(This post was written in 2018 to celebrate 10 years of Styling You – it’s been updated in 2020)
Ten years ago tomorrow I sent out a little message on Facebook (personal page – no business pages back then) with a link to my new blog/website and asking people to please subscribe. Maybe you were one of those people? Maybe you were one of my long-suffering friends or family members who I added to that email list? If that was you, I apologise in advance and thank you for sticking around (there are more than 20 thousand people receiving that weekly email today) and I now know about the legalities around spam and email lists! SORRY!
A bit like everything in my business over the past 10 years, I’ve been winging it. The highlights and the lowlights of the Styling You business story are many and varied (I’ve listed them below) but in 2008 I was a journalist, for goodness sake. I didn’t know how to run a business. What I did know was how to interview business people. Every step of the way, I’ve never been afraid to ask questions; to ask for help; or make it up as I go along. And I’m grateful for all those who did answer my questions.
So much has changed over the past 10 years, notably with technology. If you were reading this blog back in the early days it would have been on your computer. Your Nokia was only good for talking and texting. There was no Instagram; Twitter was but a pup.
What hasn’t changed over 10 years has been the reason why I started Styling You. I wanted to help everyday women like me find confidence through what they wore. I’m not one who’s led an overly stylish path in this life (if you’ve read my book you’ll know that!) but I strongly believe in the power of showing who we are in the world through what we choose to wear.
For me, and so, so many women out there, confidence does come from the outside in. It’s been a privilege to help women find that. We’re complex creatures and we go through so many stages in our lives, some planned, some not.
I get a lot of emails and messages from women who I didn’t realised (at the time) I’d helped. Some have said that I’ve helped them find the confidence to get a new job (Michelle, if you’re reading this, I’ll never forget that email you sent me all those years ago); to start their own business; to find themselves again after being in the trenches of early parenthood but it’s this email that I received just this week from Kylie that had me tearing up (warning: you will too).
Hi Nikki
I’ve wanted to write this for a while but life and kids have always got in the way and as it’s your 10th birthday, now is a good time to say … THANK YOU!
Four years ago, my daughter and first child, was stillborn at 30 weeks. In the weeks and months that followed, I hated my body for letting me down; at the time I needed it the most. I started wearing clothes that were to big and lots of black, to cover the body I no longer knew.
Whilst still on leave from work in the months that followed, I discovered your Instagram and then your book and it slowly brought me back to life. I had to recreate myself after “losing” the old me and you, your blogs and daily pictures, were a part of getting me there. My first purchase was a striped dress from Sussan, that I still have and wear often. It reminds me of the person I was then and how far I have come to be who I am now … the Mum to two beautiful healthy, happy boys.
So on your 10th birthday, thank you for helping me find a new me. Your business is not just about styling but SO much more.
Thanks
Kylie
xo
There’s something in my eye AGAIN.
When I try to explain to people what I do and they can’t get beyond the fashion side of it, or I have a day/week/month where something happens to question what I’m doing and the path I’ve taken, I give myself a talking to and I read those emails – AGAIN (yes, I keep them in a file). I don’t do this as a way of stroking my ego. I do this as a reminder to stay on track with my aims and core values for Styling You.
Every woman, at every stage – NOT age – of their lives deserves to feel the best they can feel. And I want to help them feel that.
So, whether you’ve been here from the beginning or you joined this incredible community just this week, I thank YOU. Styling You is an incredible space for women of all ages, shapes and sizes to support other women without judgement. And that is my proudest achievement.
For those interested in the business side of things, I’ve listed out my highlight and lowlight (keeping it real) reel below.
The highlight reel
Booking my first personal styling client. Hello Sue! Not only was this such a kind thing for a friend to do to help support a start-up business, this one wardrobe edit session showed me that I was on the right track, that it was more than just about the clothes.
Getting great mentors. Shout out to the Sunshine Coast Business Women’s Network for the mentoring program I was able to access for free in my second year of business. The connections I made during that program – with mentors and mentorees – helped get this business happening.
Attending my first blogging conference. In early 2011 the first Aussie Mummy Bloggers conference was held. It was the first time in my career that I’d found “my people”. Women (and a few men) had travelled from all over Australia to meet and discuss blogging. I remember feeling like it all made sense, that there was a community around the industry I’d accidentally found myself in. I got to meet in real life people who I’d only previously chatted to via Twitter or in comments on the their blog. I’m still friends today with people I connected with at that event (hello BabyMac and Mrs Woog).
Winning Australia’s Best Blog award. Later that year I got a call from the Sydney Writers’ Centre (previously Sydney Writers’ Centre) telling me that I’d not only won the business category of their inaugural awards but also that I’d be judged the overall winner. Mind. Blown. Here I was working away in regional Queensland and my little blog suddenly had a national profile.
Nina Proudman. Ahh, Nina. When Offspring burst on to our screens and into our fashion hearts, I had a lot of people asking me about how to create the Nina Proudman look. So I wrote one blog post with tips and it went nuts. It was still receiving visits the following year, so when Offspring returned, I tried writing a post ever week to see if people were interested. And they were. This was before Channel Ten offered their own fashion re-caps. I’d stay up late each Wednesday night, watch the show and try and hunt down the exact pieces or similar that Nina was wearing and have on the blog for you. Through Nina, I connected with brands such as Binny, which I was loved bringing to a wider audience through my blog posts.
Stopping one-on-one styling sessions. This was a big call for me to make but make it I did in early 2012. By that time I’d worked with 150-plus women of all different ages, shapes and sizes but the work and income via my blog was surpassing that of my personal styling work and I knew I wanted to concentrate on growing this community. It was a scary thing to back myself but I’m glad that I did it because it gave me the time and space to create content here.
Covering Australian Fashion Week for Maybelline. I was lucky enough to work with Maybelline for two years running. Going behind the scenes at Australia’s biggest industry fashion event was huge. It was also an eye opener and provided many light bulb moments. For starters, I was crap at sitting in the front row. My legs are not built to cross neatly over each other and somehow I ended up sitting like an ungraceful chook next to Ruby Rose. Watching the industry on show like it was, made me also realise how disconnected it was from its customers. It made me determined to continue to champion real-world fashion and showcase clothes on everyday women.
Being signed by a blogging agency. What a heady, crazy, exciting time that was mid-2012. The Remarkables Group was the first dedicated blogging talent agency in Australia and, along with four of my original blogging friends; we took a leap of faith to join the start-up agency as a way to helps us better connect and work with brands. The nasty backlash that “the first five” received … from other bloggers … was not fun but seeing where this blogging business could go was.
Being sponsored to go to Blogher in New York. In 2012, I got to attend Blogher (then the biggest female blogging conference in the world) with the original five from The Remarkables. It was at a time when Australian blogging was taking off and we had been looking to US bloggers for a couple of years, seeing them ahead of where Australia was. On stage, we heard from the likes of Katie Couric and Martha Stewart. I even ended up at a side party on the Upper East Side, where some of the elite of US blogging had gathered for Gretchen Rubin’s book launch. It was all surreal but so much fun.
Starting the #everydaystyle hashtag on Instagram. I’d been on Instagram for a few years, jumping on every new shiny thing that smart phones were giving us access to. I think I knew all of two people when I started and I really only got on board for the filters. I couldn’t have predicted that it would have grown to become the social platform it’s become today. In late 2013, I was asked by a few readers to show more of the outfits I wore every day. I remember looking down at my outfit on one of those days and shaking my head. I worked from home, it wall pretty mundane. And I tended to wear the same kind of thing every day. But I love a challenge so, for one week, my then eight-year-old took my outfit photo and I posted it every day with the hashtag, #everydaystyle. By the end of that week quite a few other Australian women on Instagram were posting using the hashtag, so I kept going, and going. I didn’t miss a day until the end of last year. Now there have been more than 600K shares on Instagram using the hashtag. Not all are directly part of the #everydaystyle community (because once a hashtag becomes popular, it shows up in searches and people add it to their hashtag list) but so many Australian and New Zealand Instagrammers who started with the hashtag in those early days have gone on to build their own beautiful communities (with their own hashtags). The wonderful bonus here is that together we all offer such an incredibly diverse range of everyday women style inspiration.
Having my first book published. I’ll never forget the day when Hachette Australia contacted be, asking me to submit a proposal to have my then e-book, Unlock Your Style in 14 days, expanded and published as a book. It was every writer’s dream. I wrote the book in eight weeks, coordinated a three-day photo shoot and took it on tour everywhere from Brisbane, to Bowral, to Adelaide to Perth. Seeing women lining up at bookstores and events all over Australia, meeting women who I only knew as commenters on the blog or Facebook or Instagram, was an incredible privilege. I’m so grateful I was offered the opportunity to write the book. It’s still the cornerstone for all that I talk about here on the blog when it comes to style for the everyday woman.
Winning the 2015 Queensland Telstra Micro Business of the Year award. The number one question people ask me after they ask what I “do” is always, “how do you make money?” Sometimes people are upfront and quite blunt about it; other times, you can see they’re politely stepping around the subject and itching to ask. I get it. What I do is not a typical business (but what is typical these days?) but when I did win this award, it felt as if it legitimised not only my business but also that of my fellow bloggers/influencers (GAH … hate that word!). Entering these awards means sharing your business’ financials for scrutiny. That I more than passed was so bloody exciting.
Launching the Styling You Shop. Starting my online shop in 2015 seemed like a natural progression and a great way to diversify the main income stream that had been sponsorships. We started small and used to take orders and have our suppliers send them to our customers but for the past year and a half we’ve bought our stock and handle all the orders and pack them ourselves. We also started with just me modelling the clothes, now I’m joined by Jasmine (Pretty Chuffed) and Stacey (@stace_mcgregs).
Leaving a blogging agency. In 2016, I made the decision to leave The Remarkables Group. It wasn’t something I did without a lot of thought and consideration. My sponsorship work had reached the point that I was working directly with brands that I’d built strong relationships with. And brands were coming directly to me. I backed myself AGAIN and let go of the fears that sponsorships would disappear. They didn’t. Not long after my departure, the agency ceased representing bloggers. I’m glad I got to make the decision to leave for myself.
Starting the Everyday Style Facebook group. One thing that any business working with social media has to do is to always pivot, change and adapt because we only “rent” these channels and the “landlords” are always changing the terms of our lease. When I realised that it was becoming really tricky for Styling You Facebook followers to see any of my posts, I decided to launch a Facebook group in 2016 as a safe, supportive and judgement-free forum for our email subscribers to hang out and ask style questions. Eight thousand-plus members later, this group remains a vibrant and fun corner of the style Internet.
Launching the Ultimate Capsule Wardrobe online style program. My first program launched later in 2016 and we’ve now run five. It’s been an honour to get to know this group of women from the Styling You community. I love seeing the friendships between “Capsulers” grow, women bonding over style and meeting up in real life! We hosted our final UCW program in October 2019.
Working with incredible businesses. I would only have half a business without the amazing brands and companies that put their trust in me and include me in their business’ marketing and growth. I choose to work only with businesses that are aligned with me – and my community. Yes, that means I knock back offers but doing that has allowed me to build a sustainable business. It gives me such a thrill to learn from businesses I represent that I’ve been able to help boost their sales and help them grow.
Supporting independent Australian fashion labels. I’ve been fortunate to be in a position to support and champion some incredible independent labels, especially through my Model and Me blog post series, which I started in 2010. The fashion industry is not easy and without the creative working on these labels, we will eventually lose diversity in fashion – and therefore style. That will be a sad day indeed.
Building a beautiful team. As Styling You has grown, I’ve loved being in a position to need and be able to employ others to help support me. I started my own business to create a work option that was flexible around my then young family and it’s been rewarding to pass that flexible work option on to other women/mums looking for a side hustle to do the same.
Finding myself as a model at 50! Who knew? It’s not something I ever set out to do. Whether it’s being photographed in a swimsuit, underwear, fabulous shoes or miracle pants, I realised a few years ago that if I was going to talk the talk about championing greater diversity in fashion modelling, then I was going to have to walk it as well. But MY, the beauty maintenance! It’s extreme.
Starting our own fashion label
In February 2019, we stopped selling other labels in our online store and launched Styling You The Label. Our Australian-made, non-boring wardrobe basics help you get up, get dressed and get out the door every day without any stress. Oh, and no biggie … but we’re the first Australian fashion label to feature size 8-18 models in our shop photos. We want to make it so easy to shop online and imagine how our garments might look on you.
The business moved out of home!
In January 2020, we moved into our first premises that weren’t in my home. It was so exciting … and then COVID hit and we moved back home! We’re now back and proudly open to the public at our Brisbane showroom in Paddington. And in August 2020, we moved all fulfilment of orders to an external warehouse. Our team may be small but we are mighty and our chief focus is looking after our customers who love that we make their wardrobe life easier!
The lowlight reel
I’m not one to dwell on the negative but if I only shared the highlights you’d be mistaken in thinking that starting a business and running it is all smooth sailing. Spoiler alert: it’s not! The lowlights do suck but I’m a pick-myself-up-and-get-on-with-it type of girl and, as clichéd as it is, I’ve learned and grown from each of the lowlights.
Starting a business in 2008. HAH. Yes, three months after launching, the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) hit. As Yaz (1988 if you’re playing along) sang, “the only way is up”. And it was. It’s not like I’d reached any lofty heights before the time of the crash. I just had to get smarter and re-frame how I wanted my business to look.
Maintaining a lot of side hustles to pay the bills. Most people are encouraged to start a business while still working for someone. Me? I knew I had to leave my job because the workplace had become quite toxic to me, at the same time my husband had started a job that meant he was commuting and out the door at 6am each day; returning at 8pm at night. I needed to be the one on the ground, able to drop everything if the kids were sick or hurt. Before the blog grew to become the business and more than surpass my previous salary, I tutored at uni; did freelance writing; took on freelance PR contracts; consulted about social media to small businesses … all the while seeing personal styling clients and writing content for the blog.
Stuffing up monumentally when doing a side hustle that was so far from my core business idea that it was bound to fail. Together with two girlfriends, we had what we thought was a great idea to organise and host regular events. Our fashion events were easy – that was our thing. It was when we branched out into kids’ events, that we left ourselves open for errors. And what an error it was. We thought we’d booked the real Bob the Builder show for a sell-out convention centre event; turns out we’d booked a mini/shopping centre version that left our audience (rightly) feeling ripped off. Hell hath no fury like parents of unhappy, young Bob the Builder fans. Lesson very much learned – after a lot of refunds and loss of money. Stick to what you know and are aligned with.
Experiencing online attacks. Many will say that this comes with the territory. I live in a unicorn-filled world of positivity where I like to think everyone can get along and only say something if they’ve got something nice to say. HAH. I wish. I can’t control what people say about me online away from my channels (and there’s been A LOT of nastiness over the years) but I can simply and effectively control what’s said on my channels: block and delete. I do this to maintain a space where women feel safe to ask questions and post photos of themselves without fear of ridicule for their choices. It’s my party and I want my guests to all have a good time.
Working crazy hours. The flexibility of owning your own business means does not necessarily mean working fewer hours than paid employment – and that’s definitely the case for me. I work longer and more hours that I did in my former career but all the energy I put in is for MY bottom line, not someone else’s.
COVID!
If you run any small business in 2020, your adrenals are probably like mine. SHOT! It’s been a year that none of us could have predicted. Survival has equalled success. And pivoting has become the most over-used word but an action that we’ve all had to embrace. The GFC was hard, yes. But in 2008, I wasn’t responsible for the livelihoods of other people (just my own family). That brought on a whole new level of stress that I’m looking forward to putting behind me.
Now, if you’ve made it this far, I’m super impressed. The above was something I need to download, reflect and record – for my family and myself. My kids have grown up watching me do this thing on the Internet. I want them to know their mum took a leap of faith, backed herself and built a business that helps others every day.
My husband, Mr SY, deserves more than a medal. In those early years, when it was tough going, I only remember him once questioning whether it was all worth it. I told him then it was worth it and I tell him now it’s worth it because of YOU, dear reader. It’s all because of YOU. If you’ve ever read a post, commented, liked, shared or chatted with a friend about Styling You. THANK YOU.
Thanks so much for indulging me with this post. If you’ve got a favourite Styling You memory you’d like to share, please leave a comment below.
Comments 50
Huge congrats for hanging in there when things get tough. I trained as an Image consultant and I first came across you in about 2012. I enjoy your message about wearing what makes you feel good. It is mine too and one I tell my clients. Age does not matter (too many people get hung up on a number). However my best part is the closed fb group. They are a wealth of information and it really is a positive space. At the end of the day everyone just wants to feel good and know that they are important and I think your blog and community does that. Wishing you another 10 years of positive growth.xx
Hi Nikki, Congratulations on navigating an amazing pathway and making space for lots of women with entrepreneurial spirits to follow in your footsteps. You have helped me enormously since I found you online after googling “personal stylists”. I refer to you as my “Style Guru” and have gifted your book to a couple of my friends. Joy and happiness to you Nikki!
Congratulations Nikki, your achivements in 10 short years are amazing. You have given me and so many other women across the world, the confidence to embrace our bodies and to get out and enjoy life in clothes that we love. Jenni xxx
I have THOROUGHLY enjoyed wandering down memory lane with you on this post, and knowing I’ve been in your orbit for nearly every step of this journey. It’s been a wild ride and I think you’re the greatest xo
Happy 10th birthday Nikki! I can’t remember how I found you, but I’m glad that I did as you have been an inspiration to so many out there. You’ve encouraged myself & countless others to “just wear the damn swimsuit” regardless of what our bodies look like, have given me plenty of ideas for my next overseas trip & I personally have you to thank for introducing me to the wonders of FRANKiE4 shoes. (I should also firmly blame you for turning me into a FRANKiE4 fangirl who wants all the shoes – 4 pairs, including your namesake, and counting!)
I’d also like to thank you for attempting to keep things as real as possible, despite all the glitz & glam. It would be so easy to get to where you are & morph into someone you’re not, but I can’t see that happening here. Thank you for having the courage to share not only your triumphs but your struggles as well, whether it be with your health & fitness or, as featured in this post, your “lowlights” since starting Styling You. Keep doing you Nikki!
Double digits! What a crazy ride – you’ve achieved so much and have so much to be proud of. My personal highlight was meeting you at the Olympus SY lunch in Sydney and getting tips on how to take a great selfie. Those tips have held me in good stead ever since! Love your work x
Congratulations on 10 years of SY Nikki. My favourite thing was of course meeting you ‘in real life’, sincere apologies if I was star struck at the time! You have helped so many people and deserve a BIG celebration! FF xx
Nikki I stumbled across your blog one day a few years ago whilst googling Nina Proudman clothes. From Day 1 I was hooked! I have to confess some of the clothes a little too colourful for me at times (I am a Melbourne girl after all!). However your blog encouraged me to start looking at other colour options apart from black. I have learnt so much from your style tips over the years and learnt how to wear ankle boots, stripes and jackets. But always knowing your overriding message was wear what you love and feel comfortable in rather than what the fashion world dictates based on yr size. I came along to your Melbourne book launch and was a little star struck at the time but loved yr book. I have recommended yr blog and book to friends along the way. So many congratulations on your 10 years and thank you. Please know your work has had a positive effect on many Australian women. Xx
Congratulations on 10 years Nikki! I’ve been following for a few years and participated in a couple of capsule programs which I love! You are always there with a lovely comment for everyone. Always encouraging and giving us lots of helpful hints. I do love model and me to see the pieces on a non model although with your gorgeous looks you could be a model!! And I enjoy finding about the hidden gems of the fashion world with great new labels to covet. Anyways….wish I could be there today. Hope it was fabulous!!! Anne-Margaret
What a journey – congratulations and happy 10th birthday Nikki.
I came across your Facebook page by accident a few years ago. I love seeing your posts and reading your “articles”. Love model and me day.
Thank you for sharing your holidays with us and then sharing your travel tips and what you loved about a particular place. And for also sharing your family news. I feel like I know you as a friend who I see on a regular basis.
Keep up the great work.
Happy celebrating!!
Cheers to you!
It’s truly a pleasure to know you and Styling You, Nikki. Congratulations on building something so important and worthwhile. x
Congratulations Nikki! I am only a sometime reader but I always enjoy your posts. Here’s to another ten years (at least!)!
Happy 10th birthday Nikki! I first met you at Zoe Foster’s The Wrong Girl book launch many years ago. Now that book has been made into a TV series, and I am going to your 10th birthday party! Thanks for keeping it real and inspiring us every day x
Author
Oh WOW Melissa, that’s so awesome to have that connection. I loved hosting Zoe’s launch four years ago!
Congratulations Nikki. Ten years! I’ve followed you for much of that time, watching you grow and expand your business model. Keep taking that high road. Enjoy your celebrations over the weekend.
My favourite memory of you is when I was having a little holiday on the Sunshine Coast and asked if I could catch up with you & Stacey (aka VeggieMama) & we met and enjoyed a lovely lunch and I was so grateful that you took the time to do that. I first recall seeing you speak post Aussie Blogger at St Leonards at an event by Penny Webb! Gosh, memory lane is busy tonight. Enjoy the celebration of 10 years! Denyse x
Happy 10th Blogday Nikki and thankyou for taking that chance and creating such a wonderful, safe and inspiring space that allows us all to find our style. You are always so generous and genuine I know that my confidence has been increased as a direct result of following you and of all you share with us. Thank you and have a wonderful day tomorrow. Xxx
Wow, Nikki! Congrats on 10 years with hopefully many more to come. What a great adventure – thank you for your great blog and for sharing the last 10 years in this post. I found you via “model and me” posts many years ago, still look forward to the Monday model posts. I read all this recap and it was a great read,. It’s good to hear the ups and downs too. Love that you always write from the heart, as your blogging buddies Babymac and Mrs Woog do – it’s about being you. All the best, and thanks for supporting the over 40 / 50 audience.
Congratulations on turning 10. I am sure it will be a stylish event and I wish I could be there to raise a glass!I think there are too many moments, but if I had to pick one, my favourite would have to be the one where I got to be styled for a day. Spoiled me for life!
Hi Nikki, congratulations on the 10 year mark. I’ve been following for a long time and you’ve really helped me out with ‘togs’! What strikes me consistently is your grace, so thank you for doing what you do, and for the way that you do it.
Happy 10th Birthday 🙂 Wow what an achievement! Love reading your blog. Enjoy your party tomorrow xo
Congratulations Nikki! So glad I found your blog x happy 10th birthday
Happy 10th birthday !! I love your blog and have been delighted to meet you a few times.
Looking forward to ‘Styling You turns 10’ tomorrow !!
Congratulations on 10 wonderful years Nikki! You and your blog are such an inspiration! So many items in my wardrobe have been inspired by your Instagram posts and blog posts. You have introduced me to so many amazing clothing brands. Enjoy your well deserved celebrations tomorrow!
Congratulations on 10 wonderful years Nikki! You and your blog are such an inspiration! So many items in my wardrobe have been inspired by your Instagram posts and blog posts. You have introduced me to so many amazing clothing brands. Enjoy your well deserved celebrations tomorrow!
Hey Nikki,
Firstly, huge congrats on the big X. Although I’m not at all your target market, I’ve been following your biz journey for many years. I’m fascinated by how different niches work, but more importantly how the uniqueness of each person brings to that niche.
Congrats and here’s to the next X!
Congratulations Nikki. You have been, still are and no doubt still will be in the future, an inspiration to me and many other women. You’ve proved that hard work, a great mission (which has rarely wavered), a pivotal approach to the online world, and your own touch of magic are the ingredients for a successful business. You have plodded, then soared, picked yourself up, worked late, hustled, maintained resilience, and said yes to opportunities – you deserve your success. Here’s to your next 10 years!
Congratulations Nikki! I can’t recall when I connected with your blog but I know I look forward to reading it every week. I hope it’s good news for you and co businesses that I have discovered and enjoy so many great and local brands.
But my biggest call out is for your amazing empathy and generosity. I sadly lost my beautiful 21 year old daughter in an accident. I wrote asking if you might support a prize for a memorial race in her name. In days I received a signed book with lots of kisses. You made a group of wonderful young women riding quite excited to be ‘the one’s to win your book. So thank YOU for being such a kind wonderful person to someone you had never met before.
Best wishes for the coming 10 years and yes, every woman every day deserves to feel amazing! Thank you xxxxx
Oh Nikki, I must’ve jumped in and joined this ride quite some time ago!! I think there were about 300 of us following along on FB and I have no idea how I found you, I’m just very glad I did! Getting to come along to that Fashion Week event with you was surreal- rest assured I still have the Mercedes compact from the goody bag!! Enjoy your party, and if you want to take that on the road too I’m sure there are a few of us in Sydney Town who’d come along to raise their glass with you!
Happy 10th birthday Nikki. I’m a recent follower and recent autumn/winter capsule member. You have made such an impact on my life and so many others. The confidence you have given me in believing in myself through no longer worrying about being judged for what I wear is amazing. I am sitting on a plane returning from a work conference. Normally I spend days, weeks worrying what I should wear, what would people think. Then stressed whether it was right when there. This time I confidently packed my capsule wardrobe and rocked it for the week. My gala outfit (white noba – thanks to your influence) was planned early and spot on. I could fully focus on the work, the people, the fun. The confidence is from your teachings, support and confidence to put yourself out there for others. I wish I could be there for the celebration and hope you celebrate in style (of course you will). So huge congratulations on this wonderful milestone!!!
Cheers
Kaye
Thank you Nikki! Your passion, enthusiasm and positivity is a wonderful thing and I love reading and following along. There’s so much joy in all your content and work and it never fails to bring a smile and inspire me to put my best fashion foot forward. Congratulations on 10 years!
Congratulations, what you do is so much more than “fashion”, and you do it with humour, grace and authenticity. Enjoy your party tomorrow and thanks for everything that you do.
Happy birthday gorgeous lady! I’ve been reading your blog longer than I’ve known my husband haha. I can remember sitting in my townhouse in Morningside back in 2010 and reading your blog and then always checking your Nina related posts in 2011 to see where on earth I could find a similar maxi skirt or cropped denim jacket ❤️ I too started my biz smack back in the GFC era (its our 10 years in January) and have always had the notion ‘if we could make it through that, we can make it through anything’. I can’t wait to see what you have in-store for the next 10! Much love x
Happy 10th Nikki! Amazing what you have built from scratch. I love being a part of your SY community – my favourite is when any of us see a cool outfit somewhere, post a pic on Facebook and someone else will ALWAYS know what brand it is, and where to get it. So handy! I read your whole post and I love the Bob the Builder story – whoops!
Can’t wait to celebrate with you tomorrow.
Congratulations…. you are an inspiration. You deserve all great things that come your way. Thanks for being such a positive influence on so many women. You are just such a good person and we love you. Have a great time on Saturday, so wish I could just pop down and it wasn’t a 3 day drive to get there! Enjoy, it will be the event of 2018!!! Happy 10 Years Nikki.
Women supporting women. You have a track record of wanting women to do well. You support them in that endeavour and in return you and your business have flourished. Thank you for your meaningful contribution to the zeitgeist and to us. You have made your corner of the world a better – and more stylish – place.
❤️
Congratulations and Happy 10th Birthday. You should be tremendously proud of what you have achieved. You’ve helped so many women feel confident in the way they look and have created such a positive group of women building each other up. Enjoy the celebrations tomorrow and THANK YOU!! x
There is something in my eye now! Congratulations Nikki!! Here’s to the next ten years.
Happy 10 and can’t wait to cheer you on for the next 10!!! I still have the foundation pieces we got together on that first shopping trip and every time I put on one of the structured dresses I feel like I can achieve anything and it suits me still, (still need help working out yet how to make a wetsuit flattering on now nearly 50 body) Thank you for sharing your business and heart with us, I have watched with pride and awe and you have given me the courage to give it a go myself knowing if we keep course and are flexible it will work out.
Keep on keeping on when women lift each other up magic happens
Much love Kaitlyn
Congratulations on 10 fabulous years! You’re such an inspiration and I love sharing a business birthday with you, feeling all rather reflective too. Looking forward to celebrating with a champagne (or two) with you at #SYTurns10! x
Gosh I can’t remember when I started following you but I sure am glad I did. I actually won your gorgeous book and the uberkate lock necklace for the photo I sent in with the matching mullet hair do with my husband hahaaa, that book has become my bible! You are such a busy woman/mother but you always have time to reply to my messages and for that I thank you(oh and if you were wondering if my two staffy have taken over my instagram account YES they did hahaaaa). Have an AMAZING time celebrating your 10th birthday Nikki and I hope to be able to meet you one day at one of your events xx
Congratulations on this wonderful achievement Nikki! Just went back through the pics on my phone from the days when I used to screenshot my very favourite outfit pics of you until I realized I could just browse through your Instagram or search your blog . Since then you’ve become a shortcut on my laptop and my goto for styling advice. Big virtual hug to you. ❤️
Happiest of birthdays Nikki. Love all you do. Continued growth and success. xxx
Congratulations on such a massive milestone, Nikki. What a journey it has been. Enjoy your party tomorrow, especially a well deserved champagne. xo
Read right to the end and now there is something in my eye too. Congratulations, well done Nikki. I don’t often comment, but I always “read and like” as much as I can. Enjoy the SY 10 Year Celebrations, you deserve it so much and keep doing what you do so well. xoJen
Love your work Nikki and hope to give you a squeeze tomorrow. A friend once asked me if you were real, I was happy to tell her yes very. Congratulations and thank you for the inspiration and support. I remember cheekily tagging you on one of my early blog posts and you were so generous that you shared it. Hugs xx
Happy 10th birthday to you Nikki you deserve to be spoilt and I think you’re the one that deserves a medal for the kindness and help you have given women all over Australia and most probably other parts of the world for the invaluable advice,encouragement and just super Nikki kindness you have sprinkled over the internet ti me and countless other women over the past 10 years.
I want to thank you for being down to earth ,kind and so giving of your time,making women feel special and helping them look special too!
I remember the days I used to fire up my computer just to check Stylingyou asb when you used to blog on Sunday’s.
Have a wonderful Birthday party Nikki you are a true gem of the diamond variety… thank you Xx
Fabulous reading Nikki, you really are a star.
I first heard about you when I purchased your book from a small bookshop in Noosa, whilst on holiday there. Seemingly I just missed you as you had been there promoting your book the day earlier. I went back to my apartment and read your book. Since then I have loved following all your comings and goings, highs and lows. Love that you are real…..!!
So Happy 10th Birthday, have a fab weekend.
I will be spending the weekend in Martinborough, a small wine making town about an hour out of Wellington, NZ. We have taken a lovely big house for the family to celebrate my husbands 70th birthday. So lots of happiness this weekend.
Lots of love
Judy Minty
Happy 10th Birthday Styling You! Nikki, I log on each Monday, Wednesday and Friday because as much as you might dislike the word ‘influencer’ it absolutely describes you – to me anyway. You have influenced my life in so many ways! My wardrobe especially, right down to the organisation of it. Loved reading this post, what an amazing journey you have had, looking forward to the next 10 years! x