The Jen Lister Podcast
I want you to figure out your own version of success and find a way to achieve it. In a post pandemic world, a lot of us have re-evaluated our lives and priorities. Balance is a really important thing. As a business strategist, coach and speaker, I am so passionate about helping people make their impact on the world - on their terms.In the Jen Lister Podcast I will be chatting about life, business growth strategies, and sharing my personal stories along the way.This is the podcast I wish I could have listened to to help me:Break down those barriers and believe in myself (I have always worried what others would think of me).Find the confidence to start and grow my own business (I was sucked in to the corporate world and felt very stuck)Feel empowered to make my own decisions and work on my own terms (I have created a work schedule that I love, with clear boundaries!)
The Jen Lister Podcast
Interview with Sophie Personal Stylist: wardrobe staples, personal brand & being a fashionable mummy!
In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking to Sophie Taylor, aka Sophie Personal Stylist. Sophie's mission is to help women, especially fellow moms, to regain their confidence and find their spark through personal styling.
Sophie shares her journey of how she started her business after becoming a mom and struggling to find her style. She invested in her own personal stylist and decided to become one herself!
We discuss Sophie's proudest moments in business and her exciting goals for the future. Plus, she shares her top 3 practical tips for personal styling that you won't want to miss!
If you want to feel confident in your style and find your spark, then listen to this episode now!
You can find Sophie on Instagram @sophiepersonalstylist
Facebook - Sophie Personal Stylist
Facebook group - 'Find Your Spark With Sophie Personal Stylist'.
website - www.sophiepersonalstylist.co.uk
Follow me on social media, it's @jenlistercoaching on Instagram and LinkedIn.
My website is Jenlister.com
Click here to get my 7 mindset steps to starting or scaling your business
Music and production by the amazing Strike Productions
Podcast management by Dean at DBVirtual
Hello, and welcome to the Jen Lister podcast. Here I'll be chatting about life, business growth strategies, and sharing my personal journeys along the way. I will also be interviewing some incredible guests who are experts in their field, see it as my little black book of business. Hello, and welcome back to the Jen Lister podcast. I am really excited to be speaking to Sophie Taylor today who is Sophie Personal Stylist and I know that she's the one that helps women, especially moms, which obviously I know you are Sophie to regain their confidence and find their Spark, which is just such an amazing kind of mission vision statement. And then you've got your style journey programme, which is a three month way that you work with your clients. And also you've got your free Facebook group called Find your spark with Sophie, personal stylist. I hope I've done your justice.
Yes, that's right. Thank you so much.
Love it. So I want to get straight into the mums stuff because I've noticed actually that you've changed your Instagram to be focused more around start saying styling mummies. That's quite a recent thing I have. Yes. Yeah. So tell me why mummies and why that's important to you.
So I think my journey started after I became a mum. So before I was a mum, I was very into my fashion into my clothes, always buying something new. And then once I had the children, I really just lost my way. My body shape changed, my outlook changed, my style changed, everything was different. And I know we try not to change, you have to have children. But inevitably, we are going to. So for me, I felt a bit lost. And I wasn't sure which direction I was going into. So I wanted some help myself. And I think that's why I aim towards mums. So as a mum myself, I can see the struggles and I just really, really wanted to help other mums in the same position as I was in.
Yeah, absolutely. That makes so much sense. It's interesting you say about all the changes because I actually feel like the body shape thing hasn't necessary. Obviously, after you've had the baby, the body shape thing is a thing. But like now a few years it and I don't find that the body, my body is that different to what it was before having a baby. But I find like everything else has changed. So for example, I just want to wear clothes that I don't care get to get sick on or I don't care to get muddy if I'm like outside in the park and sitting on the floor. Or I just want to be comfy because we're cozying up on the sofa. So I feel like there's like aspirational. I want to look stylish and I want to feel great. But equally, I just want to be practical. And I don't want to just go and ruin my nice clothes. Ultimately.
I think our lifestyle changes, doesn't it? So yeah, we're not doing the same things that we used to do. And that's okay. But we can still look stylish, doing those things. And I think it's about finding the New You in a way it's finding what's a priority? Yeah, yeah. And that might be okay. You want to sit down with your daughter and do some things with her. That's fine, but it doesn't mean you have to wear leggings and a tunic to do that. And I think that's how I got stuck for me. Yeah,
it's finally so I still love I do you love leggings and a guilty? And do you find that certain there's a certain age because obviously when you first had your child, I mean, let's be honest, it's just so much going on your priority isn't necessarily what your style is. And you've gotta be practical if you're feeding or you need to be comfortable. If you've you've got more weight on you if you've just had the baby and stuff. Like is there an age that you find like when the kids are this age? My clients then want to think about it or is it just depends.
I think everyone's They're different. I mean, my children are, you know, 10 and 13. They're quite a bit older now. And so I would say, definitely as they start to get to those toddler ages, and then when they start to go to school, we have a little bit more time for ourselves. And as they get older, they don't need us as much. So, in that case, we have got a little bit of extra time that we can spend doing thinking about what we're going to wear, can we do our hair? Can we put some makeup on because even those simple little things, you know, get missed when they're babies and when they're really young? Yeah, that's so
true. And I feel like So today, I've actually like properly done my makeup, I sat in bed, like, half an hour maybe on it, which is amazing. But I think it's nice to have that like five minute makeup routine that you can just slap on and feel like you're just a little bit more. Feel more yourself. And I know not everyone wears makeup. And I would love to be someone that didn't want to wear makeup ever. But I just I'm just not unfortunately.
No, and it gives us our personalities. Actually, some people don't wear makeup. And that's fine. That's them. And other people, we like to wear it. And that's part of us as well, isn't it as well as the clothes, makeup? And hair is exactly the same?
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. So that some of the things we're going to touch on, I'm just going to share these with people that are listening. And we'll kind of come back to them. So I want to talk to you about sustainability when it comes to fashion as well. And I want to ask you a really exciting question about that. I'm all about practical stuff. So I want you to share your top five Wardrobe Essentials as well. Later on in the episode, we're also gonna be talking about your entrepreneurial moment and your entrepreneurial shift. So just want to tease people with some of the stuff we're going to be talking about in this episode. Before we do this, tell me what has been your proudest moment with your business so far?
Wow. Okay. Yeah, I find that a really hard question. And I think that's probably because we don't talk about ourselves in that way very often, especially as small business owners. Yeah. I find it hard to call myself a small business owner as well.
Even Even a small business owner like
yeah, I don't know. I think it's strange, isn't it? I don't, I think probably because I never saw myself as having my own business. So I'm still getting used to having my own business and saying, Yes, it's mine. It's okay, to be proud. And to shout about your achievements. It's still something that's quite difficult to do. But for me, yeah, isn't it?
That's a whole nother topic. But it is a really interesting point, because it's that kind of, it's that kind of maybe that impostor syndrome, that kind of not feeling like you can claim it and be proud of yourself as maybe as a female. Sometimes in business, we feel that we want to push ourselves down and not kind of shout about our achievements. But you should, because I don't know, I don't know what to say, Tell me your proudest achievement. I want to hear
I think I've got a few actually, I think I find it hard to pinpoint one of definitely say, my clients and feedback, even now, I still get clients from right when I started, you know, 18 months ago, come back to me and say, Oh, look, this is what I'm wearing today, I never would have all this without you. Or I've worn my brightest lipstick to the supermarket, I never would have done that before. And such small change, simple changes. But actually, they mean so much to those people that they've come so far as to be able to do that and message me saying, Oh, my God, look at what I've done. So that would definitely be one of them. i My clients are massive thing. I feel like we're like a little family and I I want to pick them up all the time. And I'm so proud of their achievements. So that's definitely going to be one of them. I think, this year, the beginning of this year, as you know, I had my biggest sales in January. So that was a huge boost for me, because I didn't think that I could achieve that. So knowing that I can and I have is pushing me and driving me on for the future. So that is amazing. And I've got just one more. I've just got one more. So you
got to be
I think it's my children and my family. So that my husband and children, I can see that they're proud of me. I can see. Will say My oldest is 13 who is very hard to get anything positive out of towards her mum. She'll say things. It can be like really small. And she doesn't mean to compliment me but I take it is the biggest compliment when she says something. She'll say I want to do what you do when I'm older. Or, well you could help me do my wardrobe because that's what you do. Or oh I need you To help me to find x y Zed, so those little things, although she's not saying, I'm really proud of you, Mum, I know that that's her way of telling me, Wow, look at my Mum, I'm really proud of her.
I love that. And it's kind of how we why we do it, isn't it to be a role model to our children. And I know you've got two daughters, I've got one daughter. And there's something, I think there's something magical about that, where you just want to be a role model and show, because there's all this stuff about like women, like gender, pay gaps, and all that sort of stuff. And I think as a female in business, it's like, yeah, we can show you that we can do it, and you can do whatever you want to do in life.
Oh, it's so important for them. And when I look back at when I was younger, and the influences we had, you know, I had great influences we females still do. But we also had such negativity as well around him in. And I'm really, really trying to change that concept for my children, because they are girls. And, you know, my husband has learned along the way as well, these are that 90s generation male. You know, we all know what that was about that time. And so yeah, he's learning and changing, as well, because he wants to be that good role model for the girls too.
Yeah, absolutely. Feel like we're bringing our family units into the 21st century, but it is tough. Yeah. And I, I love that. Okay. So while we're talking about the business side of things, entrepreneurship, being a business owner, because you are a business owner, I'm just dropping the word small there as well. Let's talk about personal brand, because that's the one of the things that I'm really passionate about. And I know I said it to you in a voice note, before we recorded this today. I feel like with the Zoom generation, and the fact that with COVID, and the pandemic, everyone's like on on these kinds of video calls all the time, it's a personal brand changed, because you go to like when you go to the office, or you go to a place of work, you get dressed up, there's sort of guidelines. I know when I worked in corporate there was things around like whether you could roll out a beard even and like where the men could be shaped like had to be shaven and wearing smart suit, like certain dress codes. And I think it is interesting to see like the in the business world in the small business world, the entrepreneur world, how people present themselves like what's your view on personal brand? Like, should we care about it when it comes to business with so hard? Or does it not matter? Can you show up on in a hoodie? Can we show up?
However we want? I think this as well, like you said, it's there's been such a change with COVID. And we've locked down. And I think we're still learning what's acceptable in dress code. If you like many people I talk to you now can go to work in jeans. Yeah, they don't need to wear dress up, etc. But I do think it makes a big difference to us in general and how we behave or act for that day. We can't get away from the fact that we are still judged after only a few seconds of what we look like, yeah, that's never gonna go away. Even if we say We don't judge people on appearance. We do psychologically, we can't help it. It's built within us. So people are going to make that impression in the first few seconds. So it's really important, how we are coming across. If you're in a hoodie, I don't think a pair of jeans or don't think you're coming across very professional in a business sense, because that's a very relaxed look, it might look like you're not particularly serious in your job. Having said that, I do think is really important that you're comfortable. There is absolutely no point in me saying somebody, if you're going to a business meeting, you really, really need to wear a blazer, you really need to wear a suit. If you're not somebody who's ever worn that before because if you're not confident in wearing something, that lack of confidence is going to show when you're in that meeting or that presentation. Yeah. So what I always like to say to people is how I like to put it when you get up in the morning. Do you make a bed? If you make your bed sometimes I make my bed in the morning. First thing I'm much more productive. I love the rest of the day. If I exercise my mental health is much better for the rest of the yes, definitely. I wear something I love, feel confident in and have my lipstick on. Red lipstick. Absolutely. I feel my confidence is up there. You can't say But up there. Forget it's not a visual So I find that my confidence is kind of sky high, I carry myself better. And I can get across what I want to say what I need to say and have a better understanding other people actually, even though it's just us and just my makeup I, you behave differently. And I think that's why it matters. It sounds so small. But if you just think about those little things that you do in the morning, I get up and I make my bed actually means that I'm more productive that day, I get up and have my breakfast actually much more healthier, productive. My mental health is so much better, all those things. It all comes hand in hand and getting dressed in the morning, making a conscious effort of our appearance is the same as making the bed in my opinion.
Yep. I think one of the devil's advocate things would be the creative industry, because in the creative industry, quite a lot of the time I think there is that there is that approach that more casual approach to presenting yourself. I think personally, my mindset is different. When I get ready for work, like I, I see it as a bit of a uniform, a bit of a mindset. And because maybe it's because I feel like I've got other roles in terms of being a mom and a wife and all that kind of stuff. I feel like getting into my work uniform puts me in the right mindset. It's part of my personal brand. It's how I want to show up. I don't know, it just brings me joy, I guess to do it like that, rightly or wrongly?
I think it does, and it should, our clothes should bring us joy. And getting dressed should bring you joy, that point of it. And I know some there are some people that say Oh, it doesn't really matter what I wear, but But it should actually because we want to feel good about ourselves. So it should show and should come out through our clothes and and how we present ourselves.
Definitely. And I want to talk about sustainability, which we will do in a minute when it comes to clothing because there's so so important to me. But before we do that, I would love you to share and I am kind of putting you on the spot here because I forgot to put this in your premium five wardrobe essentials that you think that on the whole everybody should have. I know there's different like types and cuts and stuff like that, but what would they be? Give me five?
Okay, we have put me on the spot. When we talk about having basics in our wardrobe. I do think it's very personalised because we all have different lifestyles. Monday, I can definitely give you five things that I think there's everybody should have. So one of them would be a plain t shirt, a black T shirt, a white t shirt, colour t shirt, just a plain T shirts that you can wear underneath things you can wear underneath your blazer or cardigan you can layer it up under dungarees, all of those, so t shirt, plain and simple. My next thing would be a shirt actually, I think they are so versatile. So a denim shirt, a white shirt, a patterned stripe, doesn't have to be any specific shirt, but just a shirt. Again, they are fantastic for a layer in and go over things under things. You can double layer, I've, I've put, you know, a turtleneck shirt underneath my jumpsuit before, they're very useful. You can wear them in the summer over a bikini, even. So they can go right away across the whole of the seasons as well. So yes, we're gonna share of some description, we better move on to the bottom half. Otherwise, we'll be a bit drafting down. Now I do bang on about not having too many genes. But genes are of course an essential. And that is why getting the right gene, the right cut for you is really important. There is absolutely no point in having six pairs of skinny jeans in your wardrobe. Because then you're going to just keep wearing skinny jeans just have one pair of skinny jeans. And another cut of Jean might be a straight leg might be a bootcut whatever suits your body type and your lifestyle that the next item I would always put in because again, you can dress it up, you can dress it down and let's face it, they're always going to be worn at some stage in the week cave. So my fourth one is going to be a skirt. And another one. Yes, it is interesting because I don't think many people go to a skirt necessarily. But again, you can have different cuts of skirts, you could have a mini skirt, you could have a full circle skirt, you can have an a line skirt, a pleated skirt. I mean there are so many. I'm going to be here forever if I list them all. But a skirt is again really versatile. You can wear it in the winter with your boots and tights and then you can flip it over to the summertime to wear with your sandals. So again, that's going to come in all seasons. You're going to get lots of wear out of it and you can dress it back up again? or dress it down with a pair of trainers. My very last one is going to be a dress. Oh,
I was I thought you're gonna say something else.
Oh, what were you? What did you think I was gonna say I thought you were gonna say blazer? No, no, it wouldn't. Didn't come onto my five essentials, because not everybody would wear a blazer. Yep, make sense. I love a blazer, but it's not for everybody. And if your lifestyle does not warrant a blazer, there's absolutely no point in having any wardrobe. So although they're great to have, and I think for a lot of people, they would be an essential, I think a dress is going to be much wider spread for people to have as an essential in their wardrobe. Yeah. Again, because you can put, you can put that shirt over your dress if you want to and change it up. That way. You can put the t shirt underneath the dress, and have the buttons down, you could put the t shirt over the dress, wear it to go to the park with the kids. It's again one of those really versatile things. And again, it does depend on what shape you want. I'm not talking about a dress to go out a cocktail dressing, I'm talking about a dress that you can easily wear and sling it on. And the other thing I love about addresses, it's just one item so you haven't got to think much about it. It's one thing sling it on
out the door, you haven't got an outfit build quite so much. Not as much. I didn't realise quite how much stress that caused me when I look in my wardrobe. dresses are great. So I'm going to just run through them. So one t shirt, a plain t shirt. Two was a shirt. Number three was jeans, a pair of jeans, number four was a skirt and number five was a dress. Yeah, just to circle back to the main point I have definitely I used to love dresses, love, love, love wearing dresses. I have definitely gone away from skirts and dresses since being a mom, probably again for the practical reason of like, Oh, we're gonna go to the park and I'm gonna be bending over and what if the wind catches me on a windy day and all those kinds of reasons. But I'd love to wear more dresses and skirts. So you've inspired me
lay down those things to add to your wardrobe. Yeah,
yeah, I have actually gone.
I mean, have you they gay and everyone probably has, and you could swap the skirt out for another pair of trousers. If you wore trousers more so you could swap the skirt out for a wide leg trouser.
Yeah, I'm a big fan of three quarter length trousers. I sound like a I've sound like I'm a girl from the 90s which I definitely haven't but but stylish. nicely cut three quarter length trousers.
I'm a big fan of it's okay. The 90s are coming back. So you're fine. Yes.
Oh my goodness. It's so funny. Like some of the people in my family that are in there. Like teenagers in my family. They're wearing clothes that I would have worn when I was younger. And I'm like this so strange.
We've gone back. I know we've gone back to that I need I actually love it. But it is real. Seeing my daughter in her cargos and cropped t shirt. Like all saints
like also. Oh my goodness, can we just give also some love? I have been looking them up to see if they're touring because I really really want to see them. I love also so much I've been listening to that album recently. And oh, actually,
oh, they are good. I did love all things. It was like all saints and Spice Girls, wasn't it? It was like,
yeah, and sugar babes. I'm a big sugar babes fan as well. Oh, yes. You saw them. Yeah, I saw them last year. Like I'm trying to do all of the old school gigs. gigs is my thing. If anyone knows me, I just love going to gigs. So that's my, my mission in life is just to go to loads of gigs that I love. All that sounds amazing. I want to see Taylor Swift like that is my mission. Oh my god, I'd love to see she's gonna be touring Europe. Soon. She's She's She's announced that she will be touring Europe soon. So I'm like,
I want to go. Ladybug is my one.
Oh, my goodness, yes. She's pretty cool. I've seen her live before support and take that. And she was brilliant. Wow, she was when she wasn't really established, which was so nice to have seen someone like that, because that happens very rarely, I think. Yeah, it was cool. Okay, so let me ask you about. So this is something I asked every, every person that's relevant for every guest that is relevant for which is most of my guests. Because something that I'm really passionate about is that shift from being an employee or being in a job or whatever you want to call it to being an entrepreneur or business owner, which I know is a term that we've talked about is a bit of a it's a bit uncomfortable sometimes. But what was the moment where did you have the moment? Did you have a lightbulb moment where you're like, I'm going to start this business and I'd love you to tell me about it. And the reason I asked everyone this is I want to inspire other people because I love it. I love the lifestyle that it brings. And yeah, I just want to hear your story. It's funny
because I don't remember having necessarily that light bulb moment. So I always knew that I wanted to do something for myself or something different. So I worked with I always knew I wanted to do something different. I worked for the NHS Chess
before I
worked for 18 years, so long time, amazing. And I knew that that wasn't going to be something that I was going to be in for life. So I had my children. I had already tinkered with interior design. So I did a diploma before I had the children. And I thought, like, yeah, that's the avenue, I'm gonna venture down. And then during lockdown, I know, it always happens during lockdown. And I've actually given up my job before lockdown. So I've given up my job before lockdown. I thought, right, time to fix something, I'm going to find something my husband was really supportive. He said, Yeah, absolutely. I went into private care. So I care. I care still do care for a little boy overnight. And so it's just a gift that's given me that little bit of leeway to focus on my own business. So I quit my job, literally, in the February and we had lockdown in March. And so I thought, oh, my god, how am I ever going to find a course to do now we're in the middle of this pandemic, what am I doing did the same as everybody else just muddled through still continued to work at my other job, because I was a key worker. And then I became a bit flat down. God, it's locked down, do, you know, started to get into a bit of a depression, not depressed, but was really very low. Yeah, and had my own style analysis done. So I invested in my very own personal stylist that I found on Instagram, and ignited the spark, I immediately thought, hold on a second, this is a bit of me, loves to do this. I would love to do this for other women. It ignited that spark from years ago that I had loved before. I contacted a personal stylist that I found on another one that I found on Instagram and asked how they trained what they did, and yet found my course and started trading through and locked down. And that was that it? So I think my when you say what was my light bulb moment is really hard to pinpoint it because I feel like I've had several along the way. But my real light bulb moment was suddenly it's not interior design I want to do this person started I want to do and as soon as that even entered my mind, it was a done deal.
That's amazing. It was no question. It
was I think, with the interior design in a hadn't quite it hadn't actually ignited that spark within me. Where is the personal styling did? And I didn't even question it wasn't a matter of, oh, I might do that. Or I might do this. It was just like, that's what I'm going to do. That's what I'm meant to do.
I love that. And I love that your Facebook group and I know something you use a lot is find your spark, as I know. And it is so it's so right, isn't it like it feels so must feel so right when you use you referenced that word a lot, don't
you? Okay, it is Matt. Yeah,
I was gonna say to you like, what was the kind of shift from interior? And I wonder if it is a bit of a kind of personal style. And it's kind of you putting yourself out there, it's quite vulnerable to be like, I am a stylist. And you've got a kind of an expectation on your shoulders a bit. Do you feel?
Yeah, I did at the beginning. Actually, I really did get in. I think now, I'm much more confident within myself and my style, funnily enough. Yeah. So I don't have feel that pressure anymore. And I just, I think that this is so much more. I think I'm better at this. I think this is I'm good at it. I know I can do it. And I think that's probably where it sparked that enthusiasm. And that that love for it is because I I'm good at it. And I'm actually not afraid to say, Yeah, I know I can do well. So maybe that was it.
I've heard a few people say that's where like they've, they've got themselves a coach, and then they've been like, I could do this. And I'd love to do this. And I think, I guess any advice to anybody listening that that? Like just try things out, like have different services in life and think, Is that something that I think I could see myself doing and see what does it inspire you?
Yeah, absolutely. I don't think I thought it was possible to be a personal stylist, and just help ordinary women. So I think I always thought of it as something that celebrities had. Or you could only be in London if you did that. So realising that it was something I could do within my town, or my area. I couldn't say town, it would be too small on my area and from home. I think it made it achievable. And suddenly I thought I can do this and I can bring this to normal average women. That was the thing that I really wanted to do was make it affordable and achievable for just anyone and everyone really?
Yeah, we all deserve it. At the end of the day, it shouldn't just be I don't you mean about the celebrity thing that makes so much sense, doesn't it? And it feels almost feels like a luxury and oh, do I really deserve to have that spend this money on this, but actually, it's about the whole trend now isn't it is is self love and empowerment. And as a woman, like, I would much rather spend my money on service stuff as opposed to product stuff, because I feel like it enriches my life. It's an activity. It's like, we're talking about sustainability. But it's not kind of that consumer culture of like materialistic stuff. And it's a great that growth mindset is learning and it's bringing more newness into my life, to make me a better person.
Oh, I like that. Yeah, you're absolutely right. And it's giving you the tools that will last forever. Yes, those. It's like you said, like, learn it. And you know, we learn things because we want to better ourselves or learn new skill. And this is the same invest in imperfect your personal style is having tools that you can use for the rest of your life. And it's helping you to grow.
Definitely. And do you speak to the personal stylist that you had originally? Have you spoke to them? Since?
Yes, I speak to loads of personal stylists now actually, it almost seems like there's a little community of her. So yeah, it's really supportive. Everyone's really nice. I mean, you're always gonna get the odd person who doesn't come back to you. But we're all in the same market. And there is room for everybody. And we're all a little bit different in our way, because we're all individuals. So yeah, it's really nice. I do. Yeah, I do have contact with several of them, actually.
I love that. Okay. So let's talk about sustainability. So something that I've kind of toyed with, and I've been going through this kind of movement, I guess, in my life is just trying to be more conscious and think about sustainability. And I know, I know that that's something a lot of people care about. So what would be your advice to someone that has that as an important value in their life? But how can we kind of go out and feel good about ourselves, have the new clothes or some sort of level of new clothes, but also consider sustainability. So
the way we can bring sustainability into our wardrobes? One way is to know our body shape, and know our style that's going to stop us from buying more clothes. Secondhand is a really good tool. Now, you know, it's almost become fashionable, that stigma of going to a secondhand shop or buying secondhand has gone, which is great. That's what we want. Yeah. And I still there's so many ways to do that. Now, you know, charity shops are fantastic. You've got vintage, I mean, I'm a little bit addicted to vintage, I must say. You've got other places channels as well, there's Deepak, I'm not sure if you've heard of that one. There's several places online that you can shop now secondhand, which has made it so much easier for the consumers. There are little bits you can do. So I would definitely make sure you use the filters on those apps. So you can filter out exactly what it is you want. You can even buy brand new on some of these places. And Depop often have shop X stock on there. So you can buy Zara brand new, you can buy Topshop, brand new, but they are their ex stock or things that they can't sell things that have come out of the shops now, you can still buy your brand new items, if you want to. You just need to filter it all on your when you get on there. The other thing with your sustainability, I would say is converted and using what you've already got in the wardrobe. So I always say can you wear that item? Three different ways, or I love that question. Yes, that's what a lot of people use, and it's really helpful. So when you pick up that item in the shop and you think right, I'm going to buy that. I really love it. Can you wear that three different ways? If the answer's no, maybe that's not the best item to buy. Yep. If the answer is yes, then obviously, go for it. Have an explore your wardrobe and have fun creating different outfits with it. I don't know if you saw recently at the BAFTA is Kate Middleton, she reward addresses already worn to the rafters in 2019. So she converted it from that 2019 to 2023. She's added they've added a drape detail on one shoulder. They added gloves so it just looks like a completely new outfit and fresh. She was our earrings which I know everyone shouts about because we think she should be wearing designer ones. But it's all about mixing that High Street and the designer which she does really well. So have a look in your wardrobe. Can you rework some of the items you've already got? There might be a dress you've worn to a wedding. Actually I had a dress I wore to wedding made into a skirt, but I knew I wasn't going to wear it again as a dress. So I thought Hold on a minute. Let's I change it and make it into something that I am going to wear. Yeah, all those things are ways that we can make our current wardrobes sustainable and also shop sustainable as well. There obviously are lots of companies out there now, which, where you can shop small and shop sustainable, but I would just check with their sustainability because some of the bigger brands say they're sustainable, but they're not necessarily as sustainable as we think.
Yes, absolutely. And it's really hard to kind of cut through that and fully understand it because the marketing is so good. So yeah, it's a difficult one. I won't make any. Okay, so what we're gonna do, I want to ask you one more question about, well, kind of two more questions. One, one question about your goals, your business, the future of your business. And then I'm gonna ask you to give your three top tips for practical top tips for our listeners today. And finally, I'll get you just to share your bits and pieces, your socials how people can get in touch with you and just get involved with you. Does that sound good? Yep. Perfect.
So tell me about your goals. Like let's go three to five years time? What is Sophie? personal stylist doing?
Oh, that's a long way in the future.
2028 Wow.
2020. Okay. So I definitely want I'm not full time yet, within my business. And so I think that's definitely my first goal is to be full time sustainable within my own right, as a small business for my family. So that would be probably number one. And then I really see my community growing. So my community of clients growing, I think I touched on earlier into like a little family. I've already started with my find your spark, Facebook group, which is not necessarily clients, but it's people who want to share what they're wearing, you know, be each other's cheerleaders just have a little bit of a conversation with each other about their style and their goals or where they want to be. So I would really like that to grow in as a community with say, for personal stylist, and then I feel like outsourcing for me. So I would love to be able to outsource other people to help me with my business. I already have in certain ways, because of course, you know, we have coaching sessions. But things like having a VA or having somebody to help me with other things within my business. I feel like that's a really big achievement within a small business, because you start on your own and then when you can start adding other people into it. And with you, I really you're moving from an in being one person into being a little community of people.
Yeah, and I think it can get quite lonely as a business owner. I think having a little, I definitely missed that to some extent. That's why I love any of my kind of client meetings and meetings with my VA and stuff like that. I think it just makes you feel like it's more more of a community like you say a little team of people is nice, because you missed that like going to the watercooler when you're working in an office and having a chat and having a lunch break together and having like best buddies at work, all those things that you miss.
Yeah, I was exactly. I just I think that is probably, I think about like five years time. That's where I'd like to be.
I love that. Amazing. I can't wait to see you do it. So, could you give your three practical top tips to our listeners when it comes to personal style?
Yeah, I think about this a lot, actually. Because people do ask for those quick tips. And although your journey on your style can be a long process, as a new you are going to grow over time, there are things you can do straight away to have those instant changes. So I would always say start small. So add accessories, do something small, which is might be out of your comfort zone, but it's just slightly out of your comfort zone, it's going to elevate you your look a little bit. So adding a pair of earrings, for instance that you wouldn't normally wear and maybe it's got a bit of colour in them. That's gonna be noticeable to other people. They're gonna go Oh, you got a new pair of earrings on Jen. They look nice. Or plaid in that state. Or I didn't that statement necklace, a headband, anything like that. Oh, you have got the whole of your tick, tick, tick. Oh, yeah. Love it. You can add to those things quite simply, and they have quite a big impact. So that's my number one love. My number two would be that stop worrying about what others think. Because nobody actually cares in the nicest possible way. When we walk onto the playground. Or we will go to the supermarket or we go to the park. We're always thinking oh my goodness, do I stand out? Is that person thinking what on earth is she wearing? Is my lipstick to Bri, etc, etc. But actually, no one else really cares what you're wearing. And they don't look at you like we look at ourselves. We all know that. In fact, if people are looking, they're probably going, Oh, she looks nice. She looks different today. She's made an effort today, my big tip would be to stop worrying about what others think because you're wasting that thought process. They really don't care enough.
I love that. Good. And I struggle with that a lot.
Yes. And I think I did too. Actually, I think we all have in the past. But I've never heard anyone say to me, what are you wearing? Why are you wearing that? I've only ever had compliments. And if they have said something which might not have been ice? I've never heard it. They haven't said it to my face. I don't know what they're saying.
They're just so behind your back. So it's fun
to hear them, but I can't hear them. I don't know, they're saying that. So actually, does it matter if they say it behind their backs? Not really?
No, no. I think with that comment about not caring about other people. Even if people do say something or think something and not to your face, even. They'll be worried about their own lives after like 30 seconds or one minute of talking about you or worrying about you, like people just go back to their own lives and focus on themselves.
Absolutely. And that's where the confidence comes in. So it's about building your own confidence. So you start believing in yourself more and stop caring about what other people think. Yeah, absolutely. Love. My last one. My last one would be Don't wait. Don't wait to make changes. I hear so many people say to me, okay, yeah. Okay, so I hear so many people say don't are going to lose weight first before I invest in your services. Or I'm not going to buy anything new until I've lost lost weight. That that's one example. I can't do that yet. Because I'm doing x y Zed first. There's always an excuse for everything. We're always going to say I can't do that yet because of this or that. I can't do that yet. Because my daughter is only young. Yeah. So my tip is always don't wait. Because think about what you can achieve in the next month, even not even years months. It can be so quick. Think where you will be, you know, in a year's time. If you waited another six months, then that the end result is going to be in another six months.
Yeah, tomorrow never comes is that? That kind of phrase, isn't
it? It's not booking a holiday really, isn't it? No, don't wait too big holiday. Because they now?
Yeah. And you'll see all the benefits. I love that. No, that's perfect. So just to go over them again. So number one was start small, add accessories, they do make a big impact. Number two was stop worrying about what everyone else thinks. Because they really don't care. And then the third one was don't wait, which I think makes so much sense. Especially when it comes to how you look because we're always like, Oh, I'll keep that in my wardrobe for when I've lost like three stone and it's like, well, let's just get rid of that thing. And let's just move forward and be happy and present and confident in in the body that we've got right now.
That's exactly what I mean. You put so much better than I did. Yeah,
I just say that quite well done. Definitely a personal stylist and I did but I do love fashion and I think that's really why I wanted to chat to you today Sophie because I I love fashion. I always love fashion but I've never necessarily felt particularly confident with fashion. And I think I do believe when I first started my career at Deloitte management, consultancy and strategy when I was like 21 We had someone come I think it might have been Judy James she came and did a presentation on personal brand. And that talk stuck with me so much like she said stuff about, like how you present yourself and how important like having clean shoes were and how don't stand up and put your hands in your pockets. And if you're doing a presentation and like make sure your shirts iron for work and stuff like that. I definitely don't I don't iron my shirts. But anyway, I think clearance does matter. Like you said earlier, you don't have to wear makeup, you don't have to invest in yourself. But people do make a judgement and it feels nice to feel good and get compliments. I definitely feel like I've got quite a few compliments on what I've been wearing recently. And I'm like, Oh, that's weird.
I'm not used to that. And that is the that is it. It's about building our confidence and feeling good about ourselves. It's not vanity. It's not even self care. It's investing in you the same as you invest in other things.
Absolutely. Okay, so finally, I would just love you to share your website, your socials. This will all be on the show notes anyway, but just if you can, can share that and then just your latest stuff that you've got going on and how people can get involved.
Okay, so I am on Instagram @Sophiepersonalstylist. I have got my website, which is quite new actually, it's www.Sophiepersonalstylist.co.uk. You can also find me on Facebook Sophie personal stylist is a theme. And finally, my free group on Facebook is called Find your spark with Sophie's personal stylist.
Amazing. Love, love, love it.
I can't think of all of those names. But Sophie personal stylist is the main name search for that
on Google. And you should come up. Let's hope so. All right, amazing. So thank you so much, Sophie for being on today. Like I just want to summarise some of the stuff we've talked about. So we've talked about being a mom or the mom stuff, which is like really close to my heart and are yours as well. We talked about people's five wardrobe essentials, which I really love that you shared that blank. You talked about entrepreneurial moments, sustainability, which is so so important, and also your goals for the future. So thank you so much for sharing so much wisdom and so much inspiration with us today.
Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate you inviting me on to your podcast. So thank you.
Pleasure. All right, take care. Thank you. Bye. Bye. Thank you so much for listening to the Jen Lister podcast. I truly appreciate every single one of you. If you'd like to leave me a review on your podcast app. I would love that. And if you'd like to follow me on social media, it's @jenlistercoaching on Instagram and LinkedIn