Redefining Professionalism on My Own Terms

How Owning My Story (and My Style) Changed Everything

A couple of weeks ago, I gave a presentation to a group of 9th–12th grade students in the Upward Bound program. I was invited to do it by Dress for Success, an organization I’ve been volunteering with since January 2024. I was happy to say yes—I truly enjoy sharing what I know with others. Plus, I’m no stranger to speaking with teens; in the past, I regularly gave presentations to high school students on the topic of dating violence.

I spent a full day preparing for the presentation. Dress for Success provided a slide deck, but I chose to add additional information and activities. I wanted the presentation to be more interactive, hoping that would better engage the students.

You’re probably wondering what the topic was: Workplace Professionalism. Like you might be thinking, I found myself wondering if I was an odd choice for this topic. I’m a solo entrepreneur who hasn’t held a traditional professional role since 2021. Despite my best efforts for nearly a year, I was never hired for a professional position here in Texas. And let’s be honest—I don’t exactly match the conventional image of “professional.” I’m a bald woman covered in tattoos.

I moved to Texas from Washington state in 2021. For the decade prior, I worked in various nonprofit roles supporting survivors of rape and domestic violence. I loved that work, but after 10 years, I was deeply burned out. Combined with some significant personal upheaval, I found myself in a tough emotional place—an identity crisis, really. I asked myself: Who am I? What do I want? How am I going to build that life?

For two years, I felt like I was drifting. I knew I needed work, so I aimed for a career change into HR. I went back to school to pursue a master’s degree, went on countless interviews, and wore long sleeves and pants in 100-degree heat to cover my tattoos and try to present as “professional.” But it didn’t work. And the truth is, it wasn’t because of how I looked—it was because I wasn’t being honest about who I was or what I truly wanted.

In the fall of 2023, I finally admitted to myself what had been true all along: I didn’t want to work in a traditional professional environment. What I really wanted was to pursue the passion I’d had since I was 15—to make clothes and help people feel beautiful, comfortable, and themselves in what they wear. I wanted to encourage people to lean into their identities, not water themselves down to meet others’ expectations.

For much of my life, denying parts of my identity—whether my queerness, my creativity, or my desire to follow my own path—was at the root of my unhappiness. If I have anything to offer others now, it’s the drive to help them discover themselves. For me, it’s not just about clothing. It’s about helping people dig into who they are at their core, and then showing them how to present that person to the world. Clothes have power—but nothing is more powerful than walking into a room knowing exactly who you are.

So, was I an unusual choice to give that presentation on professionalism? Maybe. But I hope I planted a seed about what’s possible—about the power of authenticity and self-expression. I hope they saw a bald woman with a neck tattoo, wearing an outfit she designed herself, feeling genuinely happy because she finally knows who she is.

If you’re ready to explore how your personal style can help you show up more authentically in your own life, let’s connect. Reach out to book a style consultation today and start rewriting your story through what you wear.