Today Ashley Batista is a Master Stylist with her own business, Spotted by Ashley. No doubt her education and work experience led her to this accomplishment. She first worked in the Women’s Designer department at Saks Fifth Avenue in the Houston Galleria and then moved to Nordstrom for the next five years, starting in Houston and moving to Austin to open The Domain location. There she gained experience in men’s fashion, women’s styling, managing a stylist team, and more. And now working with local shops for various partnerships. In 2020 she took a break from retail and went to work for The Knot, where she was in the wedding industry for about two years. “It didn’t last long as my clients asked me to style them again, and I was now working for a custom clothing company located in New York City,” she says. “This brings me to today when I offer Personal Styling Services, Wardrobe Consultations, and even Custom Clothing for Men and Women in Texas – a one-stop shop.” **Q: What's the first step you take when consulting with someone about their wardrobe?** A: I love to shop in your closet! This allows me to see your style, understand your life, take your measurements, and have a discussion on what your style goals are. **Q: Are there strategies you incorporate to allow clients to use some of their existing wardrobes?** A: Absolutely! I am also a big believer in sustainability, and if we can give your current pieces a new life, let’s do it! This can be by styling your pieces in a way you may have never thought about or altering your pieces to have a better fit. **Q: Do you ever have male clients whose wives have told them they need to update their wardrobe?** A: My favorite clients! I work with people’s partners all the time. If you hate to shop - great! I will do it for you. If you love to shop - great! I bring the stores to you and give you a luxury experience. We work together to achieve the same style goals. It’s a great holiday or birthday gift for your partner. **Q: Can you tell what a person's style is by looking at their closet?** A: Yes and no. If someone is looking to change or update their style, I will use their current closet as a guide as to “why” they may want to change. Or if someone has a major life update, such as having children, losing or gaining weight, a new promotion at work, moving to a new city, etc. Getting to know people and their lives will help me with what their style actually is. **Q: What are frequent compliments you've received after helping someone update their wardrobe?** A: The biggest compliment is watching someone’s confidence grow. There have been so many times I’ve heard: “I feel better;” “This looks better now;” or “Wow! I didn’t know this would look so good.” Then my clients carry this new confidence into their jobs, dates, or everyday wear, and hearing them tell me their new compliments warms my heart. Check out my website for more client reviews here: https://spottedbyashley.com/ **Q: Do you charge by the hour? Or do your charges depend on the complexity of the project?** A: Everything is case by case, depending on what a client is looking for in their wardrobe. For a wardrobe consultation, I start at $80 per hour and then go to $120 per hour. On average it can be about three hours in a closet. For Personal Shopping, Custom Clothing, Virtual Sessions or Special Occasions, I will discuss rates in more depth upon a consultation. **Q: Is the best way for people to contact you about your services through your webpage?** A: That is a great way to contact me! My email address is
[email protected] which is a great way as well.
