Today we’d like to introduce you to Michele Ray Williams.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
My female family members were very interested and participated in fashion, interior design, and the arts. In my youth, I was thankfully exposed to a mother and aunt who dressed beautifully and decorated homes exquisitely from back in the ’60s to early 2000s. As a career woman in the 80s and 90s, I was acutely aware that how I presented myself in my career environments spoke clearly about my professionalism and confidence in my abilities. Over time, colleagues and friends began complimenting my style, and I gladly started sharing resources that could help provide similar looks. Often, that wasn’t enough, and I was asked to show them the HOW:
- A ‘closet’ makeover
- Going through their existing wardrobe and creating new, fresh outfits
- Purging what they didn’t wear
- Keeping what best fits their unique size, shape, and lifestyle
The results encouraged them to see their wardrobe with fresh eyes and know what new items would fill the missing pieces instead of buying for the sake of buying. As I broadened my network of clients, I was also asked for help packing for trips, finding special occasion outfits, and personal shopping trips to retail stores. Each encounter helped me grow in confidence and self-esteem and inspired me to focus on the business by eliminating personal shopping in a retail store and partnering with Cabi to have a collection of clothes where I can bring the boutique directly to women. Taking that leap of faith in myself and the services, I saw that many women needed had led me to a career that has gifted me with a circle of women I would never have met who seek me for advice and inspiration.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
There are always challenges in every dream you want to share through a personal small business. The market for personal stylists is flooded with many amazing women and men offering similar services. Yet, I was committed to sharing a different perspective, especially with mature women. Again, there were hurdles, most often from the women I was trying to assist and what I would call myself. Many felt at first that my title of ‘personal stylist’ was for famous women, not them. I thought about my services and realized I am a ‘wardrobe coach,’ coaching women to find their style, best shape, and fit for their bodies and lifestyle. Today, many mature women are critical of themselves, their bodies, and how they view themselves. Also, many are retiring, so they believe they don’t need clothes and don’t pay much mind to how they look. I could go on as I have heard it all. So, in my never-ending attempt to lift spirits, show them how beautiful they are, and encourage them to refresh and rethink how they view themselves, I have been blessed with many clients, new friends, and confidants. I am at their side during serious health challenges, the sadness of experiencing an empty nest, and the blessings of children’s graduations and marriages. I am not just selling fashion, but I am also helping them create the stylish life they seek.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Life and Style with Michele?
As a mature woman and wardrobe coach, the most essential part of my service is helping a woman see herself through the eyes of love and acceptance and not judgment. I know that is easier said than done, but it is the foundation of my success and the value I place on the women I serve. Redirecting and suggesting alternatives is challenging as I use my knowledge and experience to help women with selections. I never want a client to have a closet full of clothes she doesn’t wear or like, yet I know there are a lot of closets like this. Budgets, family, and personal economy are essential, and I think each purchase should be treated as an investment. I am proud of the clients I have had for over 13 years who continue to trust me and the products I represent. I believe they know I will create value for them, and I am the first to direct them to different choices when I see them reaching for looks that are beyond budgets or I am confident they won’t wear or love on their bodies. When delivered with a smile and knowledge, a steadfast NO is powerful.
Are any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
So many favorite books of mine, most recently:
-The Covenant of Water
-Demon Copperhead
-Remarkably Bright Creatures
-The Midnight Library
Contact Info:
- Website: https://micheleraywilliams.cabionline.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeandstylewithmichele/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stylebymichele1/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJh_N6fRb8wt4wsL-JR836w
