Life & Work with Lorena Witte of Scottsdale, AZ

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lorena Witte

Hi Lorena, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Fashion has always inherently been intertwined with my childhood for as long as I can remember. Growing up, my talented mother had her own clothing business, Fassy Fashions, where she manufactured beautiful clothing at home. She had made a successful career for herself as a pattern maker in Brazil and translated that background to her entrepreneurial endeavors when she immigrated to the United States in the 90s. To me, she was my earliest example of style and I was forever enamored with fashion from then on. I spent my early childhood in Phoenix, while my dad was getting his masters at ASU, and around the age of three we moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, while my dad pursued his doctorate degree. When I turned eight, we moved to back to Arizona, where I spent the majority of my childhood and adolescence living in Tucson. I decided to move to Tempe when I graduated high school to attend ASU. My freshman year in college was a time for self-exploration, where I spent time discovering my ideal career. Although I started out as a vocal performance major, due to my nine-year classical music training, I quickly realized I was no longer passionate about performing and had to pivot career paths. It was not until I joined an on-campus fashion club, the Business of Fashion Club. that helped students network with industry professionals that I realized my true love had been fashion all along. I switched my major to fashion, became club President, and never looked back. During my studies, I gathered a well-rounded knowledge of the industry, from branding and fashion marketing to garment construction, illustration, and even fashion show production. I also enhanced my education during a study abroad in Florence, Italy, where I was immersed in the fashion centers of the world. To hone my craft and learn the ins-and-outs of the industry, I then went on to assist several professional stylists and a global fashion CEO, who I met during networking events I orchestrated during my time with the Business of Fashion Club. Following graduation, I pursued a career in luxury fashion, working for both Saint Laurent and Prada as a Client Advisor. Despite working in my dream industry, I still harbored an entrepreneurial spirit that was not being fulfilled. I had spent time assisting the CEO of the Mayfair Group, a popular clothing brand, and felt I had been shown the ropes for what it would take to run my own fashion business. It was then that I came up with my passion project, Mosaic, a business meant to simplify personal styling by making wardrobe selections exciting and accessible. My luxury training coupled with personal assisting experience instilled top-notch customer service and elevated personal styling, which I infuse into all facets of Mosaic.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t think any life journey is necessarily smooth, the challenges are necessary and inevitable for growth and self-discovery. There were definitely moments in my life that left me feeling lost and without direction, especially when it came to pivoting career paths, such as when I left music behind to pursue fashion or when I decided to chase my entrepreneurial dreams. Admitting I was no longer passionate about my music training was a difficult thing to face, as I felt like I was letting down my family and teachers that had invested so much into my coaching. At the end of the day, I had to choose myself and speak up for what I wanted, as it is my life I am living and no one else’s; I would never want to a live a life that is not authentic to myself.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the owner and founder of Mosaic, a personal styling business designed to curate and streamline my clients’ ideal selves. As a stylist, my mission with Mosaic is to simplify styling by making wardrobe selections exciting and accessible. Whether clients want to elevate and streamline their closet, organize their daily travel looks, or create the perfect outfit for a special event, Mosaic works virtually to curate unique style – piece by piece. When it comes to my philosophies, I believe there are no rules in fashion, and encourage eclectic pairings to achieve unique personal style. I also believe in the importance of fit and quality and emphasize the cultivation of investment pieces. What sets my styling business apart is the use of digital outfit decks, which helps clients visualize their looks in a more approachable manner. Finding personal style can be a convoluted subject and I find the best way to guide clients is with a concise and organized outfit board, as demonstrated below. Outfit boards are also a great organizational tool for clients who are always on the go, as they help coordinate the perfect outfits based on itineraries and can even act as a mechanism for functional packing. I also act as a digital shopping concierge, using my vast brand knowledge and luxury fashion experience to gather links from all facets of the internet. So far, I have styled clients for countless worldwide trips, photoshoots, and even for New York Fashion Week, where my client attended multiple shows and fashion events and even received a feature on the Vogue Philippines Instagram in a Mosaic-styled outfit. By creating my brand, Mosaic, I intended to create a community for others to find style inspiration not only from me but from each other.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I am lucky enough to where I had a very happy childhood so choosing a specific memory is definitely difficult. Whether it was playing Barbies with my younger sister, Nicole, or traveling the world with my family at a young age, my childhood was filled with laughter, magic, and love. My favorite memory, however, would have to be the first time my Brazilian family visited the States for Christmas time around 2009. It was the first time I had both sides of my family in one place, in my childhood home, during the most magical time of the year and I remember being ecstatic. I have always been close with my Brazilian cousins, practically siblings, and because I could only see them for a short period of time during the summer, time with them has always been precious to me. The holidays have always been my favorite time of the year but having my distant family around made it all the more special. The importance of family has always been ingrained in me and I do my best to prioritize placing my family first, above all else.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mosaicstylist.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mosaicstylist/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mosaicstylist?_t=8eXoIQHhcly&_r=1

Image Credits
Models:
Mj Hedderman
Sarah Cuervo
Jordyn Schneider
Sam Abrahart
Amberley Rae
Maya Lorimer
Tanya Angulo

Photographers:
Chey Franke
Bryanna Lund
Everett Milloy

Beauty Team:
Hair: Natalie Simoes
MUA: Oanh Than