I am looking forward to working with you!

Fashion has been a lifelong passion of mine.  Ever since I can remember, I’ve always loved clothes.  I remember the first time my mom let me pick my own clothes out of the Sears catalog.  I was probably about twelve. I spent hours dog-earing pages and making sure that I picked just the right pieces. 

My mom was my first fashion influence. She was a fashionista herself.  She taught me the classic fashion rules like “no white after Labor Day” and “always match your shoes to your handbag.” While these rules may not apply today, they still instilled in me an interest in styling, not just clothes. I always wanted to wear things in the most polished way.

I would have loved to work in fashion right out of college.  But, as you can imagine, life and “being practical” got in the way.  I ended up spending the next (almost) 40 years of my career in marketing.  But it ended up being a great training ground for me. When you work in the corporate world, you learn a lot about branding and the importance of first impressions. But I also had a lot of fun getting dressed.  The early part of my career, at General Motors,  was in the “Working Girl” phase:  suits, shoulder pads, high heels. And while we don’t dress that way much anymore, the principles of “how to dress” still apply. 

The second phase of my career was at the small handbag company, K. Carroll Accessories.  While my primary job was still marketing, much of what I did focused on fashion trends and the fashion business. I learned how to spot trends (the good and the bad), fashion cycles, and what’s important to women.  Combining that fashion experience and my branding experience has given me a unique perspective when it comes to styling. 

So, how did I get into styling full time?  It’s a little bit of “If not now, when?” In 2021, after 12 years at K. Carroll Accessories, I took the leap and co-founded “The Harper Girls” with my niece, Jen, to honor my mom’s memory and her timeless fashion advice.  For over three years, we shared style tips, beauty advice, and were featured on local TV and in magazines.  Our series, “How to Wear it at Any Age,” was a hit, showing how to embrace new trends confidently, no matter your age. But as Jen’s family grew and she had a full-time job, it was almost impossible for her to continue.

So, I was at a crossroads.  Was this a sign to retire, or was it time to finally step out on my own and do what I always wanted?  Since you’re here, you know I chose the latter.  I became certified in both personal styling and color analysis and have never looked back.  Since becoming certified, I have shared my styling insights on multiple television segments on WGN-TV in Chicago, and my contributions have been featured in Real Simple, CNN Underscored, Yahoo, People, and Today.com. I also became a published author, contributing to the anthology book, “Power of What’s Next.” 

On a personal note, I live in the Detroit suburbs with my husband, Jeff, and our rescue dog, Archie. (Who, by the way, was not planned to be in the photo above.  But he jumped up while I was being photographed, and I ended up loving it!).  I am also “Gigi” to three grandsons.  I love spending time shopping and discovering new fashion trends.  But I also enjoy watching sports, reading, playing golf, baking, and watching “girl shows” like Gilmore Girls, Emily in Paris, and Hallmark Christmas movies!.