We recently connected with Kassey Rich and have shared our conversation below.

Kassey, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

This past year, I made a subtle yet significant pivot in my styling business by exploring the idea of offering personal styling services.

I’ve had a handful of personal clients throughout the years but never spent much time planning out what it could look like as a real business. So, while the entertainment industry was slow because of the strikes, I began taking time to create packages. My first real risk came when I decided to invest in myself by joining an online styling community and a group business coaching course. I wondered if it would all be a waste of time and money and worried about what other people may think. But, ultimately, I went for it and that was the moment my business and mindset started to shift. Although, I’ve been my own “business” for a decade, I never fully treated it like one. I officially launched my personal styling services online in September. Nervous about the response, I was pleasantly surprised by the positive feedback I received. Since then, I’ve devoted my time and energy to substantial growth, realizing that the true risk lies in inaction.

Through this process, I’ve discovered that working with personal clients has become my favorite aspect of styling—something I did not expect. It’s an awesome feeling to help individuals discover themselves in new ways, gain confidence, and express who they are through their style. This shift has brought me a sense of belonging and fulfillment and I’m excited to see what happens next!

Kassey, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m originally from Iowa and moved to Los Angeles in 2011 to pursue a fashion degree at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. I had worked retail for a handful of years and had a couple internships at a trend forecasting company and a PR agency. Through my PR internship and working retail, my career roots started to take place. These two outlets are a big reason for how I’ve gotten to where I am today, it’s how I met friends who would eventually become stylists and how I got referred to a handful of stylists to assist at the start of my career.

At the beginning, styling was never on my radar. If you had asked me what career path I wanted to take when I was in school, I’d have probably told you a trend forecaster or a buyer for some big brand. Styling came to me when I needed a job the most. I had just quit a PR position (my first job after graduating college) and had no idea what I was going to do next. That was until I received a text from my old PR internship (I told you it was a big reason for where I am today) asking me if I was looking for a job and to contact a stylist who was in need of an assistant. So, this is where it all began!

That first styling assistant job challenged me in ways I never imagined. Looking back now I can appreciate the lessons I learned – how to run a styling business, creating boundaries, and how I never give up. After that, I began assisting friends from my retail past who had gone on to become stylists. This is where my freelance journey started, I was getting referred to help on a lot of different projects from TV to movies to commercials to editorials and red carpet. I was gaining as much experience as I possibly could and then I started getting referred for my own jobs, first in music videos and then commercials, short series, and celebrity styling. It was thrilling, rewarding, and depleting all at the same time.

The last handful of years have been the real rollercoaster. With the loss of my dad, the pandemic and then the strikes this year, my values and what is important to me have shifted. 2023 was the most challenging and most fulfilling year yet, it was the year I had the biggest breakdowns and the biggest breakthroughs. I’m proud of the community and authentic connections I’ve been creating and nurturing over the past few years, this is at the core of who I am and what I want to continue to focus on. I’m now at a place where I feel completely empowered and energized to expand my business with personal styling at the forefront. Working with people who aren’t necessarily famous or an actor/model on set has been so rewarding and my idea of success has changed. I’m now in the business of helping people express who they truly are through what they wear and it feels so damn good.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

A main goal of mine is to continually share about and encourage others to support artists, creatives, and local shops. Living in Los Angeles (and really everywhere), there are people doing and creating amazing things all around us. Some simple ways to support a thriving creative ecosystem is to follow artists on social media who inspire you, share about them with your friends, purchase something from them, attend an event or pop-up, write a review, comment, or nice DM. There are a ton of ways to invest (with and without money) in our communities and those who make it extra special!

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The past year has been a dedicated journey of self-investment and business growth for me. Some of my main resources include participating in an online group business coaching course (Lauren Messiah’s Style Boss Academy), immersing myself in podcasts covering business strategies, finance, manifestation, and mindset development (my current rotation includes Manifestation Babe, Molly’s Morning Meditations, A Zen Mind Guided Meditations, Online Marketing Made Easy with Amy Porterfield, and Glamhive webinars).

In addition, I’ve curated my social media feed by following individuals, brands, and companies that serve as a source of inspiration and valuable learning. One of my major goals for 2023 was to establish a styling community where open conversations about the industry could flourish. Alongside this, I prioritize journaling and incorporating a regular exercise routine into my weekly schedule. All of these resources have greatly impacted my business, myself, and my clients. Looking ahead to this year, I’m eager to deepen my knowledge through reading and continue investing in my personal and professional growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: kasseyrich@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kasseyrich/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kasseyrichstylist
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kasseyrich/

Image Credits
Shannon Soule, Morgan Demeter, Liza Boone, Josh Telles,