What to wear? What not to wear? Does this color pants go with this color shirt? What accessories should I wear? These are common questions in Johanna's life. As a Fashion stylist in NYC, Johanna's world is anything but boring!
Johanna's extensive career started when she left her island of Puerto Rico to study in Miami. There she graduated from Miami International School of Arts and Design with a degree in Fashion Merchandising and Visual Arts. She did a variety of different jobs from windows at Neiman Marcus in Bal Harbor to even style runways shows for the likes of Carolina Herrera and Badgley Mischka for stored sponsored galas. But her heart always wanted to make it to the Big Apple where she knew her career would take a turn for the better.
Since she relocated to NYC in 2000, she has worked with many celebrities like Ricky Martin, Mary J. Blige and Susan Sarandon within others. Joha, as we close friends call her, worked in many magazines photo shoots which include People en Español where she even had a makeover page! This Puerto Rican diva didn't stop there since her resumé includes production and/or styling during NY Fashion Week for designer like Oscar de la Renta, Vivienne Tam and Carlos Campos.
I know Johanna for over twenty years since we went to the same high school back home in PR. My oldest memory of her is the day she approached me when I was in ten grade and asked me if I wanted to go to the Madonna concert. I guess her already developed gaydar saw the Madonna-gay queen in me waayyy before I noticed it but I felt very special been selected within a small group. I mean not only we had to lie at our Catholic school (good to mention here that the Catholic church was boycotting the concert) about being sick but also to our parents that there was an adult chaperoning us. So we went to the Girlie Show and Madonna did her thing or didn't...this was the show where she allegedly passed the Puerto Rican flag through her crotch. Funny thing is none of us could account for that and we were there! The school somehow found out about our "sinful" escapade somehow and the whole next day we heard as one by one we were all being called to the principal's office...we stayed firm with our story and in the end nothing happened.
No, this is not the part where I say that I owe Johanna my gayness, trust me I wish it would be that easy. But I have worked with Johanna in a few occasions as her assistant and will vouch for her immense talent. Her most current jobs include touring with Lauryn Hill all over Europe as wardrobing director, videos and photo shoots for Daddy Yankee and even a photo shoot for legendary Rita Moreno for HOLA magazine. This diva is not stopping anytime soon and I know we are going to see her, or her work, in many thing in the future. I know her as a stylist but also as a great friend; always finding that funny moment to share.
Her best fashion advice? Never leave your house without accessorizing even if you are wearing jeans and sneakers. You never know what or whom you may encounter around the corner!
Her best fashion advice? Never leave your house without accessorizing even if you are wearing jeans and sneakers. You never know what or whom you may encounter around the corner!
www.johannalaracuente.com
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