Entrepreneur and superstar stylist Risa Kostis has constructed a dynamic profession rooted in creativity, flexibility, and flexibility—and, in fact, an everlasting love for style. She first stepped into the sweetness business at 21, specializing in hair and make-up for weddings. She gained invaluable enterprise expertise managing a purse and shoe firm, which paved the best way for launching her personal styling enterprise.
In 2018, a wedding-day mishap impressed her to co-found The Rescue Package Firm along with her sister, providing important styling instruments designed for brides and past. Risa’s styling philosophy facilities on personalization, confidence, and inclusivity. She prioritizes a real-world perspective over inflexible style guidelines. Her experience extends throughout private styling, marriage ceremony day dressing providers, and adaptive style options.
On this interview, she shares her profession journey, styling philosophy, and the way she empowers each consumer—no matter physique sort—to embrace their distinctive magnificence with confidence.
Once I requested Risa how her story unfolded, she shared:
“My entrepreneurial journey started at 21 once I began doing hair and make-up for weddings. I used to be ending cosmetology college in Boston when a buddy requested me to type her and her maid of honor’s hair and make-up for her marriage ceremony. That was the second I knew—this was what I needed to do.”
She additionally remembers, “Shortly after, I moved to San Francisco and took a job on the entrance desk of a day spa whereas constructing my consumer base on the facet. Throughout that point, I met a designer for whom I often did hair and make-up. She ultimately introduced me on board to assist run her purse and shoe firm. It was an unbelievable hands-on studying expertise—a crash course in small enterprise administration, manufacturing, and manufacturing. Wanting again, I couldn’t have requested for a greater basis for launching my full-scale styling firm and product line.”
As she gained expertise, weddings and particular occasions grew to become the core of Risa’s experience. She recollects the second that in the end led to creating The Rescue Package Firm:
“It began at a scorching Arizona marriage ceremony in 2018, simply as I used to be introducing my day-of dressing service. A photographer buddy invited me to a marriage she was capturing, providing behind-the-scenes photographs in trade for my assist. I agreed, and like most marriage ceremony days, I didn’t meet the bride till I arrived to decorate her and magnificence everybody.
“As she walked down for the primary look, somebody stepped on her practice, and the zipper utterly broke. I attempted security pins and tremendous glue, however ultimately, I needed to sew her into her robe. It was like nothing ever occurred. I’ll always remember that day—not simply because it sparked The Rescue Package Firm and my now-popular dressing service, however as a result of saving the day is the very best feeling on the earth. That was once I knew I needed to create an expertise that might convey that very same aid to my shoppers.”
Recognizing a niche out there, Risa and her sister got down to design the last word marriage ceremony day emergency package—mixing luxurious with performance.
“It was essential for us to create a signature package that felt luxurious {and professional} but remained user-friendly and complete,” Risa explains. “The Bride Package is our best-selling product, impressed by the skilled styling package I’ve used for over a decade. It contains 22 fastidiously chosen objects designed to make the largest impression on a marriage day.
“Inside, you’ll discover necessities like a stitching package with pre-threaded needles in the most well-liked marriage ceremony colours, double-stick tape, mini tissues, a lint curler, and our Hair + Pin Package—that includes 4 completely different security pin colours, straight pins, two shades of bobby pins, and clear rubber bands. Distinctive additions embrace a deodorant-removing sponge, tremendous glue, a button + bustle hook for satin-covered buttons and robe bustling, foot gel pads, stain-removing spray, wrinkle-release spray, and extra. It’s really a one-stop mishap-preventing store!”
One could surprise, “How can a stylist create a really inclusive and customized expertise for shoppers with various physique sorts and mobility wants?” Risa Kostis explains:
“As a stylist, making certain a profitable physique sort evaluation for various shoppers, together with these with distinctive mobility wants, begins with a customized and inclusive strategy. That is actually the place a listening ear is available in, and crucial perspective I take is that of a pupil—I want to know any day by day challenges with getting dressed and areas that may want particular consideration.
“Reasonably than relying solely on conventional physique form pointers, I give attention to proportions, consolation, and performance, contemplating how clothes drapes and strikes with the person’s physique. For shoppers who use wheelchairs, I take seated proportions into consideration, in addition to correct layering and undergarments to make sure each aesthetic steadiness and ease of motion. Material selections, adaptable silhouettes, and strategic tailoring play key roles in enhancing each type and practicality. Above all, I prioritize listening to the consumer’s wants and preferences, making changes that align with their way of life and style targets whereas celebrating their distinctive form and confidence.”
Are you curious about working with Risa Kostis or inquisitive about what a one-on-one evaluation is like? She shares:
“Most of my private styling shoppers come from present consumer referrals. We often do a deep dive on a name or Zoom to ensure I can meet their wants, and that additionally offers them an opportunity to share their styling targets for any upcoming occasions or appearances.
“Since a whole lot of my work is shifting towards marriage ceremony styling and day-of-dressing, most of those assessments are with girls who’re getting married or shut associates/marriage ceremony celebration members which will need marriage ceremony apparel consulting providers or to rent me for day-of-dressing. Communication is the cornerstone of the whole lot I do, and I take detailed notes of their file that can serve me all through the method of working collectively.”
What are Risa’s ideas on shade evaluation? It was refreshing to listen to her say:
“My reply would possibly shock you, however I don’t essentially go by the ebook on the subject of shade evaluation. Whereas I feel it’s confirmed helpful for lots of stylists and their shoppers, I don’t use a proper shade evaluation course of with the individuals I work with. I can inform instantly once I take a look at somebody—based mostly on what lives of their present closet and through fittings—what is going to improve their look and complement their look. I feel shade is a selection and a sense while you’re getting dressed.
“Once I hear somebody say, ‘I can’t put on that shade,’ I at all times prefer to no less than attempt it on collectively, so we will take photographs and ensure it’s a shade that they actually wish to rule out. Whereas there’s system-based construction round shade evaluation, I personally prefer to push individuals exterior their consolation zone into the ‘what-if’ house if they’re keen to go there. We all know straight away when it received’t work, and that’s ok for me!”
Risa shares that there are various encouraging methods to find one’s ardour within the style business. Reflecting on her personal journey, she says:
“I like that in right now’s world, there are such a lot of roads that result in the identical factor. I don’t have any formal coaching in styling, and in reality, I feel that’s what makes my ability set so fascinating. I at all times inform aspiring younger those that type is subjective and innate—in the event that they adore it, they need to pursue it.”
When requested about her style philosophy and what makes working with Risa Kostis distinctive, she explains:
“My philosophy is all about distinctive consideration to element, prioritizing customized type over labels, and making each consumer really feel uniquely their very own. I consider in unparalleled customer support, a zero-judgment strategy, and curating seems that commemorate individuality.”
The sister duo possesses a distinct segment and distinctive set of expertise, as Risa emphasizes:
“My sister is definitely my enterprise associate in The Rescue Package Firm! She has a proper background in Occupational Remedy (OT) and has labored in each inpatient and outpatient rehab settings.
“It’s in our plans to in the future develop an adaptive rescue package that honors her ardour whereas aligning with our core worth of caring for our prospects.”
It was a thrill to interview Ms. Risa Kostis, who shared her perspective on working with shoppers: ‘The experiences I’ve had all through my life—from working within the service business for over a decade to performing, style publicity, styling, and a lot extra—have given me the inspiration to supply one thing really particular. I’ve an uncanny capacity to fulfill my shoppers precisely the place they’re of their lives and for each event they should costume for, and I firmly consider that’s one thing that may’t be taught. Once we work collectively, you turn into a really particular a part of my life, and that’s one thing I’ll by no means take as a right.”
Risa Kostis is a famend stylist who has been featured on quite a few nationwide tv exhibits and media retailers.
Thanks, Risa Kostis, for this unique interview with Social Way of life Journal. We’re excited to see what’s subsequent in your profession!
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