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Chandler Resident Encourages Women to Think Outside ‘Fashion Box’

Through Her Work as a cabi Stylist, Lisa O’Hearn Helps Women Look and Feel Their Best

For as long as she can remember, Lisa O’Hearn has had a passion for fashion.

“I’ve been a seamstress most of my life, and have an eye for putting design, art, and fashion together,” O’Hearn says.

While working as a chief operating officer for a women’s apparel design, manufacturing, and distribution firm in San Diego, O’Hearn learned valuable lessons about what women are looking for in their clothing, as well as the importance of quality.

“When I left the corporate world, I wanted to partner with a company that offered exceptional quality, a sense of ‘give back to community,’ and leadership development,” the Chandler resident says, adding that she has found all this and more through her job with cabi, a direct-to-consumer clothing company that uses a social selling business model.

O’Hearn has been with cabi for six years, working as a personal stylist, career developer, and team leader. She says the company, which is currently hiring across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, offers flexible schedule options for those looking for a side gig all the way to a full-time “on your terms hustle.” 

“You will only find the cabi brand direct through cabi stylists like myself, not in traditional brick-and-mortar retail stores,” O’Hearn says, adding that cabi stylists work with their customers through in-home cabi shows, one-on-one personal appointments held virtually or in person, and through e-commerce websites.

“I also offer concierge closet assessment and wardrobe refresh services, and I’m always happy to speak with anyone who’d be interested in working for cabi.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, O’Hearn says she and other cabi personal stylists quickly realized that women still wanted and needed their “fashion fix.”

Since the option of meeting with women in person was temporarily not an option, the clothing company had to rethink its approach.

O’Hearn says cabi quickly found ways to provide women with a number of ways to see the collections of clothing, including its proprietary “Front Row” shows, which O’Hearn says are like “Zoom on steroids,” as well as through Zoom calls and Facebook Live events.

“We became very resilient through the year, expanding our reach from local showings to coast-to-coast virtual offerings,” she says, adding that people are also welcome to shop at any time on her personal website, LisaOHearn.cabionline.com.

In addition, I’m proud to lead a team of cabi stylists, mentoring, coaching, and assisting them with their own business success.”

Whether she is meeting with clients in person or virtually, O’Hearn says she always has one main goal in mind: to help women look and feel their best in clothing that is their own style and preference.

During the appointments, O’Hearn will also gently encourage clients to step outside their comfort zone and their norm. 

“It’s good to be bold and explore new styles,” she says.

Recently, O’Hearn served as the cabi ambassador for the greater Phoenix area, helping to plan a charitable event.

“The company has a beautiful heart for giving back globally. Annually, across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, cabi supports cities through The Heart of cabi week,” O’Hearn says, adding that with cabi’s assistance, she and other event organizers were able to donate 450 pieces of brand-new clothing to approximately 60 deserving women.  

As the ambassador, O’Hearn worked directly with cabi corporate and this year’s nonprofit recipient, AZCEND, which is based in Chandler.

“I had been trying to get this event in Chandler for a couple of years, particularly because Chandler opened its arms to me when I arrived five years ago. I wanted to give back to the city that has given me so much in friendships, business opportunities, and kindness,” O’Hearn says.

Since its inception, O’Hearn says cabi’s foundation has donated $61 million in clothing and monetary contributions, serving 281 cabi stylist communities. In addition, 18,000 small business loans have been funded to female entrepreneurs in developing countries, she says.

Looking ahead to the fall, O’Hearn says she knows one thing is definitely true when it comes to fashion: after over a year of “waist-up dressing,” women are definitely ready for some new clothing for their entire body.

“There’s a post-COVID phenomenon going on which has been described as the ‘Peacock Effect.’ In essence, this is an effect created when one uses something such as bright colors, prints, styles, and accessories that are eye-catching and out-of-the-norm, to stand out in a crowd.”

Cabi’s Fall Collection will provide plenty of opportunities to dress with the Peacock Effect in mind, O’Hearn says, with an attractive color palette filled with regal roses, oxblood reds, transformative teals, and saturated hues. 

“The silhouettes can be dressed up, dressed down and mixed-and-matched to be playful, romantic, sexy, and classic,” she says.

“As a stylist, my advice is to step out of your fashion box—be daring, wear color, take a chance, express yourself, be free, and be your best self, at any age.”