Meet Andrea Davis of Strength and Dignity Styling in Dallas

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Davis.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story? How did I get where I am today? Wow! How much time do you have? LOL!

Short answer: Jesus.

Long(er) answer: Strength and Dignity Styling was birthed during a very unexpected season, yet also felt like a completely natural progression of a journey that I had been on my whole life.

I “soft-launched” Strength and Dignity Styling, on June 11, 2018, via an Instagram post, (a non-professional, i-phone selfie, to be exact), by announcing it on my personal account, (@mrsandreadavis), only after first checking my G-cal to discover that I had a pre-set meeting on the books with my life-coach the next day.

I distinctly remember it being very late at night, and that I was barely awake because my husband and I had just landed back in Dallas from Spain. I was exhausted from travel and totally jet-lagged, yet there was an even stronger feeling inside of me – one that I just couldn’t shake – the feeling of what it would be like to sit across from this incredible woman, one more time, and not have a reply to her recurring question, “What steps have you taken on your business?”

And so with one press of a button to “post”, Strength and Dignity Styling (@strength_and_dignity_styling) went “live” on the interwebs. I had no website, no official clients booked (though I had several within days), no professional logo or business cards, and most importantly, I felt that I had NO MORE EXCUSES.

Time was up. I couldn’t NOT do it any longer. God kept simply prompting me to do “what I could, with what I had, where I was at.” He was calling me to let go of my ideas of “what it (life, business, purpose) should look like”, and to simply join Him where He was so clearly leading… even when it seemed, at the time, to be in the opposite direction of where I thought I was, and “should be”, headed.

Don’t let my launch story fool you, however; Strength and Dignity Styling was one hundred percent NOT started on a whim; but rather, a venture that I had been deeply and prayerfully, along-side wise counsel, considering for the better portion of a year plus. And a journey that I really feel was a lifetime in the making… a journey of connecting beauty and purpose.

Here’s the back story:

I grew up engulfed in the beautiful, creative and artistic world of the performing fine arts – classical ballet – to be precise. I began training at the age of four and danced in a pre-professional student company throughout my school-aged years. And then, in lieu of attending university straight away to study interior design, I went on to dance professionally with “Ballet Magnificat!” for four seasons (2002-2006) following my high school graduation.

This Ballet company is particularly unique, and relevant to my journey because my time there was my first taste of what it was like to use the gifts and talents I had been given to serve a greater purpose. For the first time in my life, I was really experiencing – in a big way – what it was like to inspire and encourage, and to engage in the expressions of beauty – not solely for the sake of being admired… but to serve. My beauty served a purpose, and that marked my life in a really significant way.

One of the most special memories I have of dancing with Ballet Magnificat! was performing a ballet entitled, “Freedom” for the women of a state penitentiary. Let that sink in for just a moment. I was able to communicate with these women, through the language of movement, the message that – even behind physical bars – there was hope for true Freedom inside their own souls! Incredibly powerful!

From that moment forward, I became truly energized by the ability to connect with others, through the vehicle of beauty, in a way that would inspire and encourage!

Also, after 18 + years of dancing, I would say that my love and passion for the theatrics of beautifully designed stage makeup and costume design also ran deep! In my many years of performing, I grew to really love and appreciate (and was fascinated by) how makeup and costume design really shaped and created the characters that I got to portray on stage… which later translated into my passion for makeup and fashion on the stage of life.

During my professional ballet career, I remember getting stopped often, and people would compliment my makeup, and ask if I did freelance work. Even though at that time, I really didn’t think much of my ability to do makeup, I would hear this A LOT and began to take people up on their requests for me to do their makeup. I’ve now been doing freelance work for over a decade!

When you begin to hear people compliment you over and over on the same thing; pay attention! It probably means you’re good at it. 😉

In addition to my performing fine arts background, and love for people and self-expression through makeup and fashion, I also: went on to study international business, married a successful entrepreneur who passionately coached me into “not hating what I did for a living”, left a short career as a market analyst, and landed, what I considered at the time, my dream job with Sephora corporate!

In my role as a “Beauty Educator” (how fun is that job title?!), I worked as a liaison between all in-store, prestige beauty brands, Sephora Corporate, and our store teams to provide ongoing education, coaching, and artistry training across all brands, and categories of business.

I was honored to be working alongside, and training with, the best of the best in the beauty business! [I mean, who really gets to have Anastasia – as in Anastasia Beverly Hills – shut down her iconic Beverly Hills brow boutique to personally teach and train you in her “golden ratio” technique plus divulge all of her personal tips and tricks for shaping brows? I did.]

And while I truly loved what I did, and with whom I worked for and with (shout out to my former Sephora family), I resigned from this position, to begin a season of majorly slowing my pace, and in hopes of starting a family!

As I mentioned earlier, Strength and Dignity Styling was birthed during a very unexpected season in my life. When I resigned from my position my plan was to start a family immediately, but God’s plan was something different, something redemptive.

I had all but kissed my days in the beauty business goodbye, thinking I had had a great run… but then God began stirring something inside my heart that was reminiscent of my days dancing… beauty with purpose. The venture would take a different shape and form from what I had known in the past but contain the same essence.

As I moved forward into the unknown, I really began to feel almost convicted by the questions that were stirring inside, “What am I doing with what I’ve been given…”, “How I am using my time, talents, and treasure to serve others?”, and “What can I do with what I have, where I’m at to have an impact beyond myself?”. They were all questions of purpose; purpose beyond a title, status, or position; questions beyond, “what do I do for a living?”, but rather (to quote my husband) “Who am I?” and “Why am I here.” DEEP. QUESTIONS.

And that is the journey that led to the launch of Strength and Dignity Styling.

It’s a journey I feel that I’ve been on my whole life and one I hope to continue on forever: a journey of creating expressions of beauty that serve to inspire purpose.

Great, 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?
Aside from the aforementioned “unexpected” nature of the season in which I launched the business, Strength and Dignity Styling, as a venture, has been a fairly smooth road! Of course, there are always challenges and struggles along any journey, and I’m happy to share both sides of that equation.

I consider the road smooth for many reasons, that I completely recognize are most likely the “exception” and not the “rule” when it comes to getting an entrepreneurial venture off the ground. Admittedly, I had no real time constraints, not a lot of stress or pressure, and ample resources and assets to get started. So let me first say, for that – I am beyond grateful – and there is not a day goes by that I don’t realize how blessed I am. And without a doubt, none of my success would be possible without God, and the never-ending love, affirmation, encouragement and support of my husband! I’m also so grateful for all the many opportunities and experiences I’ve had in the beauty business, and business in general, over the years, that made me feel really confident going at it on my own!

In addition, before I launched Strength and Dignity Styling I had been given the rare opportunity to take a significant amount of time to truly rest, heal, and overcome the burnout and exhaustion I had experienced throughout the majority of my working life. This was a game-changer. In that time, I learned to decouple my value from what I did and began placing it on who I was becoming. As I carved out more and more time and space to reflect, I was able to hear God’s voice, and listen to Him, as He helped to redefine my purpose in that season, while continuing to affirm who He has uniquely created me to be. So, I began to re-orient around that!

Because of this, when I launched Strength and Dignity Styling, I launched it from a place of purpose and passion, and not pressure, which was really such a gift! I wasn’t starting something just to start something, and my motivation wasn’t about what I would “get” from the venture, but rather what I could “give” to it, and who I was becoming through it. And for me, that was a sustainable vision I could run with!

Also, in speaking to the launch of the business “being a smooth road”, I have mostly had a very strong grasp on who I am, what I am called to, what I am good at, and what I am not good at. Knowing who I am, and “why I’m here” really helped make the vision clear, and create a venture that I could sustain over time. I’ve never really struggled with comparison, and ultimately admire the work of people in the same space as me – so that definitely helps too. I’m really not trying to compete with anyone, but just be me. Add in healthy boundaries and strong priorities to the mix, and it was just a really firm foundation from which to start a new venture.

Lastly, it’s been a smooth road because I have sought out, and been so privileged to have wise counsel speaking into my life and venture! In addition to a handful of good friends who are very successful entrepreneurs, I also happen to be married to, in my opinion, one of the most brilliant and successful entrepreneurs there are! My husband, my life-coach, and otherwise counsel have truly helped me to avoid most of the pitfalls people face when starting a business. So, I am incredibly lucky in that way. They have also been the ones to encourage me to keep going, and put one foot in front of the other!

So, while most of the traditional barriers or roadblocks, for starting a business weren’t my issue. (I had the time, resources, skill set, and opportunities). My biggest roadblock in getting started, was mostly, myself…my fear of the unknown, inability to predict/control the future (lol), and feel that things should “be perfect” before getting started. For me, the very hardest part was simply starting small, and accepting that that was enough!

The other main struggle has simply been getting my name and my work back out there as “Strength and Dignity Styling” and not Andrea Davis, “Beauty Educator” with the largest beauty retailer in the world. So, I’m incredibly grateful for this interview and to Voyage Dallas! Thank you! Starting over can feel like a challenge, but I am poised and ready, and praying that my preparedness lands on God-sized opportunities.

Strength and Dignity Styling – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Strength and Dignity Styling creates expressions of beauty that serve to inspire purpose.

We are in the business of encouragement! Nothing makes us happier than empowering women to see the unique beauty they already possess, highlighting it through our services, and encouraging them to steward it to serve a purpose that’s as unique and impactful as they are!

Strength and Dignity Styling is a professional services business that provides a variety of customizable makeup artistry, as well as, wardrobe styling services to women in the Dallas, TX area and beyond!

We specialize in coming alongside women, getting to know them personally, learning more about their beauty and wardrobe goals, putting together customizable plans tailored to those goals, and then seeing them through the process in a manner that is fun and uplifting! We don’t focus on things to change, but rather look to highlight the beauty we behold!

We also believe that empathy, (our ability to put ourselves in our client’s shoes), is our super-power. Our ability to really listen and notice the details that make each person unique helps us to tailor each look in a way that makes them feel seen, heard and understood. And while we lean on our expertise to make wonderful recommendations, we aren’t trying to replicate society’s, or our own, idea of what beauty or fashion is, but to really listen to what makes the client feel beautiful and do THAT!

Examples of our makeup services are: Makeup Consultation + Customized Product Recommendations, Trial Run Through for Special Event MakeUp Application, Special Event Makeup Application, Photo Shoot Makeup Application, In-Home Makeup Application Training, etc.

Examples of our wardrobe styling services are: Styling Consultation + Assessment of Services Needed, Seasonal Capsule Wardrobing, Event Wardrobing, Styling Existing Wardrobe, Styling for Photo Shoots, etc.

Lastly, the mission of the business, is definitely what sets us apart! Our mission is to encourage women, and facilitate the connection of beauty and purpose! And this is not only for our clients but also for the lives that are being touched by them, indirectly, simply because they chose to hire Strength and Dignity!

We are thrilled to be donating a portion of all profits to A21, a non-profit organization that has tirelessly, over the past eleven years, dedicated themselves to achieve this mission: to “abolish slavery everywhere, forever” (www.a21.org). They work globally, with victims of sex-trafficking, to reach, rescue and restore!

So, in addition to the spheres of influence our clients have in their own communities, they are also impacting people they may never meet, because of their decision to hire Strength and Dignity Styling! Their beauty serves a purpose!

We would love to work with you for any makeup or styling needs you may have!

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moments of my career so far, with this new Venture, Strength and Dignity Styling, is when I get to see my client’s smile light up the room because they feel beautiful, and knowing that I got to play a small part in inspiring their journey! Also, there’s nothing like clicking the “donate” button on the A21 website, and knowing that because of this business, victims of sex-trafficking are being reached, rescued and restored!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.facebook.com/StrengthAndDignityStyling/
• Email: strengthanddignitystyling@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strength_and_dignity_styling/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StrengthAndDignityStyling/

Image Credit:
Cory Hale, Alexandria Norado, Madeline Harper Benavides, Grant Miller, Carissa Byers, Max Kutz

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