Zhuzhed by Ali | The Business of Fashion Styling in Aruba
So you want to have a career in the fashion industry but don’t know where to start? Let us introduce you to Zhuzhed by Ali. Ali is a personal stylist based in Aruba who offers different kinds of personal styling services to cater everyone’s needs, whether you need to get inspiration from your own items in your closet or are looking to revamp your whole look, there is definitely something for every client. We hope her story inspires you and motivates you to start that career you always wanted in fashion.
So how does one get into personal styling? how does it all come about?
For Ali it was a very organic transition. Zhuzhed by Ali (ZBA) started in 2016 as a personal project and creative outlet. Ali says that she was always the “go-to” person when it came to outfit advice. “I was always asked by family and friends to go shopping with them or to put together an outfit for a special occasion. I have been doing that for as long as I can remember”. Back in 2015, Ali met a new friend who encouraged her to consider doing personal styling but “with-purpose” for the Aruban community, she decided to take on that challenge and so Zhuzhed by Ali was born.
The name and its meaning
“When it was time to give a name to my “personal project” I wanted the brand to have a deeper meaning.” says Ali. At first she thought of the word ‘zhuzh‘ which she heard on the original version of the popular makeover show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. She decided to dig deeper and research the real definition of the word “zhuzh’ and she found that it meant to make something (or someone) more beautiful or interesting. “Style is an action word, it’s something you do, so I decided to use ‘zhuzh’ as a verb. That’s how I landed on Zhuzhed by Ali”.
Now that you have decided to take that leap and create a career in the fashion industry, here is what you need to know about personal styling, the pros and the cons.
Ali’s most favorite thing about her job is..the looks! “What else could it be?” says Ali jokingly. But in all seriousness Ali says that she gets a lot of joy from seeing people be and present their best selves. “It’s really beautiful when someone is able to communicate their best personal attributes with fashion. Whether it’s a stay-at-home mom, a teacher, a local celebrity, or a business owner, their inner transformation really inspires me.”
The challenges
When we asked Ali, what some of her least favorite things are about being a personal stylist she said that there aren’t many things she dislikes but one thing she does find challenging is being a sole proprietor. Being on your own comes with many advantages but it can get lonely at times. You don’t have co-workers who you can bounce ideas off of or delegate work to and for Ali, it is extremely difficult juggling the front and back-office duties.
Advice for anyone who is considering a career in fashion- small island edition.
“Our local fashion industry is very crowded, there are many clothing stores, brands and designers competing for everyone’s attention and money. I think it’s important to communicate the fashion perspective that sets you apart from everyone else. Fashion goes beyond what’s trending, it’s about making people feel good, empowered and unique. Start with the one thing that your brand will do to change and/or level up the industry and then take it from there.” We think that this is great advice! Think about what you want to bring to the table and how you will stand out.
Dressing in 2021
Seeing as we’ve been in loungewear or pj’s practically most of 2020, we thought we’d ask Ali for some styling tips for dressing in 2021. What should we be shopping for? Ali says that 2021 is the perfect time to go back to basics. “One of the things that we learned from 2020 is how much we can do with little, this is a great practice that we can apply to our closets as well”.
Ali’s tip: focus on 5 quality pieces that you can add to your closet collection, like a good pair of jeans, an interesting white shirt, invest in good underwear, a killer pair of sunglasses, and get a signature perfume. These items will keep you feeling fresh throughout 2021 and beyond!
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Zhuzhed by Ali
