01.
Summarize your life in a few sentences …
I am a wife and a puppy mom, living in Lincoln Park in Chicago. Professionally, I am a personal wardrobe stylist in Chicago, and offer virtual styling for those who don’t live in the Chicagoland area, as well. I love Chicago and spend my free time exploring the city (mostly restaurants if I’m being honest) with my husband, friends and family.
02.
What’s your background?
I grew up in Batavia, IL, a western suburb of Chicago, then went to Miami University for college. Although I studied Communications, I always loved art and fashion. After a short-lived career in advertising in Chicago, I opened a women’s clothing boutique in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago with my mom and sister. It was an amazing experience, but after 4 years, I decided to close it and launch my personal styling business.
03.
How did you start your business?
I started CoChic Styling because I love fashion and helping women feel more confident. I had gained a lot of valuable experience while owning my boutique, such as building relationships with and styling clients, making relationships with other boutique owners and clothing designers, and learned how to run a business. I ultimately started CoChic Styling by getting a website designed, and then reaching out to all of my contacts to let them know what I was doing and went from there.
04.
What inspired you as a creative woman?
The ability to make my own schedule and be my own boss inspired me to start my business. As your own boss, you can be as creative as you want to be, and spend time on the more creative aspects of the business.
05.
What’s the biggest mistake you’ve ever made on your job or on your business, and how did you get through it?
There’s nothing huge that comes to mind, so that’s good. 🙂 I’d say I’ve made mistakes by not going with my gut instinct on things like whether or not to be involved in events/collaborations, and having too much of a “the customer is always right” mentality. I’ve learned from these things, though, and now agree to a certain number of collaborations/events per year and make sure they align with my business goals. And while customer service is extremely important to me, I am working to better my ability to set expectations early on with clients.
06.
If you won a lottery today, will you still continue to build your business?
Yes, I think I would. I want to be a contributing member of society. ha
07.
Walk us through your day as a stylist.
My day-to-day changes which is one of the reasons I love what I do. If I’m not seeing a client, I am either working from home on administrative duties, marketing, or client communications, or I’m shopping for a client. Sometimes, I’ll go to a networking or industry-related event in the evening, as well.
08.
Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am proud to have exceeded my goals in my first year of business.
09.
Where or what do you think you will be/do in the next 5 years?
I will still be in Chicago, but I hope to have grown CoChic Styling to allow for a studio/workspace and an employee.
10.
Share a quote/advice that you’d like to tell the 25-year-old you.
Recently I have been a believer in mind over matter and really putting positive thoughts out in the universe. If you believe it, it will happen.
Photos by Jennifer Kathryn Photography