Mel Ottenberg

Ottenberg grew up in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Edmund Burke School in Forrest Hills. His father, Ray, was a fourth-generation baker who ran the family-owned Ottenberg Bakery.{{Cite web |last=Andrews-Dyer |first=Helena |date=June 3, 2014 |title=Washingtonian Mel Ottenberg is the man responsible for the ‘naked dress’ |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2014/06/03/washingtonian-mel-ottenberg-is-the-man-responsible-for-the-naked-dress/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240409231251/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2014/06/03/washingtonian-mel-ottenberg-is-the-man-responsible-for-the-naked-dress/#selection-597.170-597.222 |archive-date=April 9, 2024 |access-date=February 4, 2025 |website=Washington Post}} Ottenberg's mother and stepfather were in custom publishing, designing magazines. He grew up as “culturally Jewish” and had a Marrakech-themed Bar Mitzvah. When he was young, he went to Corcoran every weekend to take drawing classes and painting classes. He said he was also inspired by copies of Vogue that his best friend's mom had lying around.

Later, in the early '90s, he snuck out to go to nightclubs in D.C., including Tracks and the Vault where he could observe youth fashion. He was also inspired by celebrities like Madonna, Pat Benatar, and Grace Jones. {{Cite web |last=Indvik |first=Lauren |date=2016-09-08 |title=Rihanna’s Longtime Stylist Mel Ottenberg on Her Stunning VMAs Outfits & Her ‘Ravenous Appetite’ for New Fashion |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/rihanna-stylist-mel-ottenberg-7496135/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Billboard |language=en-US}}

For college, he attended Rhode Island School of Design.{{Cite web |last=Feitelberg |first=Rosemary |date=2019-05-20 |title=Mel Ottenberg Helps Critique RISD’s Seniors, Plans Metropolitan Museum of Art Talk |url=https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/mel-ottenberg-helps-critique-risds-seniors-plans-metropolitan-museum-of-art-talk-1203134768/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=WWD |language=en-US}} He interned for designer Richard Tyler in summer 1995.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-12 |title=Mel Ottenberg On Taking Risks, Who's Shaping Culture Now, The Joy Of Baked Goods, And Why Indie Print Mags Have The Upper Hand |url=https://fashionweekdaily.com/mel-ottenberg-on-taking-risks-whos-shaping-culture-now-the-joy-of-baked-goods-and-why-indie-print-mags-have-the-upper-hand/ |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Daily Front Row |language=en}} After school, he moved to New York and worked for designer Katayone Adeli as a "trims guy." His dream was to be a fashion designer like Marc Jacobs.

Ottenberg's first-ever styled magazine feature was for The Face in 2001, which he styled primarily from his closet. From 2013 to 2018, he served as fashion director of 032c.{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2021 |title=Mel Ottenberg |url=https://www.stylectory.net/mel-ottenberg/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710212324/https://www.stylectory.net/mel-ottenberg/ |archive-date=2021-07-10 |access-date=2021-07-10 |website=Stylectory |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Quinto |first=Norma |date=2013-06-20 |title=Mel Ottenberg Named 032c's Fashion Director |url=https://wwd.com/business-news/media/mel-ottenberg-named-032cs-fashion-director-7003651/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304133506/https://wwd.com/business-news/media/mel-ottenberg-named-032cs-fashion-director-7003651/ |archive-date=2021-03-04 |access-date=2021-07-10 |website=WWD |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2018-02-21 |title=Marc Goehring Named '032c' Fashion Director |url=https://hypebeast.com/2018/2/marc-goehring-032c-fashion-director-announcement |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Hypebeast}}

Ottenberg first worked with Interview magazine in 2010, interviewing Joan Rivers for an article.{{Cite web |date=2010-04-28 |title=Look Who's on the Red Carpet Now |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/joan-rivers-a-piece-of-work |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Interview Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Nymphet Alumni {{!}} Ep. 106: The Melzyverse w/ Mel Ottenberg |url=https://nymphetalumni.transistor.fm/106 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Nymphet Alumni |language=en}} He then returned to Interview in 2018, when he became the magazine's creative director.{{Cite web |last=SSENSE |date=2019-05-31 |title=Mel Ottenberg Wants To Know: Are We Having Fun? |url=https://www.ssense.com/en-us/editorial/fashion/mel-ottenberg-wants-to-know-are-we-having-fun |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815203301/https://www.ssense.com/en-us/editorial/fashion/mel-ottenberg-wants-to-know-are-we-having-fun |archive-date=2020-08-15 |access-date=2021-07-10 |website=ssense |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2021 |title=Mel Ottenberg |url=https://www.stylectory.net/mel-ottenberg/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710212357/https://www.stylectory.net/mel-ottenberg/ |archive-date=2021-07-10 |access-date=2021-07-10 |website=Stylectory |language=en}} His first story as creative director was the cover story featuring filmmaker Agnes Varda for the September 2018 "relaunch" of the magazine.{{Cite web |date=2018-09-06 |title='Interview Magazine' Relaunches With Cover Star Agnès Varda |url=https://hypebeast.com/2018/9/interview-magazine-relaunch-september-2018-agnes-varda-cover |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Hypebeast}}{{Cite web |last=Pemberton |first=Nathan Taylor |date=2018-09-06 |title=The Last Living Dinosaur of the New Wave, Agnès Varda |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/film/the-life-and-times-of-international-treasure-agnes-varda |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Interview Magazine |language=en-US}} Ottenberg was named editor-in-chief of Interview in 2021. In 2022, Ottenberg was named Daily Front Row’s editor-in-chief of the year.{{Cite web |date=2018-09-06 |title=Mel Ottenberg {{!}} BoF 500 {{!}} The People Shaping the Global Fashion Industry |url=https://www.businessoffashion.com/people/mel-ottenberg/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=The Business of Fashion |language=en}}

During his career, he has collaborated with numerous photographers including Inez and Vinoodh, Mario Sorrenti, Steven Klein, Terry Richardson, Wong Kar-Wai, and Collier Schorr.{{Cite web |date=2013-06-18 |title=Power Moves {{!}} Mel Ottenberg Appointed Fashion Director at 032c |url=https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/power-moves-mel-ottenberg-appointed-fashion-director-at-032c |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710212307/https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/power-moves-mel-ottenberg-appointed-fashion-director-at-032c |archive-date=2021-07-10 |access-date=2021-07-10 |website=The Business of Fashion |language=en-GB}} His work has appeared in publications like Purple,{{Cite web|date=2010-04-07|title=Mel Ottenberg and Terry Richardson at the Purple Office, New York. Photo... - purple INSTITUTE|url=https://purple.fr/diary/mel-ottenberg-and-terry-richardson-at-the-purple-office-new-york-photo/|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Purple|language=fr|archive-date=2020-11-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126190034/https://purple.fr/diary/mel-ottenberg-and-terry-richardson-at-the-purple-office-new-york-photo/|url-status=live}} Harper's Bazaar, Dazed & Confused {{Cite web|last=Dazed|date=2018-03-14|title=Troye Sivan on Grindr, his new album + nuclear annihilation|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/39346/1/troye-sivan-boy-erased-new-album-interview|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Dazed|language=en|archive-date=2021-03-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319002649/https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/39346/1/troye-sivan-boy-erased-new-album-interview|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Dazed|date=2014-08-05|title=Stylist Mel Ottenberg picks from the VFiles vaults|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/21059/1/rihannas-stylist-mel-ottenberg-picks-from-the-vfiles-vaults|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Dazed|language=en|archive-date=2019-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524203007/https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/21059/1/rihannas-stylist-mel-ottenberg-picks-from-the-vfiles-vaults|url-status=live}}. GQ,{{Cite web|title=Timothée Chalamet Is a Once-in-a-Generation Talent|url=https://www.gq.com/story/timothee-chalamet-has-arrived|access-date=2021-07-10|website=GQ|date=February 14, 2018 |language=en-US|archive-date=2018-09-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180919101700/https://www.gq.com/story/timothee-chalamet-has-arrived|url-status=live}} French Vogue, Rolling Stone{{Cite web |title=Rolling Stone February 2025 Cover (Rolling Stone) |url=https://models.com/work/rolling-stone-rolling-stone-february-2025-cover |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=MODELS.com}} and T.

His campaigns include Dior, Nike, Balenciaga,{{Cite web |title=Balenciaga Le City Bag 2024 Campaign (Balenciaga) |url=https://models.com/work/balenciaga-balenciaga-le-city-bag-2024-campaign |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=MODELS.com}} Diesel,{{Cite web |title=Diesel Pre Fall 2020 Campaign (Diesel) |url=https://models.com/work/diesel-diesel-pre-fall-2020-campaign |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=MODELS.com}} Paris Texas,{{Cite web |title=Paris Texas F/W 2024 Campaign (Various Campaigns) |url=https://models.com/work/various-campaigns-paris-texas-fw-2024-campaign |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=MODELS.com}} Poster Girl,{{Cite web |title=Poster Girl The Love Factory 2024 (Poster Girl) |url=https://models.com/work/poster-girl-poster-girl-the-love-factory-2024 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=MODELS.com}} Zara,{{Cite web |title=Zara x TwoJeys (Zara) |url=https://models.com/work/zara-zara-x--twojeys |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=MODELS.com}} Calvin Klein,{{Cite web |title=Calvin Klein Spring 2023 Campaign: Calvins or Nothing (Calvin Klein) |url=https://models.com/work/calvin-klein-calvin-klein-ss-23-campaign |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=MODELS.com}} Frame, Balmain,{{Cite web |title=Balmain 2023 Holiday Campaign (Balmain) |url=https://models.com/work/balmain-holiday-campaign |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=MODELS.com}} Gucci,{{Cite web |title=Gucci Summer Stories 2023 (Gucci) |url=https://models.com/work/gucci-gucci-summer-stories |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=MODELS.com}} Woolrich,{{Cite web |title=Woolrich F/W 2018 featuring Ms. Lauryn Hill (Woolrich) |url=https://models.com/work/woolrich-woolrich-fall-winter-2018-featuring-ms-lauryn-hill |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=MODELS.com}} and Tom Ford.{{Cite web|title=Meet Mel Ottenberg: The Fashion Vet Who's More Than Just Riri's... - RachelHodin|url=https://cargocollective.com/rachelhodin/Meet-Mel-Ottenberg-The-Fashion-Vet-Who-s-More-Than-Just-Riri-s-Stylist|access-date=2021-07-10|website=cargocollective.com|archive-date=2021-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710212312/https://cargocollective.com/rachelhodin/Meet-Mel-Ottenberg-The-Fashion-Vet-Who-s-More-Than-Just-Riri-s-Stylist|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=The Making of a Met Gala Icon: Stylist Mel Ottenberg Breaks Down Rihanna's Best Looks|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/rihannas-best-met-gala-looks-mel-ottenberg-reveals-all|access-date=2021-07-10|website=Vogue|date=May 9, 2018 |language=en-US|archive-date=2021-05-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525120340/https://www.vogue.com/article/rihannas-best-met-gala-looks-mel-ottenberg-reveals-all|url-status=live}}

In addition to fashion editorials and campaigns, he has worked extensively with musicians for projects such as Troye Sivan's "My My My!" music video,{{Cite web|date=2021-01-15|title=My My My! Troye Sivan Returns with New Single|url=https://www.lofficielusa.com/music/my-my-my-troye-sivan-returns-with-new-single|access-date=2021-07-10|website=www.lofficielusa.com|language=en-US|archive-date=2021-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227073617/https://www.lofficielusa.com/music/my-my-my-troye-sivan-returns-with-new-single|url-status=live}} Addison Rae's Diet Pepsi and Aquamarine videos,{{Cite web |last=Schulz |first=Madeleine |date=2024-12-03 |title=The business of Addison Rae |url=https://www.voguebusiness.com/story/fashion/the-business-of-addison-rae |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Vogue Business |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Addison Rae - Aquamarine (Music Video) |url=https://models.com/work/music-video-aquamarine---addison-rae |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=MODELS.com}} Christina Aguilera's Hollywood Bowl performances,{{Cite web |last=Veitch |first=Mara |date=2021-07-21 |title=Mel Ottenberg on Styling Christina Aguilera's Hollywood Bowl Looks |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/mel-ottenberg-styling-christina-aguilera-hollywood-bowl-looks |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Interview Magazine |language=en-US}}Björk's Vulnicura album cover,{{Cite news|last=Witt|first=Emily|date=2015-01-23|title=The Peculiar Genius of Björk|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/23/t-magazine/the-peculiar-genius-of-bjork-vulnicura-moma.html|access-date=2021-07-10|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2021-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210315215334/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/23/t-magazine/the-peculiar-genius-of-bjork-vulnicura-moma.html|url-status=live}} and Alicia Keys’ 2019 Grammy Awards hosting duties.

Ottenberg has also worked with many celebrities including Selena Gomez,{{Cite web |date=2020-04-16 |title=Selena Gomez {{!}} Interview Spring 2020 |url=https://www.imgmodels.com/news/selena-gomez-interview-spring-2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803233952/https://www.imgmodels.com/news/selena-gomez-interview-spring-2020 |archive-date=2020-08-03 |access-date=2021-07-10 |website=IMG Models}} Lana Del Rey,{{Cite web |last=Graves |first=Shahlin |date=2020-09-08 |title=Lana Del Rey on the cover of Interview, September 2020. |url=https://www.coupdemainmagazine.com/lana-del-rey/16966 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022205537/https://coupdemainmagazine.com/lana-del-rey/16966 |archive-date=2020-10-22 |access-date=2021-07-10 |website=Coup De Main Magazine |language=en}} Justin Bieber,{{Cite web |date=October 13, 2020 |title=Hailey and Justin Bieber are the cover stars of Vogue Italia's October issue |url=https://www.vogue.it/en/article/hailey-justin-bieber-cover-stars-vogue-italia-october-issue |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210702195214/https://www.vogue.it/en/article/hailey-justin-bieber-cover-stars-vogue-italia-october-issue |archive-date=2021-07-02 |access-date=2021-07-10 |website=Vogue Italia |language=en-GB}} Chloë Sevigny,{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2014 |title=How stylist Mel Ottenberg transformed Rihanna from sexy singer to fashion force |url=https://www.independent.ie/style/fashion/how-stylist-mel-ottenberg-transformed-rihanna-from-sexy-singer-to-fashion-force-30394731.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314155728/https://www.independent.ie/style/fashion/how-stylist-mel-ottenberg-transformed-rihanna-from-sexy-singer-to-fashion-force-30394731.html |archive-date=2019-03-14 |access-date=2021-07-10 |website=independent |language=en}} James Franco,{{Cite web |title=Vogue Hommes International S/S 11 Cover (Vogue Hommes) |url=https://models.com/work/vogue-hommes-international-vogue-hommes-international-ss-11-cover |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019151337/http://models.com/work/vogue-hommes-international-vogue-hommes-international-ss-11-cover |archive-date=2015-10-19 |access-date=2021-07-10 |website=MODELS.com}} Cate Blanchett, and Jennifer Aniston. He has also styled designer John Galliano.

Ottenberg first met Rihanna when he did a shoot with her for Elle, when she was a young artist. He officially became her stylist in 2011 on the Loud tour where he commissioned designers Jeremy Scott and Adam Selman, his boyfriend, to create costumes. Ottenberg considers the "We Found Love" video, released in 2011, to be their fashion breakthrough. This video included vintage pieces and items from little-known and emerging designers like Komakino and Forfex. On Rihanna's Diamonds tour, she wore custom pieces from Riccardo Tisci of Givenchy, Raf Simons, and Alber Elbaz of Lanvin. In 2015, he won a UK Music Video Award for "best styling in a video" for Rihanna's Bitch Better Have My Money video.{{Cite web |last=Promonews |title=UK Music Video Awards 2015 - all of the winners! {{!}} News |url=https://www.promonews.tv/news/2015/11/06/uk-music-video-awards-2015-all-winners/37921 |access-date=2025-02-12 |website=Promonewstv |language=en}} He also served as a judge on Rihanna's short-lived reality show, Styled to Rock.

The first Met Gala look that he styled for Rihanna was in 2012 (where she wore a Tom Ford dress), and he went on to style her for several more Met Galas including 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018. In 2014, Rihanna won the CFDA style icon award where she thanked Ottenberg in her speech, saying " Mel Ottenberg, thank you! You get me. You honestly get me, and you understand what I’m trying to say. I can send you two pictures, and you bring back the rack full of exactly what I wanted."{{Cite web |last=Bugbee |first=Stella |date=2014-06-03 |title=Read Full Transcripts of Anna Wintour’s and Rihanna’s CFDA Speeches |url=https://www.thecut.com/2014/06/read-anna-wintour-rihannas-full-cfda-speeches.html |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=The Cut |language=en}} Ottenberg styled Rihanna for that event, putting her in the “internet’s most talked about dress,” also called "the naked dress," designed by Adam Selman.

Ottenberg was known for creating a lot of custom looks for Rihanna. In an interview with the Nymphet Alumni podcast, Ottenberg described how he got Rihanna multiple pairs of the Manolo Blahnik "Chaos" shoe, a sample at the time, custom made in several colors. Rihanna later became known for wearing this shoe and eventually did a collaboration with Manolo Blahnik.{{Cite web |last=Features |first=Penny Goldstone published in |date=2024-06-23 |title=A history of Manolo Blahnik in 7 shoes |url=https://www.marieclaire.co.uk/fashion/manolo-blahnik#section-the-chaos |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Marie Claire UK |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Barsamian |first=Edward |date=2016-03-03 |title=Rihanna Adds Manolo Blahnik to Her List of Shoe Collaborators |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/rihanna-manolo-blahnik-spring-summer-2016-collaboration |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}} Ottenberg stopped styling for Rihanna in 2019, but they remain friends. He styled and interviewed her for the spring 2024 cover of Interview.{{Cite web |last=Jeffers |first=Juliette |date=2024-04-09 |title=Rihanna Is Ready to Confess |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/rihanna-is-ready-to-confess |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Interview Magazine |language=en-US}}

In 2024, Ottenberg partnered with denim brand RE/DONE to release “Mel by RE/DONE,” a capsule collection of clothing pieces that were inspired by Ottenberg’s pair of Levi's 505 jeans from the 1980s that he purchased from a vintage store. The collection is unisex and includes the Mel jean in medium blue and light acid wash, a trucker jacket, the Club Mel graphic tee, and a selection of upcycled Levi's 505. The items range in price from $175 to $495. The collection also focuses on sustainability, with some items (including the jacket and jeans) being made from 100% organic cotton and graphic tees made from 30% recycled cotton using tubular construction. Model and actress Emily Ratajkowski endorsed the jeans on her social media.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-03 |title=EmRata Models the Perfect Pair of Jeans—While Totally Topless |url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/a62502113/emily-ratajkowski-jeans-topless-photo/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Harper's BAZAAR |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Pusateri |first=Catie |date=2024-10-01 |title=Must Read: LVMH Sells Off-White, Everlane Names Alfred Chang as CEO |url=https://fashionista.com/2024/10/lvmh-sells-off-white |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Fashionista |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=MEL by RE/DONE: Sustainable 80s Denim Revival |url=https://www.nssmag.com/en/fashion/38270/re-done-mel-ottenberg-collection-jeans-sustainable-levi-s-505-vintage-upcycling |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=nss magazine |language=en}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:American fashion designers

Category:Creative directors

Category:1976 births