Style Media announced today that renowned stylist Mel Ottenberg, who currently styles Rihanna, will serve as the third and final mentor on "Styled to Rock." The new fashion competition series from executive producer Robyn Rihanna Fenty will search for the next trendsetting designer. Slated to premiere later this year, Ottenberg will join previously announced mentors Pharrell Williams and Erin Wasson to give 12 up-and-coming designers the opportunity of a lifetime - to create unique fashion pieces for some of the biggest names in entertainment.
"Mel is one of the most respected stylists in fashion and has created some of the most memorable and distinct looks for A-list stars," said Salaam Coleman Smith, President, Style Media. "With the shared expertise of Mel, Pharrell, Erin and Rihanna as executive producer, our designers will have a rare opportunity to learn from innovators in the world of music and fashion."
"Mel and I have such a similar aesthetic. It's as if he can read my mind sometimes," said Rihanna. "I love his attention to detail and all the research he does for every look. He is more than a stylist. He is an artist."
"Styled to Rock" will give 12 up-and-coming designers the coveted opportunity to dress some of the biggest names in entertainment. Each week, challenges will push the designers to their creative limits when they are tasked with styling an A-list star. The celebrity guest-of-the-week will decide which designer best achieves their vision - and advances to the next level of competition. Faced with the threat of elimination, the remaining designers must meet with the mentors to discuss where they fell short and ultimately, who will be sent home. In the end, one designer will be named the winner of "Styled to Rock."
As a leading stylist, Mel Ottenberg has left his indelible mark on not only fashion, but pop culture as well. Ottenberg is known for reinventing the looks of some of the world's most provocative style tastemakers, such as Cate Blanchett, Chloe Sevigny and James Franco.
He currently works with pop superstar Rihanna, serving as the stylist for all of her appearances, album covers and music videos, including the Grammy Award-winning
SMASH "We Found Love." Additionally, he is Rihanna's wardrobe director for her current world tour. A former fashion design major at Rhode Island School of Design, Ottenberg mixes tongue-in-cheek irreverence with a bold sensuality - all done with an approach that is equal parts offbeat and sophisticated. His editorial work has appeared in Harper's Bazaar, V, I-D, Purple, Dazed &
Confused, The New York Times Style Magazine and GQ Style, among others. Ottenberg's narrative approach to clothing has been featured in ads for Nike and Dior's "Midnight Poison" fragrance, as well as an assortment of globally-recognized iconic images from top photographers, including Terry Richardson, Mario Sorrenti and Steven Klein.
"Styled to Rock" is executive produced by Robyn Rihanna Fenty and is produced by Shed Media US, Overbrook Entertainment and Marcy Media Films. Nick Emmerson, Pam Healey and Dan Peirson of Shed Media US and James Lassiter of Overbook Entertainment also serve as executive producers. Sarah Weidman and Merah Chung executive produce the series for Style.
For updates on "Styled to Rock" visit StyleNetwork.com, follow @StyleNetwork on Twitter and like Style on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/StyleNetwork.
About Style Media:
Style Media, a global multimedia company that includes Style and StyleNetwork.com, is the destination for women 18-49 seeking to fuel their insatiable appetite for looking great and living stylishly. Style currently counts nearly 76 million cable and satellite subscribers and ranks among the top 10 fastest growing women's cable networks in the U.S. StyleNetwork.com keeps women up-to-date on all of the latest fashion and beauty news on the web. Style's popular series include "Tia & Tamera," "Jerseylicious," "Giuliana & Bill," "Big Rich Texas," "XOX Betsey Johnson" and "Resale Royalty." Style is a program service of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/StyleNetPR.
About Shed Media US:
Noted for its strong characters, memorable casting and its broad range of programming, Shed Media US productions include such hit programs as "Supernanny," "The Real Housewives of New York City," "Who Do You Think You Are?," "Bethenny Ever After," "Hollywood Exes," "A Brad Brad World," "All American Muslim," and "Basketball Wives." Based in Los Angeles with more than 200 employees, Shed Media US is a significant supplier of TV programming to many networks. In 2013, the company will produce more than 150 hours of television in the United States.
