Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Hogan.
Hi Laura, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m Laura Hogan, the founder of The Shattered Ceiling. The idea for my company began long before I ever owned a business. As a student at Texas A&M I attended a career fair and needed something professional to wear. The night before, I ran frantically through the mall searching for a suit; I ended up borrowing one that didn’t fit and walked into the fair feeling out of place and unprepared. At the next fair my mom helped me invest in a suit that gave me confidence, but it was expensive, rarely worn and quickly outgrown.
Later, in my professional career, I lived in business‑casual attire most of the time. Yet whenever big presentations or interviews came up, I was back in the same cycle: spending hundreds on suits I’d hardly wear and then storing them in my closet. After having a baby, it became even more obvious that traditional women’s professional wear isn’t designed to keep up with life’s changes. I started asking myself: why should women have to choose between feeling confident in a room and draining their bank account on clothing that gathers dust?
That frustration turned into a mission. I created The Shattered Ceiling to make professional power accessible. Through affordable women’s suit rentals and carefully curated workwear, we give women the freedom to be empowered and look prepared without the financial strain or waste of buying suits they’ll rarely wear.
Our rentals are there for pivotal moments—interviews, presentations, conferences, returning from maternity leave—so that every woman can step into a room with confidence
We believe every woman deserves the outfit—and the confidence—to own the room
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. One of the biggest early challenges was inventory sourcing. I attended Dallas Market with the hope of finding wholesale suits that aligned with my vision, but I quickly realized how limited the options were — especially when it came to quality, fit, and brands that felt elevated enough for professional settings.
After that, I spent hours researching, reaching out to brands, and sending emails that often went unanswered. It was a long process of trial and persistence, which at times felt discouraging. Eventually, that effort paid off when I was able to secure a wholesale account with Theory, a brand I’ve long admired and considered a dream partner for The Shattered Ceiling.
That experience taught me how much patience and resilience entrepreneurship requires, and it reinforced the importance of staying aligned with your standards, even when the process takes longer than expected.
We’ve been impressed with The Shattered Ceiling, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Shattered Ceiling is a high-end women’s professional workwear rental company focused on providing access to elevated clothing for pivotal career moments. We specialize in thoughtfully curated suits and professional pieces designed to help women feel prepared and confident without the cost or long-term commitment of ownership.
What sets us apart is our exclusive focus on women’s professional wear. To our knowledge, we are the only rental company dedicated specifically to this space. Rather than offering general fashion or occasion-based rentals, we center our model around intentional use — recognizing that many women don’t need a full professional wardrobe, just the right pieces at the right time. This approach supports flexibility, sustainability, and practicality, particularly for students, early-career professionals, and women in roles where formal business attire is only needed occasionally.
We’re known for prioritizing quality and fit, along with maintaining a carefully curated inventory. Partnering with brands like Theory has been a meaningful milestone and reflects the standard we aim to provide through The Shattered Ceiling.
What I’m most proud of is building a brand rooted in access and confidence. I want readers to know that The Shattered Ceiling exists to remove unnecessary barriers around professional clothing and to offer a modern, thoughtful alternative that aligns with how women actually live and work today.
Pricing:
- Blazers $35 – $45
- Trousers $25-30
- Dresses $40
- Full Suit Rentals get 10% off
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theshatteredceiling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.shatteredceiling/
Image Credits
Morgan Wirth (https://morganwirth.com)
