We recently connected with Gabriella Griffin and have shared our conversation below.

Gabriella, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I think being successful has a different meaning for different people. Speaking specifically for creatives, I believe the first thing it takes to be successful is patience. In this industry, slow and steady is more likely to win versus rushing the process. Good creative work takes attention to detail, on the creative and business side, so taking the time to gain knowledge and doing things the right way has to be more important than doing things quickly. Next, as the late, great Nipsey Hussle told us, success requires hard work and dedication. You have to be willing to put in 110% every time, no matter how big or small the project is, and you have to be willing to stick with your endeavors even when it gets rough.

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

Entrepreneurship has always been something I’ve wanted to take on since I was a child. Watching my grandfather and father both run successful businesses, I was heavily influenced by them. While working for Emory Healthcare, I met like-minded women who supported me in starting my first e-commerce business, Glamatic, which was an online accessories boutique. I did everything from creative direction, to purchasing inventory and shipping. During my second photoshoot for the brand, I made a dress out of fabric and pins on set for one of the models, and because it was done so well and quickly, people wanted to know when my journey of working with clothes would start. At that time, I hadn’t given it much thought, but after being asked several times about my wardrobe, I decided that wardrobe styling could be a good thing for me. I loved to dress myself and others, so not only could it be profitable, but also something I actually enjoyed doing. I currently offer commercial, personal and editorial styling services, which also include virtual styling, the latest addition to the brand. On the commercial and editorial side I assist with creatively marketing products. Wardrobe really helps with telling the story and communicating the product to the client. On the personal styling side, my main mission is to help build confidence through the art of style, because when you look good, you feel good. I take pride in putting my clients in clothes that allow them to feel their best, while also giving them the knowledge to confidently choose clothes on their own. I believe what sets me apart is that not only do I style, but I design wardrobe, and I’m capable of providing the entire creative direction for marketing purposes. I’m most proud of the accomplishments I’ve made thus far, and being in spaces that I couldn’t imagine being in, which could only come from sticking with my business. Seeing things come to fruition is an indescribable feeling, and I’m still going. I want people to know that I put a lot of work into what I do, and being a stylist may look glamorous, but it is tough labor. For any potential clients reading, I’d like for them to know that when they come to me, they’re in great hands, and I don’t stop working until the job is done. I strive for 100% satisfaction with every client.

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

The lesson that I had to unlearn as a wardrobe stylist, is wanting to be respected as a stylist from the very beginning. When I first began this journey, I wanted people to know that I was talented and I wanted the major campaigns and clients right away. I learned that this idea was very silly, because building clientele, takes building trust, which takes a lot of humble ground work and assisting other stylists to get your name and work circulated. I actually used to get offended when people would ask me to send them pictures of pieces I pulled, because I took it personal as if they didn’t believe in my work. I now know that it’s a part of the business and can happen at any stage. If someone books me, then they believe I can get the job done well, so now that’s my only goal every time. I also still assist from time to time, because I take pride in being a student of my craft.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Absolutely, the first thing is that creative work, or entrepreneurship is not a 9-5. The amount of work may or may not be consistently the same from day to day, or month to month. You may have one bad week, and the next week could be the best week of the entire year. So if there’s an established creative that took some away from the business, that doesn’t determine the overall success for them. For me personally, taking maternity leave slowed things down for a short period of time, but I’m back working and this year has been the best year for my styling business thus far and I don’t plan on slowing down again any time soon. The second thing I would say, is that creatives need creative hobbies or creative things to do to fuel them. The everyday routine can be draining and mundane if we don’t have something that puts our talent to use. Creativity is apart of what makes us happy, so if you have a creative in your life, invite them out to do something that aligns with that, it’s a love language.

Contact Info:

• Website: Coming soon!
• Instagram: @gabthestylist
• Linkedin: Gabriella Griffin
• Twitter: @gabthestylist

Image Credits
Eric Jordan II