We were lucky to catch up with Mi Thao Nguyen recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mi Thao, thanks for joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
The biggest and best risk I have ever taken was moving to Washington, DC and starting my styling career. When I graduated college with my fashion degree, I knew that my hometown in Pennsylvania was not where I could really thrive. I was so frustrated about not knowing what to do and felt so stuck. I had two friends who lived in DC and told me to come visit them to just take my mind off of things and visit a new city. When I visited, I felt an instant connection with the city. I met so many interesting, ambitious, creative people and knew instantly, DC is where I needed to be. After that weekend, I went back home, packed up my little Toyota Prius with as much of my stuff as I could fit, and moved to DC. I crashed on my friend’s couch for 3 months until I was able to make some money and get on my feet. From there, I attended many events to network and started collaborating with photographers and took on free projects to build my portfolio. Eventually, I started booking published gigs and being recognized for my work. It was the best risk I ever took.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
My name is Mi Thao, but everyone calls me Mimi. I am from the suburbs of Philadelphia and have my own Wardrobe Styling business. I graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and have been running my own business for about 7 years now. I launched my business while living in Washington, DC. I started to take on free projects like photoshoots and videoshoots to grow my portfolio and brand. Eventually I created a website and offer a wide range of services: Creative Styling for shoots, Closet Clean Outs, Wardrobe Revamps, Special Occasion Styling, and Personal Shopping. I have been published in magazines, worked backstage at NY Fashion Week, and styled for a national televised TV show.
My clients typically come to me for events and seeking guidance and education on how to improve their wardrobe and how to dress better for their lifestyle. I also have other clients who book me for projects like photoshoots, videoshoots, and film. I think what sets me apart from other stylists is that I offer a lot of different services that could cater to a lot of different clientele. I am highly educated on what works for certain shapes and sizes and bring a lot of knowledge about different brands.
I am very proud of the work that I do simply because of the feeling I give my clients after I work with them. What makes this career so enjoyable is that I instill confidence in my clients and make them feel so good about themselves. The look I see when they look at themselves in the mirror gives me so much joy. I’m not just helping them put outfits together. I am pulling out a different, positive perspective that will give them an optimistic feeling about themselves.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
This pivot is actually something that I am currently going through. I had been in DC for about 7 years and was laid off from two different jobs due to the economy throughout my time there. In order to be able to continue generating business and keeping it going, I have always had a corporate, 9-5 job. My last lay off was in May and that’s when I had to really sit with myself and ask some hard questions. Did I feel like living in DC was sustainable financially and would help me reach my long-term business and financial goals? The answer, ultimately, was no. I had to make the really hard decision to leave all my friends and strong network to move back home to Pennsylvania, temporarily, to save some money while continuing to pursue my dreams. Even though this is a pivot I’m still digesting, I believe that all things happen for a reason and my patience, resilience, and hard work will pay off in the end. Sometimes a step back is a setup for a greater comeback.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
The way I built my audience on social media is by being consistent and intentional. I made sure that I targeted audiences that would appreciate my content and would most likely benefit from my the things I posted and the services that my business offers. Consistency kept me relevant and kept my audience engaged.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.styledbymithao.com
- Instagram: @mithao
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mi-thao-mimi-nguyen-6b514868
Image Credits
Robert Golightly