Today we’d like to introduce you to Tenni King.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I always knew I wanted to work in Fashion. I just didn’t know how to make it happen. Being from San Antonio, it seemed like a very big feat to find your way in such a desirable industry in cities like NYC or LA.
During college, I had internships at Tory Burch in LA and Stella McCartney in NYC (both in Public Relations). I also studied abroad at the London College of Fashion, learning about trend forecasting and buying. I really wanted to build a nice base during college before I stepped out in the “Real World.”
After graduating in 2013 with my bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Redlands in Southern California, I got an internship with Starworks Group in their VIP Services/Celebrity Dressing department. It was there that I saw how celebrity stylists pulled for their clients’ various events.
After six months of interning there, I joined Starworks Artists, the firm’s beauty agency, as an agent assistant. There, I got a crash course in how stylists, hairstylists, and makeup artists work with their celebrity clients for everything from red carpet to editorial jobs. It was so different from PR but was a great experience to learn how to correspond with people on a daily basis and made me very detailed-oriented since we were dealing with our artist’s personal schedules. I will always be thankful for that job because it taught me so much about time management and efficiency.
After two years in LA, I soon realized that I wanted to move back to Texas to be closer to family. So, I took the leap and moved to Dallas without a job lined up. Fashion PR wasn’t a job that really existed in Dallas, but I really wanted to figure out my next move. I’d always thought about personal shopping as a potential career but never knew how to make it a reality unless you worked in a department store. My Godmother knew of a personal shopper, Nancy Klompus, and sent me her contact info. I emailed her on a whim to see if she needed any extra help coming up, she needed someone the next day, and the rest is history. I joined her team at Buy Request and assisted her for three years, learning the business before striking out on my own. Thus, Well Fashioned by Tenni King was born!
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?
I haven’t hit too many roadblocks per se, but I am closing in on my first full year with my business and I’ve learned that it’s not always going to be smooth sailing. I’m still building my client base and some months are busier than others. You need to be able to be ready whenever an opportunity arises. No day is ever the same. I’ve learned that you have to be able to adapt to anything that’s thrown your way because it can literally change by the hour.
In a freelance business, you really have to be flexible and patient. You are not going to be an overnight success. You really have to be persistent to get where you want to be. You have to take risks sometimes and go to events to meet people and get outside your circle. You never know where that event will take you. You may meet a new client. You may meet someone, who can connect to a new store or new clients down the line. You may even meet new friends in the industry, which is so refreshing to have someone that understands your specific position.
All in all, I would just say to be patient with yourself, take risks, and enjoy the ride! In the end, it’s just clothes. Don’t take your job or yourself too seriously. Make sure to give it your all every day and the benefits will start to fall into place!
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?
I believe what sets me apart from other personal shoppers is my ability to figure out a client’s style very quickly. I am able to zero in on an individual’s vibe within the first meeting and present options to elevate their style to the next level. The styling process is my secret sauce. This is where the clothes come alive. Each outfit is customized to the individual to make them feel like their best self. Style is what makes everyone unique. No client will ever look the same. It’s the styling that differentiates each client. Such a fun, interactive experience!
As a personal shopper and wardrobe stylist, I have many services that I can provide to my clients. My services are as follows:
-Closet Editing: consists of purging the client’s closet keeping only items that help to create an easy wardrobe that fits their lifestyle. I review each article they own, donate or sell the non-essential pieces, and develop a catalog of styled looks with the clothes in their closet.
-Personal Shopping: a streamlined process that allows the client to shop in-store or in the comfort of their home, depending on their preference. I’ll start by pre-shopping relevant stores and boutiques; pulling articles catered to their style, body type, and budget. Items will already be selected prior to the shopping day to allow for a more time-efficient shopping experience. This process allows us to be able to find items that seamlessly tie into their current closet.
-Wardrobe Styling: consists of mixing and matching to build a wardrobe fit for their individual needs. I’ll pair pre-existing pieces with new items to create outfits for work, the weekend, and everything in between. Each outfit will be photographed to create a digital lookbook full of foolproof outfits for every occasion.
-Packing: provides a streamlined process of packing clients for trips, whether it’s for work or play. I make a day-by-day outfit itinerary that corresponds with their activities. I’ll take pictures of each outfit to take the stress out of figuring out what to wear every day. I try to reuse items to make the number of items to pack minimal. I’ll also send an email with the outfit itinerary to be cross-referenced with the photos to make the packing process more efficient.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
I am a big advocate of being a constant student when it comes to business and fashion. We should always be open to learning something new, whether it’s a new fashion trend or business tactic. I listen to podcasts, read magazines and blogs, as well as find styling inspiration on Instagram to keep me ever-evolving and never stagnant.
My absolute favorite podcast is WhoWhatWear Co-Founder Hillary Kerr’s “Second Life” podcast. I listen to it religiously each week. Every Monday, I listen to her interviews with women entrepreneurs, like Eva Chen (Director of Fashion Partnerships at Instagram), Jen Atkin (celebrity hairstylist), Alli Webb (Drybar founder), and Candace Nelson (Sprinkles Cupcakes founder) to name a few… they discuss how they made the leap from their original job path to their second career. Each interviewee is from a different industry with a different background who has a different perspective. I believe it is so important to soak in any information you can. Never stop being curious! Simply hearing about their missteps and successes is helpful to show that there isn’t one path for everyone. Always leave feeling super inspired to start my week!
Even though we live in a mostly digital world now, I still enjoy reading magazines to hear about fashion news.
Some publications that I turn to on a monthly basis are Vogue, Porter Magazine, and InStyle. Each has a different outlook, which I find interesting to see how they approach trends and styling in fresh ways.
On the digital side, WhoWhatWear, a digital fashion publication, sends out a newsletter of worthy articles each day. I read that every morning when I have my coffee. It’s 100% a part of my routine at this point. I find their perspective to be a little more interesting than magazines sometimes. Nice to see all the viewpoints!
Finally, Instagram is definitely my biggest inspiration for styling ideas. It’s fun to see how celebrities, street style stars, bloggers, and fashion editors style their outfits for their events and day-to-day lives. The platform really keeps me up-to-date on the newest styling tricks and trends to look out for. Always want to learn the latest and greatest!
Pricing:
- My services are $150/hour.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wellfashionedbytenniking.com/
- Phone: 210-867-2105
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @tenniking
- Facebook: @wellfashionedbytenniking
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