Hearing the term “Personal Stylist” may immediately bring to mind the people responsible for making sure the rich and famous are always looking their very best.I’ll admit that in my mind good fashion and parenthood don’t always seem to go hand in hand. As parents, it’s easy to lose sight of our sense of self and individuality after having children. This can ring especially true for moms. Raising kids can definitely take a physical and emotional toll on us. Oftentimes our self-care is the last thing we consider. Heidi McKinny of Heidi Approved is here to help. Heidi is a local Wardrobe Consultant with a huge passion for helping women, moms in particular, feel comfortable and confident in their clothing and appearance. Heidi believes that clothing is an intimate process of who we are and how we present ourselves to the world. Her business is focused on helping women find a personal style for themselves in a way that is healthy as well as budget friendly. I had the pleasure of hosting Heidi in my home to learn more about her services and let me tell you, her story is truly inspiring!
In 2009, Heidi found herself without a job as a single mom of three children. These unfortunate circumstances set off a roller coaster that would change the trajectory of her life. Prior to this, Heidi had been fulfilled by a career in fashion and merchandising; a career with great income but long hours away from her children. She made the decision to pursue another position with a significant pay cut but that provided a better quality of work/life balance for her family. However this job did not pan out as expected and that’s when things began to fall apart. Heidi took control of the situation by registering for classes to obtain a degree and pursue her dream career. During this time, Heidi met someone special and she was shocked to discover that nearly 10 years after having her youngest child, she was pregnant again! Heidi went on to have a sweet baby girl. Life threw another curve ball when Heidi was diagnosed with cancer and her body began to work against her. A year of sickness and struggles later, she was no longer physically able to pursue her career choice. Heidi spiraled into a cycle of depression, constant health issues and severe anxiety- to the point of being unable to leave the house.
Thankfully, Heidi had a support system during this time. Her mother knew something needed to be done. Heidi’s mom “tricked” her into joining her at a friends house, which turned out to be a Park Lane Jewelry party. This party would send Heidi’s life onto a whole new path, with a renewed sense of passion and the desire to help other women. She became a Park Lane independent stylist, which follows a direct-sales business model. Despite the initial struggles to combat her anxiety, her children in particular encouraged her to keep going when she felt like giving up. Heidi saw the opportunity to generate worthwhile income and quickly began to grow in her new endeavor. Her confidence soared as she moved up the ranks within Park Lane.
Through this newfound venture, Heidi went from having intense anxiety about simply leaving her house to jet-setting across the US on trips for conventions and getaways. During a training convention a fellow consultant complimented Heidi’s style and asked for some advice on her own wardrobe. As a favor, Heidi went into this woman’s closet and helped her piece together outfits from items she already owned. The woman was so impressed, “People would pay you to do this! You’re like a Fashion Fairy Godmother!” she told Heidi. At that moment, Heidi Approved was born.
Heidi is currently in her fourth year running her own business as a Wardrobe Consultant and more than ever she is motivated to help women find a sense of self- confidence through their clothing. She wants women out there to know that stylists are not just for the rich and famous. Her goals through Heidi Approved include making her services affordable and accessible to every budget. “I really want every mom to see my services as within their reach,” explains Heidi. This year she is really hoping to reach those moms that may be feeling lost in their role as Mother and losing their identity. She also specializes in helping women who are experiencing transitions in life such as from a full-time career to stay-at-home-mom, or those moms returning to the workforce after staying home.
I went through the consultation process with Heidi and it was truly an eye opening experience. Heidi took her time looking through the pieces in my closet and she understood my desire for comfort and functionality. She also clearly appreciated and respected my wanting to stay true to my individual personality and my tendency toward thrift store shopping. She is definitely able to tap into the fashion identity of the client she is working with.
As someone who has seen it all, it’s clear that Heidi has a passion for her work. She has been through the gamut of of life; she’s been the single mom, the working mom, the sick mom, and the boss mom and through it all she’s come out on top. As moms we can be our worst critics, but through her experiences, Heidi believes that finding an exciting direction with wardrobe and fashion can give a woman the confidence to shine. In the last 4 years Heidi has styled about 60 women, just on word of mouth alone!
Want to set up an appointment with the Fashion Fairy Godmother?
Visit Heidi on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/fashionfairygodmother.
The first 20 Macaroni Kid North Raleigh mommas to message Heidi through her Facebook business page will receive a complimentary 30 minute wardrobe consultation!
