This past week I got to speak to the HYPE RVA community and I was absolutely blown away by their engagement! Alton Lane (a direct to consumer custom suit maker) was our generous host - their Richmond based headquarters was gorgeous and one of the co-founders, Peyton, shared their story of how they got started as well as the psychology of dress.

It was an honor to share my story - how I went from having a well thought out plan for my life, to starting a blog, to getting laid off, to [finally] doing the thing. Over the years I've discovered that clothes are important, of course, but what is equally important is how you approach every situation in your life. I made myself a quote mainly because I thought that was a cool thing to do, but I know this concept to be 100% true.

Thank you HYPE RVA for having me!

3 Keys to Success

Do a lot of different things - I used to think that having done so many, varied and extremely different things was a detriment. I would truthfully be embarrassed to tell my grant writing or nonprofit clients about my personal styling business. And vice versa - I would be embarrassed to tell my small business owner friends that i was babysitting, or doing freelance work - as if that somehow made me less of a person, business owner, or someone who could be proud of what she did. All of these things make me, and make you, a more interesting person. I love telling people I work in fashion but I rock climb for fun or live to get down and dirty while camping.
Don’t be married to just one path - Most of us these days have a plan for how we want our life to go. We do all the things we’re supposed to do: go to school, get married, have a family, buy a house. Those things are GREAT. But it’s often when you go off the path that things actually start bring you joy and fuel your passion for everything you do.
Don’t give a crap what anyone else thinks - of your outfit or otherwise. Confident was a through-line throughout my whole presentation and I am a firm believer that when you have confidence you can do anything - from pulling off a bat shit crazy outfit to launching the business of your dreams. But when that's coupled with not caring what other people think or say? You're unstoppable.