Jocelyn Garrity is the CEO of the On Call Stylist. She has worked in the styling industry since her freshman year in college, where she started her career as an intern for the fashion stylist on The Ellen Show. Since then, Jocelyn has have worked as a stylist’s celebrities including; Usher, JLo, Shakira, Beyonce, Emily Blunt, Dakota Fanning, and more. However, she constantly found herself drawn to helping everyday people feel & look like stars. This is when she launched The On Call Stylist. The On Call Stylist are your virtual stylists, that helps you out when you are in your closet and trying to figure out what to wear. You can simply FaceTime them and they will style you with the clothes in your closet!
Tell us more about yourself and some of your fashion styling experiences.
I am an LA girl, currently living in Brooklyn. I have a puppy I love & am one of Beyoncé biggest fans, most importantly I am a fashion stylist. I’ve dressed my friends since middle school and worked as a stylist for 8 years. I started as an intern on The Ellen Show and haven’t stopped working since! I assisted on commercials, red carpets, TV shows, films, photo shoots, you name it. In 2014 I started working for Usher and have been on his style team ever since! But in 2016, I chose to launch my own company, The On Call stylist.
How did you get started in your business?
I noticed my love for fashion in middle school. My mom always loved it, so it was something I just grew up paying attention to. I don’t think I even realized I was good at it until my best friends mom gave her money to go shopping in 7th grade. We went to the mall and my friend said to me, “Here is how much money I have, tell me what I should get”. Then in my youth group, I found out that styling was a career, and I was lucky enough to have one of my leaders offer me a summer internship with the styling team on The Ellen Show. I was 18 and that is how I started. So honestly, I have done this for my friends my whole life. I got the idea to make it a business and here I am.
What are the plans that you had for your business when you first started?
I wanted to immediately make it into an app, with tons of stylists available at all times. I haven’t made it an app yet because I need to prove to investors that it is a lucrative idea worth investing in. Until I have enough clients to back that, I do not think it is wise for myself or any investors. I think this is a wise business move for myself and investors right now. However, in the meantime, I would love to be able to tour city to city, booking makeovers with clients. That is a personal dream for myself.
What are the daily/weekly/monthly tasks that guaranteed the execution of your plan?
Traffic! Traffic! Traffic! We are focused on growing traffic and our email list currently. Other than our loyal clients, we are still building brand presence. This will help us guarantee the execution of our business plan for The On Call Stylist.
What does your business teach individuals?
It teaches how to use the clothes in your closet, how to create a personal style – how to feel freaking fabulous at all times! It changes their day to day confidence. Women learn to love themselves more by feeling confident in their clothes and they learn to walk with their head held a little higher.
After styling a client, what are some of the changes you notice?
Some of the short-term changes that I notice are that they get used to compliments from their friends and family who notice the change. Some of the long-term changes that I notice is that they learn to style themselves more with their clothes as a result of our session, which continues to build their self-confidence over time.
What’s one client experience that reconfirmed that you were walking in your purpose?
I recently did a makeover with a married woman, and her issue was she always wanted to feel like she was dressing her age. She is 48 and looks 36, so I told her that when she gets to a point that she looks her age, then she might decide to dress more conservative. Until then, let’s have some fun with her style! Her husband was cheering this on, and had me coach him on what to say to her the next time she put on an amazing outfit that felt ‘too young’.
What is the 1 signature thing that makes your business stand out from others?
We choose styling everyday people at affordable rates over high rates with celebrities because we care about building confidence in our clients over anything else! My most recent clients have been the vice president of a company, a college student, an aspiring musician & a mom in Tampa. This is what I mean when I say, everyday people. These are the people that aren’t necessarily being noticed for their style. Working for a celebrity, you aren’t changing their life in the way you do a college student. That celebrity is most likely confident already. Working with everyday people, we build their confidence and this is why The On Call Stylist stands out.
If a business wants to stand out, it needs to show the heart of the business. A lot of competition is popping up, competition with more investors and money.
What has been your biggest highlight of being in business so far?
The first FaceTime call was such a success! It was a great feeling — affirmation that this is a good idea, that people need the service. Funny enough, she was located about two miles from me in Brooklyn! She loved being virtually styled and is to this day one of my most supportive clients. We have met in person and I adore her.
What would 1 bit of advice that you would give to someone thinking about starting a business be?
Don’t overwhelm yourself with to-do lists. Have small tasks, tackle them, and then move forward! Otherwise, you might be so overwhelmed, you do nothing. Also, don’t wait too long to launch. Don’t watchTV while you work. Focus like it’s a 9-5 so you’re not wasting so much time! Don’t look on every blog for advice, find a voice you love and listen to them. It can get so overwhelming so fast.
What is 1 fun tidbit about yourself that you would like to share?
Adele’s toddler son invited me to hang out with them in an elevator once. She said she didn’t know me..but it was An amazing moment!
Can you give us some deets’ on some of your upcoming business plans?
In 5 years from now, I see us having that styling app. But on the other upcoming business plans, I am staying hush for now.
Get to know more about this CEO with Priceless Plans?
Instagram: @jocelyngarrity
Twitter: @jocelyngarrity
Pinterest: @tocstylist
Visit her website: www.theoncallstylist.com
