There’s a quote that says, “Show me your friends and I will show you your future.” In all honesty the people we associate with will have an influence on ourselves and our dreams. I have made it my personal goal to surrond myself amongest confident, strong and intelligent women. I’m so blessed to call Carline Joseph my friend.
From the first time we met I knew for sure that she was a woman on a mission. Carline is ambitious just like myself and it’s so refreshing to have a friend to call on like her. She has a passion for fashion and she will make an impact on the indusry. I am forsure that our friendship will never run out of style. Carline is a black girl who rocks!
I sat down with Carline to find out about her story.
When did you first become interested in Fashion?
I first became interested in fashion early freshman year of high school. I remember falling in love with the thrift store and always begging my mom to take me on her days off. Thrifting allowed me to appreciate clothing pieces that were not always name brand and showed me how to piece together very interesting looks that made me stand out but, I was always very particular about wanting to be comfortable. I had a huge obsession with vintage vests in high school, I thought they went well with everything that I wore. Seasons always changed but I found a way to make them work at any time.
What are some of your current projects that you’re working on?
Current projects that I am working on are geared towards clients who want to portray their profession or hobby with my styled looks. It’s called Carli J Styles in Range. I want to provide a few looks that my client can work with and really push through to express what they love doing.
What inspired you to start Carli J Styles?
What inspired me to become a stylist and Public Relations professional is my desire to help people creative the lives they want to live & portray. Not only can styling allow me to do that but it pushes me to find out everything about my clients, but it also allows me to find the best plans and strategies to get them feeling their very best. Public Relations can be very strategic as well. When brands or organizations hire a publicist, they are expecting methods to be implemented that will advance their company. People are trusting me with their money makers, so having that in mind makes me work harder and learn more about what can inspire me on a daily basis.
What do you like about fashion? Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from seeing men and women who live their dreams every day and understand that any goal they set is not their final destination. What inspires me are the people who get up everyday knowing that things may be rough but they get up any way. People like my mother and father who have always said that they want the best for me. Support, aspirations, goal setters and mountain movers inspire me.
Where do you see yourself after graduating from SCAD?
If there is anything that will stick with me once I graduate it is defiance. In my quarter and a half since being a student at SCAD, I have had to push back on a lot of the “No” responses. So after graduation, I see myself implementing EVERYTHING that I have learned throughout my university education. Being defiant whether through my own brand, companies that I work with or the people that I will encounter everyday. I like to think that I will always be a student because I love to learn, I may not get things immediately but believe once I do its only up from there. I encourage myself daily and it gives me that extra push that I know I’ll need once I graduate. Anywhere I land upon graduation will be set up for me as long as I give myself that little push to get through.
If it’s one thing you could be remembered for, what would it be?
One thing I want to be remembered for is my strength. I may not be or look like wonder woman and I understand that we all face daily and timely struggles. But as a young women, student, daughter, friend and sister being strong mentally, physically, and emotionally has been my pathway to freedom for the past 22 years. Of course I cry, scream, throw things, and fuss but I also laugh like I never have, smile until my jaw hurts and trust my God because my faith depends on it.. Moral of the story is, I am still here because I have been strong enough to recover and replace myself from stigmas, stereotypes, doubts, faults, pressure and scrutiny. Everyday someone dies, loses a piece of them or secludes themselves from the world, so yes I am strong and I am here and I do not need people to understand it, just respect it.