Meet Kim Rodriguez | Personal Stylist

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

Hi Kim, every day, we know about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I went to the Fashion Institute of Technology for Fashion Merchandising and Marketing. I worked in the fashion industry in NY for over 15 years before moving to Miami. I was a mom of a young child, and wanted some time off to raise her and build our life in our new home. It did become clear once my daughter started school full time that I wanted, and needed more. I missed the industry in NY, but not the hours, travel or often the stress of the job, so I wanted to create something that allowed me to be a very present and involved parent but also give me the independence and creativity of continuing to work. I often was my friends go to for ridding their closets of questionable pieces, styling outfits, or just the”go to” for any fashion question. So, I decided to start charging for my advice and time…not really to my friends back then though:) They helped me realize that if they had questions and often times pain around dressing, than many women probably did as well.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
After being in the fashion industry for over 15 years in NY, I fairly quickly realized that my skill set and passion was in the visual creation of a brand. This meaning I could merchandise a retail store easily, create brand awareness through visuals, create outfits for fashion shows and mannequins, teach others how to really look at something with an unbiased eye and create something unique, and having the long term vision of the story, and visually having it all come together. In Ny I worked for Calvin Klein, Bloomingdale’s and a menswear company called Wilke-Rodriguez (where I met my husband) and my role was always in visual merchandising and eventually as the Visual Director for the WR brand. Living in NY and working in the heart of the industry truly set me up with the confidence, stamina, and attitude to start my own company and the belief I would not fail. I started off well, with not a very high expectation, and there were many ups and downs along the way. Some months I didn’t have any work or new prospects, and I felt well it’s only about clothes, does that seem to shallow to build a business on? However, when I was busy, getting referrals, new clients from FB or Google, it was in those times I had the clarity that it’s so much more than clothes. Getting dressed isn’t just about style on the outside, it’s a direct reflection of who you are, and how you are feeling. Clothes can make all the difference in the world as to how you show up, and who you want to show up as. That is very powerful, and it takes time to understand and nurture. Because it doesn’t come naturally to all people, and time is a luxury we don’t have a lot of, I believe in what my services can offer in helping change people lives.

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 is filled with great things to do and places to eat, so this is a tough one. If we weren’t in a pandemic this would be the lineup for the visit. Beach, Beach, Beach. Probably South Pointe on Miami Beach or a few more secluded places my husband and I like to go that aren’t too crowded, and you can pop into a hotel bar for a snack and drink. Rent a boat for the day and do something close near Key Biscayne or to Elliotts Key where the locals tie up and it’s one big party. There are really great restaurants that you can dock to eat like Garcias, Kiki’s, Sea Spice, and the Dock. If they are visiting for a week I would absolutely take a drive to Isla Morada in the Keys for the day and ride bikes and eat at Morada Bay because I absolutely love sitting at a table directly in the sand by the water. It doesn’t get any more vacation like than that. Obviously we would shop too so I would take them to the outdoor shops of Merrick Park or the new Brickell City Center and have launch at Casa Tua Kitchen or The River Oyster Bar. We would go to Wynwood to see the art, small boutiques and eat lunch at Coyo Tacos, and then go on to the Design District for some heavy duty shopping and dinner at Mandolin. I often take guests to the Perez Art Museum as the architecture is beautiful and the views incredible, even if you don’t go inside. Fairchild Tropical Gardens if it isn’t too hot out, as it’s just a beautiful walk, taking in the best nature has to offer. One more thing, visit the Ritz Carlton on Key Biscayne. The drive there is beautiful and you can eat lunch on the water and then walk the beach or grab some beach chairs and sit and order cocktails at the hotel bar.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Well, I mentioned my friends earlier as the precipice to me starting the company, so I’d like to thank all of them for that. And also my husband, who is my biggest cheerleader, and made me believe in myself that not only was I good enough to start my own business, but that everyone needs a “kim” in their life. He was always supportive back then when I started 10 years ago, and to this day as I’ve restructured a great deal of my business, he is still cheering me on. In the end though it will always be my loyal clientele that have allowed me to still be here. They have trusted in me, some for 10 years, to help them through some momentous and transitional periods in their lives, hired me for their children, spouses, other family members, have referred me to their friends and have become friends:)

Website: www.krpersonalstyle.com

Instagram: @krpersonalstyle

Linkedin: Kimberly Rodriguez

Facebook: Krpersonalstylehttp://Krpersonalstyle

Image Credits
@melhartz_photo @may_bagnell