Dani Levy, a name that resonates through the corridors of Hollywood's fashion elite, has long been an elusive figure for the media. Despite being one of Israel's most sought-after interviewees, Levy has maintained a strict policy of declining press engagements – until now. "Los Angeles is where I work, but Israel is my sanctuary," Levy explains, shedding light on her previous reluctance. "When I'm here, it's my escape from the spotlight. Every summer, I return to this paradise, free from the demands of work and interviews."
However, a serendipitous encounter and persistent persuasion have led to this unprecedented, in-depth conversation with the stylist.
From Rehovot to the Red Carpet
The architect behind some of the most influential wardrobes in the world was born 35 years ago to Ezra and Yona, emigrants from the Israeli cities of Rehovot and Ness Ziona. "We're a traditional family – I'm of Yemenite and Persian descent. My mother still makes jachnun," Levy shared, referencing the traditional Yemenite pastry. "My parents have lived in Los Angeles for decades but still struggle with English."
At seven, Levy's life took an unexpected turn when her family moved back to Israel for six years. "I went from a typical American kid to a student at an ultra-Orthodox school in Jerusalem," she reminisced. "Suddenly, my wardrobe consisted of long skirts, long-sleeved shirts, and socks with sandals. While the school wasn't my cup of tea, the spiritual connection I forged there has remained a constant in my life.
"My bat mitzvah was in Israel, and I maintained a religious lifestyle until I was 26. I observed Shabbat, and prayed regularly – this is why my Hebrew is still impeccable," Levy explained. "Even now, in the heart of Hollywood, I insist on kosher wine and meat. It's not always easy in my social circles, but it's important to me. In another life, I could have been a devout, ultra-orthodox housewife with eight kids in Rehovot."
Q: In your perception, are you more Israeli or more American?
"It's funny because when I'm in America I feel like an outsider, Israeli, and when I'm in Israel I feel American. You could say I'm half and half."
60 emails a day
Levy's fashion odyssey began two decades ago with a leap of faith – moving to Italy to study fashion design. After five grueling years, she made another bold move: quitting school and returning to Los Angeles, determined to break into the world of celebrity styling.
"The styling industry was just taking off," Levy recalled. "I became obsessed with Rachel Zoe's show, which gave a behind-the-scenes look at the process. That's when it clicked – I realized I could take clothes from designers, modify them, and turn them into something that matched my vision."
Q: How did you get your foot in the door?
"It was a grind," Levy admitted. "I had zero connections. This was pre-Instagram, so I scoured stylist websites and bombarded them with emails – 50 to 60 a day. I offered to work for free, just to get a chance. Eventually, I worked my way up to earning $200 for 22-hour days. It was intense, but it was my foot in the door."
The Kanye chapter
Levy's persistence paid off. Within months, she was working alongside stylists for A-listers like Chris Brown, Jennifer Lopez, and Justin Timberlake. But it was Kanye West who truly launched her career into the stratosphere.
"I was assisting Rihanna's stylist – another Jewish professional who really took me under his wing for two and a half years," Levy shared. "Whenever Rihanna flew to New York, I'd stay in LA because I'm not a fan of the Big Apple. During one of these LA stints, I crossed paths with Kanye's stylist. They were having issues, constantly at odds. Out of the blue, Kanye offered me her position and asked me to join his tour."
Q: I bet you didn't hesitate.
"I said yes immediately and suddenly I realized it was happening. But after two weeks, his former stylist wanted back in. Kanye, appreciating my calm demeanor, chose to stick with me and let her go."
How do you feel about his recent controversies?
"We're not in contact anymore, but it broke my heart. It still does. There's this track he wrote, 'I miss the old Kanye.' That line echoes in my mind constantly. I yearn for that version of him every single day. The opportunities he gave me were unparalleled. Who else would have taken a chance on me like that?"
Keeping Up with the Kardashians
It quickly became clear that working with one of the biggest stars in the world was just a stopover to the biggest star in the world – Kim Kardashian. "One day he told me that Kim was in her second pregnancy and not leaving the house, and asked if I could come dress her. I went, we met, and she was amazing," she recalled her first encounter with the star. "Her soul, her calmness, and her professionalism really reminded me of myself, we immediately connected, and I started dressing both of them. I remember I lost weight drastically, I was with them all day. They would just go out for ice cream and get photographed. She's the most photographed woman in the world, so I had no time to rest, eat, or relax, it was crazy."
Q: And when they separated, you stayed with Kim and left him?
"Yes, when they split up, I naturally sided with her and continued working with her. It was really uncomfortable for me because both of them were reaching out to me."
Q: I assume you're bound by confidentiality.
"Of course, they're my family, I highly respect them. They let me into their home, I'm with their children."
24 hours on Kim Air
They've been working together for nine years, and it's enough to watch the episode of Hulu's reality TV show "The Kardashians" where Dani forgets her passport and isn't allowed to enter Italy to understand the magnitude of Dani's influence and presence in Kim's life. For those who missed the episode, Kim is designing a collection for the first time in her career for the Italian designer duo Dolce & Gabbana, a collaboration that drew the attention of the entire fashion world.
It was then, at one of Kim's peaks in the industry, that Dani forgot her passport and wasn't allowed to enter the country. Throughout the episode, Kardashian talks about Dani's significance in her life and doesn't spare superlatives.
"I don't want this to sound arrogant, but we fly on private jets, and most of the time there's no issue with passport control," she recounted the event. "I hadn't slept all night, I dressed Kim and Khloe, we arrived in Italy, and then they asked me for a passport when getting off the plane, and I realized I didn't have it on me. I dressed Kim via FaceTime while I was on the plane.
"I stayed on the plane for 24 hours until they sent Kim's assistant to enter my house, take my passport from the drawer, and bring it to me. The whole time they didn't let me get off the plane, not even to the hotel. Kim left me her plane powered with the pilot and waitress until my passport arrived."
Q: How does the work process with her operate?
"I'm included in her schedule so I always plan everything in advance, and that's how I have time to design looks. Everything is planned and meticulous."
Q: Do you dress the children too?
"North, her daughter, has her own stylist, but she doesn't live in LA, so I often dress her, and it's so much fun, even more than dressing her mother. North is into Japanese style, and that's exactly my style, my whole house is in Japanese style, and my dog's name is Tokyo. I'm really in love with the whole Japanese approach and calmness, it's a really big inspiration for me. When I dress her, all my craziness comes out. With Kim, I can't always do that, so it's fun for me to do it with her daughter."
Q: You and Kim are very similar, both externally, in energy, and even your voices are similar.
"People tell me that a lot. Today, stylists don't just choose clothes, they dictate hair, makeup, really everything. I love her so much. I have the opportunity to work with anyone in the world, but I choose to work only with her. There's an elegance in her that can't be explained. You don't know what crazy life she has. If mine is crazy, imagine hers. And she maintains class and poise, our serenity is above all."
Red gown in India, sweater at the Met Gala
Q: Do you work with her exclusively?
"In my contract, I can work with whoever I want, but I prefer to work on one thing and give my 100%l. When Kim asks, I also dress her sister Khloe. Sometimes when Kim is photographed with other people, it can ruin the look, so for example, when she flies abroad with friends, I also prepare looks for the friends."
Every item you want arrives in a few minutes?
It's not that simple, because the real issue is that I often can't find exactly what I want. When I go to a store, I don't just pick up clothes and call it a day. I might leave with just one piece. I prefer to design everything from scratch according to my vision, and I don't compromise. For instance, the recent looks Kim wore in India were sketched based on my concept. I watched a lot of Bollywood movies, knew exactly what I wanted, and everyone was on board with my ideas."
Q: There was a bit of drama around that look. It was claimed that guests were not allowed to wear red because it's the bride's color.
"There used to be a rule in India that only the bride could wear red. Of course, I checked the rules in India beforehand, and they said that in modern India it's not a problem. So I dressed Kim in a red dress."
Q: Are you involved in the Met Gala looks?
"Yes, of course. The Marilyn Monroe dress that Kim wore was her idea, and it came from the museum as is. But for every other Met Gala look, I worked together with the designers.
For example, the last look by John Galliano was created from scratch. I took a reference from a dress he made in 1997 and mixed it with a sweater top from his show in Paris last year."
Q: Usually, designers don't like interference. Do they listen to you?
"To tell you the truth, I'm not a famous figure in the US, I'm very under the radar. Some designers don't know me, so Kim introduces us, and if necessary, she puts them in their place and explains to them that I'm the one who makes the final decision."
Q: What look of yours are you most proud of?
"The look we talked about by John Galliano from the Met Gala. There was a lot of criticism about the sweater top that was over the dress. People didn't understand the concept and it created a situation where half hated it and half loved it. I liked the drama around it, I understood that I had succeeded."
Q: Do you prefer that some people love it and some don't, or that everyone loves it?
"I don't care who likes it and who doesn't, I'm not doing it for them. Kim and I have looks that we love that people still don't understand, but we are in our own world. We feel that in the fashion world, we've reached a point where we're setting the trends."
Q: Has it happened that you chose a clothing item and after she posted it on social media, it sold out?
"Oh yes, all the time."
Q: You realize that you're deciding what we'll all wear.
"I'm just now kind of processing it all, and I don't take it for granted."
"I will never hide my Zionism"
Despite the sensitive nature of the topic in her industry, Levy remains one of the most vocal supporters of Israel, always raising awareness for the hostages in Gaza. The most notable instance was at her boss's Christmas party, where Levy arrived wearing the Hostages and Missing Families Forum necklace. "It was clear to me that I would go with the dog tag calling for the release of the hostages, that's who I am," she said.
Recently, it was reported that due to Dani's support for Israel, Kris Jenner is looking for her replacement and her dream job is in danger. "I've encountered this too," she said. "I don't know if it's true. I continue to do my advocacy and I'm still working with Kim, so apparently everything is fine."
Q: Were you stressed about this report?
"Of course, it's my job, but I will never hide my Zionism. I reached this place in my life in order to fulfill a mission and use my platform to do good. I won't forget who I am and where I came from, that won't happen."
Q: I see you have a hostage bracelet on your wrist.
"I love wearing it, especially abroad because people ask me what it is and I love getting into conversations and explaining."
Q: Many Israelis who haven't yet made it big abroad are afraid to post pro-Israeli content, and you, who've already reached the top, aren't afraid. You have a lot to lose.
"It really gets to me when people stay silent and don't speak up. I think about the hostages trapped in tunnels, screaming for help with no one to hear them. For me, speaking out is a no-brainer. I was here on Oct. 7. Like everyone else, I woke up to sirens in Tel Aviv. I rushed to the TV, saw the kidnappings happening, and felt the full impact of it all. I was right in the middle of it. You know, Kim was really worried about me. Even Christina Aguilera and many others I hadn't been in touch with reached out to check if I was okay. I feel like I've been given a unique opportunity to explain our side of the story to them."
Q: As part of your mission to represent us to the world, is it important for you to work with Israeli designers?
"Of course, I love to support them. We have the best wedding dress designers in the world here. When it comes to evening gowns, there's elegance and glamour, while in the US they prefer more princess-style dresses."
Q: Now you're in Israel. When she's on vacation, are you on vacation too?
"I'm in Israel for a month only because she's also on vacation. I arrived in Israel from Italy and thought I'd stay for a week, but I got addicted to the sea so I extended my stay."
"She knows everything about me"
Q: When did you last text each other?
"Today. She wrote to me, 'Wait, you haven't come back yet?' I forgot to update her that I extended my vacation."
Q: Are you friends in your personal life too, not just at work?
"Yes, of course. We're very close. At the end of the day, she knows everything about me and I know everything about her. Obviously, when there are some problems, you share everything with someone very close to you."
Q: So if she knows everything about you, does she know you're newly single?
"She knows everything about me."
Q: Would you like an Israeli partner?
"Yes! To tell you the truth, I'm only attracted to Israelis. I have a type, I like a look similar to mine, Sephardic, especially Moroccan."
Q: You're returning home tonight. The interview is taking place on Sunday, and there's still concern that the Iranian attack might happen today. Does that stress you out?
"No. I can't explain why. I've been here for almost the entire war. This Iranian threat has been going on for two weeks while I've been here. It already feels like part of life, there's no more drama or stress. With hostages trapped in Gaza, how can I worry about myself? I really appreciate being in Israel and I feel safe here."
Q: What surprised me most was your Zionism and patriotism. There are many people with far less status, and who are more Israeli than you, who are afraid to lose out because of it.
"I'm in this position only because I'm Jewish and I have a Jewish heart. That's the whole point, I wouldn't have gotten here if it wasn't for my faith, that's the truth. At the end of the day, I deal with clothes. Should I start crying over the wrong shoe? I don't have that in me, there are hostages in Gaza."
Q: It seems natural for you to collaborate with an Israeli fashion company.
"Yes. On this trip, I started talking with various people. It's going to happen, I won't talk about it yet, but it's happening. I'm looking for reasons to be here as much as possible."
Q: You've reached your peak. What's next?
"I already know. I want to design all the clothes I wear, everyday clothes, sportswear, and evening wear. I've just now opened up to talking with people about collaborations. I have a desire for something big. Kim gives me a chance to design with the biggest designers in the world, so why not do it myself?"
