Colette Elena
I was born with the bug....the fashion bug that is! It might sound cliche, but as long as I can remember, I loved anything that had to do with fashion.....clothing, make up, accessories, you name it. I was always in my mother's room “borrowing” whatever I could get out the door with! The thing was, though I loved shopping for myself, my true happiness really came from making others feel and look great.
I had many experiences and opportunities that enhanced my love of fashion. One of my favorite memories from my youth is when my mother would take me to Bloomingdales where we would start the day by having our “Bloomies Yogurt” at the restaurant counter. We then literally shopped until we dropped and barely squeezed through the doors before closing! Other fashion memories include when my sisters and I sewed pieces of fabric together from my mother’s fabric scraps and made clothing for fashion shows, or the many times my cousin and I raided her mother’s closet and video taped (with a VHS tape!) our runway fashion shows with Whitney Houston playing in the background.
In High School I was lucky enough that my school offered a Fashion/Sewing Class. I learned how to cut patterns and sew by hand and machine. I loved creating my own fashions and even wore several of my dresses to school dances! I then attended The University of Delaware and graduated with a degree in Fashion Merchandising. I was recruited by Ann Taylor and landed a job in Merchandising at the corporate headquarters and moved to NYC.....my dream!!!
In the decade I spent at Ann Taylor, I held buying positions for: career separates, suits, knit tops, and sweaters. What I learned there was invaluable. Not only was I responsible for running a profitable business, Ann and I grew up together. I began at the LOFT brand in 1999 when there were only 29 stores. By the time I left in 2009, there were 425 stores! I loved working with the designers to build a line for a season, choosing fabrics with our sourcing team, and putting together the outfits and clothing placement that would come to life in the stores. Another extremely important part of my job was to understand the LOFT Client and how she constantly changed and evolved. Who was she, what was her lifestyle, and what were her clothing needs? Where was she going and what did she feel comfortable wearing? How can I interpret current fashion trends in an appropriate way for her? These were the questions I asked myself daily in order to run a successful business. These are what I always keep top of mind with my personal clients at Style Secrets today.
Upon leaving Ann Taylor I parlayed all of my skills and experience into my current career as a Personal Stylist. This Personal Styling niche encompasses my professional backround, my love of fashion, and my quest to help every women find their personal style, no matter what their lifestyle, style aspiration, size, or budget.
Besides shopping (haha), I'm a busy mother of 3 kids. I love to work out (stress release), cook healthy meals for my family, watch any singing reality show, and have a glass of wine (or two) with girlfriends!
I hope you give me the opportunity to help you become your MOST confident, happy, and fashionable self! You deserve it!
I had many experiences and opportunities that enhanced my love of fashion. One of my favorite memories from my youth is when my mother would take me to Bloomingdales where we would start the day by having our “Bloomies Yogurt” at the restaurant counter. We then literally shopped until we dropped and barely squeezed through the doors before closing! Other fashion memories include when my sisters and I sewed pieces of fabric together from my mother’s fabric scraps and made clothing for fashion shows, or the many times my cousin and I raided her mother’s closet and video taped (with a VHS tape!) our runway fashion shows with Whitney Houston playing in the background.
In High School I was lucky enough that my school offered a Fashion/Sewing Class. I learned how to cut patterns and sew by hand and machine. I loved creating my own fashions and even wore several of my dresses to school dances! I then attended The University of Delaware and graduated with a degree in Fashion Merchandising. I was recruited by Ann Taylor and landed a job in Merchandising at the corporate headquarters and moved to NYC.....my dream!!!
In the decade I spent at Ann Taylor, I held buying positions for: career separates, suits, knit tops, and sweaters. What I learned there was invaluable. Not only was I responsible for running a profitable business, Ann and I grew up together. I began at the LOFT brand in 1999 when there were only 29 stores. By the time I left in 2009, there were 425 stores! I loved working with the designers to build a line for a season, choosing fabrics with our sourcing team, and putting together the outfits and clothing placement that would come to life in the stores. Another extremely important part of my job was to understand the LOFT Client and how she constantly changed and evolved. Who was she, what was her lifestyle, and what were her clothing needs? Where was she going and what did she feel comfortable wearing? How can I interpret current fashion trends in an appropriate way for her? These were the questions I asked myself daily in order to run a successful business. These are what I always keep top of mind with my personal clients at Style Secrets today.
Upon leaving Ann Taylor I parlayed all of my skills and experience into my current career as a Personal Stylist. This Personal Styling niche encompasses my professional backround, my love of fashion, and my quest to help every women find their personal style, no matter what their lifestyle, style aspiration, size, or budget.
Besides shopping (haha), I'm a busy mother of 3 kids. I love to work out (stress release), cook healthy meals for my family, watch any singing reality show, and have a glass of wine (or two) with girlfriends!
I hope you give me the opportunity to help you become your MOST confident, happy, and fashionable self! You deserve it!