We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jessica Myhr a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica , appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with a story that highlights an important way in which your brand diverges from the industry standard.

I started off as an assistant in licensing and marketing repping authors of children’s picture books and quickly learned about creative branding. That hands on practical application working for a small creative start up is where the seed of passion for my unique take on image consulting took place. I was learning about the core of brand authenticity – how to maintain the integrity of a brand, in this case signature artwork and storytelling, when it was translated into stationery, apparel, even developmental toys. I worked with artists of children’s picture books (Ian Falconer and Eric Carle – to name a few) to manage and maintain their logos, color palettes and even fonts with various vendors. I also kept working with creative people on their own image – what colors look great on them, flattering cuts/styles and how to wear clothing that felt authentic to who they were as a person and what they wanted to communicate. It dawned on me – creative branding was personal branding – There must be a way for people to show up as their best authentic selves with the right tools. I consider myself the anti-stylist because I really don’t care about clothes, I care about people. Clothes are fun and they can help tell a story- but the real difference is being able to show up with integrity – your true authentic self at your best – in colors that make you pop, cuts that work for you and communicating your unique story. I have found when people look & feel their best, they do their best in the world.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi I’m Jessica – a MN gal at heart and East Coaster otherwise, momma to a super active happy 2 year old, lover of baked goods, my siblings, vibrant ocean colors and historical fiction books, films, & TV shows. I went to Rutgers University and received my MFA in Acting under great teachers (Bill Esper, Israel Hicks, Deborah Hedwall). I worked with an image consultant for school to help me understand how I could stand out and be unique in a difficult industry where you are constantly rejected. I fell in love with the process – the colors, the shopping, the styling and storytelling. I wanted to help all my classmates and friends! Thus the very beginning of Inherent Style.

Trying to pay down my student loans, I landed a job in licensing & creative branding at a small company repping authors of children’s picture books. I helped manage the integrity and authenticity of the brands we represented when vendors translated their beautiful artwork & stories into consumer products. I then worked at a fashion consulting company, where we analyzed market trends, did industry research and applied it to brands and retailers. All of this cumulated in my creation of Inherent Style; styling people from the inside out. My niche is working with actors, creatives and entreprenuers but I have found so many industries can use my services now. I offer virtual services in color analysis, personal branding & image strategy, styling for photo shoots and in person events as well as online shopping. I help my clients create everyday wardrobes they love, photo shoots where they look great while communicating a story, and authentic self-confidence.

I am unique in my approach to image. I think of myself more as a personal branding specialist and image coach with an emphasis on visual storytelling. I want my clients to feel amazing in how they show up in the world – to truly look and feel their best from the inside out.

What I am most proud of in this work, is how my clients grow after we work together. I love seeing them revel in their color palette, show off for their friends, have the courage to wear something a little bolder, and open their closets with joy. I feel like I have a secret super power. They think it is about finding the right clothes or getting great pictures – but I know it is about celebrating who they are and giving them permission to shine brighter.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Referrals. Referrals. Referrals.

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of referrals. My entire business exists because of them. Good business is all about relationships. I am embarassed to say that I have done very little in terms of advertising or promoting my business. I invest in my clients. I go above and beyond taking care of them and their needs, making sure they are not just satisfied with our work together but thrilled. So thrilled that they want to share with everyone they love how impactful our work has been for their life.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

I was doing image consulting as a side hustle for almost ten years before I jumped into doing it full time. I never fully believed I could make an actual living doing it, so I always had other jobs – acting part-time, corporate work full-time. Never thinking that this might be that special thing I was meant to do. And one day with encouragement from friends, I jumped. I quit my day job with benefits/security and plunged into the deep waters of freelance consulting not knowing if I would be able to swim.

And here I am 10 years later, still loving my job, the job I often refer to as “the one I made up”. Never thinking all my creative background would lead me to work with 1,000’s of clients from all over the world and teach guest workshops at prestigious universities and arts organizations. Now it certainly hasn’t been easy. During the pandemic, I had to change my business model to do virtual sessions after working with people in dressing rooms and at their closets at home, but I found I actually preferred it. It helped me to realize that what I bring to the table is not a traditional personal shopper or stylist, but I am someone who helps you create a personal brand & image strategy that communicates who you are authentically from the inside out. Having great clothes you love to wear is just a bonus!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.inherentstyle.com
• Instagram: @inherentstyle

Image Credits
Mike Styer Photography