We recently connected with Sierra McKay and have shared our conversation below.
Sierra, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
I didn’t set out to start a business I really stumbled into it when I discovered thrifting. At the time, I had just started going into thrift stores out of curiosity, and I quickly found myself drawn to pieces that stood out to me, even if they weren’t my size.
I’ve always shopped based on vision rather than size seeing what a piece could become and how it could be styled. As I spent more time thrifting, I realized I wasn’t just shopping, I was naturally curating. I was picking pieces based on how I envisioned them coming together and the story they could tell.
Around that time, I began shopping at a curated vintage and resale boutique, where I built a relationship with the owner someone who later became both a friend and a mentor to me. Seeing how thoughtfully the pieces were selected and presented showed me that this could be more than just shopping it could be an experience and a business. It made me ask myself, “Why don’t I try this?”
I began by selling a few pieces online, and eventually hosted my first event. From there, it continued to grow.
What really confirmed this path for me was how it made me feel. I realized I genuinely enjoyed the process of curating and styling, and it became a way for me to share my personal style with others. Every piece I select reflects my vision, and I love helping people see how it can come together in a way that feels authentic to them.
I also appreciate the deeper impact of what I do. Many of the pieces I find carry character and history, and I’m able to give them new life. At the same time, it supports more intentional, secondhand shopping, which contributes to reducing waste and supporting the community.
What started with simply discovering thrift stores turned into something much bigger a brand rooted in personal style, storytelling, and curated fashion.
Sierra, 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’m Sierra McKay, the founder of Si Styles, a New Orleans based brand centered around curated vintage and modern fashion. What started as a personal love for styling and thrifting has grown into a brand rooted in personal style, storytelling, and community.
I got into this space organically. I’ve always had an eye for putting pieces together, but it really took shape when I discovered thrifting. I found myself drawn to items based on vision rather than size seeing the potential in pieces and how they could be styled in a way that felt elevated and unique. Over time, I realized I wasn’t just shopping, I was curating.
Through Si Styles, I offer curated vintage and modern pieces, personal styling services, and in person retail experiences through pop ups and markets. I also collaborate with brands and create content that reflects my style and perspective. Whether it’s styling a client, building a rack for a pop up, or sourcing pieces, everything is intentional and rooted in how I see fashion coming together.
One of the biggest problems I help solve for my clients is confidence and clarity in their personal style. A lot of people have pieces but don’t know how to bring them together in a way that feels like them. I help bridge that gap by showing them how to see their wardrobe differently and how to create looks that feel effortless but still make a statement.
What sets me apart is my approach to styling and sourcing. I don’t shop based on trends or size I shop based on vision. I’m able to see the potential in pieces and create looks that feel curated, not forced. I also blend vintage and modern in a way that feels wearable for everyday life, while still allowing people to express themselves.
I’m most proud of building something that feels authentic to me while also impacting others. Whether it’s someone finding a piece they love, gaining confidence in how they show up, or supporting a small business, those moments mean everything to me.
At its core, Si Styles is more than just fashion it’s about helping people feel confident, expressive, and connected through what they wear.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
One thing that really shows my resilience is continuing to build my business even when I didn’t feel like everything was fully in place yet.
There were moments where I felt like I needed to have everything figured out first like a website, a storefront, or a more structured setup before I could really take myself seriously. But instead of waiting for everything to be perfect, I kept going.
I started small by selling pieces online, showing up on social media, and eventually stepping out to do pop ups. Each step pushed me outside of my comfort zone, especially putting myself out there creatively and trusting that people would connect with my vision.
There were times I doubted myself or questioned if I was ready, but I realized that growth was happening in real time. The more I showed up, the more confident I became not just in my business, but in my eye for styling and curating.
Resilience for me has looked like continuing to move forward, even when things don’t feel complete, and trusting that everything I’m building will come together. I’m still growing, still learning, and still evolving but I didn’t let that stop me from starting.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
The best source of new clients for me has really been organic growth through social media, especially Instagram, along with in person connections through pop ups and events.
A lot of people are drawn to my style first. They’ll see how I put pieces together, how I mix vintage and modern, and it naturally sparks interest. From there, I get questions about where items are from, if something is for sale, or if I offer styling services. That curiosity often turns into clients.
Pop ups have also played a big role in growing my clientele. Being able to connect with people in person, let them experience the pieces, and see how I style them in real time builds trust and creates a more personal connection.
Word of mouth has been just as powerful. When someone has a good experience whether they’ve purchased a piece or worked with me for styling they tend to share that with others.
Overall, my growth has come from showing up consistently, staying true to my style, and allowing people to connect with my vision. It hasn’t been about forcing it, but more about creating something people naturally gravitate toward.
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