Hello
At Style by Sonja, I am dedicated to empowering women to become confident in their style and excited to get dressed every day.
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I believe that finding your style is a process. My mission is to help you look your best, while also saving your hard-earned dollars by reusing and repurposing items you already own. You won't find me promoting or posting social media links to fast fashion (like Amazon, Target, or Walmart) because first, I'm not an influencer and I don't make a salary promoting items for these retailers, and second, I will never advertise something I wouldn't buy myself. Additionally, the more throwaway items you add to your wardrobe, the harder it actually is to make a great outfit! I encourage you to limit your shopping and focus on purchasing only those items that work hard for you. If you have gaps in your closet and need those essential basics, I can help you expand your wardrobe responsibly.
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Located in the beautiful Charleston, South Carolina suburb of Mount Pleasant, I am available to meet in person or via video call if you're not local to the area. When you book a Style Strategy session with me, I will guide you through creating a wardrobe that reflects your unique style - whether you want to shop your closet and level up your current style, or if you're looking to refresh your wardrobe by adding current trends or if you're missing essentials. I am available for closet edits, and I can help you get ready for a trip or event by curating the perfect capsule wardrobe! Check out my Services page for all the options, and send me an email if you need something that's not listed.
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Now accepting new clients, so contact me to get started. Check out my social media for my Shop Your Closet posts and to get to know me!
My Story
While I have been styling myself and my friends and family for years, I recently made that side hustle my full-time gig. After a long and privileged career (25+ years) in corporate leadership positions, I recently found myself shocked with my second layoff in less than 10 years. After the PTSD subsided, I faced the reality that I was absolutely miserable anyway. It took me all of about two days to realign my goals and start my business plan for this new role - as a full-time fashion stylist. I have never been happier!
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At 5'11" and never traditionally skinny, finding clothes that I love (that also fit me) has often been something of a joke. Over the years, I learned how to accessorize like a BOSS to add some flair and make it ME. Now that so many designers finally have expanded sizing and styles, I know the labels that I love and can add the accessories I've added in as the icing on top.
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My philosophy #1 is WEAR YOUR CLOTHES! This has more than one meaning; first, I want you to stop wearing only the same 5 pieces every week and remember to wear ALL the great pieces in your closet, but second, I'm a big fan of layering and stacking things you may not think to pair together. Wearing a shirt like a jacket (a shacket!) may not be a tool you're currently using, but it will be one of many after we meet. My goal is to elevate your style. I'm a fan of adding in unexpected pieces in an unexpected way. I like to take extremes, like really dressy pieces (sequins, silk.), with super casual ones (think joggers), and then watch your closet's potential bloom!
My philosophy #2 is LOVE AND DRESS THE BODY YOU HAVE NOW. Not the body you had, not the body you want - embrace where you are NOW. Get rid of what's not working for you. It's taken me years to truly love what I see in the mirror. I eat well enough, work out enough, and have learned to embrace my flaws and my figure as a 40-something woman. All of it. I know what an emotional thing it is to love how you feel in your clothes, and you won't believe how empowering it is to scrap the old and embrace the NOW.
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I'm a wife to my soul mate and best friend (yep, really - we are disgustingly happy) for almost 10 years, and our blended family is made up of 4 of our own kids who aren't really kids anymore, and 2 fostered daughters who let me into their lives starting in their middle school years. The youngest of our "6-pack" is 18 and just graduated from high school. The others are 19, 21, and 25. Our adult girls have their own families so I get to be "GG" to their kids! We are preparing to be empty nesters, and I can't really figure out how it happened so quickly.
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I was raised in southwest Michigan until I graduated college and moved to the Charleston area, and I've lived here ever since. I'm a midwestern people-pleaser at my core! My undergrad studies were in English and French, and I always thought I would write a book (but I didn't!). I earned my MBA while I was starting my family and working full time. On weekends, you'll find me making a massive brunch from Chrissy Teigen's cookbook for whichever kids are home, baking while listening to my favorite 2010's dance music, and rearranging my furniture. In fact, I came up with the idea to "shop your closet" because I realized I was doing that in my own home and closet - I move and repurpose furnishings all the time. I love saving money and experimenting with what I can put where to revitalize a room! When I started to pull out those lesser-worn items from my closet and focused on creating new outfits around them, I was totally pumped how it sparked joy for me and allowed me to feel that same excitement as shopping for a new piece - but for free! The premise of Style by Sonja was born, and I can't wait to share it with you!