Instagram: @officialcanesinclair
When did you get into fashion/fashion styling?
Fashion was born into my heart literally. I put on my first pair of heels at the age of two. They were actually my mother's heels but they captivated me at first glance. I will never forget they were bubble gum pink pointed-toe heels. I began to study haute couture designers like Coco Chanel, Christian Dior, and my absolute favorite Valentino Garavani. I began working in retail at the age of 18 at Express. Unlike my colleagues, I took an active liking to not just customer service but dressing my customers from head to toe. It was an avenue for me to express myself creatively. Around 2012, I was out shopping with a friend of mine who's an R&B singer in Atlantic Station. He asked me my opinion on a pair of pants and I just went off, and began to pull him multiple looks and explain what goes with what and how to create different looks with the articles of clothing I selected. In a jokingly manner he said, "Damn, you should be a stylist or something". That statement resonated with me and from then it was on. I started exchanging contact information with my customers at my retail job and they begin to pay me to come to them and do what I did in-store.
What growth have you seen within yourself from the start of your fashion styling career to where you are now?
Amid my journey of styling and just life, I learned many things. I learned that I could charge clients to get paid for doing something I love, I needed to brand myself and my business, how to separate myself from the norm, and create long-lasting relationships. I have always been applauded for my customer service. My ideology is to treat people how I want to be treated, my clients’ priorities are my priorities, know my clients’ needs before they do, and get it done(whatever it is) by any means. The most important thing I learned and becoming a mother really helped me discover this is; I will never make the amount of money I want/need to make by working for someone else. I started my business while on maternity leave with my first daughter, Jaiden. She gave me my first set of superpowers. She gave me a reason to never be lazy, she made me a morning person lol, she made me and my King buy a bigger house, and she made me take on the mindset of "Mommy must always have it". I actually went back to college for her. Just so that I can tell her mommy has a college degree. Mind you, I have been successful without college but I want my babies to know, mommy did it. When I became pregnant with my second daughter, Jahlani, that's when my second set of superpowers came in. Jaiden helped me launch my website, Jahlani made me get a storefront. I was able to scale my business exponentially in less than a year. I remember being in bed on my laptop working while my baby girls were nursing on my chest. Moments like that showed me there are no excuses, get it done by any means.Being a businesswoman is not as fabulous and easy as many ladies make it seem. I adore all entrepreneurs for making it look so flawless. However, what they don't tell you via the Instagram pics is that you are the owner and every employee. I wear so many hats I can't keep track of them all. As the owner of C. Sinclair Style, I am the sales associate, manager, stock keeper, marketing executive, social media specialist, buyer, delivery girl, secretary, accountant, stylist, janitor, bookkeeper, web designer, advertising executive, HR director, lawyer, and the list goes on. Of course, eventually, I will hire experts to take these things off my plate but I will only do that once I am an expert myself. That's very important. No one should know your business better than you; always your top employee.
Who is your fashion inspiration?
It changes based on the era, especially with social media. There are so many great fashionistas that give me style inspiration. My top two are Audrey Hepburn and Carrie Bradshaw.
Outside of being "The Boss" how do you want your children to view you?
I want to be my babies idol and example of a lady. I am very critical of how I behave around them because I know what I want my influence to be. I do not curse in front of my children, I dress fashionable and appropriate, I treat their father with the upmost respect and I speak to them & reprimand them with love at all times. Even if I give them "pow pow" taps a kiss an explanation will follow. Ultimately I want my children to view me as loving, committed, strong, feminine, understanding, ambitious, fabulous, confident, vulnerable, honest, and fair.
How does C.Sinclair Style plan to revitalize fashion?
So C. Sinclair Style is a women's fashion-forward shoe and accessory retailer. I want my customers to feel like celebrities in my products. Our goal is to revolutionize the customer experience for every woman and child. I started my business by styling celebrities. Going to their homes or whatever location, showing them apparel options to select from, giving advice and reassurance, and providing a look that will shut down whatever occasion they were attending. C. Sinclair Style is here to do the same for everyday people. Why shouldn't everyone have this type of concierge service? That's our focus and goal, to make all of our customers to feel like celebrities. I am everyone's stylist.
What words of advice would you give a new mom who is seeking to become an entrepreneur?
To the new mommy's I say, having a baby stops absolutely nothing! You are just as fine and just as capable as you were pre-baby. Now you may have to get a babysitter here or there but whatever it is you want to do, it is possible. Write down your goals so you can see them, then go do it! Allow your little one to be your motivation. Adopt the mindset of, "I can not tell this little person, mommy doesn't have it." Lastly don't be afraid to take a risk. Being an entrepreneur isn't easy but it is possible and it is so, so worth it.
What do you enjoy most about your career?
Honestly, I enjoy the freedom and time with my family. I love knowing that I don't have to get my decisions and ideas approved by no one but me. I love making my own schedule. I love being able to spend time and create memories with my daughters. I love learning new things my performing different roles in my company. For example, my favorite thing to do is buy inventory. I get to shop, discover new trends and the money I spend is coming back to me times 2. My ultimate goal is to incorporate my business, hire and empower other women, work 2-3 days a month, and spend the rest of the time with my babies and decorating my house, period.
Describe your dream closet
My dream closet is Mariah Carey's closet! I want an all-white closet that looks like a boutique. I want black plush ottomans, floor to ceiling mirrors, glass cases for my jewelry, wooden hangers, a runway, all my clothing colorized and sectioned off by season, and a separate room for my shoes(my shoe collection now takes over every closet in my home, I mean even the linen closet).
What are 3 things you did (or told yourself) to recover from postpartum after the birth of your child?
1. I told myself "I can do this." I know it sounds super cliché but as a mother, we say "can't" a lot. "I can't go out because of the baby." I can't clean up because of the baby." "I can't start a business because I have kids." I can't find a good man because I have a baby." Like girl! YES, YOU CAN! Remove can't from your vocabulary. Manifesting is what you speak and think. Try "I can start my business if I just..." or "I can go out, let me just make some arrangements to..." There is no "can't" only solutions.
2. I told myself "It's okay". This one was a game-changer for me and literally helped me accept mom life. I remember with my firstborn I was home alone, in the bed holding my newborn crying because I wanted to take a shower and clean my house but I was too afraid to leave my baby alone because I have a phobia of SIDS(Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). It took a conversation with my mother to tell me "Baby it's okay. Change her, feed her, lay her on her back, and go do what you have to do. If she cries that is okay."
3. Don't lose your sexy. It is very easy to get sucked into pajamas and bonnets but our vanity is power. One thing I know and my profession tells me so is that when you look good, you feel good. Let's not ever forget our sexy is how we became mothers, okay!
What is the key to finding balance?
The correct answer would be to have a schedule, however, my oldest child is 2 years old so it doesn't always work as planned. But I have a schedule and she has a schedule and I do my best to abide by it. When I can't I incorporate my daughters into what I am doing. If I am working, her playtime is in the room with me. If she's on the potty with her tablet that's additional free time for me to complete a task like cleaning the bathroom. When she eats lunch, I eat lunch, etc. Also, sleep is not always required. I frequently use her at bedtime to get things done. Basically have a schedule as an outline and get things done when you can.
Share a moment with us where you achieved success with a goal you accomplished in your business.
So this accomplishment wasn't a goal for me but I thank God I did it. In November 2020, during a conversation with my sister, she told me to call the mall and see how much it would be to do a pop-up shop. At this time I had no plan nor intention of getting a physical location; my boutique was online only at the time plus I was too busy thinking small. I called the mall office and asked the leasing agent(who is a beautiful soul named Carolina) how much would it be for me to do a pop-up shop for the holiday season and by the grace of God the rent was an amount that I could afford. I took all of my savings, literally all of it, and cashed out on preparing for this pop-up shop. I stepped out on faith and gambled on me. In doing that, I have made 3 leasing deals with Carolina, my shop has a permanent physical location at Arbor Place Mall in Douglasville, GA. The grand opening is February 1st. And on top of that, I made the most money I have ever made in my life in one month. I was blessed enough to quit my job on January 8, 2021. All of this happened while I was on maternity leave with my second daughter, Jahlani. Life is fashion and the world is my runway - Cane Sinclair
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