Megan Moran, 23, Chagrin Falls
Wardrobe stylist and owner of Style Foundry, a mobile boutique
By mobile, do you mean you have a truck?
I just purchased a truck. It’s not like the food trucks you see around; it’s a Nissan high-roof cargo van. It’s a little smaller and easier to drive. I’ll be outfitting it soon, but right now I do pop-ups. I have display racks so that I can set up at shows and events at wineries, hair salons, country clubs, house parties and other types of events.
How’s business?
It’s been great. I rolled out the mobile boutique last October and it’s done well enough to afford the van at the end of December. I’ve applied to the Cleveland Flea, the Summer Market in Avon Lake and the Hudson Flea. So I hope to be at even more events soon.
Where has this talent for fashion come from?
I’ve always loved fashion and have had jobs in fashion. I worked at Nordstrom when I was in high school and I learned a lot about the retail side of the industry. I worked at the American Eagle headquarters and learned about merchandising. I became a luxury expert though my job at Poshmark in California. I learned about quality and how to authenticate luxury goods.
Fashion Flash: Megan Moran visits and talks about The Style Foundry
How did you end up in California?
When I graduated from college, my husband and I moved there for seven months.
Did you always want to be a stylist?
In fourth grade I tried to draw fashion designs. I am a horrible drawer. After a while, I realized that I was drawing pieces that I had seen when we had been out shopping. I was combining pictures of things that I had seen at different stores. By sixth grade, I was figuring that out and I even started looking for colleges. I come from a family of entrepreneurs, so I was looking at schools with business fashion programs. I still have the printouts of the schools I was considering. I started my wardrobe styling business in high school as a blog.
Which college did you eventually choose?
I was against Miami University until I visited. They didn’t have a fashion program but I was really excited about the chance to study abroad in Italy. I studied fashion in Florence and got a business degree in entrepreneurship. We came back to be closer to family and I worked for Zestive, my mother’s catering company while I planned my next steps for my business.
What inspires your fashion?
I’m not super trendy and I don’t follow what’s on the runways. I use Pinterest and Instagram a lot. They can be good styling tools. This might sound weird, but I see things that I like and then they end up being trendy. I just know what I like and gravitate toward that. I go with my gut.
Does the same hold true when buying for your store?
It does, but I also have to keep in mind my customer. I don’t just pick out things that work for me. I pick out things that work for 25 to 65 year olds. I look for versatile things.
Speaking of what works for you, how do you describe your style?
I’m classic with a little preppy and a little glam. I like my Sperry shoes and I like stripes. I’m either in jeans or a dress. I don’t wear shorts. My goal is to always look put-together and that’s what I help my clients achieve. I try not to leave the house in sweats.
Where do you get your sense of style?
It must have started way back with my grandmother. In fact, I found out about the Fashion Flash through her. She cuts the page out of the Sunday Plain Dealer every week and sends it to me. I’m not telling her I’m doing this interview. I can’t wait for her surprise when she opens the Sunday paper and finds me on the page. She always took me shopping and brought me clothes. She loves fashion.
Tell us about the styling business.
I work with my clients and figure out what their style is. I like to say that we organize your closet and redefine your style. We hone it and improve upon it. I do closet cleanses. We look at everything and decide what to keep, give away and to sell. I take pictures of everything we keep and put them in an app. I tag things for color and occasion and I create outfits. After that, I see what items are needed to fill out their looks. For example, a few new pieces of jewelry can lead to a dozen or more new looks. I do the math in terms of showing them how many looks we can create so people can see the value of what we’re doing. I will also shop with someone to help find the perfect pieces. I charge by the hour.
Who are your clients?
They’re often 25 to 35 or 45 to 55 year old businesswomen just starting out on their careers or they just got promoted and need help. Typically, they’re women who are experiencing some sort of life change. I meet many of them at my pop-up boutiques. Sometimes people find me online, too. Most of them want the full service from cleaning out their closet to boosting their wardrobe. They want to be organized and they want help with putting outfits together. They like that I show them how to mix and match everything. I also help them save money because they’ll stop buying what they don’t need.
What kinds of fashions will we see at Style Foundry?
The brands are from unique, smaller designers or labels. They’re boutique brands that you won’t see anywhere else. I chose things ahead of the seasons and I pick things not exactly knowing if they’ll be big trends, but I do pretty well picking things that work.
Where does your inventory come from?
I decided to jump in with both feet and we went to the fashion mart in Chicago. You have to have a business and a tax ID to get into the wholesale showrooms. I didn’t know how to be a buyer. I bought pieces I liked from a sample sale and did my first show. I figured out my booth, I wanted everything to be styled looks, not just racks of clothes. I went back to Chicago, I’ve been to Atlanta and I’ve started to figure out what sells and how much to buy. I’m much better at it now.
Are you much of a shopper?
I like to shop, but I don’t have to now. I’m kind of a minimalist. I would never feel the need to go shopping to buy a ton of stuff. When I worked at Nordstrom, I would buy one nice thing every six months, or so. I always keep my eye on things. It’s a way to understand styles and trends.
Do you have any favorite stores other than your own?
I’m really small and have trouble with sizes. I like J. Crew Factory (outlet store) and Loft Outlet because items tend to run small and they have size 00 Petite. I can’t complain, I’ll have to enjoy my good metabolism while I can.
What’s your favorite season for fashion?
It would have to be spring and summer because I am a dress person. I like fit and flare style dresses because they fit me the best. I love heels and wedges and I just don’t like cold weather. I’m starting to like fall for the layering aspect.
Do you have any fashion icons or favorite designers?
I like pieces from Kate Spade collections. I like how girly and preppy the designs are. I also love what Audrey Hepburn did for fashion. I don’t have a muse. I don’t like large logos on clothes and bags.
What are your rules?
My rules and my advice go hand in hand. I tell everyone if you don’t love it, don’t buy it. I’m big on fit. It’s important. Don’t worry about the size, the letter or the number just get what fits. I also like minimal jewelry. If you’re wearing big earrings then you can add a bracelet but no necklace. That would be too aggressive. When I wear a big statement necklace I can add small stud earring and a subtle bracelet or watch. You need a balance between color, pattern and jewelry.
Do you have any pet peeves?
I don’t like cookie cutter looks like wearing the same thing as everyone else. Everyone should have their own look and style, it’s like your fingerprint. My business is all about teaching people to be confident and coordinated and to be your own person. I also always tell people that if you dress nicer then you’ll feel better and be more productive. If you bum around in your sweats, you won’t have as much success.
How has your style changed over the years?
It’s changed a lot! I wasn’t as sure of my style when I was younger so I tried a little of everything. I had Boho things, button downs and twin sets. It was way more experimental. Once I got my job at Nordstrom, I’ve been pretty consistent. I’ve figured out what I like and what fits my body the best.
What are your favorite types of accessories?
Statement necklaces. I’m starting to get into long necklaces. You’ll almost always see me in one or the other.
Where are the best places to get rid of your unwanted clothes?
If you want to donate, I volunteer with Dress For Success. They’re a great organization. If you’re looking to sell, I look to Poshmark for more upscale pieces. And for other nice things, I like Revolve on Mayfield Road in Lyndhurst. Things have to be two years old or newer and they buy things on the spot. No waiting for the item to sell.
What does style mean to you?
It’s as if you’re a billboard. Style is a way to show who you are, it’s like your fingerprint. We all have our own style, we may share some similarities, but in the end your style is unique to you.
How do we find you and what about your stylist business?
On social media I can be found @StyleFoundryCle on Twitter and Instagram. I have a Style Foundry Facebook page and my website is thestylefoundrycle.com.
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Fashion Flash is always looking for Clevelanders with a fresh take on style. If you or someone you know has a great fashion sense click here for the submission form or email me at acarey@plaind.com.
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