Meet Julie Rath | Image Consultant and Personal Stylist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julie Rath and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I absolutely love what I do and believe passion truly drives success. At the end of the day, my job is to make people feel their best so they can live their best lives. I consider myself part coach, part stylist, and part confidante. Trust plays an important role too. I work with very successful clients – many of them men – who don’t have a lot of time to focus but expect “results.” I have to teach them that our work is both mental and physical. Clothes and styling are very powerful tools for performance in all aspects of our lives. I get such a high when I see clients feeling great in their own skin as a result of our work together. Success also means being able to adapt quickly. With the shift to video calls for work, this past year has been significant for business because it requires teaching clients different strategies to look their best on camera. I’m also doing more with corporate clients who offer my services to their C-suite execs as a perk. Finally, I know that technology has a role to play, so I’ve added a proprietary platform to build and manage my clients’ wardrobes that they can access 24/7.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My early days as a casting director have had a lot to do with where I am today. That position enabled me to hone a critical eye for the cues that people give off through their image. Often image was the difference between an actor nailing a part vs not. What also sets me apart is valuing my relationships with clients and partners. They are like gold to me! Over my years in this business, I have cultivated a trusted network of image and style resources. From grooming to tailoring and custom clothiers, all have been personally vetted by me. That’s the “& Co.” behind Rath & Co! By nature, I’m an efficient person, and that extends to my work. When I’m with clients, there’s no wandering in and out of stores. I know exactly where to go, and every stop is planned. I always pre-shop for my clients, meaning I pull items at the store in advance, so their stocked dressing room is waiting when they walk in the door. Covid has taught me one of my biggest business lessons: the importance of being nimble and able to pivot as needed. Fortunately, I was already doing much of my work online with long-distance clients, so I was able to parlay that work toward my local clients as well. I’m excited about a new service that I’ve added during Covid: Family Styling. Families are spending more time together than ever before and looking for fun family activities. It’s heartwarming to see parents and their kids coming together and being uplifted by our work. Looking back, learning to gain my clients’ trust in a short period of time was probably one of my earliest challenges and biggest strengths. What I do is deeply personal. Everyone is human. Everyone has insecurities, and everyone wants to look and feel confident. I make that happen.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Miami has so much going on these days. The energy. The creativity. The food scene. I love Casa Tua – for the ambience and delicious food. I know it sounds lame to order a salad from a steakhouse, but the signature salad at Prime 112 is next level. Curio at Faena Bazaar is really fun to explore. The multiple floors each have a different vibe. It’s almost like traveling through different countries as you walk through the store. The Webster has curated a fantastic selection of brands and hard to find pieces. I’m not normally into vintage, but some of the vintage items they have are very special. Of course you can’t beat Bal Harbor for luxury shopping and the quintessential Miami vibe. I love to shop for clients in Bal Harbor because practically every store is there! The Design District is also fun to explore. It has a more arty and edgy feel and is home to some other excellent luxury stores like Dior and Hermes. My go-to restaurant there is Mandolin, where I pretty much order everything on the menu. My eyes are always bigger than my stomach there! I also always make a point to hit the Kith store in South Beach whenever I’m in the area. They carry many emerging brands, and their collaborations are inspiring. I’ve found lots of gems for both men and women clients at Kith. And, of course, no stop at Kith is complete without the soft serve with old school cereal mix-ins. For brain candy, I love the Frost Science Museum. Every time I go, I learn something new there. The planetarium show is so relaxing. It puts me into a trance!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to shout out to my friend and colleague Heather Lowenthal. She is an amazing event planner — I am always in awe of the lavish and impressive events she puts together!

Website: rathandco.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julie_rath/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-rath-3a1a1a5/