Meet Shaye Strager of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaye Strager.

Hi Shaye, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The Situation

Picture this: in the next six months you’ve got a couple of weddings, a charity gala, and a destination corporate weekend for executives and their spouses. You’ll be seeing many of the same faces (and yes, the photos will end up on Instagram), and repeating an outfit isn’t an option. That’s 4-6 dresses/ gowns/ensembles you’ll have to search for in stores or online, potentially have altered, buy matching shoes, and adorn with the right jewelry. Even if you love to shop, do have the time and desire to do all that?

That’s where I come in. I’m fashion stylist Shaye Strager, and I’m opening my couture closet to you.

A Stylist’s Closet
Welcome to A Stylist’s Closet. This is my private collection of runway samples, one-of-a-kind gowns, and limited-edition couture pieces. I own each piece, having selected and collected them during my decades-long fashion career, from New York City to Atlanta, GA, with several European stops along the way. And now I’m lending them to a broader audience of clients, so you experience being professionally styled and wearing something exclusive and rare.

Own the Room, Not the Couture
Renting couture dresses and one-of-a-kind gowns from a veteran fashion stylist is the smartest way to enjoy luxury fashion without the cost of ownership. You’ll not only have access to [hundreds] of my exclusive, high-end pieces, you’ll also get personalized styling from me every time you rent. After 25+ years of dressing women, I truly understand how much it matters to make a lasting impression … to feel confident and comfortable. To know you are wearing the exact right piece for you and for your event. In my studio, you’ll have the benefit of my trained eye and my spot-on recommendations for the most flattering fit, color, and ideal look for your special occasion.

This Is Personalized Styling Experience
A Stylist’s Closet is a private collection of rare event-worthy dresses and gowns (jumpsuits too). This opportunity for a fitting offers you a fashion expert who will treat you like an honest friend, giving you an incredibly personalized styling experience.

Sustainable Fashion, That’s Why:
It’s my mission (in part due to having a teenage daughter who wants to only buy pre-loved or pre-owned items). Overproduction and a broken retail system is a growing concern among fashionistas of all ages. My business is grounded in sustainability; it’s my small contribution to counterbalancing the damage of “fast fashion” on the planet. Since I have gathered my collection of dresses, gowns and other exclusive pieces over a period of decades, A Stylist’s Closet has pristine vintage and rare finds not available at retail.

About Shaye, Fashion Stylist and Founder

Shaye Strager began her career 28 years ago in New York City, and her clients then and now have included award-winning actors in film, television and on Broadway; professional athletes; musicians and entire bands (even a city orchestra!); business leaders; advocates; healthcare professionals, and many more. Early in her career and for more than a decade, Shaye worked backstage at New York Fashion Week, accessory-styling top runway shows for designers from Badgley Mischka to Irina Shabayeva; Tracey Reese to Cynthia Rowley; Carmen Marc Vavlo to Zac Posen. She still has personal relationships with many of the designers, producers and models.

Today, Shaye brings her savvy fashion eye, designer relationships, and personal, approachable vibe to clients not only in Atlanta, but also in several other U.S. cities. When Shaye moved to Atlanta in 2013, she quickly made her mark on the city: she has been the in-house stylist for two of the Southeast’s premier luxury retail spaces, Lenox Square Mall and Phipps Plaza. She is also the personal stylist for Atlanta’s “Mama Jan,” (Jan Smith), producer and vocal coach to Usher, Justin Bieber, Rob Thomas, and hundreds of charting and emerging artists, many of whom Shaye has styled. Shaye’s roster of clients also includes seven CEOs and numerous female-owned brands and businesses, including nonprofit leaders and executives.
On a broader scale, Shaye has developed and edited corporate dress codes and styled the leadership teams for companies such as Cadillac and Deloitte, helping them reflect their individual brand and core values on a visual level. She is also a fashion contributor for CBS in New York and Atlanta, and has appeared on The View, Extra, Entertainment Tonight, as well as in dozens of print and digital media outlets. Through her daily posts on Instagram (@ShayeStrager) Shaye shows up, dresses up (or down), and shares her tips and experience about her favorite designers (and why); how to create your personal style; the must-haves and nice-to-haves, and the things people want to know most when it comes to fashionable dressing with confidence, comfort and style.

How “A Stylist’s Closet” Works
It all starts with browsing. Look through the collection on A Stylist’s Closet and click on the dresses and/or separates that you’d like to learn more about. Cocktail dresses, midi and maxi lengths, and fun separates are waiting for you to explore. Then add them to your wish list and click submit. A member of my team will schedule your fitting in the studio. All pieces featured on the site are only available in their current size. (That’s the difference between my hand-selected collection and a retail or wholesale operation.) Of course, because of the rarity of the collection, I don’t have every size, but the closet does range from sizes 2 to 12. Also, many of the runway gowns, which were worn on the runway during fashion weeks and other events, are model length — perfect for women 5’8” and taller. Working together we can find a dress you adore … the piece that tells the world who you are from the moment you step into the room. If you’ve ever wanted to work with a stylist to find a gem of dress, this is a great place to start.

You’ll have a scheduled fitting either with me or one of my trained styling assistants. The first 30 minutes of your fitting are complementary; any additional time will be billed hourly. My styling assistants are available at $50/hour; when you work with me, my styling rate is $175/hr. I can also come to you for in-home fittings for a pre-approved rate. *

ABOUT THE STYLING STUDIO:
Located in a private home studio in North Atlanta, A Stylist’s Closet is by appointment only. We currently have more than 125 items available to rent. All fittings need to be scheduled with Shaye or one of her styling assistants. Timing will be based on availability, and we’ll do everything we can to accommodate your schedule. Rental times range from one week to 21 days; your rental period will be clearly stated in your rental agreement. You can also reserve dresses and ensembles for future dates, with a rental deposit. You can come in for one fitting/styling appointment and leave with a list of what you’re going to wear for several of your upcoming events!

A Stylist’s Closet is special in so many ways, not the least of which is who we invite in. That means you. You have distinctive tastes, unique fashion needs, and important events. And just like you, many of my pieces are one-of-a-kind. Our rules are simple: our clothing should be respectfully worn, knowing that you are borrowing pieces of an archive collection. We’ll handle the professional dry cleaning (the cost is included in your rental).

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Similarly to other successful business women, the past 30 years of my career have been a constant learning opportunity. I’ve had failures and twists and turns of the road, but every ‘wrong turn’ gave me the right tools to handle future challenges. I’m proud of every victory and failure because it has brought me to exactly where I am today.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
“My rental program allows women to step into my styling studio and try on rare collectibles, knowing they are choosing from pieces both refined and thoughtfully-selected for the moments that matter most in our lives – weddings, galas, red carpet moments, special celebrations, and other festive events.”
With a discerning eye, rooted in both runway and personal fashion styling, the contents of A Stylist’s Closet (ASC) reflect Strager’s philosophy of wearing unique and intentional wardrobe choices. The ASC website showcases the gowns and dresses available for rent; once a client puts one or more items in their wish list, contact will be made to schedule a styling appointment/fitting.
“When you come to try on your selections, you’ll have the benefit of a trained eye and spot-on recommendations for the most flattering fit, color, style, and materials. It’s like having a in-the-room bestie who happens to be a skilled stylist.”
Strager’s clients range from actors and musicians to business owners and executives to public figures and professional athletes. Her background in fashion styling and wardrobe strategy shapes the vision of A Stylist’s Closet’s space, where clients can discover statement pieces while embracing a more conscious approach to sustainable occasion dressing.
“After decades of dressing important clients, I truly understand how much it matters to make a memorable impression … to feel confident and comfortable … and to know that you are wearing the exact right piece for you and for your event,” concludes Shaye Strager.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I think Atlanta was the best possible city to move to after spending 20+ years in NYC. Atlanta has a thriving art and music scene, great sports teams and a very diverse fashion crowd. I am still meeting new talent and loving how the city is evolving.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.astylistscloset.com
• Instagram: shayestrager astylistscloset
• Facebook: shayestrager
• LinkedIn: shayestrager
• Other: https://shayestrager.com