Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Staley.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Samantha. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Originally from the east coast, I moved to Dallas when I was very young – eight years old or so. Growing up Dallas, I began to notice there is a certain elevation about women’s fashion here that is taken very seriously. As soon as I was old enough to work, I was brought on board in a number of very small mom-and-pop boutiques, and from there, I started to style women from all over, and I would dress them from head to toe. Fast forward to the last three years, I became a part of a luxury women’s store located in Highland Park called “marcus” – a line of large boutiques owned by Marcus Lemonis of CNBC’s “the profit” tv series. As I became a part of the family there, I started to have more opportunity to style my clients in bigger and better labels, and I now have more fashion at my fingertips than I ever had before to share with everyone I style. Currently, I have many clients who come and visit me during my days at “Marcus” simply for the wonderful and unique selection the store offers, however, I have a handful of lovely ladies who prefer I come to them – whether they need closet cleanouts, consolidation of basics, or simply a fresh start to their daily uniform, I very much enjoy meeting their fashion needs, and having fun along the way. Instagram: @styleofsamantha
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
For me, personally, I have been very lucky to have not yet encountered many challenges I could not overcome on my own. In any professional endeavor, especially freelance, you sort of feel like a modern-day cowboy – you never know what’s around the corner, or what your next obstacle might be. It’s very easy to go down the rabbit hole of feeling as though your work is inadequate, or worrying if you’re meeting the standards of your clientele. When stress becomes apart of the equation, I always ask myself one question – does what you do feel like work? If the answer is no, then you’re doing everything right.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
What I do, by definition, is personal styling. However, it entails much more than simply dressing someone from head to toe. I complete tasks such as closet clean-outs, taking and picking up dry cleaning, creating style books (also known as “lookbooks”), and running all over town to the best stores and shops Dallas has to offer to meet each of my ladies’ needs. What I’m most proud of is how I’ve learned to revolve around the style of another person. How we present ourselves to the world might be different from how another person presents themselves, and it’s important to keep that person feeling like they’re making the statement they want to make, without putting them in a box they don’t want to be in. Which I believe sets me apart from others; I’ve had the opportunity to work with other stylists who seem to dress women in what is their personal style, not the style or presentation of the woman they’re dressing. It happens all too often, and at that point, you are no longer meeting the standards of what that client brought you on board to do in the first place.
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
The most important piece of advice I could give to a young woman just starting her career is: stick to your guns. Only your opinion and process is what matters – and only take advice from people you know and trust. If you follow your instincts, you will go very far. Not just in your profession, but in everyday life as well.
Pricing:
- $18/HOUR FOR PERSONAL SERVICES (FLAT FEE)
- 1% – 5% STORE SALES COMMISSION (DEPENDING ON MERCHANT)
Contact Info:
- Address: 3900 VITRUVIAN WAY
ADDISON, TEXAS 75001 - Website: https://shopmarcus.com/pages/dallas
- Phone: (214) 726-2724
- Email: SSSTALEY1@GMAIL.COM
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/styleofsamantha/
Image Credit:
MADELINE POTTER – MADELINE FAYE PHOTOGRAPHY INSTAGRAM: @MADELINEFAYEP
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