Meet Fallon Gyurko

Today we’d like to introduce you to Fallon Gyurko. 

Hi Fallon, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I’ve always been interested in fashion. My first word was “shoes” — literally. Ask my mother. However, I have to thank my elementary school best friend Shelby for my creative adult life. She introduced me to the idea of acting classes around age 8, and it was an instant obsession. I started at the Festival Playhouse in Olde Town Arvada Colorado. My parents bought me Barbara Streisand records. Done deal, I was going to be a creative. 

I landed myself at a small art academy at age 11. I’d go three days a week for private lessons and started working with their “Talent Development Program”, which was a way for them to train kids into professional, working creatives. My focus was mostly in music. Personal style has always been at the front and center of my aspirations. I remember watching “Sex and the City” and Mary Kate and Ashley movies and being fascinated by how clothing could both elevate and become a character. 

Over the years I had been collecting fashion history books and not-so-discreetly stealing my mom’s old clothes to wear to school. I used to take a pair of shears to all of my sister’s favorite shirts — just so they could fit me better (sorry not sorry). I realized if I was going to pursue anything creatively, I was going to do it with both style and excellence. After living in LA for a couple years in my early twenties, I decided to move to the South. 

Towards the tail end of my last relationship, I wanted to do something nice for myself and joined an acting studio called The 4th Wall. It’s literally changed my life. Not only did it reinvigorate my love for acting and my desire to pursue creative work, it also connected me with some of the most talented, driven, and kind individuals in Nashville. During quarantine at the height of online shopping, I started altering clothing for friends. Now I work as a stylist and costumist with clients and collaborations including Gear Seven Productions, Warner Music Nashville, Amax Talent Agency, Ophelia Management, The Block Agency, Tiktok, Streamline Productions, The Avenue Agency, MCA Nashville, Westlight Studios, Met Radio — the list goes on. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Oh, it has absolutely not been a smooth road. I spent my whole adolescence working towards a career. By the time I was in my teens I was skipping school, foregoing football games, and ditching social hangs to learn how to coil cables properly. I worked for my art school’s adjacent production company from the time I was 15. It took away a lot of my childhood. I also didn’t have a ton of supervision. I didn’t have stage parents (for better or for worse), so a lot of the time I was the only child in a room full of adults. Mostly adult men. I don’t think I need to elaborate much further. 

After briefly studying costume design, I dropped out of college and moved to LA, and signed a small record deal. I worked as a demo singer for a publishing company making literal pennies and was working on a small EP. I lived in a seedy hotel in Hollywood for a while. I had no car; it was very difficult. Again, I found myself constantly in rooms with older men of power — unsupervised and unprotected. 

Only a few months into recording, my voice gave out. One day it was just gone. It was like my body was protesting the path I was going down. I had surgery on my throat, which was supposed to be a three-month recovery. After six months my voice didn’t come back and my singing career ended before it even started. It was devastating. The last decade of my very young life felt entirely wasted. I went through years of speech therapy, but almost 6 years later, I still have trouble even speaking at a high volume for long periods of time. 

I had a full-blown identity crisis. I got addicted to pain medicine. I moved home and tried to go back to school, then dropped out again after only a few months. Tried working in radio (ask me how difficult it is to have a job where you talk all day when you have broken vocal cords). 

Even now — anyone can tell you that creative work is tough. There’s constant rejection. You have to consistently advocate for yourself. I also work a corporate consulting job, so juggling everything is very difficult. 

The struggle really has hardened me in the best way, though. It allows me to look at any obstacle and go “Okay, I got this!” 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Currently, my niche is period pieces because fashion history and vintage clothing are two areas of great interest for me. I work mostly in film and TV — I do a lot of music videos and some commercial work with modeling agencies. I’m incredibly intentional about pieces I pull for shoots, and I love to find ways to create looks that elevate a character. For example, I just finished a short film about plant addicts and every character’s plant was represented in their look. I had another project recently where I made sure one woman was always wearing gloves because her character never committed any “hands-on” crime, she was only the inciting idea. Little details like that are my favorite part of what I do. 

I also love to recycle pieces. In fashion and styling, we have a tendency to want to have *new* and shiny articles of clothing for every single shoot and project. I think we have an ethical and environmental responsibility to not perpetuate over-spending and fast fashion. If I can recycle a piece, why wouldn’t I? I love purchasing second-hand and vintage. I also love to repurpose and alter pieces to fit specific needs. It’s more fun when you get to make it yourself anyways. Of course, I don’t just use the same clothes over and over and over — I do need to source new pieces all the time. I just don’t spend for the sake of spending. 

In terms of the future, I’m currently working on branching into streetwear and experimenting with editorial looks. I’m currently inspired by Shona Heath’s (incredible set designer — you’ll best know her for Harry Styles’ “Fine Line” album artwork) work. I’d also like to lean into more acting jobs — I’m on the market for an agent. I just garnered my first producing credit on a female-led film project with a group of women who I greatly admire. Kelsey Christian, Allison Shrum, Lindsey Akers, and Sara De La Haya. It’s important I mention them specifically. We’re working on starting a production company together in 2022. 

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Oh boy, Nashville is a really fascinating place. When I first moved here, I lovingly referred to it as “Deep Fried Los Angeles”. What I love is that there is so much potential here. Everyone wants to work; everyone wants to create. And the collaboration is endless. It seems as though Nashville has a wonderful knack for bringing people together who are willing to participate in a shared goal. 

I think Nashville is redefining its identity in a way that is confusing to me. I’ve never lived in a city that caters to the people who don’t live here more than it caters to its residents, and I’m worried that some of the culture will be erased by all the new builds. I also don’t like that every restaurant in East Nashville is closed on Tuesdays. Why?! 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @fallongyurko

Image Credits
Emily Stearns
Lorenzo Huerta
Barron Bodecker