We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mandie Murphree a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Mandie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

Legacy. It’s a word I relate to when I think of historical figures, grandparents or someone who invented something. To leave my own legacy, let me give a little backstory on how I view it.
When I was younger Nicole Nordeman’s song came out called Legacy. Over the years I’ve referenced it or listened to it with intent in times I feel I’ve gotten away from my bigger purpose.

I grew up in church and we were always mission minded. As I became older and realized the world of business sometimes operates differently and many times people are out for themselves, I had to come to terms with this idea of having my own business and serving others. Can you do both? Does it become transactional?

Sometimes the answer is yes and in those moments, I think, how can I add value to this person’s life.

While I would love to have a brand that impacts the world and generations and am always thinking of ways I can learn more and be better at business and what I offer my clients; I feel the most purpose when one of my clients’ reaches out and they tell me how good they felt coming from an event in which they wore some of the clothes I/we picked out.

While I believe, everyone can look fantastic and “be the best dressed person in any room”, I also believe we need everyone to show up as their authentic selves. Wearing the right clothes, helps us feel confident and in those moments, we can offer the world our perspective and in those moments we can share a vantage point someone else may have never heard before.

If my name were to come up in a conversation I would want people to say that I truly cared about others and did things to help others out. I would want my legacy to be that people felt better when they were with me. Not just in the sense that I helped them feel better about themselves, but that they felt loved and accepted and that I made them laugh or think more critically about something they were going through,

Whether it be with my time or the way in which I conduct my business. I don’t just want to put clothes on people that flatters them, I truly want them to feel like they have reinvented themselves. We all deserve to feel good about ourselves.

I love these lyrics and would hope that the legacy I leave brings people to know the goodness of God.

“I won’t lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights,
We all need an ‘Atta boy’ or ‘Atta girl’
But in the end I’d like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world.
I want to leave a legacy,
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love?
Did I point to you enough?
To make a mark on things
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace
Who blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy.

I want to leave a legacy

Not well-traveled, not well-read
Not well-to-do, or well-bred.
Just want to hear instead,
Well done, good and faithful one'”
– Legacy, Nicole Nordeman

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

Canvas Rebel
My name is Mandie Murphree. I am a personal stylist and the founder of Mandalin Collective; an on site beauty company.

I’ve loved fashion from a young age! What’s better than fashion? Fashion mixed with working with people you love!

When I was younger, I would buy the Cosmo and Teen Vogue magazines and look at the bright fabrics and products wishing I was old enough to be planning a trip with my friends and going to the store to get ready for it. My mom worked in skincare most of my life and I was always being exposed to new trends in the beauty and fashion industry. I have my BBA and majored in Fashion Merchandising in college and began to learn about color theory and balancing fabrics, colors and themes. Prior to graduating, I began managing a health and wellness day spa and learned the art of business at 18. I learned what it meant to invest in people and lead others, all while taking care of our skin and wellness needs. During the years I was managing, I began to style my friends’ on the side and eventually had a portfolio of guys I had helped. I began to use my people skills and combine them with my passion for fashion and mix that with all the things I was learning in school.

People’s outfits tell a story, I challenge people to observe what story they are telling. We live in a day in age where we have become lazy with our purchasing power and we invest in fast fashion. Have you ever walked into a room and saw someone dressed cool and thought “I want to talk to that person?” Maybe not, but I can almost guarantee, you’re subconsciously drawn to the person in the room who looks interesting or dresses in a way that says something about them.

In college, my good friend was wanting to start dating and he felt like he had a great personality and a lot to offer but couldn’t find the right women to connect with. I gently suggested that we should go shopping. I encouraged him and mentioned that women do look at what men are wearing and it says a lot about how they feel about themselves and also if a women would find him interesting. So we went shopping. That’s where my fashion journey began.

Clothing is a fundamental relationship. Think about it. We have fabric touching our skin nearly 18-23 hours a day. You can’t argue that clothing affects how we feel about ourselves. Have you ever worn something you felt sexy or confident in and people began complimenting you? Even if you dislike certain elements of it, you feel good about yourself and that affects how you interact with others.

I help people understand how different cuts look on their body and how to embrace their shape while also wearing things that flatter their figure. I help my clients understand which colors look good on them while also shopping in a way that creates versatility with the rest of their wardrobe. I teach people that unless they “love something” they should toss it.

We all have sentimental pieces or “comfort pieces” but those are few and far between and don’t affect the mission at large.
I believe my clients enjoy working with me because I am personable and laid back with my approach. My job is not to convince anyone that they should be shopping in a different way. My job is to guide people to explore what they feel good in and have fun in the process and try on things they never would have before. The way we feel in clothing has the ability to shape our days and make us feel incredible.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I built my social media presence by incorporating stories where people wanted to engage. Perhaps I put up 2 different items and did a poll and asked which item the audience preferred.

I’ve done style grids which teaches people how to put pieces together and I’ve posted many before and after photos. I think people enjoy following my account because I show tools and tips that are valuable while also showcasing bits and pieces of my real life.

I don’t have it all figured out but I am grateful for an audience that engages with my content. I am always looking for ways to gain new followers and retain new clients but right now I am busy enough that I don’t have to put as much energy into social which, in itself, is a blessing. Don’t get me wrong, I am happy to engage with social media when I am able to, but let’s also be honest, it can feel like a whole second job at times!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Although this is somewhat uncomfortable to share, I have had to learn to charge my full rates with each person and treat everyone the same throughout the process.

Not only do I have 15 years of hands on, in person, experience, I also graduated with a degree in Fashion and have worked with worldwide reputable brands. There are times I have given someone a session or not charged them fully and in those moments, I have been taken advantage of. Our time is valuable. What I do may be considered a luxury service, but every day I talk to people who just need help. They don’t know where to start with their wardrobe. They may be struggling with body image or simply organization; but it all affects how we get dressed, what we decide to wear that day and those decisions alter how we show up in the world.

When I do a closet edit, I am always surprised that most of my clients will get rid of nearly 50% of their wardrobe without me having to say much. It’s my presence and the fact that I am there to support them that takes them from feeling like a victim to their wardrobe choices, to empowered to make new decisions or to get rid of items that aren’t serving them.

I don’t just look at this as a service I offer, I look at this as a gift that God has equipped me with.
I don’t mean that in any arrogant way, but the more I grow in my skillset, the more I know that I have been called to encourage and lead people and the way we feel in our skin and bodies is one of the most important ways we show up for ourselves and others. I try and maintain costs that are still affordable and have received feedback that my rates are reasonable or that people feel like I should raise my rates.

While I always try and work with people on their budgets, I also believe in what I charge and stand behind the value that I bring to every client and in every interaction.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mandiemurphree.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandie_murphree/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100058924246489
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mandie-murphree-69849a26/

Image Credits

Lane Collins – @laneparkerweddings @lane_collins