Welcome to The Stylish Sabbatical Substack
"Start. Do a little bit every day," we tell our children as they undertake something new and amorphous or big and daunting. I've been following my own advice.
Start Small and Take Consistent Steps
When embarking on something new – whether it is amorphous or big and daunting – we are often advised to start small and do a little bit every day. It is a piece of wisdom I embraced throughout my corporate career, and it has become a mantra now that I am a fledgling entrepreneur.
Prior to my foray into entrepreneurship, I was a marketing executive. For two decades, I drove business and brand strategy for esteemed consumer packaged goods and food retail companies. I helped beloved brands like Peet’s Coffee open cafes in new geographies and lesser-known brands like f’real shakes and smoothies reposition their marketing to target a younger demographic.
Style was my hobby, a respite from the demands of work. On weekends, I followed style influencers on Instagram, browsed boutiques and the apps of favorite retailers, and read fashion and lifestyle blogs. A few years ago, I stumbled across the concept of wearing colors that complement your natural coloring and clothing styles that harmonize with your body architecture, and I was intrigued. The concept appealed to my strategic and analytical nature and would ultimately transform my approach to my wardrobe purchases. I bought books that delved into these topics, watched YouTube videos and webinars, poured over websites, and even had an in-person color analysis to reveal the colors that are most flattering on me. Marketing executive by day, I spent nights and weekends amassing a breadth of knowledge about fashion, color, body architecture and style.
The seed of a future business idea
I was able to look polished and authoritative at work because I enjoyed shopping and composing outfits; however, I watched colleagues who didn’t share my passion rely on a variety of styling services, often with disappointing results. Many wound up dressed very similarly in lower quality, fast-fashion clothing that didn’t do their unique beauty justice. I recognized that these services did not consider their clients’ coloring or other features, an insight that planted the seed of a future business idea.
Starting last fall, I embarked on a sabbatical from work. I enjoyed long runs, listened to podcasts while walking the dog, and relished extra time with my family. I also spent considerable time networking, contemplating my next steps. All the while, I continued to toy with the idea of a superior styling service – one that considers individual characteristics and advocates for higher-quality, versatile items. As I evaluated potential corporate opportunities, none rivaled the allure of pursuing my own concept.
A sabbatical becomes The Stylish Sabbatical
In June, I chose not to return to corporate America, transforming my sabbatical into The Stylish Sabbatical, a venture offering respite from shopping hassles by offering personalized style recommendations. Leveraging both my business acumen and the point-of-view I’ve developed on fashion, color and body architecture, I launched an Instagram account (@the.stylish.sabbatical) where I share styling tips and inspiration while recommending accessible luxury clothing and accessories. The platform became a marketing vehicle, telling prospective clients about my ability to provide a more personalized approach for dressing for day-to-day life or significant events and I have enjoyed working with clients one-on-one.
Let’s turn The Stylish Sabbatical into something bigger
I dream of turning The Stylish Sabbatical into something much bigger: a styling subscription service rivaling the incumbents that my colleagues used. For now, I’m starting small and chipping away at my dream every day, sharing my ideas on Instagram and now Substack, with plans to offer specialized, shopping lists and styling advice to a subset of paid Substack subscibers.
I invite you to follow along as I grow this venture where style intersects strategy. Contribute with your reactions, comments, or by sharing a styling challenge you’re facing. Together, let’s celebrate style and inherent beauty – one small, consistent step at a time.
