How did I become a Personal Stylist?

 Hello and welcome to my first ever blog post!

I wanted to create a little introduction to myself and what I do as a full time Personal Stylist. I currently work for a large department store based in Reading where I provide free styling appointments. These can be for wedding outfits, interview essentials or whole wardrobe overhauls! I also get to put on my own fashion shows and style talks, and have even collaborated with influencers and MUA's.

I am very lucky to say that I love my job and have realised that Personal Styling is what I want to do. However, this wasn't always the case. I fell in love with fashion ever since watching the Devil Wears Prada as a teenager, where I decided I wanted to become editor-in-chief of British Vogue. Fuelled by this dream, I studied Fashion Communication, Promotion & Marketing at the University of Huddersfield, the course then changed it's name one year in and I was given the option to try Fashion Buying. I went on to get a distinction and decided that this was a lucrative and stable career choice, and the glam of the fashion shows and travelling won me over! 

However, after lockdown and the coronavirus (which interrupted my placement year at Mother of Pearl as a product & development intern) the prospect of being hired as an assistant buyer to a fashion brand was non existent- although I did try! 

Meanwhile, to support myself from A-levels and throughout my studies, I had accidentally (but everything happens for a reason) been growing my high end retail experience, which involved styling and working hands-on with clothes and customers. My first job was at Phase Eight at the age of 16. When I moved to Huddersfield to pursue my degree, I also got a job at a Ted Baker concession to financially support myself. When I moved back to London to complete my placement year, due to it being an unpaid internship, I picked up a job at Mulberry and then Hugo Boss as a sales assistant. 

By the time I had graduated, I had 6 years of high end retail experience and a skill for outfit building and styling customers of all genders. Due to the poor job market for buyers, I applied for a role as a Personal Stylist at John Lewis. I love the partnership and worked up to the buying department in the Victoria Head Office. I was finally using my degree! But, I discovered I missed styling, and so after 6 months I returned to John Lewis Reading as a Personal Stylist and decided to pursue this career path. I have since studied at the London College of Style and have received distinctions in Women's Personal Styling and Men's Personal Styling diplomas and am currently about to embark on my Colour Analyses training too!

That brings me to the topic of my blog: Personal Styling! I am so passionate about helping people find themselves using style and have witnessed my clients grow in confidence just by putting on the right pair of jeans! I sometimes call my appointments Therapy with Fashion, as it truly is that! I hope to fill this blog with all the findings, tips, trick and styling stories I can to helps my readers, clients and anyone who loves fashion as much as I do!