Industry Spotlight: Michigan Startup Solves the Problem of What to Wear

If you're one of those people who could care less about putting an outfit together or if you're on the opposite end of the spectrum where that's all you think about, listen up. A local startup has solved both of those problems. Stylists, you now have a platform to legitimize your business and start managing your clients a little more efficiently, and for the busy men and women who just don't have time to figure out their outfits, you have a way to do so with an expert. Read more about The Styled Life and how it answers life's most important question: what am I going to wear today?

Image from The Styled Life

DGG: Tell us about The Styled Life.

The Styled Life: Remember Cher Horowitz’s closet computer in the movie Clueless? How many of us lusted after that machine that would tell us precisely what to wear each morning?! It has been a dream ever since to bring that exact feeling to every closet. We all struggle with what to wear when faced with the contents of our closet and we all want to feel confident in the image that we present to the world.

THE STYLED LIFE was created to solve the struggle of figuring out what to wear. We have bridged the gap between professional stylists wanting to help clients feel great about their look and members searching for someone to put their clothes together for them. It is the only monthly subscription service that will actually take your own clothes and show you how to wear them. No more laying clothes out, stressing about a special occasion, or wasting time trying stuff on and not liking the way it looks.

Through a special photographic process, each article of a wardrobe is documented and uploaded to a personal virtual closet.  From here, wardrobe items are catalogued by category, type, color, and brand.  Our members can request outfits from their personal stylist, ask for shopping suggestions, assign outfits to their calendar, and ask a stylist to plan out outfits to pack their suitcase for a trip. Every time a new item is added to a closet, the stylist gets an alert to create new outfits so that our members know exactly how to wear it.

DGG: Why should a local stylist choose this as a platform versus managing it his or herself?

TSL: The job of a personal stylist is to help their clients feel great about themselves in what they are wearing, whether it is done in a fitting room at a store or in the comfort of their own home. Men and women desire to look their best each and every day; the image we portray directly affects how we feel and how others view us. The demand for personal stylists is on the rise, yet the time in each day does not change. How else can you meet the needs of your growing number of clients if you cannot be in 10 places at once? This is the exact reason why we created the solution to the struggle.  

With The Styled Life, stylists can access their clients’ closets from any mobile device. They are available when their clients need them and can offer advice, style outfits, and give shopping suggestions. The ability to view the wardrobe contents of any client allows a stylist the freedom to run their business on their time and still serve their clients at the highest level.

DGG: What are your plans for the future? Where do you see The Styled Life in 5-10 years?

TSL: In the next 5-10 years, we will be able to touch millions of wardrobes. Personalized shopping experiences are on the rise, and for good reason. Stitch Fix, Trunk Club, Wantable...all of these style subscription boxes are gaining attention and followers because women, and men, are understanding the power of their image. We live in a quick world, where first impressions are extremely important. The clothing that we choose to wear each and every day can have a major impact on our life interactions.  

The Styled Life takes what the style subscription boxes have to offer and adds one more unique touch: honoring your current wardrobe. With this personalized step, we are not selling you new products. Our stylists are not filling a box with clothes we think you will like based on a style quiz you completed. Instead, we are making informed decisions based on the contents of your closet. We are creating a personalized relationship to best serve your lifestyle and outfit struggles.  And we are NOT a subscription that you will take a break from because our styling professionals are saving you precious time and money. By creating outfits from your wardrobe that you love to wear, we are increasing the value of your investment in the items that are hanging in your closet. And who doesn’t want to make the most of an important investment?

The Styled Life will be a household name as it is going to change the way men and women shop and get dressed each day. Imagine being able to walk into a retail store and instead of wondering what you should buy, you can invite the sales associate to pull up your closet. The associate can then pinpoint exactly what your wardrobe is missing. This will not only help you make smarter decisions as a consumer, but also see a greater value in what you purchase.

We are excited to see what the future brings and have already seen the life-changing impact that our system has on our members’ lives.

DGG: What advice you would give to budding personal stylists?

TSL: You cannot serve everyone and you do not need to. Be focused. When you become clear about what you have to offer and who you offer it to, you will identify your exact client and can find them so much easier. Think about who you love working with and get to know your ideal client. Study them. What type of client are they? What do they look like? What are their struggles?  What do they like to do in their free time? What do they do for work? Where do they like to hang out? Really take the time to understand the people you want to serve. This will help you become clear on your own services and what you have to offer your clients.

DGG: If you could style anyone in the world, who would it be and why?

TSL: Oprah. Just to be in the presence of a woman who has built an empire, while never losing sight of what she has to offer others, would be incredibly empowering. Styling to me is more than just fashion and trends, it represents connecting with my clients on a deeper, more transformational level.  To have the opportunity to connect with Oprah on this level, while influencing her style decisions (not that she needs it!) I know would provide immeasurable insight.   

DGG: How do you take your coffee?

TSL: Black and strong.

DGG: Sarah Slutsky or Erin Walsh?

TSL: Sarah Slutsky.  

DGG: Classic or edgy?

TSL: Depends on my mood and who I want to be that day. I love playing around with my style and wearing outfits that are unique to me.

A Letter From DGG’s President: Want To Become a Household Name? Start With This Simple Plan

By Karen Buscemi

If you are a serious fashion designer (or fashion photographer, wardrobe stylist, etc.) with intentions to one day have a well-known brand, yet the only people currently aware you have a product or service are your parents and close circle of friends, you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you.

While Rome wasn’t built in a day – and neither is your fashion brand – you can build your audience daily by applying these four simple strategies:

1. Get a Professional Business Card
Even in this digital world, business cards are still exchanged all day every day. If you want to be viewed as a professional, if you want to be remembered, if you want people to have easy access to your phone number, email and website (because you have a functioning, easy to view website, right?) you need a business card. A professional business card. Not one you printed out on perforated card stock from Office Depot. Business cards are quite inexpensive and there are tons of graphic designers/firms to whip up a beauty of a business card, plus online options that provide hard to mess up templates for the DIY-er. Make sure the font is large enough to be read by all the aging eyes out there (I may be a little sensitive about that one), the design is simple and clean, and you have proofread EVERYTHING. No typos are ever allowed on your marketing materials.

2. Create a Social Media Presence
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are all crucial to building your brand. But just creating a Facebook page or Twitter handle or Instagram account isn’t enough. You have to populate it. With stuff. Good stuff. Stuff that makes readers want to read your stuff. And it shouldn’t be all about your dog. Or your daily meal. People want to see what you are creating. And your creative process. And what inspires you. And what’s important to you (keep your political views and anything else controversial off your professional pages, please). You must update regularly. That doesn’t have to mean every day. But at least three times a week. It takes a long time to grow your social media presence, but if you stick with it, it will indeed grow. Be sure to follow others, and like and comment positively on their posts (but not in a stalker-ish way). One personal gripe here: List clearly what it is that you do/make and how to reach you on your social media pages. A cutesy or vague statement that leaves editors, buyers and customers confused is a very bad idea.

3. Network, Network, Network
I don’t particularly love networking, but I can tell you this: Every time I go to an event, I ALWAYS meet at least one person who can help my organization in some way. Every. Single. Time. So I mingle, talk and share. And I don’t make it one-sided, either. I listen to what others have to say and actively try to help them, too, if I am able. Take your schmancy new business cards, clean yourself up nice and get out there. If you don’t have an elevator pitch about your company, now is the time to create one. All you need is one to two sentences that clearly and easily defines what you are doing and why. Memorize it and share it with everyone you meet.

4. Volunteer or Join a Committee
It’s easy to stay within the confines of our comfort zones (Game of Thrones marathon, anyone?), but if you want people to learn about what you do and potentially become your next customers, you’ve got to spread your wings outside your job, friends, family and smart phone and insert yourself into groups and events that align with your talents and abilities. In addition to giving back to your community – which is just a darn good feeling – you’ll also get your brand out there. You can get your company name on programs, websites, signage, social media and more. There are all sorts of opportunities that nonprofits will provide in return for your time and energy. And of course the group you are working with will become familiar with your brand during the course of your time working together. It’s a win-win.

On The Town: Fashion Panel at Michigan Fashion Week

The Fashion Panel for Michigan Fashion Week took place last night at the Baronette Renaissance Hotel (so chic) in Novi and it was fash-tastic. Karen Buscemi, Founder and President of DG3—surely, you already know this but we’re listing the rest of the titles so it just makes sense to add it—Mia Ray, blogger from Confessions of a Glam-aholic, and Courtney Miarka and Matt Yessian, founders of The Styled Life, a wardrobe consulting platform, came together to speak about the business of fashion.

It was an extremely informative discussion with attentive and fashionable attendees who all had very thoughtful questions for the speakers. DG3 live-tweeted little gems throughout the evening. In case you missed the live tweets or you don’t have a Twitter account (what???), we have compiled them all right here for you.

"In the fashion industry, finding your niche is such an important thing to do." - Karen Buscemi, Founder and President of DG3

"In New York, you can be a little fish in a big pond, but in Detroit, you can be a big fish in a small pond." - KB

"If you're looking to get into a magazine, always make that email everything it needs to be because it will make all of the difference in the world when it comes to getting someone’s attention." - KB

"When I started my blog, I pulled out my laptop and I wanted to talk about what I loved." – Mia Ray, Founder of Confessions of a Glam-aholic

"I really believe that my blog became so successful because I was consistent." – MR

"No matter what I do, Confessions of a Glam-aholic is my foundation; even when I went to do my product line, I did not neglect my blog." - MR

Tip for blogging: “Be organic, do it because you love it, not because you want to get paid." - MR

Another tip for blogging: "Consistency is king and content is queen." - MR

"It's about taking your passions and turning them into a business." – Courtney Miarka, Co-founder of The Styled Life (Formerly Stylyste)

"It's not about how great you are, it's about how to get clients and maintain that recurring relationship." - CM

"But now, when you have all of your clients interacting with you in one space, you do have the time to style outfits for clients." - CM

"Most people want to feel like they look nice but they don't know what to do and, on average, a woman takes 20 minutes to think about what they're going to wear." – Justin Yessian, Co-founder of The Styled Life (Formerly Stylyste)

If you couldn’t make it to the fashion panel, there will be a fashion-networking event happening at MEX Restaurant in Bloomfield Hills tonight, and Michigan Fashion Week Showcase at Ultimate Soccer Arena in Pontiac Saturday night, so you still have time to take part in all of the local fashion that is Michigan Fashion Week. Check out all the activities at http://michiganfashionweek.com.