A Stylish Chat With D. Graham Kostic

He is captivating and eloquent, fashionable and fun, and one of the nicest people in the Chicago buzzing fashion scene.  He is a trendsetter in every sense of the word – creatively, sartorially, editorially. We are talking about the lovely D. Graham Kostic, creative and editorial director of the super-fun video site, Glossedandfound.com, whom we finally caught up with to talk all things fashion, staying true to oneself, favorite interviews and much more! So keep reading, and we guarantee he’ll charm the socks out of you.

FashionFiles: You are the creative and editorial director of one of Chicago’s most popular video websites, and you rub shoulders with the leaders in the fashion industry. Tell us a little bit about yourself – how did it all start?

I was Style Editor of Modern Luxury Magazines when Stacey Roney of Beauty on Call approached me about hosting videos for a new beauty blog she was developing for her roster of artists. I said yes as soon as I heard the name. I hosted. And hosted. And hosted. Fast forward a few years, my husband and I were making a move back to Chicago from Boston and I knew that G&F was a goldmine of fun. I redesigned the site and relaunched it to include more videos, more fashion editorials, more events. More! More! More!

FF: The fashion industry is rather fickle. What is the secret to your success?

Be yourself. Be yourself. Be yourself. And when it really comes down to it, what we do is surface. It’s the relationships and connections you make that make it something more. Cherish those relationships. They lead to the best work.

FF: Do you have any advice for the new generation trying to make it in the fashion industry?

I’ll say it again: Be yourself. But if yourself is mean, shallow and unimaginative, then be someone else. There is so much content out there— you have to be able to cut through the noise and create cool, genuine stories. It’s not just about what you cover, it’s about how you cover it.

FF: Give us a glimpse inside your day – from the moment you wake up till night.

I’m an early riser. But I’m also a snoozer. It’s a dance. I like to listen to something fun on Rhapsody (maybe Billie Holiday. Or A Little Night Music. Or something Jazzy). We’re larger than life on GlossedandFound.com, but my team is incredibly small. On the day to day basis, it’s just me, Emily Hard, who edits + shoots the majority of our films, and Boldface Communications, who handle our events + public relations. Everything comes through my inbox and sorting through it all is exciting. And some days it’s not! I like to give myself time for a walk or a run to Target. And then it’s Concepting. Editing. Writing. Tweeting. A whole hell of a lot of tweeting. Francis comes home around 5ish and I finish up work while he plays the piano—it’s very therapeutic to have a piano in the house. We’ll make dinner. I’ll buy something on Etsy (I’ve been addicted to Erzgebirge wooden figurines lately) and I’ll plan our next vacation for us (you can never take too many trips!). We’ll watch Cosmos in bed. That’s it.

FF: Why did you choose Chicago, as opposed to New York for example, to pursue your fashion dreams?

My family is important to me. And I started my career here. When you lay down so many roots in one place, it’s hard to replant. But then one day you realize: “Look at the beautiful tree I’ve grown.” Chicago is very fertile ground.

FF: We absolutely love you on the GlossedandFound.com videos! Who is your favorite person you ever interviewed?

Betsey Johnson. Anyone who tap dances on camera with me, wins. Second favorite? Producing the #GFMusical issue with Jaslene Gonzalez as our leading lady. Two passions—musical theatre + G&F combined!

FF: GlossedandFound.com is famous for throwing the coolest soirees in the city, but what is the best fashion party you ever went to?

When I was living in New York, there was one party that was Studio 54 themed. Liza Minelli was there. My friend Suzannah and I were wearing catsuits.

FF: What are your thoughts on the Chicago fashion scene? What works and where do you see Chicago fashion in the grand scheme of things?

There are some brilliant designers working out of Chicago. Shelby Steiner’s work is stellar. I love the new line Maria Pinto is working on. Off figure, the pieces are simple. But once you step into them and style them your way, the silhouettes are charming and come to life flawlessly. Pine & Plastic’s totes are graphic and stylish. Chicago is a great incubator for fashion talent and media outlets like G&F are eager to find the new. And because of this supportive fashion community, it lends to local designers to get their pieces on the backs of the movers and shakers.

FF: You are known for your chic and sleek style and super fun personality. What are your style words to love by?

Don’t be afraid to wear yesterday’s outfit today. If it worked yesterday, chances are it will work again today. If it doesn’t, people might not notice it was yesterday’s outfit.

FF: Who are your style icons?

Helen Berkun is my style icon!

FF: Your closet is on fire! What three items do you save from the flames?

A vintage Mickey Mouse sweatshirt that is a tad too small.

FF: Whose wardrobe would you swap with in a heartbeat?

Nate Berkus.

FF: What trends are you excited to wear this fall?

I love all the floral still-life pieces from Dolce & Gabbana—I think there is wearability there if you keep the rest of the look clean and casual. I’d love a camel coat, but I’m afraid it would wash me out.

FF: Finish the sentence:  If I wasn’t in the fashion industry I would be…

Playing the role of Will Park in a Community Theatre production of Oklahoma!

Isn’t Graham simply delightful? Follow all of his fashion, beauty and lifestyle video fun each week on GlossedandFound.com, and be sure to check back often for all of their September Issues.

Top photo credit: Tim Musho