Meet Chi Ilochi of StylingByChi
I’ve been into fashion and style since I was about seven years old, but didn’t quite realize how strong my love for style was until my sophomore year of high school. My senior year of high school, I got a job in the fashion department at a local Kmart. And more often than not, it consisted of folding and unfolding clothes, which I wasn’t a huge fan of, but it also consisted of customers asking me how they would look in certain pieces and I fell in love. I knew from then on I wanted to be a stylist, I couldn’t see myself doing anything else.
Absolutely not! Is it ever?! But I still thank God for the good and the bad, because his will has always and will continue to work out in my best interest. In late 2017, I lost my first friend Anthony Miller ( A talented visual artist ) to suicide. In early 2018, I lost my friend, Tre to suicide. In mid-May of 2018, I lost another friend Sean to suicide. I have struggled with my mental health personally, self-doubt, and simply not even feeling motivated. I’ve wanted to give up so many times and simply just disappear because sometimes life gets that hard. But in hindsight, I’m thankful everything happened. Of course, I’m not thankful I lost friends, I’ll never be, but I am thankful these situations have shaped me and helped me become a stronger woman, creative, individual, and inspiration for myself and others.
I do fashion styling that isn’t limited to anything or anyone. It’s important for me to not have any limitations with my gift, so that may consist of community styling, editorial work, personal styling, personal shopping, virtual styling, runway styling, etc. I am known for, I must say the versatility of my gift. No one can say she only styles this or that I style everyone. I am most proud of my community styling, I love that the most. Being able to make underprivileged people feel good through clothing is a blessing I will never take for granted. I believe my community styling sets me apart from most stylists but I hope it doesn’t for too long. I eventually want all stylists to be inspired and donate their styling gifts to their communities. The feeling is so rewarding!
I believe success is defined in purpose. At least for me, you can have all of the money, materialistic things, but if you aren’t doing something you’re passionate about, or inspiring and helping another person in that process you’re not succeeding. I want to make sure I’m inspiring and transforming other lives through my gift. That’s a huge marker for me as an individual and businesswoman.
