I’m so happy to feature a really wonderful fashion blogger and small business owner of a personal styling and box service, Carly, from Thirty Something Fashion (TSF)!
Don’t know Carly? Well, let’s meet her!
1. You have been a stylist for many years. How has it changed since you first started out?
My first retail job in the formal wear department of Bloomingdales had me styling women for really amazing moments in their life like weddings and galas. I adored the fantasy of it all….limitless budgets and over the top dresses with beads, sequins and trains. Ahhhh!!!!
As much as I loved that job, when I moved on to boutique management things were so much more fulfilling. I saw clients over and over again…some of them would make weekly stops. It was relationships and legitimate friendships. I was styling not only for important moments, but also for the day to day. That is when I fell in love with retail.
Today, my personal styling business is a direct reflection of what I learned at those jobs and my experiences along the way. Every client becomes a friend and I am so lucky to retain 90 percent of them as seasonal appointments. Dressing them is almost as natural as dressing myself. #truestory
2. What is the biggest reason that people come to you for styling?
I would say 50 percent of the time women seek me out due to a significant life change, examples being just having a baby, landing a new job or losing a bunch of weight. They come to me frustrated because they just don’t know where to start! The other 50 percent are women who hate shopping online, don’t have time to shop or don’t want to bring their children to the mall. For them, it is a convenience factor.
3. Do you have a best-selling item right now from your shop? Tell us more about it and your store.
There are always items that seem to just never stop selling out. This very moment, I would say I can’t keep distressed boyfriend jeans, distressed denim shorts or awesome fitting casual tees in stock. Since my clientele is 60 percent mom-on-the-go these items seem to almost be a uniform for them.
4. What are the benefits of the TSF box service and who can benefit from it?
TSF Box Service is one of the first services I offered back in 2010. I tested it out with my dear friend and client who lived a few states away, who still wanted to shop with me and the rest…as they say, is history. Referral after referral after referral.
In a nutshell I provide customized boxes of style to women all over the country. You fill out a detailed survey in regards to size, style and budget. I then curate five to ten “looks” for you from head to toe. I am talking jewelry and shoes too! I box it up and ship it to your doorstep. You try on and shop from the box and then send back what does not work for you. I like to call it StitchFix on steroids. Anyone who is lacking in time or just doesn’t want to think about what to wear can benefit from this service!
Learn about the service HERE.
CHANGING GEARS
5. What is the first thing you do each day?
I walk into my childrens rooms and just listen to them breath for a moment. Then I shut their door and head downstairs to get something done before the chaos of school preparation begins. Ha!
6. What trend are you loving for this season?
Cold shoulder and off the shoulder shirts and dresses are hands down my favorite trend. There is something so beautiful, sexy and soft about the shoulders of a woman.
7. What item in your closet can you not live without?
A perfect white tee and an easy fitting pair of distressed boyfriend jeans….can we say…uniform?!
8. Do you have a go-to or must-have product that you use daily?
YES! I use a Sheer Mineral Tint from a chemical-free makeup line that I literally swear by. It is heavier than a BB cream but not as cakey as a foundation and has this little hint of shimmer in it. I absolutely could not and will not live without it!
Follow Carly on Facebook and Instagram.
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Carly Horen-Walko says
thank you SO much for the feature on your beautiful blog!
C
Johanna says
I love her answer to #5. I totally do that, too!