Meet Grace Thomas of Builtgracefully

Today we’d like to introduce you to Grace Thomas.

Hi Grace, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always been intrigued by the world of fashion. I’ve gravitated toward clothing, accessories, textures, and design from a young age. At the age of 20, I started my styling career as a stylist for a small company based in Portland. There, we styled high net-worth individuals such as professional athletes, Fortune 500 CEO’s and business owners. After spending some time there, I pivoted my career trajectory and moved into the corporate world of fashion. For 8.5 years, I worked for Nike, Inc., where I had the opportunity to style campaigns, see the behind-the-scenes of product creation, work with partners like Nordstrom, and ultimately be the lead buyer for men’s footwear for all of North America.

Being behind the scenes allowed me to understand fashion from a macro level, from design to production and marketing. However, I was ready for more. I had seen everything in the sportswear sector and couldn’t imagine myself working with hoodies and sneakers for the rest of my career. At this point, I decided to think about what was next for me. Styling was always something I had done here and there throughout my career, and I continued to feel drawn towards this passion.

In 2021, I decided to head first into styling and creating my own company, Builtgracefully. Slowly but surely, I built my brand over the next 2 years. I still worked at Nike for the first year, working the best on my brand every extra second I had. Finally, after seeing the success I could build while doing this part-time, I decided to go full-time with my company in February of 2023. Since then, I’ve had amazing opportunities to style individuals from different walks of life across the country. Every day, I get to continue to build my brand, interact with new and exciting clients, and work on projects that once would have been a dream.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Haha – not. At the very beginning, it was hard to manage two jobs, and I couldn’t wait for the day when I could focus on my company entirely. I had to manage my calendar daily, say no to some opportunities due to demands from my full-time corporate job, and ultimately lead two lives. During that time, there was a lot of questioning. Would I be successful in this new career path? What would people think about me? Should I be starting this earlier? Thanks to the support system I had around me, I didn’t give up and continued to push on. Sure enough, the doubts are starting to subside slowly. No one thought I was crazy for doing this. They cheered me on. I thought of new ways to measure my success, monetarily and through small wins. Two years later, I still have struggles. Managing a business all on my own is a grind. It’s tiring and non-stop, which can sometimes be a lot to take on. I am still working through my process, learning and evolving each step I take. But as my husband would say, and I have adopted as well, “Even the hardest days as an entrepreneur aren’t hard enough to go back to corporate.”

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Builtgracefully?
Builtgracefully is a personal wardrobe consulting company that works with professional individuals nationwide. Our services help clients understand their style, edit out the pieces that no longer serve them, and build a wardrobe they love. What is unique about Builtgracefully is that we service most of our clients virtually, allowing clients worldwide to work with us. We offer a three-step process to all new clients, which can be done all-in-one or a la carte. This lets clients approach styling to suit their needs, budgets, and personal timelines. What I am most proud of with my brand is accessibility. No matter your budget, body shape, or gender, we’ve likely had experience working with a client like you. When you choose to work with Builtgracefully, you will be met with a judgment-free approach, where we work to elevate your style, no matter what that may be.

What makes you happy?
Making a difference in my client’s day-to-day lives through this work brings me joy. When I work with each client, I spend a lot of time getting to know who they are, their lifestyle, and why they have struggled with clothing. When I see the joy on a client’s face in their new garments, I cannot explain how that makes me feel. Fashion can so often be approached as something frivolous or even scary. But you are unstoppable when you put on an outfit that resembles the person you have seen yourself as in your head.

Pricing:

• Pricing for our three step process at this time starts at $1500

Contact Info:

• Website: www.builtgracefully.com
• Instagram: @builtgracefully

Image Credits
Colleen Amelia Photography