We recently connected with Phylicia Bernard Alexander and have shared our conversation below.
Phylicia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
Seven years ago, I made my boldest move ever and quit a growing career in nursing to start my styling business! Nursing was a journey I began in my high school years and continued into college. It required persistence, dedication and provided great fulfillment when I saw how much I helped or changed someone’s life health wise.
However, I believe that in everything we do we must be deeply passionate, or it will never be the best experience for us!
I remember the exact day I mentally retired my scrubs and nursing crocs, after realizing that I was not living in my truth and not making as big of an impact as I wanted to make in this world. Nursing was something I did because it was available and most importantly after my dad passed away, my Caribbean mom (we are from Guyana, South America) wanted to ensure my security. I without a doubt did it for her.
Although I was told there was no future in an unconventional world like fashion, I was always intrigued and somehow knew it held the key to my heart. For goodness sake I was trying to give scrubs a personality and look polished in them (can you imagine how hard that was). I wanted to break free; to express myself on my own terms. As a shy teen, Fashion had always been my explanation before I spoke, but my outward identity and appearance was now screaming, “Hi I’m a nurse and nothing more”. I totally felt trapped.
I truly respected nurses who were passionate and did what they loved (and still do). For that reason I gracefully bowed out, passed the torch and decided to also do what I loved and serve those that were in need of my help.
Without hands-on fashion industry experience or schooling, I daringly quit my nursing job, handed my mom my college degree, immersed myself in the fashion world with full force and the rest is history!
At the beginning, I interned like a mad woman, took varying fashion jobs and did anything I could to get my foot in the door, but I quickly realized there wasn’t a job out there that felt like what my purpose was in the industry. I wanted to help women show up bigger in the world. I wanted to use my God given talent to not only elevate their wardrobes but also their confidence to be able to fulfill their purpose in the world and look good while doing it. In this moment my business was born and I have grown so much since, met the most amazing women and have a thriving business that I am proud of.
Phylicia, 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 am Thee Special Occasion Stylist (based in NYC). I help busy, high achieving women to refine their personal style, tap into the boldest version of themselves, look incredible, exude unstoppable confidence and be unforgettable at their personal or professional events, special occasions and photoshoots, whether business or personal!
Mission statement: To equip women with the style tools to stand out and powerfully express who they are! The Style IngeNEWity personal styling firm was birthed out of a deep passion for supporting, inspiring and empowering women to DO more, BE more and DESIGN a life/wardrobe they LOVE . I believe that when you develop a personal style that works specifically for you, you not only feel a 1000% more confident but the constant “what do I wear? what do I buy?” syndrome women experience is eliminated for good and their closet wars finally end.
Services: The Scene Stealer Experience…This is our Signature Done for You Styling Experience for the bold but busy ambitious woman who wants a showstopping wardrobe of select looks for her next photoshoot, important event or special occasion, whether business or personal! This signature experience is perfect for a:
speaking gig
brand photo-shoot, video shoot, creative concept photoshoot
red carpet event or premiere
VIP appearance or event
TV appearance
award ceremony/show
milestone birthday party
baby shower
black tie gala
holiday gala
… or any other event that you need to look extra special for!
My services are 100% virtual no matter where you are. I shop, ship + fit you into the wardrobe of your dreams without either of us ever having to step foot into a store. However, We can work together in-person here in NYC, or I can travel to wherever you are in the world. For this experience hair, makeup, a photographer and a pamper session are all options depending on which package you select.
You deserve to look fabulous without lifting a finger!
– No more outfit overwhelm, indecision or downright panic when you’ve got that big event coming up.
– No more fitting room frustration and online shopping woes.
– No more subconscious hiding, looking same ol’ same ol’ or feeling overlooked, in person or online.
And most importantly,
– No need to figure it out on your own!
Using my exclusive personal styling process, The Scene Stealer Experience,
when you work with me, I will ensure:
– that you truly stand out and build the brand image and wardrobe of your dreams that catches your ideal clients’ attention
– that your looks are immaculate (cue the *chefs kiss*) for your brand photoshoots
– that you love on your body and find flattering clothing at any size and shape
– that you turn heads, get the right conversations started and command the room at ANY event you attend
– that your confidence is always on 💯 no matter the occasion
What sets me apart/what i want potential clients/followers/fans to know : I am not only a MASTER at what I do but I also have this unusual ability to deeply understand my clients on a soul level and then translate that into their wardrobe/image. I truly “get you” beyond the level of your body, your skin tone and your budget. I have this innate sense of what a client is in search of wardrobe wise. And usually I end up being the push and encouragement she needs to begin thinking outside the box, to try something she hasn’t tried before, to be bolder than she ever thought she could be. Clothes are just clothes! My clients and I work together to help give them meaning. I am so proud of the work I am doing in the world.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
This is a resource but more of an internal one — Mindset. You can read all the self help books, hire all the coaches, market yourself non stop and every other external thing a good business owner or entrepreneur does but if you have no real, deep and substantial belief in yourself…your efforts will go in vain and the journey will be hard AF! I learned this the hard way in the first 2 years. I was scared shitless of this risk I took and didn’t actually feel in my gut like I had what it took to do this! I doubted myself alot! Of course I had a sense of what I was meant for but it wasn’t enough. Everyone’s journey may be very different but this is the one thing I believe will move the needle forward without a doubt. Random amazing things happen when you truly believe in your talents, purpose, ability to help others and when you feel like your work is of high service to the world. Go with the flow, Be in the energy of what you want and embody the next level version of you right now as you keep pushing daily!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
The best source of new clients for me has always been referrals. I really believe that when you do good work, it trickles down to that clients community. My first clients came from female entrepreneur Facebook groups and immediately the word spread about me in those circles. To this day most, if not all of my clients are creatives of all kinds, founders, biz owners, entrepreneurs, and ambitious career women.
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative entrepreneur is living in my truth and being of service to the women I work with. My clients and so many others I’ve met along the way are so fun, inspiring and interesting. We get pretty vulnerable as they trust me with what they wear and I cant ever take that for granted. It is fun to do what you enjoy doing without any rules of how you have to do it. It brings me such joy to think that a risk I took so many years ago came to be what it is today.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.styleingenewity.com/
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/styleingenewity
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/styleingenewity
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phylicia-b-personal-stylist/
- Other: To work with me, schedule a complimentary style chat : https://www.styleingenewity.com/complimentary-consultation portfolio : https://www.styleingenewity.com/portfolio-1
Image Credits
Damaly Shepherd Natalie Estess