Anna Davis

I attribute a lot of my success to the people around me and the community I’ve built. Building a business can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be difficult and isolating, so having people you trust to lean on makes a huge difference. I’ve been fortunate to have an incredible team, supportive friends and family, and a strong network around me. I also think a big part of it is being willing to ask questions, put yourself out there, and keep going even when you don’t have everything figured out yet.

Don’t be afraid to fail, and talk to strangers. Network, build relationships, and lean on your community. If you don’t have a network yet, build one. Talk to the person next to you at the coffee shop, compliment people, introduce yourself, and reach out to people you admire even if you think they may never respond. So many opportunities come from simply being willing to put yourself out there, and the more you do it, the easier it becomes.

Understand that the part people see is only a small percentage of the job. Styling can look glamorous from the outside, but behind every fitting or finished look are hours of sourcing, returns, logistics, follow-up, outreach, and relationship building. Be willing to do the unglamorous work, stay consistent, and build a strong community around you. This industry is incredibly relationship-driven, and the people you meet along the way can become clients, collaborators, mentors, and friends.

One of the biggest challenges is helping people understand the true value of personal styling and how much work happens behind the scenes. A great styling experience can involve years of industry knowledge and brand relationships, along with hours of sourcing, purchasing, tracking, returns, alterations, logistics, and communication. At the same time, I think that creates a huge opportunity to redefine personal styling as a true professional service rather than simply shopping. For me, the goal is to create exceptional value for clients while also building a business model where stylists are compensated fairly and can build lasting careers.

Relationships are at the center of everything we do. Styling is incredibly personal, and clients are trusting us with much more than clothing. Conversations often touch on confidence, bodies, identity, careers, relationships, and insecurities, so I want every client to feel seen, understood, accepted, and supported throughout the process.

I never want someone to feel like a transaction. As Mel Rose grows, one of my biggest priorities is protecting the personal relationship between stylist and client and making sure that level of trust and care never gets lost in the growth of the business.