Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Dior, a personal stylist and image consultant.
Hi Christina, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Sure, I am Christina Dior, but everyone calls me Stina. I’ve been styling clients for a few years now and started my business as a stylist and image consultant in 2020. In college, I studied journalism and always envisioned myself being a style or beauty editor for the likes of Essence, InStyle, or even Vogue (lofty dreams). Writing was always a passion of mine and I loved clothes. I wanted to be a Black Carrie Bradshaw but more along the lines of Kahlana Barfield-Brown. I was also focused on working in healthcare and that seemed to be a more viable option and I pursued that. After earning multiple degrees and securing great positions, I realized I wasn’t fulfilled and began doing the work to discover my passion. I don’t consider myself a “fashion” girl, meaning I don’t follow all the trends closely or know everything about every designer, their runway shows, etc. I consider myself a stylish girl. I know the historical figures in the fashion industry, trends of the past eras, garment construction, textures and prints, what looks good on people.
My style is greatly influenced by my mother. As a child, I watched her work in retail sales as a personal stylist and fashion merchandiser, navigating the ever-evolving fashion trends and personalizing them to her own style with very little means. Inevitably, her keen fashion sense was passed to me. I’ve always loved shopping, putting looks together for myself and my friends, and just looking good and feeling even better. My friends and family encouraged to showcase my personal style leading me to start my personal style blog. I strongly dislike taking pictures but I accepted the challenge. My goal was never to be an influencer (social media is a necessary evil in my opinion), but it was the vehicle to showcase my personal style and who I am. I have been blogging about my personal style over two years.
Shortly after my blog was published, I began getting small requests: accessory suggestions, shoe ideas, trend inquiries, hair and makeup advice, etc. My photographer pushed me to start thinking about where this little blog from this Midwestern girl could lead me. I have never considered myself a creative or an innovator, let alone an entrepreneur. Starting my own business seemed daunting while I was also embracing this new reality that my style is what made me creative and unique. After several small projects with friends and a few strangers, I realized I found great joy, passion, happiness in helping both men and women look like the best version of themselves. I believe your style should be a reflection of your self-love. It should project confidence and inspire others to be more confident. It’s not about being trendy or wearing the most popular brands, and I love my brands, but it is about what makes you feel good, what makes a woman feel sexy, what makes a man feel more attractive but also comfortable. For me, it was a form therapy to combat my mental health when days were rough and I didn’t feel my best but I vowed to show up looking my best.
After synthesizing all of this, I decided to start my business, Currently InStyle. I didn’t know where my clients would come from or how the business would perform. I just knew this was something I loved and people were gravitating toward me for their styling needs. Since starting the business in January 2020, my clientele has been increasing every month with clients across St. Louis and Atlanta. I have had the opportunity to assist with some amazing costume designers in Atlanta working on campaigns for the NBA, Netflix, Hollywood Reporter, BET, and Flaunt Magazine. I was also featured on FashionBombDaily as a Bombshell of the Week for my personal style blog. I offer a variety of services from personal shopping to full wardrobe styling. As I continue to grow my personal brand and the business, I am excited where this road will lead me and the new clientele I am gaining in the along the way. My clients challenge me daily to be best stylist and business owner I can be encouraging me to integrate new practices and allowing me to be their ‘fashion homegirl’. I look forward to not only helping them discover their personal style and but also building a relationship making the experience fun, exciting, and worry-free.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
A lot of the challenge has been me getting in my own way. My school of thinking was always, you need to have some type of qualification, certification, paper that says you can do this when honestly experience is the best teacher. I have been a stylist nearly my entire life. I find myself second-guessing my ideas and sometimes feeling that I am not qualified to do the work. I recently completed my first brand and product shoot for a new business and I remember handing her some last minute contracts to sign and my hand was shaking uncontrollably. She looked at me and said, “Stina, are you nervous? I can’t believe it. We are good, you are good, we got this, you did this!” I was so embarrassed but so thankful for her in that moment. It was the reassurance I needed that everything had exceeded her expectations. Often I fall victim of comparing myself to others, which is no fun! I often have to remind myself that this is the gift God has given me and I am supposed to be in this lane, doing this work. On the operational side of things, things has been smooth. I recently reached my first year in business and I must say I am extremely proud of the work I’ve done in the past year. I am consistently learning what tools work for my clients and me while exploring various opportunities as they arise and identifying areas of growth.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As I stylist, I work with individuals to define their personal style and as an image consultant, I work with individuals and brands to ensure their image/style aligns with their branding voice and brand values. My goal is to create a fun, enjoyable, and stress-free experience especially for my clients that dislike shopping and putting looks together. My greatest rewards are those random texts I get from my clients about their experience working with me. Those random photos in some clothing item I suggested and bought for that they never thought they would pull off.
I enjoy being the fashion homegirl or the stylish friend. My business practices are solid so it is easy to separate the two. And at the end the day, beyond the professionalism, I am a hood chick, that’s hood chic, with a couple of degrees that’s just real and down-to-Earth and my clients gravitate toward that. Professionally, I work in healthcare as a project manager which makes running the business pretty seamless for me and translates to great custome service for my clients. Strategic planning and execution are two of my greatest strengths. I recently rebranded my business and am in the process of revamping my website in the midst of taking on several new clients, personal shopping for production, and joining a styling team with a costume designer here in Atlanta. I am finally in a position to focus on marketing and expanding my clientele in the Atlanta area.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
As I am new this industry, I am learning that the possibilities are endless. In the next five years, honestly in the next year, I would love to pivot from healthcare full-time to being a stylist full-time. My work is very time consuming between consultations, planning, shopping, fittings and traveling. I’d love be a wardrobe stylist for a few of my dream celebrity clients like Taraji P. Henson and transition to film, TV, and music as a consultant and stylist like Shiona Turini and begin collaborating with a few major brands for my personal brand.
Pricing:
- Wardrobe Consultation: $75
Contact Info:
- Email: info@stinadior.com
- Website: www.stinadior.com
- Instagram: @stinadior
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/Currently-InStyle
Image Credits
MenaDarre Alexandria Murray
