Lysa Cooper has been described as many things.  Her passion for music, fashion, costume, dance, art, film, food, travel, and life’s other eccentricities has lead her career down various connected paths. At one moment or another she has been professional involved in several inter-connected industries:  entertainment, art, fashion, food and cabaret.  As Fashion and Celebrity Stylist, Cooper’s editorial clients include names like Rolling Stone Magazine, GQ, Interview, Arena, Elle, Giant and Vibe Magazine.

Cooper has dressed various actors, celebrities, and musicians.  Her repertoire includes names such as Mos Def, Aerosmith, Heath Ledger, Zoe DeChanel, Rosario Dawson, Shakira, and Mary J. Blidge, to name a few.  For the last nine months she has been working exclusively as Stylist for pop artist, Rihanna.

Omahyra and Boyd| Ellen Von Unwerth (2005)

Eroticism seems to be a trademark in your work, however, there is always strength felt behind your looks—how do you manage to do this with minimal titillation?
 
I think the main reason is that that own personal taste and my moral barometer It doesn’t have to be overly possessive and to overly sexy. I do think about it before hand and I think and I think that you can sexy and overt.
 
I feel it is the way that I am and usually I am trying to tone it down. When I am working with someone, I really try to see how they move and how the react. It is the ability to show them a place where they won’t be judgement in their look.  I have the good luck of being with a model or artist when they are going through period of strength and rebirth so they are open to their expression through my styling. Timing is everything, and it usually the case that I am  meeting them  they when they are having this moment.
 
With the Omarhya & Boyd set of looks, they have balance in the overt sexuality but it comes off more as a expression than rather than exploitation. Again how are you able to create this in the styling?
 
A big part of it is the Ellen that it is that makes her photography works is the way that she shoots is catching with that happens rather than conducting. That was more of a lifestyle book because that is the way that they were and it just worked that way and he was so fem and she was so masculine. The styling follows in the same way, naturally.  
 
 
Devon Aoki | One World Magazine (2005).Marc Baptiste

 
I think this look is relatable ,young and fresh.  People still use this as reference as my best work- and how they want their client to look. Its different and she’s in  Vivian Westwood. It’s a little bit of fashion and a little bit street.  I know Devon, she definitely an easy subject. It was more about showing her and interpreting her personal style. I think picked some cool elements to bring this out. I think the socks stand out for people. She was no more than 15 years old when this photo was taken and it's important not to exploit the subject.  I’m careful  and definitely conscious of this.
No one was dressing that way at the time somehow still stands out and it's  almost like it has gone full circle.  I think as much I am in the moment putting together all the pieces of the puzzle at the time. You never what is going to hit. Trends are an unnatural concept –people don’t follow, they do what they told.
 
 
Rihanna, Disturbia | Anthony Miller  (2008)
 
I think this is some of my best work. I love the way it looks and that it has so much going in and---pretty much that is all real fashion besides Agent Provocateur This means that  the items were mostly found pieces and not styled to made of existing designs. This video has a strong costume and wardrobing element  which I enjoy because  it is the most challenging and uses my artistry skills.  A great example of this is the snake head  piece made with feathers shown in the last frame. It certainly makes it even more interesting when you’re given carte blanche.  Working with Anthony Miller on this, he truly let me be free, which is contrasted with some people who will give you every single detail to follow.  In the development phase the looks were was based on  the elements of the song itself  and then visual references from Nine Inch Nails then I took it from there.
 
 
In creating looks where do some your visual references originate?
 
Since everything is recycled, morphed and reinvented, its important to have popular cultural knowledge and to be able to know what is real and what is not. So much is about references but all lot of things that people ask me do is stuff that’s already been done. Being privy to and having been able to make those trends in the first place gives you the license to use great visual references.
 
 
Six Ways Til Sunday| Malibu Magazine (2009) Mike Piscitelli

 
I specifically thought doing something especially beachy would be contrasted with what I usually do.  The themes in my head here were "Beach, earth tones, culture and earthy." I used a bit of everything. He shot in black  in white after the after fact and I think it turned out well. I like challenge. I like the master chef idea of elements being provided and chosen and I have to “whip” something up in the style kitchen to complete a full look that has a beautiful image.