Omaha-based fashion stylist Erin Stoll has always loved fashion, but felt, for most of her life, like she was trying to fit someone else’s definition of “style.” Like most women, she believed other’s opinions about what she could or couldn’t wear based on her body type, subsequently spending thousands of dollars trying to get it “right.”
Then…she turned 40!
Stoll explained that — as if overnight — she felt like she just gave it all up. Instead of trying to “get it right,” she started focusing on what felt right to her.
Enter, Style Thief Fashion!
What started as small “closet edits” for friends and family soon grew into a four-step Style Intensive program where Stoll meets with clients, either one-on-one or in a group setting, empowering them to find the style that supports them every day.
“We talk about what you’re drawn to, but how do we make it connect to you personally so you’re not buying everything you see and chasing every trend,” explained Stoll. “Rather, you’re intentional about your style and get what you need from it to feel supported.”
While Stoll primarily works with women ages 30 to 60, she says her sweet spot is women in their 40s as this is when it personally “clicked” for her. Women in their 40s are generally entering a new place in life. Some have had children and are leaving the challenging, all-encompassing stage of mothering infants. For some women, their kids are in school full-time leaving them with more time for themselves. Some are re-entering the workforce while others are entering perimenopause.
As this season of life tends to be a transitional one, it’s likely the styles that used to work for women in their 40s no longer work anymore, leaving many women struggling to find style and balance they feel good about.
Whether in a virtual group setting or one-on-one with Stoll, the process of her four-step Style Intensive remains the same:
Step 1: The Mindset Shift
The first step helps you identify your existing style as well as where you hope to be. What style rules are holding you back? What trends are you drawn to, but afraid to try because the “rules” tell you those trends “aren’t for you?”
Step 2: Inspiration
Stoll works with clients to find their style inspirations and then explores ways those styles can work for them personally.
Step 3: Know Your Numbers
In Stoll’s words, this step is all about getting “back to basics.” She advocates the importance of getting solid measurements. Using these measurements, she helps clients understand their true size and fit — the basis for feeling good in whatever you’re wearing.
Step 4: The Edit
Once you have a solid understanding of your personal style and what works for you, it’s easy to go into your closet and edit your wardrobe to fit what you need.
After the Style Intensive, Stoll works with clients to edit their wardrobe, shop for new pieces, and find seasonal style refreshes to shift with the changing seasons.
Said Stoll, “I’m a stylist for women who want to make their own style rules. If you think about what we’re being told — what not to wear, what not to show, how to dress for your body type and age — it’s too noisy! How do you stay connected to what you love? I help women identify what rules are holding them back, and rewrite them, so they know what they feel great in.”
To boot, Style Thief Fashion provides offerings beyond Stoll's intensives, holding fashion shows throughout the year, most recently in August 2024 at the Benson Theatre. Not your typical runway-strutting fashion show (although, Stoll says she encourages strutting of all sorts), Stoll uses the show to walk attendees through her personal fashion faux pas and style journey, coupled with audience interaction and live entertainment, and of course, a signature cocktail or two.
A pared-down version of the Style Intensive, audience members are able to identify rules holding them back, find inspiration from Stoll and others in the audience, and learn some tools for getting back to basics and finding what they love.
To learn more about Erin Stoll, Style Thief Fashion offerings, and upcoming shows, visit www.stylethieffashion.com.
Erin Stoll is a personal fashion stylist for women who want to make their own rules. Helping clients cancel out the noise associated with the "style rules" they're bombarded with, she helps them identify what's holding them back to find style they feel great in.