We recently connected with Tina Roper and have shared our conversation below.

Tina , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you take vacations? How do you keep things going – any advice for entrepreneurs who feel like they can’t step away from their business for a short vacation?

I absolutely take vacations. It sounds cliché, but the hustle and bustle of everyday life can wear you down, be distracting, and overwhelm you. It is important for me to carve time out to relax and to recharge. Personally, vacation affords me the time to enjoy my family and experience new adventures. The vacation experience and the places I visit also serve as a pallet from which I draw inspiration. From the moment I de-plane, I immerse myself in my surroundings. I take in the art installations at the airport, the trends I see on locals, the taste, texture, and color of the food, the streetscapes, and in the natural environment of whatever country I am visiting. It helps to expand my perspective and, when I return home, I feel completely inspired and extremely grateful.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a wardrobe stylist. I have always loved the sensory experience of clothes, catalogues, and of department stores. IN high school, I always stood out for doing little things to personify my unique style. Expressing my individuality was very important to me. My choices were sometimes well-received but there were also plenty of times when I received side-eye looks. I became known for my quirky style. I also subscribed to and studied every fashion publication. Fashion and style have always been interesting to me. Since I can remember, I have always watch tv to analyze the wardrobe of each character.

As I got older, my friends began to ask me for advice on their wardrobes for vacation or for special events or for work. I began styling them. Eventually, I was asked to style one of my superiors for an awards event. She recommended my services to others and my client base grew. I think what sets me apart from others is that my goal is to not only dress my clients, but to share the techniques I use so that they can make better decisions independently. I have a degree in psychology and an advanced degree in Education. I use my knowledge and skills to go beyond the surface with clients so that I can better understand how they perceive themselves and how they want others to perceive them. Clothes are our armor. They protect our fragile selves from the world while also providing clues to who we are and how we want to be received.

What I want the world to know about me (and what I hope my wardrobe says) is that I am approachable, considerate, big-hearted, and aware. I want everyone to win and I want them to look their best when doing it.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is getting to vibe with and interact with other creatives from various disciplines. I love to be in rooms and synergize with others. I love to see how each discipline effects and is connected to the other disciplines. For instance, when i work on movie sets, I am in complete awe of the make up artists and the hair stylists and the special effects team. The mind of the a creative is such an interesting and magical place and I am completely inspired by how others process information and use that information to make their form of art. I love how all of the work we do independently creates such an amazing product when put together. For me, being a wardrobe stylist feels like being a member of a group of superheroes who unite to make the world better aesthetically.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

What drives my journey is my desire to connect people and build a legacy that centers on good people doing great things. Early on, I dressed people as a way to connect with and get to know them. I have met some wonderful and honorable humans- many of whom are creatives and/or business owners. In 2019, I convened a group to introduce 15 amazing individuals who I knew and who I thought could benefit from knowing each other. We met regularly, shared information, coached each other, and supported each other. At the top of 2024, I upgraded the group to an official not-for-profit. Our goal is to continue to grow the network while also mentoring the next generation of entrepreneurs.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theurbanfreshery.com
• Instagram: @gold_medal_shopper

Image Credits

Only Rhys

Francesca Scott