We recently connected with Letia Scales Young and have shared our conversation below.

Letia Scales, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to start by getting your thoughts on what you are seeing as some the biggest trends emerging in your industry

Some of the biggest trends I am seeing in my industry is that everyone wants to be over night success, but no one wants to do the work to sustain their work for future growth. You need more than 1-2 years experience in certain industries to actually learn the business. Before I started working in the fashion & image business, I did multiple internships with people would I considerated Industry standards for the business. I would go out on training & workshop sites with my instructor. I would watch them with their clients consultations. I even went back to fashion school for more education in my field to be more knowledgeable about the entire process.. I became certified with two professional certifications in the Image consulting field. This where I learned so many skills, tips & strategies with my business that I still use today to help me grow my business. I think this new generation wants everything now without putting in the hard work. In the end, this would help alleviate some of their major mistakes some continue to make while trying to be an overnight success.

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

Intro to Fashion~~ I would definitely say that my introduction to the world of fashion began at a very early age. I would always admire the beautiful things worn by my mom who passed away recently. (May she rest in peace) She knew how to accessorize outfits with scarves, jewelry and purses. Her passion was sewing, creating and designing one of a kind outfits for her family and clients. One childhood memory I cherish is that of me using scraps of her fabric to dress my Barbie & Baby dolls. My dolls were my fashion muses as I not only styled their clothing, but would cut their hair in the latest hairstyles and use accessories to accentuate the outfits. Another fond memory of working with my mom is when I designed my own high school prom dress. It was a showstopper because it was bright yellow with a matching yellow and white reversible cape.
After high school, I continued with my love of fashion by pursuing it in college much to the displeasure of my mom. She felt that the potential to gain financial independence was not as strong as some other careers, however my desire and passion for the industry continued to grow. Eventually after I received my BA in Graphic Design at University of West GA. Later on, I would enroll and graduate with honors from American Intercontinental University with a degree in Fashion Marketing and a concentration on Image Consulting. This helped to solidify my desire to work and make a difference in the fashion industry using the tools I had acquired.

My Business ~~
The – LSY, LLC stands for Letia Scales Young. The – LSY was founded in 2013 by myself as I continued building on my admiration for beauty, fashion and style. The mission of my company is to service clientele through consulting, styling and social media outlets such as The – LSY Blogs, YouTube channels, Instagram and TikTok. This company was created to connect with the audience on a more social level and get feedback through various media outlets within the fashion world as it relates to beauty, fashion and style.
I chose to use my initials because I knew it would be very eye catching where marketing was concerned and it also pays homage to my dad who often used his initials on accessories as well as in his business life. He taught me about the confidence in using your name when it comes to business and making people remember you and it in its own unique way. I feel it also has a very stylish feel and look to it! My clientele is in the fashion luxury and professional market, however that will never deter me form helping everyday clients.

Discipline~~
Running a business can sometimes be difficult considering not all clients come to you with a vision, thereby you treat it like a blank canvas and draw from what you learn about them and their sense of self. I often find myself having to dig deep to cultivate inspirational looks that bring my vision to life. This can done by sifting through old fashion books, magazines and simply scrolling social media. Service can be a motivating discipline because it allows you to make sure you’re helping the person you’ve been contracted to assist. Financial gain can be a motivating discipline as well considering the costs associated with owning and operating your own business can sometimes be extensive.

Craft~~
My craft is special to me because I love being able to get creative on projects. Since it is self-paced, it allows me the freedom to enjoy and love the work I do. It is refreshing to see how fashion ranges are created from research to development. I get the greatest joy when I see the smiles on the faces of my clients and when they tell me how their style transformations have impacted their lives. Like with any other endeavor, honing your craft is an ongoing thing. I’ve found that working diligently and intently has garnered me the greatest reward. This includes researching, developing and having consistency in working with some of the top designers in the industry because that creates repeat customers. This includes the likes of Valentino, Givenchy, Burberry and Tom Ford – just to name a few.

Services~~
Some of the personalized services offered by The – LSY include:
• In person & online Image Consultation (one hour)
• Virtual Closet Edits (two hours)
• Subscription Service (Virtual Style Help) (30 min – 10 sessions)
• Personal Shopping (one hour)
• Personal Shopping Budget ($2,000 or more – 10%)
• Personal Styling Consultation including Accessorizing (priced upon request)
• Personal Styling Consultation Incudes Digitize (priced upon request)
• Photo Shoot (priced upon request)
• TV Wardrobe (priced upon request)
• Vacation wardrobe (priced upon request)

Creative Works~~
The-LSY website
The-LSY Blog
The-LSY YouTube
Styling on TV shows and Photoshoots
TV One “Verses & Flow” Neo Soul Artist Angie Stone
BRAVO’S “Love Match Atlanta”
Photo Shoot “Bundtish” PR Campaign
“Turning Point” PR Campaign in Times Square – New York Billboard
Holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Advertising Design from the University of West Georgia, and an Associate of Arts in Fashion Marketing with a concentration in Image Consulting from the American Intercontinental University.

What makes me unique~~
When working with clients, my focus is on branding, imaging and styling – all in one.
What sets me apart is being able to style and consult with men and women. I have an innate understanding of their unique look and body style and finding what works for the individual.
I am most proud of how far I have come in this journey growing through every setback and obstacle I have faced.
The main things I encourage clients to do is to be open minded about the process and understand that their style and image are unique.
My followers are people who purchase from me, like minded individuals and clients with a love of fashion and style.
My brand is me and I am my brand! It represents my past, present and future.
The work ethic I possess is unmatched. It centers around continuous growth and I let my work speak for itself. I am a constant professional with my current, new and potential clients. I want them to know that I am there to assist them in communicating a particular message through hair, makeup and clothing. When they come to me – I treat them the same way I would want to be treated if I were in their shoes.

– This interview is dedicated to my late mother, Mrs. Linda Duncan Scales. She was my first introduction to fashion and for that I will be eternally grateful

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

A client of mine, Shae Primus expressed interest in attending the 2022 “Boss Up” Conference hosted by entertainment mogul Rick Ross.  One of her goals in attending this event was to build a network of professional men that would pair well with her network of female clientele.     My strategy in approaching her look for this event was to ensure she would stand out and present herself as a fashion trendsetter.  I gave her several looks for this event to ensure that no matter the setting, she would always look the part of a fashionista.  It worked, as Shae looked like a million bucks and her ensembles garnered several remarks from attendees.
Prior to sitting down for an interview conducted with Mr. Ross regarding her business, Shae wore a limited edition FENDI X Versace onesie with St. John black and gold stripe trousers. She looked amazing and Mr. Ross even made a wardrobe change to Versace which paired well with Shae’s outfit.  During the interview, Mr. Ross offered Ms. Primus one million dollars to match him with someone who would become his wife.  This interview was livestreamed to his 17.2 million Instagram followers which catapulted her matchmaking business to a new level and attracted attention from other potential networks. This event was a memorable one for myself and Shae as it showcased how a well styled look can change your life and even sometimes take it to the next level.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Where I stand in the current fashion market~~ If I had to expound on what has helped me achieve my current level of success what makes me stand out – I would have to say that my own style, professionalism and image are what attract current and new clients.  I consider myself a blank canvas and the clothes and accessories I wear are the art.  I like for my apparel pieces to stand out as a topic of conversation which I find is one way to gain potential clients.  If they see it and like it, they immediately want to know the “where and who” of the outfit.  This is great conversation starter.  From there, it’s up to me to provide them with enough information and peak their curiosity enough that they will want to delve further into the styling discussion.  At that point, I’m in my element, after all fashion is a language I speak fluently!
Contact Info:

• Website: www.The-LSY.com
• Instagram: The_LSY2015
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelsy2015
• Twitter: The_LSY2015
• Youtube: The_LSY2015

Image Credits
Photographer: CWL Creatives Photographer: Letia Scales Young Creative Director: Letia Scales Young Hair by Reeva Makeup by The-LSY Wardrobe by The-LSY Edited Article by: Betty Rice, Ant Colom Makeup Artist