The Real Reason Blake Lively Won't Work With A Stylist

Blake Lively has never shied away from shouting out the teams behind some of her most iconic looks — but don't expect to see a stylist as part of said teams anytime soon.

From red carpet appearances to Met Gala looks, Blake Lively has been almost synonymous with style since her "Gossip Girl" days. The actor is known for making a statement in the most fabulous way possible, while injecting a healthy dose of fun into the mix. After all, who can forget the time she rocked up to the 2018 "Deadpool 2" premiere with nail art inspired by husband Ryan Reynolds' character? Or, more recently, her color-changing, New York City-inspired gown that took shape on the steps at Vogue's 2022 Met Gala?

Amid her most memorable looks over the years, Lively has often made a point of celebrating those involved in putting them together. Back in 2017, she thanked the seamstresses responsible for her Golden Globes look in an Instagram post. "I remember hang gluing plastic stones onto my prom dress ... Can't believe this is what goes into a dress I get to wear now. So grateful," she wrote (via Entertainment Tonight). A year later, she was just as complimentary of everyone involved in her "Deadpool 2" premiere look. "It takes a bus full of people to make us look bangin' for red carpets," she reminded her followers (via Teen Vogue). Gratitude aside, however, Lively has always maintained that she doesn't have a stylist — so, why not? 

Blake Lively may have the means to work with the best stylists on the planet, but where would be the fun in that? 

Though Lively joked in a Vogue video earlier this year that her involvement in her looks may have something to do with her star sign — "Or that I need a life ... " — the truth is, she just has a real love for dressing up. As she explained in a Glamour interview with bestie Florence Welch back in 2011, styling has always been her favorite pastime. In light of that, the mere idea of hiring a stylist has always been too much for her to bear. "I thought: this is one of my favorite hobbies! And I'm going to pay someone to steal my hobby from me? That's a terrible idea!" she mused. 

Several years on, it's safe to say that nothing has changed. Speaking to WWD in 2018, she reiterated that the creative aspect of styling and dressing up is one of her greatest joys, noting that she loves seeing things come together so quickly — especially in comparison to her career as an actor. "You get to be creative and finish it. Whereas with my job you do it and then two years later it's finished," she pointed out. Luckily for Lively (and fashion lovers, far and wide!) the speedier gratification has no bearing on the timelessness of her most iconic #lewks. 

Blake Lively may style herself, but that's not to say she's going it all on her own. Far from it, as her longtime manicurist Elle Gerstein told Refinery29 in 2018 of her "Deadpool 2" nails: "Blake always has a vision." Lively's down to collaborate with whoever can bring the given idea to life. 

Speaking to WWD, Lively explained that a big part of making her style dreams a reality comes down to knowing the best in the business — much like a master stylist would. "I have a bunch of artists around me who I have direct relationships with," she said. Said artists just so happen to include the likes of Lorraine Schwartz, Donatella Versace, and the late Karl Lagerfeld. No biggie. It's worth noting, though, that Lively isn't only collaborating on her red carpet looks. She's also heavily involved in styling her characters on-screen. As she told Vogue, she tends to approach directors early on in the process with her styling ideas — and in "A Simple Favor," director Paul Feig tapped right into that. Unsurprisingly, that was a dream come true for Lively, and speaking of her time working with costume designer Renee Kalfus, the star gushed, "If I could work with her on everything, I would." 

In a world where most starlets outsource their looks to stylists, Blake Lively certainly stands out — and with a fashion track record like hers, we'd say she's onto something.