Fashology

I met Gigi, the business owner of Fashology during an event that Bloggers Live Boston was hosting. Bloggers Live Boston is a community of bloggers whose main goal is to “support, collab, and cheer on fellow New England bloggers.” This was God sent to me. I was a baby blogger at the time and I was very self-conscious about this whole blogging thing. But through this community, God showed me that I didn’t have to do it alone.

So of course, I met genuine people like Gigi along the way, who is thriving even outside of the blogger world while being her awesome quirky self — and she is inspiring others to do the same.

What did you want to be when you were younger?

Growing up I wanted to be a “shark-ologist” which in the adult world would probably be a marine biologist. My desire to get into fashion really came toward the end of my time in high school.

So how did fashion become your passion? ;)

I actually wasn’t always into fashion. I would probably consider my younger self more of a tomboy. The high school I attended was half technical studies & half strictly academics, you were either in the tech program or not. In my junior year, I became a tech student with my focus being marketing. Once I started that program I realized that when I dressed up I felt more confident. Prior to that my everyday style consisted of skinny jeans, chuck taylors, & hoodies. I traded the chucks for high heels. Around this time I had begun working at a local boutique that I would go on to manage & assist with the buying in just a short couple of years.

How did Fashology come to be?

As I was managing the boutique I built up a clientele that came to me to help dress them for special events & to infuse new pieces into their wardrobe. I was also going to college for fashion merchandising. On top of that my friends & family were coming to me for fashion advice. I saw a need that women needed to be educated on how to dress for themselves opposed to what the media was shoving in their face. When you dress for your body type, personality, lifestyle, & budget instead of what's “trending” this gives you a kind of confidence that empowers you to take on your world. Cue the launch of Fashology the blog, an educational resource for women. It has been 6 years since we launched & it has been such a beautiful messy journey. I am so honored for the community & to be able to expand into a wardrobe styling business.

What’s your favorite thing about Fashology that you do?

Do I have to pick just 1? First, I love that Fashology has built a community for women of all walks of life to come together. We are all about embracing yourself where you are & to have other people tell us we are a positive space on the internet to them literally makes my heart so happy. It’s not about the follower count or the number of website views for us. It’s about having a safe space to empower women through the way that they dress. Secondly, our Fashology internship program. We bring in college students for college credit to help with social media, email marketing, events, & more. I remember going to college & the experience I got from working backstage at fashion shows & other events was inspiring. It has been a true blessing to bring on these students & teach them behind the scenes while preparing them for their next step.

How important is community to you, and why?

Community is SO important to me. As a woman coming from a strong line of wildly independent & ambitious women I think it is important that we band together & support each other. I am a very big believer in collaboration over competition. Throughout my journey, I have experienced women that tear each other down to get a leg up. That’s not how we win. Having a tribe that supports one another, bounces ideas off each other, & challenges you is how we grow. And there is a seat at the table for all of us. We have a unique story & voice specific to us that reaches different people. As women we are powerful & that should be celebrated together. Life can be hard & there is this stigma surrounding sharing your true feelings so, I believe having a solid community that you can be transparent with is vital especially during these unprecedented times.

I know being a part of the fashion and social media world can be challenging. How did you overcome any insecurities and fears you have had during this journey?

Honestly, I looked to the big guy upstairs. I’m not a perfect person just like everyone, I’ve had my share of lows. I found that when I gave everything to a higher power I was more at peace with my insecurities & fears. That doesn’t mean I stopped working, I hustle very hard. But, there is something so comforting knowing that something bigger than myself has a plan & that there is a reason for everything even though I may not see it while going through whatever it may be.

What advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs?

JUST DO IT! Literally, this has something that has held me back. Stop striving for perfection & overthinking. Just do it. The beautiful thing is your product or service may not be 100% when you are starting out but, you have time to perfect it & you won’t know what things you need to tweak till you just do it. What are you waiting for?! Also, surround yourself with people that encourage you & that you can bounce ideas off of. I feel like entrepreneurship can feel isolating however, there are many women & people who have either done it or are doing it in some capacity in regards to entrepreneurship. Don't be afraid to shoot someone, a DM or a phone call to pick their brain. What's the worst that will happen?!