Meet Varnessa Bails | Wardrobe Stylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Varnessa Bails and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Varnessa, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I feel like I have to give you a bit of the backstory to describe how I arrived at starting my own business. I’ve wanted to own my own business since I was about 18 years old. I knew that I wanted create my own lane in the fashion industry, but if I’m honest, I didn’t receive the support that I had hoped I would receive when I talked about what I wanted for my future. I worked for a popular retail store and the owner began to mentor me through my position of a buyer. As I prepared myself to finalize my degree at FIT in NYC, I was sharing with my “mentor” how excited I was about this next season and what it would do for me. After I finished expressing my excitement, he looked me in my face and said: “I honestly don’t believe that you will excel in fashion. There are others coming from around the world to FIT who are more talented than you. If I’m honest, this is as far as you’ll go”. Talk about dream killers right!? Well, I allowed that “mentor” to suffocate that dream. But what I realized is that, although my dream was suffocating, it wasn’t dead. After a few years of self doubt, I heard another voice during a conference I attended that breathed life on my dream. His words were few, but powerful. “He who has your ear, has your future”. That was all I needed to hear. I knew in that moment, I had given my future to those who I thought were behind me. I took that moment and invested in trainings, leadership coaches, and attended events from those operating in the space I dreamed to be in. I gave myself over to learning and applied what was already in me. I knew fashion and loved it. But, I didn’t know the business side, nor did I know some of the inner workings in fashion industry. So, I became a student to the process and those willing to teach me. When I shifted into a place of confidence, I launched my business. I began to network and build up my tribe who saw my vision. I decided to bet on me.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As a wardrobe stylist, my mission is to shift the narrative of how women view their current styles. I style women based on their body type, as I am aware that not all garments are created equal. My goal is to always make women feel their best self when putting on clothes. I believe what got me to where I am today is simply because I can relate to the women I come in contact with. Although I have always loved style, I wasn’t always in love with how I looked. I needed to learn and build confidence, while loving the skin I am in. In doing so, I found my niche. I found that I can both dress and build the confidence of women while they excel in their careers and just day to day life. I mentioned previously about being a student under leadership because I believe there is always something to learn. I have had many fail forward moments (and still do), but if I can give any advice – don’t view your mishaps as failures, but rather see them new opportunities to try it another way. If you shift how your mind views “moments of failures”, then you will always bounce back with new ways and strategies to grow your business.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Moving South, the pace is definitely different. Although in the beginning I complained about things being slow, but the longer I remained in the South, I realized that sometimes having moments to slow down and take things in are quite necessary in order to propel forward. Now, my best friend; she’s a foodie and loves to have a good time and laugh. She loves to try new things because I remember the days where she would be in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes, etc. So, of course bringing her into town, we would head to the downtown area and try different sweets and meals. I am known to be the high maintenance one amongst friends, so my restaurant choices would definitely contain a $60 dollar well-done steak and a nice glass of sweet wine. We can’t forget shopping, so we’re hitting the town and playing dress-up in the fitting rooms with laughter. Going to craft places to make candles, paint objects that rarely turn out as intended, but the laughs and picking on each other’s finished product would be the highlight of our time. We both love to talk, so late night talks about our husbands and family would definitely end our nights.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Mom deserves a major shoutout! Despite the voices telling me that I wouldn’t be able to succeed in the fashion arena, she told me I could. She has been a major cheerleader even when I had to call and ask to borrow “investment” money. She willingly gave, because she always told me to chase my dreams and to be better than her. So thanks mommy! You’re forever my MVP.

My husband for sure! He’s my pick-me-up when I doubt myself. He reminds me of where I started and where I am today. From driving across multiple states to attend events, to playing the part of my “assistant” in style sessions, and even being my shipping & receiving guy for my boutique, if there’s someone that I can count on whose patient, giving, understanding, kind and let me have my moments of frustration, it’s my husband. I call him my gentle giant. He’s gentle, soft with his words and of course he hovers me standing at 6’4.

Website: www.varnessabails.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/varnessabails/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/varnessa-bails-84117834

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/VarnessaB?paipv=0

Image Credits
Kyerra Lindsey Eddie Bails Latoya Dixon