Stylist & Model Danette Stuckey
Our series Talk Shop is a career and style profile featuring personalities from various industries. They are shot on location in Cherry Creek. Culture & Style Editor ANNIE BLOJ interviews Stylist and Model Danette Stuckey. Danette wears clothing from Max Boutique in Cherry Creek and is photographed at Cherry Creek Fashion HQ.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY ESTHER LEE LEACH // MAKEUP: AMY DICKERSON FOR LIVE LOVE LASH
HAIR: MEREDITH BOLES FOR MATTHEW MORRIS SALON & SKINCARE
CLOTHING: MAX CLOTHING STORE // JEWELRY: COCOTAY
Annie Bloj: Danette, what a treat it is to interview a good friend! We met over Instagram, like so many modern friendships. I had followed you after Max Boulder tagged you as the stylist of their incredible windows and I couldn’t believe that somehow you had found me on the platform as well. We met for coffee, and like everyone else that hangs out with you, I fell in love. We had a shared language in fashion and both have the same hard-to-describe trait of being in a “public” career while also being shy and slightly introverted. It has been such an honor to see you shine at the cover shoot for Cherry Creek Fashion and get to know you even more!
You are one of those people who can put “Native” on a bumper sticker on your car. Where did you grow up here in Colorado and where did your interest in fashion come from?
Danette Stuckey: I was actually born in Illinois, but my family moved to Colorado when I was 8. I grew up in Lakewood, most of my friends took their first jobs in restaurants. I worked at the Limited and I devoured fashion magazines. Music videos were all the rage, I loved Teletunes on channel 12 and then MTV came along. I loved New Wave and New Romantic movements.
AB: While we were at the shoot, you spoke about getting started as a model when your father urged you to enter a local modeling contest. What was that like and how did that get you started on your incredible career?
DS: Yes, my father found an ad for a local model search contest, I had to submit some pictures which we took in our backyard. I had interviews and had to walk the runway. I was a winner along with 4 other young women and 5 men. Ford models was a sponsor but we were admitted to a local agency, Lani Grant, and we won a trip to Los Angeles. I drew a gift card for a wardrobe from Guess clothing. Then everything progressed from there.
AB: What have been some of your favorite experiences while modeling? How did being in the proximity to such creativity mold your aesthetic?
DS: My favorite part was the travel! I lived in 8 different countries and started my life anew with each trip. I spent a total of 2 years in Japan and also in Paris. Italy was a dream come true having grown up with an Italian heritage. Learning the different languages, new friends, the arts and history, I feel so very fortunate to have my formative years immersed in these amazing cultures.
I really started wearing black when I came home from my first trip to Japan. The late ’80s and early ’90s were huge for Japanese fashion-Yohji, Comme, Matsuda. Then Milan and Paris were where I really fell in love with great design and beautiful fabrics. I worked often for Romeo Gigli and Costume National in Milan, and it really helped form my aesthetic appreciation.
AB: You famously met your husband, Bobby Stuckey, on a blind date set up by Max Martinez (founder of Max Clothing Stores in Cherry Creek, Boulder, and Aspen). At the time, you were modeling and living in Chicago. Had getting involved in the restaurant world ever interested you?
DS: Going from a busy career in Chicago to live in Aspen was daunting. I pro-longed the move, and inevitably did, but I traveled between Aspen and Chicago and a bit in Denver. I ended up loving Aspen, it truly holds a special place in my heart. Bobby and I established our relationship there.
AB: You moved to Aspen to be with Bobby and then moved to Napa while he worked at French Laundry. What was that transition like for you?
DS: It was a difficult decision to make knowing how much we loved Aspen but ultimately, Napa gave us a chance to own a home and for Bobby’s career to advance. Then my mother passed away, so for me, it was two moves, left my career, got married and lost my mom all in one year. It was an extremely challenging time.
AB: You moved back to Colorado with Bobby to open Frasca and instantly became known as the “face” of the front of the house. Seeing you in action myself, I’m amazed at your ability to bring people into the restaurant and make them feel so welcomed. Knowing that you tend to be shy and introverted like me and have similarly found yourself in a public career, how do you keep your energy up?
DS: Working at Frasca has taught me a great deal about grounding my energy and about empathy. I mostly learned to be empathetic from my mom, but working in the hospitality world, especially after modeling my whole life- you learn to put yourself in other’s shoes. What is going on in their world? How can I provide a beautiful experience? I learned everything about the work from Bobby, then added my own life experience to it all.
And yes, being an introvert, you go home completely exhausted. But hospitality is also very fulfilling- making great friends & acquaintances and learning about interesting people and the community. You just have to find your personal way of balance.
AB: You balance your time at the restaurants and Max Boulder, working on the looks for the windows and guiding guests through the store to help them build their wardrobe. What do you love about interacting with women that love fashion as much as you do?
DS: I love fashion, I have an absolute passion for fashion! Max has a great mix of high-end designers and casual everyday wear. I love to turn someone on to a designer they’ve never heard of before or find a perfect piece for a special event. I think wearing a great piece of clothing that you’ve invested in can transform who you are and how your day goes. It can give you confidence, can change your posture and transform the energy you give out. I’d rather overdress than underdress, why not?
AB: We instantly bonded over our love of the great designers, Rick Owens, Ann Demeulemeester, and my personal favorite, Dries Van Noten. What speaks to you about their work?
DS: That’s how you and I met, discussing our mutual love for fashion over coffee at Boxcar! Rick Owens is deeply special to me. I feel powerful in his clothing-really like armor to me in a quieter sense. I even have dreams where he appears in them. The structure-the long, lean arm and his feminine-meets brutalist-meets architectural quality, it’s just an aesthetic I meld with. Ann D. is probably the designer I’ve worn the longest- her boots are bomb-proof. I have a pair from 1999, still in perfect shape.
Dries, I mean, genius. The pattern and the blending of patterns are so fascinating to me. It takes a sensitive human to create the fabric prints that he conjures up.
AB: At the shoot, you mentioned that you were a born collector. What do you collect? Has that been something that you’ve done from an early age?
DS: I have collected vintage clothing and accessories since I was 19. I’ve amassed quite the collection. Unfortunately not in good balance to the size of my house! My husband is ready for me to sell it. I am an old film buff so every piece relates to a time in history that I am fascinated with. And I appreciate what these clothes/accessories have been through! This piece went through WWI.....did the original owner of this necklace wear it to a dance arriving by horse-drawn carriage...this dress went to a silent film premiere.... this piece was worn during WWII....it’s just so intriguing. The history I’ve learned by watching films and collecting vintage is extraordinary.
AB: Since you are busiest during the Holiday season at the restaurants (Frasca, Pizzeria Locale, Tavernetta and soon Sunday Vinyl) as well as at Max, what are you looking forward to and what is inspiring you now?
DS: Sunday Vinyl is on the brink of being born, our fourth baby. It’s exciting to see the evolution of each restaurant, how the previous experiences influence the following and how much we’ve learned and grown through the years. I think next year is super exciting with creativity flowing everywhere, it seems everyone is feeling some good things on the horizon!
AB: As always, I love hanging out with you and I was so happy to get the chance to spend more time with you through working together on the shoot and this interview. Your kindness, warm spirit, and curiosity shine through to everyone in your orbit and I can’t wait to see what you get up to in the future!
Danette Stuckey: @dstuckbomb
Photography: @estherleeleach
Interview: @anniebloj
Makeup: @amy_dickerson_grote for @livelovelash
Hair: @meredithboles for @mmsalondenver
Clothing: @maxclothingstores