
Celebrity Stylist Em Millan Talks About Her Personal Style
How and when did you get started as a stylist? Did you always want to work in this industry?
"I’ve always wanted a job that [entailed using] both the right and left sides of my brain [laughs]. That's why I took up a minor in marketing in college and went into a corporate job right after. I was a full-time marketeer, and that’s where I met my business partner Rain Dagala. He really wanted to become a stylist and I offered to help him. We both did styling on the side and one referral led to the next until the hobby got out of hand."
"After ten years in corporate, I quit to run our team full-time. I now manage our humble image consultancy and representation agency RXM CONSULTANCY, where we represent creatives in fashion and entertainment, one of which is the styling team TEAM RAINXEM."
What inspires your personal style? Has your line of work influenced it in any way?
"I was quite lucky that I knew what my personal style is early on—clean, classic, and proper. I am ironically a lazy dresser and shopper. But since I still love the aesthetic I loved when I was younger, I had a lot of time to refine and edit [how I dress]. This also allowed me to curate my closet better and to improve my purchasing habits."
"Working in fashion and entertainment, I am exposed to a lot of style stimuli, so I really need to pick out the most compelling inspirations to experiment with and add to my closet. Needless to say, we work with very creative people who always bring their A-game to work. Smokey eyes and sequin skirts before noon are normalized, and nothing is ever too voluminous.
"This encourages me to play and (mis-)match, and to come up with new silhouettes or color combinations with my existing pieces. It is also a reminder for me to look at my clothes differently, to come up with new pairings or new ways of wearing things."
What are five of your favorite fashion items and why? Are there any stories with these items that you can share?
"First would be my Martin Bautista pieces. When I started transitioning, my good friend Martin made me my first ever dress, [which comprised of] light pink silk separates. When I wore it out, it really made me feel comfortable in my own skin. I go to him all the time for more pieces that make me feel the same way."
"Second would be all of my white tops, including my button-downs, tees, and tanks. [They really represent] what I mean when I say [something is] classic and also timeless, like it can’t be dated or timestamped."
"My lola gave her humble jewelry collection to my sister. She passed away years before I transitioned, and when I did, my sister offered to split it with me. Our family gets all of our jewelry from JJ Jiao, so my first pieces of jewelry are also from her.
"On my most recent birthday, my mom gifted me a ring that was actually my lola’s! It's a white gold ring that I treasure [because it serves as] a reminder of my family’s support of my transition and, ultimately, my identity and expression."
"There’s also this Dries Van Noten S/S 2016 top I love. He’s probably my ultimate favorite designer, and this collection made me fall madly in love with the label. His documentary showing how this season was made inspires me every time. I re-watch it especially when I feel like I’m in a rut."
"Lastly would be my first Hermès scarf, gifted by my high school best friend who went on a trip to Paris. It was probably what kickstarted my love of scarves from the brand. I can play with them a lot fashion-wise, and I even use them as decor around my house, too."
What’s your go-to “off-duty” look, and why?
"Anything fuss-free and comfortable, [such as pleated pieces] by Issey Miyake. I could probably pick any two or three pieces blindfolded and chances are, it’ll look okay when worn together. It’s the easiest way for me to look like I gave my outfit some thought. There’s this TikTok style tip that suggests outfits should look interesting either by shape, color, or texture, and I think my pleated pieces tick off all of those boxes."
Could you share some style tips for people who are only getting into fashion?
"Don’t be pressured to conform to trends or brands. Stay true to your core, your point of view, and your aesthetic, as there will always be a market for the style you offer. Your authenticity will sustain you."
"My jobs when I was in publishing were mostly for mom or society titles. They weren't the most popular but I loved doing every shoot. [The experience] made me survive long hours, tedious pulls, and physical and creative demands. Fashion is a lot of work and what is seen on social media is just the output, so you really have to have your heart in it to last in the industry."
SHOP: Em Millan's Exact Pieces
Below, shop some of the exact pieces in Em's wardrobe (including two bag charms worth adding to your anik-anik collection).
Quilted Flap Bag, resells for $8620 (approximately 482,844.99), CHANEL, sothebys.com*
Flamenco Drawstring Bag, resells for $2600 (approximately P145,633.80), LOEWE, editorialist.com*
Pleats Please Pants, $375 (approximately P21,004.88), ISSEY MIYAKE, isseymiyake.com
Sanrio Mascot Plush Doll, resells for $39.99 (approximately P2242.22), MOFUSAND, ebay.com*
Plush Doll Key Chain, resells for $63.15 (approximately P3,539.02), YAYOI KUSAMA, ebay.com*
*Note: Some of the prices mentioned in this article have been sourced from authorized resellers and not directly from the brand's official website. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, it is important to note that prices may vary depending on the reseller and the region. We encourage readers to visit the official brand website or consult authorized resellers for the most up-to-date pricing information.
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