Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Michelle Miller.
Hi Ashley, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Where I started: In 2012, my therapist asked me what seemed to be a simple question: “What are your hobbies?” At the time, I had already earned my bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and was finishing my master’s degree in Project Management. I decided to take the route of working with my dad and continue to grow the family business. I thought I had my life all figured out but yet I was depressed, highly anxious, and still totally confused about what I wanted to do with my life.
When my therapist asked me that question I wanted to say, “Lady, I have no idea…ugh going to brunch with friends?” But I thought hard and said: “Well, I love reading fashion magazines.” That answer, in addition to my faith, self-discovery, and a lot of hard work guided my life journey down a path I never even considered.
Less than a year later, I moved to New York to pursue a career in fashion styling. Now, nearly a decade later I have become an Emmy-nominated wardrobe stylist and business owner. Daily, I strive to help others uncover and showcase the awesomeness’ that lives within them. Whether working with one of my styling clients, speaking at a conference, connecting with a mentee, doing the day-to-day work of running my business, or just simply being around my family and friends it’s important for me to always strive to show up as the best version of myself. My life and the work I do is not just about me; it’s bigger than me. My decision to take a leap of faith and invest in myself helped me create a life that is multifaceted and filled with more than I could have ever dreamed.
Through the years, I have had the privilege to have a client base composed of many talented, driven, and inspirational people from various industries. I have worked with TV networks and brands like ABC, BET, Food Network, Lipton, Pepsi, Amazon, and the list goes on. The work that I do continues to fuel my passion and purpose to use my skills in wardrobe building, style curation, and personal branding to help empower others.
My versatile eye lends itself to talk show hosts, celebrity chefs, entertainment personalities, and multi-hyphenated professionals, creatives, and entrepreneurs. No matter who I’m working with, the approach is the same: to help guide you in uncovering your unique style that aligns and resonates with your authentic self. The AMM styling holistic approach seeks to translate your lifestyle, gifts, talents, personality, and image into a style story that’s empowering and uniquely yours.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, not at all. The road has taken me to many amazing destinations that I never even thought I would see or be part of, but it came with many hurdles. Starting with the struggles of getting out of college and thinking, I knew what I wanted to do.
That in itself caused me to have to deal with my mental health in a way I never had before. There were days when I cried all day for no reason and didn’t even want to get out of bed.
Then when I finally broke through and made the move to New York it was a totally different life. Coming from Florida and now having to rely on the train system, understand how to navigate in what seemed to be a scary unknown new territory, and let’s not forget the fashion industry is can be so cutthroat at times. I went to New York at the age of 27 and started from the bottom interning and assisting. Carrying heavy bags of clothes in rain, sleet, and snow. Early mornings and late nights onsets of music videos, photoshoots, clients’ fittings, shopping all around the city, etc. Doing any opportunity to expand my resume and portfolio.
And let’s not forget the major panic attack I had in 2015 that made me not want to even ride the train. Ya girl was petrified! How can I live in New York and not ride the train??? I had no choice but to boss up and really dive into my faith. With the help of therapy, my family, and my inner resilience, I still continue the journey that is filled with many blessings but also so much unknown…but I believe I’m living in my purpose so just keep going.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a personal wardrobe stylist. I dress people for a living. I can do in-person styling, and I can dress people from all over the world with my interactive virtual styling capabilities. I create a virtual style closet for each one of my clients where I add items they can shop click on, purchase, and ship directly to them. In addition, I can put looks together on the style app for them to reference anytime they want, and they can also upload photos of items in their closet for me to help them style as well. I take the frustration and guesswork out of what to wear. And make it more sustainable. No more buying clothes you don’t truly like only for them to never be worn.
I now specialized in helping black multi-hyphenated professionals, creatives and entrepreneurs unlock and tap into their unique selves through style. My specialty came from the experience I have working with entertainers, on-air talent, TV networks, and brands. I saw the impact that an outfit can have. It can be what gives a person the extra confidence they need to walk into a room and speak when they are nervous. Style can even be a deciding factor in landing that new promotion or client. There is a science behind it all. I have learned why brands are so strategic in using style to show how unique and different they are. I also see the change that is ignited when I help my clients find synergy and alignment from what they feel on the inside, who they are, what they do, and how they look. When it all comes together great things start manifesting in their life, it makes me so hype! I love it!
I am also a speaker, mentor, and engaged in the community. I see how my taking a leap of faith, believing in myself, continuing to work on being the best person I can, and giving myself grace and love continuously helps me create a life I love to live and so I use my story to encourage and inspire others to do the same.
I have met and worked with many celebrities, and worked with brands I never thought I would. I have worked for Emmy Award-winning daytime talk shows and even been nominated for an Emmy, but I am most proud of my growth in myself. With every obstacle, I see how far I have come. I use to be so depressed and battled with high anxiety and it use to be so crippling. I would get consumed by the “bad” things that were happening to me. Now I still have some hard days, but they don’t last for long. I try to stay optimistic, I talk to God, my family, and my friends, I go to therapy, I do practices like meditation, work out and go to the beach…that’s my happy place when I get overwhelmed. I practice giving myself grace, self-love, and self-care. I am soooo proud of myself!
I think my love and desire to see people in the world truly win sets me apart. People sometimes tell me I’m too nice to people. But I just understand we all have things we are going through I strive to see the good in everyone. I think my genuine love and care helps me to shop and create outfits for my clients. I don’t care about trends and designer brands I care about them. Their life, who they are, how they want to feel, what their goals are, and how they what to represent their selves. I look within them to help them create their unique never to be duplicated fully aligned personal style.
What were you like growing up?
The words dramatic and emotional come to mind. I used to hate those words but now I embrace them. I’m expressive and in tune with my emotions and others’ emotions. I like to talk and connect with others. I was always trying to help someone. I was in a lot of different groups from colorguard, student council, and yearbook club to community mission groups. I loved being a part of something with a bigger purpose.
I was also creative. Loved painting and drawing. And I would love when it was back to school time and we would get new clothes. But I had a strategy I would tear out the clippings from fashion and teen magazines and make collages of looks so I knew what to look for and buy at the stores.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ashleymichellemiller.com
- Instagram: ashleymichellemiller
