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As a part of the Morning Lazziness collection highlighting empowering ladies who’re making a outstanding affect with their concepts, I had the pleasure of interviewing Cynthia Kennedy.
Cynthia Kennedy is a nationally acknowledged Private Stylist, Picture Marketing consultant, and Wardrobe Curator with greater than 20 years of expertise serving to ladies remodel not solely their closets, but additionally their confidence. A graduate of Parsons College of Design and founding father of Cynthia Kennedy Stylist, she blends vogue experience with strategic group to create private fashion that feels easy, empowering, and genuine.
Early in her profession, Cynthia recognized a spot within the styling business — most recommendation relied on outdated “apple vs. pear” physique form guidelines that failed actual ladies. In response, she developed the Physique-First Framework™, a signature technique that teaches ladies to decorate for his or her distinctive proportions, scale, motion, and visible steadiness factors. This method kinds the muse of her work, together with her flagship program, Your Model Transformation Academy™.
Recognized for her uncommon twin specialty, Cynthia is as expert at styling full appears as she is at creating streamlined wardrobe programs. Her course of transforms overstuffed, underused closets into inspiring, practical areas, full with seasonal rotations, personalised outfit zones, and techniques that help every shopper’s life-style.
Her styling has guided ladies by way of profession reinventions, main life transitions, and on a regular basis fashion overwhelm, with one mission on the core: making fashion straightforward, private, and highly effective. Her experience has been featured in Forbes, CNN, TODAY, Newsweek, Glamour, Girl’s World, Ladies’s Well being, The Zoe Report, Every day Mail, Model Journal, and extra.
Initially from New Hampshire, Cynthia now lives in San Diego, the place she finds inspiration working coastal trails, mountaineering, and at all times imagining the subsequent transformation — for her purchasers and herself.
On this interview, she dives into the challenges, wins, and knowledge she’s gained from over a decade of remodeling on-line companies.
What impressed you to grow to be an entrepreneur within the vogue business, and what led to the creation of your model or product line?
Actually? Frustration. I stored seeing ladies blamed for not “getting” fashion when nobody ever taught them how one can costume for his or her actual our bodies. I’ve at all times believed that fashion isn’t about tendencies — it’s about self-expression and self-respect. After working with numerous ladies who felt disconnected from their garments, I spotted the issue wasn’t them — it was the outdated styling guidelines they had been attempting to observe. So, I created my Physique-First Framework™, which is a styling technique that helps ladies costume primarily based on their proportions, life-style, and character… not outdated guidelines or tendencies. That ultimately led to Your Model Transformation Academy™ (YSTA) — my 6-week on-line course that provides ladies the instruments to construct a wardrobe they really really feel good in.
As a girl navigating the style enterprise world, what distinctive challenges have you ever confronted, and the way did you overcome them?
Being taken critically as each inventive and strategic was difficult, as a result of individuals assumed I “simply favored garments.” I proved them improper by constructing a enterprise that’s each soulful and worthwhile, whereas serving to actual ladies really feel highly effective in what they put on. One other problem was carving out area in an business that sadly, usually pushes perfection over authenticity. I didn’t need to be one other voice of their ear telling ladies how one can “repair” themselves — I wished to assist them really feel seen. Constructing a model that’s rooted in empowerment, not insecurity, meant going towards the grain. However I knew that I wanted to remain true to myself and aligned with my objective, to offer actual outcomes for actual ladies, and that helped me push by way of the noise.
The style business will be each aggressive and demanding—how do you preserve private well-being whereas rising your model?
I’ve realized that having boundaries and taking breaks are the final word act of self-care. I don’t consider in burnout as a badge of honor. I am going for runs, flip off my cellphone, and remind myself that readability comes from relaxation, not overwork. I attempt to be intentional about my time, particularly as a result of I work carefully with purchasers in a private method. Additionally, my course YSTA permits me to scale the transformation I provide whereas nonetheless defending my time and vitality — it’s helped me serve extra ladies with out burning out.
Which networking methods, communities, or collaborations have helped you construct significant connections within the vogue area?
Exhibiting up with worth first. A few of my greatest collaborations got here from DMs the place I simply stated, “I really like what you’re doing — right here’s how I will help.” It’s not about being all over the place — it’s about being in the best rooms. A few of my greatest collaborations got here from displaying up with readability about my mission. I’ve additionally discovered that sharing my experience by way of articles, interviews, podcasts, and options will usually open doorways naturally and organically. And likewise being featured in retailers like Forbes and Glamour helped join me to my target market and aligned communities.
How do you method mentorship—each as a mentee and mentor—and the way has it influenced your progress as a vogue entrepreneur?
I consider mentorship as mutual and a two-way avenue. As a mentee, I’ve soaked up knowledge from individuals who’ve constructed significant companies with integrity. I’ve realized simply as a lot from youthful stylists as I’ve from veterans. It retains me sharp, humble, and human.
As a mentor, particularly by way of YSTA, I get to information ladies not simply by way of fashion choices however mindset shifts — and that ripple impact is highly effective. There’s nothing extra rewarding than watching somebody remodel since you confirmed them what was attainable.
What methods have labored greatest for gaining loyal prospects and constructing belief in your vogue model?
Consistency and honesty. I don’t overpromise or push tendencies, and I communicate to actual ache factors. Folks belief me as a result of I meet them the place they’re. I don’t consider in surface-level fashion. My purchasers know I’m not right here to only make their closet look fairly — I’m right here to make their life really feel simpler, extra assured, and extra aligned. That belief comes from listening, providing sincere steerage, and instructing a technique (just like the Physique-First Framework™) that really works long-term. I additionally construct belief by displaying up on-line as myself — no filters, no fluff.
Which advertising and marketing strategies (similar to social media, influencer partnerships, content material advertising and marketing, or occasions) have been simplest for your corporation, and the way do you measure their success?
Instagram has been big for me — it’s the place I’ve constructed an viewers of over 100k ladies who join with my method to real-life fashion. My free assets, like “5 Indicators Your Wardrobe is Holding You Again,” and content material that teaches additionally assist construct belief earlier than somebody ever spends a greenback. I measure success by what number of ladies say, “This truly helped me. What else do you provide?” Or when a follower turns right into a pupil after which messages me saying, “I lastly really feel like myself once more.”
Are you able to share a serious setback or turning level in your vogue entrepreneurship journey, and the way you navigated by way of it?
Within the early days, I attempted to be all the pieces to everybody. It diluted my message. The turning level was getting clear on who I used to be serving and why — and constructing my model round that.
That’s what pushed me to create Your Model Transformation Academy™. Turning my technique right into a course was terrifying — but additionally essentially the most liberating and scalable transfer I’ve ever made. It allowed me to assist extra ladies whereas creating more room in my very own life.
What’s one piece of recommendation you’d provide to ladies who’re simply beginning their entrepreneurial journey within the vogue business?
Don’t construct a model you assume individuals need — construct the model you want existed. That’s the place your magic is. Readability comes from doing, not perfecting. Don’t wait to “really feel prepared.” Additionally, belief that beginning small doesn’t imply pondering small. My first purchasers had been ladies in my neighborhood. I targeted on serving them deeply, and that status grew into all the pieces I’ve now.
Is there a quote, mantra, or philosophy that guides your decision-making and management as a vogue entrepreneur?
“Begin earlier than you’re prepared. Develop as you go.” It’s how I’ve executed all the pieces — from shopper work to launching my course. I remind myself of that consistently. Model will be the spark that helps a girl really feel seen, highly effective, and grounded in who she is. That perception guides each resolution I make, whether or not I’m working one-on-one with purchasers or creating content material for my course.
What Are The 5 Issues You Have to Overcome Self-Doubt and Construct Confidence?
1. Self-awareness
You may’t repair what you don’t perceive. Realizing your proportions, your life-style, your preferences — that’s what builds fashion confidence, not chasing tendencies.
2. A system
Confidence skyrockets when you understand how to do one thing, not simply that you simply “ought to.” When you’ve gotten a technique (like my Physique-First Framework™), decision-making turns into simpler. You cease second-guessing and begin selecting with readability.
3. Permission to evolve
Your physique adjustments. Your life adjustments. Your fashion ought to too. Confidence grows if you cease clinging to what used to work and embrace what works now.
4. A small win
Generally, it’s so simple as sporting a prime in your greatest coloration or organizing your closet so getting dressed isn’t demanding. These small wins compound quick and seeing progress builds perception.
5. Group
Whether or not it’s a stylist, a buddy, or a course group just like the one inside YSTA, having help helps quiet that inside critic and reminds you that you simply’re not alone. It is best to encompass your self with individuals who mirror your potential.
For those who might encourage a motion that will deliver essentially the most quantity of excellent for the best variety of individuals, what would that be?
Model schooling in faculties — however not the floor stuff. I imply instructing ladies to know their proportions, energy, and presence early on. Think about the arrogance that will unlock. I’d additionally educate ladies that fashion isn’t about trying “put collectively” — it’s about feeling like your self. We’re so used to dressing for others, hiding our our bodies, or chasing tendencies that we overlook: the way you dress within the morning has the facility to shift your complete day. I would like each girl to get up, stroll into her closet, and really feel assured.
How can readers additional observe your work on-line?
You will discover me on Instagram, the place I share styling suggestions, behind-the-scenes of my shopper work, and real-life wardrobe transformations. It’s also possible to be taught extra about my free assets and 6-week on-line course, Your Style Transformation Academy™ — it’s the place the magic occurs.
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