My Three Golden Rules

I get asked a lot about how I became a stylist, and a blogger. I wanted to share a funny story with you about how my life ended up where it is today.

About 12 years ago I moved to the Bay Area from a small town and naturally I was looking for a job. A friend of mine was a manager in the Salon Shoe department at Nordstrom and offered me a job as a cashier. I was excited to start working, but didn’t know much about Nordstrom, and I definitely didn’t know the difference between Gucci and Guess.

I showed up to work ready to be the most amazing cashier Nordstrom had ever seen! A few hours into my work day when I saw the manager walking towards me. I figured he was coming to tell me what amazing work I had done, but I was wrong. He was actually walking over to tell me I needed to go home and change. Yes you read right, I was sent home on my first day working at Nordstrom.

As much it pains me to bring it up, I will tell you what I was wearing. I had for some unknown reason chosen to wear a long lavender satin skirt, black spandex shirt, and those foam flip flops that are about 5 inches tall! EW, I hate even thinking about that outfit!

I went home, changed into black pants, a black shirt, and a pair of boots and headed back to work. I pretty much stuck to that basic look for a long time and really studied shoppers, employees, and started reading about fashion any chance I had. I eventually left the fashion world and worked in high tech, got married, “retired”, had my sons and started to head back into fashion but as a stylist.

My years of watching, learning, and taking in helped me learn all that I know now. I also believe in using my own personal experiences a lot! I’ve been extra large, extra small and everything in between and I don’t mind talking about it and sharing it with everyone. I’ve shopped on lavish budgets, and had to mimic looks that looked amazing on the salary of a cashier and a Mom of two.

There are basic things that I’ve learned over the years that have been very helpful. I hope you reach your dreams and are able to do whatever it is that you love! For me three things have been instrumental in helping me get to where I am today and I hope they help you too!

Be faithful with the little things:
I started off as a cashier at Nordstrom, and gave it all I had. I got to know amazing people who are a part of my professional life to this day. No one starts out on top. For every person in the fashion industry there are at least 500 other people doing the same thing. But not everyone is faithful with the little things in their climb to the top. Be that person that does even the little things, and do it with a great attitude. You never know who’s watching, or what other opportunity they may present you with in the future. I ended up managing a department at Nordsrtom a few months after starting off as a cashier, and I gave each position I had my all.

I scratch your back, even if you don’t scratch mine:
Don’t do something expecting something in return. Do something because you want to, because you can, because it’s the right thing to do. Don’t keep track of what you’ve done and what people owe you. It will only stress you out, keep you from your goal and create petty feelings that will only hold you back.

Be yourself:
As cheesy as it sounds it’s the truth. There is no one else out there who is like you, and that is what will set you apart. When you walk off a set, or away from a client you want them to remember you. Not who you reminded them off. It’s okay to find inspiration in people that you admire but don’t loose yourself along the way. Accept and love yourself. Don’t be your own biggest critic, be your own biggest fan.

Those are three things that I try to live and work by, and I hope they help you too. Have a great weekend and let me know if you have any questions.

xoxo,

Hasti