Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalia Rutecki.
Hi Natalia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
For as long as I can remember fashion has been a huge passion of mine. I always admired the way people were able to express themselves in different ways through clothing. As a shy, young girl I found it hard to express myself but when it came to clothing I never held back. I knew what I liked and it was the one area I was confident in and never worried about what people thought. I realized that for many other people, this was in fact the opposite and despite being outgoing and successful they lacked confidence when it came to personal style. People seem to find it to be a chore to dress up and therefore more and more they dress down instead of rise to the occasion. I never wanted to feel like I should have to downplay my dress in order to fit in with the crowd. Dress up for the fun of it, wear what you love and raise the bar! I want to help others achieve the same joy and excitement in getting dressed that I have. That’s why I started Confidently Chic, for people who want to look chic but most importantly gain confidence in doing so.
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?
The biggest obstacle I needed to overcome was fear of failure. I needed to take a leap of faith and believe in myself. I felt capable in terms of styling skills but I worried about the challenges of starting my own business especially with three young kids at home. I knew it would take some risk and a lot of hard work as well as trial and error along the way but if I never tried I’d always wonder and never really know my full potential. In the long run, I realized my success is a measure of how much I learn in the process and there’s no losing there. Working with clients has been an exciting and interesting process because everyone is so unique in their wants and needs. The biggest obstacle there is just making sure the client is ready to be a little vulnerable and open for some self-reflection. People are putting themselves in my hands and that requires a lot of trust in me knowing what they need even more than they do. Sometimes they don’t think they deserve to look in the mirror and be happy with what they see or they don’t want to invest in themselves until they lose an extra few pounds. This process though really isn’t just about outside appearances, it’s also about looking inward and being able to give those self-affirmations. That’s why I felt it was important to have the word “confident” incorporated into my business name. It’s the most important thing I want you to gain throughout this process. I can’t just tell you, you look great, I need you to feel that.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As a personal stylist and shopper, I help people who struggle to identify with their own sense of style. They look at clothing as just a necessity not as a means of showcasing their personality. It’s my job to understand what makes them unique and make that visible to others upon meeting them. Many times people fail to realize how they come across to others and take for granted how important first impressions are. That’s why the styling service I provide makes such a meaningful impact on one’s life. It’s another means of effectively communicating with others.
Confidently Chic is much more personal than other subscription styling services. I meet with each individual and get a feel for who they are before I send over clothing options. Sometimes my clients prefer to have this service done virtually but we always meet face-to-face. This works great in that I can reach clients all over the United States. It’s also helpful because many of them are short on time and have busy schedules which is one of the reasons why they’ve reached out for this service in the first place. Once we meet and I get all the information I need, I can go about putting together a package for them based on the number of looks and events. I send over vision boards as well as links for them to purchase their own clothing so there is no pressure to purchase any number of items. In addition, I also give in-person shopping options because some individuals prefer to have that extra guidance throughout the experience.
If the client is looking for a full makeover experience the makeup application and lesson included in some of the packages is the perfect option. Makeup artist Kelly Ella does a fantastic job. I’m really grateful for all the clients I’ve had the opportunity to work with but I’m especially proud to see their faces light up when they see how good they look in the mirror when they feel like themselves only a better, more polished version. It’s the greatest compliment when they gift my services to their friends and family so that they can share with them that newfound joy and confidence they’ve gained.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
I like to utilize the Pinterest app because it helps me to organize all the clothing items I find for my clients and put them into one space. They can easily click on the item and it takes them to the store with the specific size and color already saved. I can also add the vision boards I’ve created to any Pinterest board and then collaborate with the client so they can make notes and add or delete items as they see fit.
Pricing:
- *Personal styling session -$95 per hour
- *Lifestyle package -$400 (3-4 looks)
- *In person wardrobe edit or shopping outing-*$150 per hour
Contact Info:
- Website: Confidentlychic.net
- Instagram: @confidentlychicc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/confidentlychicc?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Meghan Joy photography Taylor Berry photography
