Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kendra Sharpe. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kendra, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

My path to this career was a bit unconventional, but it has always been rooted in fashion.

I actually started my career in social media marketing. I’ve always loved making things look beautiful and using storytelling to bring them to life. It combined my passion for writing, photography, branding, and creating an aesthetic. Early on, I landed on the social media team for Wrangler Jeans, and that’s where I had a realization: while I enjoyed the marketing side, my true passion wasn’t behind the screen—it was behind the scenes.

I found myself drawn to styling the pieces being photographed, collaborating with photographers and creatives, and watching a vision come to life in real time. The energy of being on set was exactly what I had been searching for. It was creative, fast-paced, collaborative, and made me feel completely alive.

Once I discovered that styling was what I truly loved, I began taking on projects with local photographers, models, entrepreneurs, businesses, and fellow creatives. Slowly but surely, I built my portfolio through networking, hard work, and saying yes to opportunities that allowed me to learn and grow. Over time, I developed relationships with incredible clients and eventually signed with an agent who helped me expand my reach.

As I started working with regional and national brands, I felt like everything finally clicked. For years, I knew I loved fashion, but I couldn’t quite pinpoint where I fit within the industry. Then I realized that styling wasn’t just something I enjoyed—it was a real career, and one I was willing to work tirelessly to build.

From there, I continued doing what I do best: building relationships. I networked my way onto sets and into opportunities with brands like Peter Millar, Cato Corporation, Hanesbrands, and more. I’ve always believed my greatest superpower is human connection. I genuinely love meeting people, collaborating with talented creatives, and helping brands tell their stories through style.

The truth is, launching my business wasn’t the result of a perfect plan. It was the result of having the courage to step into the unknown and follow a passion that I couldn’t ignore. Most of my training happened in the field. I learned by doing, trusting my instincts, refining my eye for detail, and allowing my work ethic and creativity to speak for themselves.

Today, no two days look exactly the same. One day I may be sourcing looks for a personal styling client, shopping online, or conducting a closet edit in someone’s home. The next day I may be moodboarding a creative campaign, pulling wardrobe for a photoshoot, or spending the day on set styling an e-commerce or advertising campaign for a national brand.

That said, if you know anything about styling, you’ll know there’s a good chance you’ll find me steaming garments, organizing racks, or making returns. Those small, often unseen details are a huge part of the job—and they’re often what separates a good stylist from a great one.

Throughout my career, I’ve relied heavily on word-of-mouth referrals, networking, and continuously sharpening my skills. I’ve always believed that every project is an opportunity to build trust and demonstrate what I’m capable of. My goal is that by the time a client hires me, they already know I’ll show up prepared, execute the vision, and make the process seamless.

Looking back, growing my business has been a combination of passion, persistence, relationships, and a willingness to bet on myself. Every opportunity, connection, and challenge has helped shape the career I have today, and I’m excited to continue building what’s next.

Kendra, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I got my start in the industry working on the social team for Wrangler Jeans, where I also helped style content shoots. From there, I assisted photographers, collaborated with local creatives, and connected with people who were willing to create alongside me as I built my portfolio. Those experiences eventually led to signing with an agent and working with national brands.

Fashion has always been my first love. It’s a form of self-expression, creativity, and confidence all wrapped into one. I’ve always loved the feeling of putting together an outfit that makes someone feel incredible, and that’s where I’ve found my sweet spot.

Today, I offer a range of services, including closet edits, wardrobe refreshes, personal shopping, event styling, brand photoshoot styling, and even a styling subscription for clients who want ongoing support month to month. On the commercial side, I work with brands on everything from e-commerce shoots to large-scale campaigns for social media, websites, print advertising, and video content.

At the core of my work, I help solve a variety of style challenges. Whether someone is thinking, “I have nothing to wear,” “I’m going through a life transition and need my wardrobe to reflect who I am now,” or “I have a big event and want to look and feel my absolute best,” I’m there to help. For brands, I help bring creative concepts to life through thoughtful styling, creative direction, and visual storytelling that elevates their message and connects with their audience.

As both a personal and commercial stylist, as well as a creative consultant, my goal is always the same: helping people feel aligned with who they are and how they want to show up in the world.

What I’m most proud of isn’t necessarily a specific project—it’s the people. It’s seeing a client light up when they find a look that makes them feel radiant and confident. It’s watching someone step into a version of themselves they’ve always envisioned but weren’t quite sure how to achieve. It’s collaborating with brands that not only value my styling expertise but also appreciate me as a person and creative partner.

There’s no greater feeling for me than being on set and watching a creative vision come to life, or seeing a client discover a new sense of confidence through personal style. Those moments remind me why I do what I do.

I want potential clients to know that I genuinely care about them. My work goes far beyond clothing—it’s about helping people see themselves more clearly and show up as their most authentic selves. And for those who follow my journey, I hope they see me as someone who is lighthearted, approachable, creative, and passionate about sharing the joy of fashion. At the end of the day, I simply love helping people, and fashion happens to be the vehicle that allows me to do that.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots I’ve ever made was actually getting into this career itself.

I started my professional journey in media and social media marketing, where I learned the power of storytelling, branding, and creating visually compelling content. While I enjoyed the work, I found myself constantly gravitating toward the creative side of the process—styling the talent, curating the looks, collaborating with photographers, and helping bring a visual concept to life.

At some point, I realized that the part of my job I loved most wasn’t actually my job title. That realization was both exciting and terrifying. I had built experience in one industry, but I felt called to pursue something that wasn’t guaranteed and didn’t come with a clear roadmap.

Making the leap into styling required a lot of faith, persistence, and a willingness to start over. I began taking on small projects, assisting creatives, building my portfolio, and networking with anyone who would give me an opportunity to learn. There were plenty of moments where I questioned whether I was making the right decision, but every photoshoot, client, and creative collaboration reinforced that I was moving in the right direction.

What started as a curiosity quickly became a passion, and that passion eventually became a business. Looking back, that pivot taught me one of the most valuable lessons of my career: sometimes the path you’re meant to be on isn’t the one you originally planned. If I hadn’t been willing to take a chance on myself and explore what was possible, I would have never discovered a career that feels so aligned with who I am.

Today, I get to wake up and do work that combines creativity, human connection, fashion, and storytelling—four things I genuinely love. That leap into the unknown ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Being able to help others and watch a creative vision come to life is one of the most rewarding parts of what I do. I love seeing the confidence and excitement on someone’s face when we’ve found the perfect look and everything just clicks. The same goes for working with brands—there’s something incredibly fulfilling about seeing a creative director’s reaction when the styling perfectly supports the vision they’ve imagined.

Whether it’s helping a person feel their absolute best or bringing a campaign to life on set, those moments never get old. Seeing an idea transform from a concept into something tangible and beautiful is a feeling that’s hard to describe. It’s a creative rush that keeps me inspired and reminds me why I love this work so much. When I’m fully in the zone, collaborating with a team and executing at the highest level, there’s truly nothing else like it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kendrasharpe.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendrasharpestyling/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KendraSharpeStyle
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendrasharpe/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@itskendrasharpe

Image Credits

AshBri Photography
Pink Daisies/Hayley Ellis