We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Shaunna Phillips. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Shaunna below.

Shaunna, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the toughest things about progressing in a creative career or as an entrepreneur is that there are almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

One of the most unexpected problems I faced in my business occurred earlier this year and was a very transitional phase for me as a person and entrepreneur. From January-April 2025 I was behind the scenes working with FashionBar Chicago, preparing to execute my first runway collection of vintage pieces/outfits styled by me. The morning of the show, I woke up to a text from my videographer stating he was not feeling well and ultimately had to cancel on me. Please keep in mind, I had just finished paying my deposit for his services the night before so his cancellation was the tip of the iceberg that morning.

Right after reading the text from the videographer, I opened a message from a old friend that I haven’t spoken to since high school. In that message, I read that one of my closest friends from that same high school was murdered the night before. At that moment, I felt like my world was ending. Waking up to a cancellation text the morning of a big event is something that any business owner is prepared for. However, I don’t think anyone or any thing could’ve prepared me for the news about losing one of my friends. Especially a friend that was so true to herself, did not care about cliques, and was so caring and selfless. She was a critical part of our ‘coming of age’ years and I miss her more than words could ever describe.

That was ultimately, THE hardest day of my life since 2020 and I had never wanted to give up on everything all at once, so badly. The show must go on though! I felt like the universe was testing me to see how badly I wanted to succeed. So as hard it was, I pushed forward. I took some time to make some phone calls and informed others (old mutual friends) of the horrible news and went for a walk to mentally process the news.

I also ended up reaching out to a few of my fellow photographers and creative friends who helped me secure a new videographer last minute for the show. Big shoutout to Joavon and Anthony for coming through last minute.

I can’t tell you how many times I cried on the way to the venue, on set, and after the show. Overall the show was a success as I debuted my collection and had my family and friends’ support front and center. The day after the show was really when all the emotions hit me-stress, anxiety, despair, grief. It was all new again and I knew if I could get through something that tragic, then I can overcome anything. It’s by the grace of God I was still standing and smiling at the end of that fashion show.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Hi, I’m Shaunna – a published fashion stylist and founder of Styled By Shaunna est. 2021. I’ve always loved fashion as a kid but my journey into the fashion industry really started from a deep love of personal expression and desire for growth during an unexpected pandemic. I realized I did not want to spend my life working for others, so I began researching new career paths. Around that same time, I also decided to go back to school to pursue my Bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience– because why not chase both passion and purpose? I knew that if styling was not going to work out, I was at least going to have a safety net to fall back on.

That’s when I discovered, the School of Style. I had never heard of them before, and at that time it was ran by celebrity stylists Lauren Messiah and Luke Storey. I decided to enroll in their menswear styling course in 2020 as it was the most cost-effective option for me at the time. The online, self-paced program reignited a spark in me that had been missing for years. After roughly 6 years in healthcare, I felt like I was living on autopilot, doing the same work, day after day. From there, I continued to invest in myself and my business by registering for a 3-day summit trip in LA with celebrity stylist, Brittany Diego in 2023. This summit was another leap of faith that gave me the confidence and tools to provide styling services at a higher level.

Through Styled By Shaunna, I provide a range of fashion styling services including personal styling, editorial photoshoots, short-film movies, tv series productions, etc. My goal is to eventually get into styling for commercials and influencers. I work with both individuals and brands who want to elevate their image, improve their storytelling, and step into spaces with confidence. Starting in 2026, I will be offering styling mentorships and masterclasses for those who are interested in entering the fashion industry and learning how to build a business around their creative outlets.

What sets me apart from others is the compassion and precision I bring, not only as a fashion stylist but as a businesswoman. My (now) 10 years in healthcare, has taught me so much about the kind of care and advocacy people truly need. Those qualities often if not always, translate into my work as a stylist. I don’t just style clothes or pick out outfits. I listen and respect people’s boundaries. I create safe spaces, welcome reassurance, and help clients express who they really are beneath the layers. Every decision made is intentional and designed to help in elevating a client’s wardrobe, and ultimately their trust in me as their wardrobe stylist.

What am I most proud of? That’s a hard one but I would have to say I’m most proud of the community Im not only growing in Chicago, but other states. Im also most proud of all the love and support I have behind me as a fellow creative. Most businesses don’t survive past their first three years and to still be afloat in an industry that’s highly gate-kept, I’m grateful. Early doubts from others fueled me, and if there’s one thing I love to do, it’s proving people wrong.

I want people to know that this is just the beginning for Styled By Shaunna . Yes, I’m a fashion stylist but there’s more to me and my endeavors than people realize. Being a STEM major is a different sector of my life and I would love to somehow merge this skill set with my creative work in styling. This is a business that will be known for giving back to its community and creatives who helped build/support it. The purpose is to open doors for other fellow creatives and to empower each other through our art. I want my clients and followers to know that setbacks are part of any journey and what matters most is how you navigate through them and keep moving forward.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

You can’t do it all alone– that’s the lesson I had to unlearn. I carried the mindset of having to figure out everything on my own despite knowing that one of my goals at the start of my business was to build a team of creatives.

This mindset came from working independently and building my brand during the first couple years of styling. I felt like I needed to control every detail, client, photoshoot, business decision, etc. in order to succeed. That’s what we call a “perfectionist”. It wasn’t until last year, that I knew that mentality was holding my business back from becoming even more successful. I needed the extra hands, perspectives and support from others who could bring their unique skills to the table. I had to start prioritizing what tasks needed delegating and who would be the best to handle them.

In God’s perfect timing, my current assistant, Kehinde, had reached out to me last year requesting to assist me and learn more about fashion styling. After I interviewed her, the rest is history. I actually just onboarded 2 more styling assistants this year, making that a team of 4 people now, including me. Handling everything on your own is only going to harm your business in the long run. Physically, mentally and spiritually, its simply not possible. Especially, while your business, clientele, and opportunities are continuing to grow.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I think putting myself out there by networking and planting seeds in unfamiliar places has helped build my reputation within my market. I think most people underestimate the power of ‘word-of-mouth’ referrals and often forget that first impressions are pretty much the placeholders for your reputation.

Those are a few of things I primarily focus on when going into any consultation or production set with a new client. My consistency in maintaining professionalism, communication, an updated portfolio, and my authenticity speak for itself before I even get into the room. Most creatives know that this industry is very small. Everyone knows someone, who knows someone, who knows someone. The slightest infraction with a client could get you blocked from future opportunities. I really hate to even put it like that, but this industry only wants people who passionate, hungry, professional, and reliable. Its not to say that mistakes wont happen, but again how you handle them when the pressure is on!

Maintaining good first impressions, networking and following up, and delivering quality service as a stylist are some key factors I believe have kept my brand and I afloat.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.styledbyshaunna.co/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_styledbyshaunna
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/styledbyshaunna/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaunna-phillips-020050154
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@styledbyshaunna?si=S0G2YnmtVs-VrOYk
• Other: I’m in the developmental phase of building my youtube channel. More to come in 2026.

Image Credits

@obey_ace
@rianehumanphoto
@jasminsedavisuals

@sirii_
@shayla_jae
@avegat5
@its.giovanna.love
@becoming.jolie
@maxiinoir

@raivyn_theemua
@mua_daniela
@jaychampagnexo
@luxurystrand
@minkmansionchicago
@_styledbyshaunna
@styled.by.kehinde