Celebrity Stylist Dennis Kenney: Life Lessons in the Fashion Industry

Dennis Kenney is a celebrity stylist, lifestyle expert, television personality, and Carnegie Mellon University, graduate. Kenney, a Boston native, has always been driven to succeed. He has emerged as a creative force in the world of fashion and has styled celebrities for every major award ceremony including the Academy Awards, Grammy’s, Tony’s, Met Gala as well as film premieres. Kenney’s looks have featured weekly on Good Morning America, he enjoyed the position of head wardrobe stylist of TLC and HGTV’s season 10 of Trading Spaces and has since appeared on television as a lifestyle expert.

His success in the fashion industry opened the door to a new career in television. He has appeared on numerous shows including ABC’s World News Now and has been featured as part of regular live fashion segments at the Rockefeller Center for NBC New York. Kenney has also offered style advice on GMA.com and was recently featured in GQ magazine as part of the feature: best street style looks for New York Fashion Week. He has expanded his horizons to become a spokesman in home decor and has appeared in advertisements for a national campaign for Eclipse and Brookstone Curtains. His recently launched Clothing line, NONDK has been sold in Bed Bath and Beyond, and nationally online. He has solidified his position at the top of the fashion having recently interviewed Christian Siriano and other major names in the industry. His social media following @stylewithden has amassed over 69,000 loyal followers.

Kenney has enjoyed much success in his life and has reached the height of his industry. He admits that his success could not have been achieved without failures and setbacks and some of the most enlightening moments were during those times that he felt rejection: “My greatest lessons in life have been during moments where I felt rejection. My days as an actor certainly prepared me for that and even during my most difficult days, I never lost faith that I had a unique perspective and talent to offer the world. Over time I began to realize that rejection is not personal and simply was the universe’s way of redirecting me towards my true path. Starting over completely from scratch in the fashion industry was at times very overwhelming. But I remembered the importance of not letting fear hinder me and when in doubt to ALWAYS take the risk.”

He also highlights the importance of remaining grounded, focused, and committed, no matter how successful you become: “I try to remain grounded even in my biggest successes because the moment we get caught up in the hype we lose focus of what is truly important…the work.”

He now gives regular talks at local universities in the hopes of inspiring the next generation to take risks to follow their dreams: “I always relish the opportunity to inspire the next generation and remind them that you have to make a daily decision to commit fully. Pour yourself into a new project or idea knowing that many times they will not work out as you envisioned but to always remember that the rejection will only make the eventual yes that much sweeter.”