Your transcript

[00:00:00] Gillian: Have you ever stood in front of your wardrobe and that thought has landed? I have no idea what to wear to this. Might be a keynote, a board meeting, that first workshop with a new team, and you want to feel powerful and look polished, but sometimes it all feels a little harder than it should. Well, that's where Jane Mow comes in.
[00:00:20] She's a personal brand stylist with a difference. So Jane works with high profile women, CEOs, founders, leaders, and helps them use their wardrobe as a strategic tool to lead with confidence and presence. She’s styled magazine covers, TV talent, and today Jane works one-on-one with women. Women who want to feel as strong and capable on the outside, as they are on the inside. In today's episode, Jane shares her approach to building a wardrobe that works as hard as you. Now, if you've ever wondered how to elevate your presence without losing your personal style, this one's for you. Let's dive in.
[00:02:00] Jane. Hello. Welcome to the podcast. It's lovely to have you here.
[00:02:27] Jane: Hi, Gil. How are you? Thanks for having me.
[00:02:30] Gillian: I am good. I'm looking forward to our chat today. You've had this really interesting career. You've been a creative director, you've been a fashion editor at a magazine, you've styled talent for TV. And now you work as a personal stylist for senior women, quite often high profile women, who really up with more presence and they like clothes, but they haven't got the knack that you have.
[00:02:58] Well, no one has the knack that you have, Jane, of pulling it all together. So maybe just tell us like, what, what does your work life look like today?
[00:03:06] Jane: Today I work mainly with women to build their wardrobes. Usually, like you said, senior executives, CEOs of such and women with high personal brands like high profile personal brands. And what I do really is with my one-on-one VIP service is to really build out wardrobe that's going to service them from everything from speaking on stage to networking, to showing up on podcasts like this.
[00:03:33] So the whole gist of it is making sure that they look the part. They have that presence when they're representing their brand. So yeah, that's what I do now. So my work, you know, it's not on sets anymore where I'm shooting models or I am filling out pages of magazines with product. It's now really with, real life people with real bodies.
[00:03:55] Gillian: You have quite a unique process in this, which I think as a personal stylist makes you quite unique because my understanding, which is limited of personal stylists, is they get you to fill out a pre-questionnaire. They might wander through your wardrobe and then they decide on the gaps, or the looks and they go shopping.
[00:04:13] But your process. is so much more sophisticated and detailed than that because you are dealing with women that already look presentable for work. They have a high level of confidence in what they do and who they are as a person. But they're all about having more impact and presence, be it on stage or in the boardroom or where it is.
[00:04:35] So tell us a little bit about that process that you go to of really getting to know that person and all the things that you do, Jane.
[00:04:43] Jane: Yeah, so just to backtrack a bit, Gil, like when I started off in this line of work, I didn't actually know something like this existed, and I think it was born out of a curiosity, my own curiosity to study people and study their body language and also study the body language of people who are looking at them, whether it be in a meeting or an audience, for example, if they're speaking on stage.
[00:05:09] What I do is to look at their business as a whole look at them and how they show up and I put myself in their shoes and I go, if I was to enter the room, who is in that room? What sort of people are looking at me? Are there men in their sixties? What sort of clothes are they wearing? What are their preconception of a woman walking into that room in this role? And I kind of go, okay, cool.
[00:05:36] So how do I want that person to feel as my client walks into the room and how does my client want to feel in that situation? So it's a very sort of intuitive, observation from both ends of the spectrum. I ask a lot of questions. Like to the point where I actually sometimes have to apologise far in advance.
[00:05:56] Gillian: But I love that curiosity because it's not a cookie cutter solution, right? It's understanding all those nuances that make up that person that allowed them to bring their best, stylish self to that specific business or, or whatever situation.
[00:06:10] Jane: Exactly. So I um, like the other day, I've just onboarded a very amazing client. I cannot wait.
[00:06:17] We're doing the whole image makeover, the whole thing. But she's someone who has to show up on stage and the industry she's in is very male dominated. So I said to her, I'm going to be asking you so many questions, you are going to get annoyed with me, but the idea is for me to know exactly what sort of situation you're walking into.
[00:06:39] Who are these people? What age demographic they're in? Tell me names so I can go and research who they are. Are they on podcasts? Let me feel them out on YouTube. What sort of, like it's just that process of knowing what sort of person is on the receiving end when you’re walking into a room.
[00:06:57] I think that's why I retain a lot of clients in my one-on-one package because I go above and beyond, and I really sink myself into them. It just excites me. It excites me. It's something that I'm really passionate about, like taking your image and using it as a marketing tool rather than just a, I just wear clothes, and clothes just, they just sit on my body. It's like, well, why don't we make money out of, looking the part?
[00:07:23] Gillian: Yeah. And when you look the part, I mean, there's so much evidence to this, you feel the part,
[00:07:28] Jane: Exactly. And do you, you know, you have that presence and I have, you know, the same client that I've just onboarded last month. She said, I have a lot of confidence. I don't need confidence. I want presence.
[00:07:38] Gillian: I love that and it just packs such a punch. Because confidence is that self-belief. Like, I'm okay, I'm good at what I do. I know I can handle things, but presence is about having that bigger impact. You know what I mean? It's about really inspiring or getting results through others.
[00:07:57] Jane: It's a knowing, right? It’s almost like you're going into an alter ego. you are putting yourself into that, like Beyonce, Sasha Fierce, like she's got presence.
[00:08:08] You know, you are walking into that room going, yeah, I've got this, and what, do you know what I mean? Yes. I have confidence and I can speak and do all that and have the lingo, but I know I own this room.
[00:08:20] Gillian: And walking into a room with that kind of start,
[00:08:24] Jane: It's like you better pay attention.
[00:08:25] Gillian: And I think your point around, you know, doing all the research, really understanding who is in the room and the different types of situations that they're in makes so much sense. And for someone to help them break that down and go, well, here's your outfits for this scenario. Here's your outfits for this scenario. Because I know even when I look at my wardrobe, I definitely have like keynote outfits, workshop outfits like, and then I have first workshop outfits.
[00:08:52] Because that's my very first impression of a group that I might have for the next six months. And then I have lower key coaching outfits that I've got to walk into the corporate presence. So you've still got to look presentable and everything. But it's a little bit more relaxed. So you do have these things that for me, they helped me play the role a little bit more. Like, this is who I need to be today. Today, I need to be a performer. You know, Today I need to be an educator today I need to be a great coach. it's very much a mindset. And as we've talked about, I love playing with it, but I think when you get to that senior level and it's not a natural passion for you, you need to pull in the big guns like you, because it will take your career to the next step.
[00:09:34] Jane: And it's also about having bandwidth, right? So a lot of the senior women that I work with, they're, they're at that CEO level. So can you imagine the amount of things they've got to juggle every day? The amount of decision making and then having to then think about the situation that walking into. So I've got another client she deals with the big fours, as they call it, and she's a CEO. So. majority of, like, the stuff that she's got to do is present or be in rooms where there are men in their sixties, so you know, 60, 65-year-old men in the finance industry.
[00:10:12] Really old school. and then after they've had these like meetings, usually they'll go into like an evening of networking. So I've got to think about even down to the detail of how their shoes look. What sort of embellishments are on the shoes?
[00:10:27] What sort of heel height is it? Is it a pointy shoe? Is it a, a round toe, uh, was it a cut? That dress is because we also don't want to make the wives feel a little bit. Intimidated by you, because the wives are there, so you've got to, you know, warm up to them as well. So it's just this like dance of, like, I always say to people, it's like character design for me, I see myself almost like a, a movie costume designer.
[00:10:54] The movie is this real life scenario that we're living in and I'm designing the costume that's walking into that room.
[00:11:01] Gillian: And it must make the client feel so special.
[00:11:04] Jane: Oh yes. We have so much fun. We crack so many jokes and we laugh about it, but the thing is about these clients as women, they understand that there's a means to an end that they're doing this because of their career.
[00:11:16] It's not because they're trying to be somebody else, they're just trying to make sure that they get ahead. In this world that we live in, women aren't the set equal as men, yet. So we've got to try even harder in corporate especially. So it's how can we do that and rise, and, and make money.
[00:12:12] Gillian: Well, that's a perfect segue to my next question. So thinking about our audience who aren't as senior as your one-on-one VIP clients, but they're doing very well in their career. They're leading teams. They have a great appetite for progressing themselves as well. You know, those, those times, and I know you'll relate to, to this, Jane, when you're going full ball at work, like you're just working really, really hard and there's a lot on, and you might be enjoying it, but looking good, can feel harder.
[00:12:43] Gillian: And sometimes you might be tired or maybe just feeling a bit flat when you have days like that, but you want to turn up for something feeling good, looking good. What's your style tip for around that?
[00:12:54] Jane: Colour.
[00:12:55] Gillian: Yeah. Colour packs a punch, doesn't it? And it's so funny because on the down days you can go for the black dress, can't you? Or the dark pants suit.
[00:13:02] Jane: And I know a lot of people in like, the finance or if you're in real estate or law, you'd think, yeah, but we don't really wear colour. But how can you, how can you introduce colour in little ways, like a lipstick, for example, or even I'm wearing a very bright red shirt and it's got a bit of sheen to it, and it's very simple.
[00:13:22] It could almost be a black shirt. It's just that the thing is it's in red and it's a block colour. So wearing things like that, I think colour can really lift you up. Colour has frequency. So when we have that sort of vibrant colour on us, we feel a certain energy. Black will always. Bring your mood down because that's what black does. It's usually for funerals,
[00:13:46] Yes, you can feel powerful in black if black is your thing. Absolutely wear black. But I would say colour. And also a really good cut blazer or really good cut blouse that you can tuck in. Straight away you can feel the energy on those shoulder pads or the energy of a beautifully cut top or dress.
[00:14:06] Gillian: Yes. Yes. They're both great investments, aren't they? I, I've become such a fan of the blouse in the last few years, I think, and I think it's because post pandemic I, I still love blazers as well, but I. The blouse seems to have a bigger role in the business world these days. It is kind of the blazer in some scenarios, not all.
[00:14:24] And there are so many beautiful blouses now that can feel very appropriate in the business environment.
[00:14:32] Jane: Yeah. And they can, you know, they're not as restrictive as a, as a blazer, and you do feel a lot more relaxed, you know, when you are in a situation where you've got to deliver, but you also feel put together.
[00:14:45] Gillian: I don't like presenting in a blazer because the blazer's uncomfortable some of the time unless it's got a shorter sleeve. here's a really interesting question. What's the biggest mistake smart, professional women make when it comes to dressing professionally?
[00:15:01] Jane: bbiggest mistake is just not caring.
[00:15:03] Gillian: Thinking it doesn't matter.
[00:15:04] Jane: Yeah,
[00:15:07] Jane: If we go back in history, all the years of humans being human, we always make decisions based on what we see. That's it. We see, we make a decision because our emotion tells us something. And you seem to think that by people seeing you, they haven't made a decision on what they think you are. Okay, great. For us to really control the narrative, we kind of need to play on your image a bit. Do you know what I mean?
[00:15:34] So it's like, There's no care. And I think when you have no care, it communicates to the other person that you have no care in whatever it is you are trying to bring forward, whether you're trying to close a deal or you are trying to go for that promotion.
[00:15:53] And I know this for a fact because I do work with one-on-one clients who have gotten promotions becausethey look put together, they look like they could be a leader of a team. So you've got to frame your manager's mind, whoever it is above you to think of you as a leader.
[00:16:13] And that's when you know, I come back to like costume design, character design. You need to design the character of that leader. And usually a leader looks like they wear X, Y, Z. They're very polished. So it is just the lack of caring for me.
[00:16:28] And it just comes down to, you know, buying good quality things to whatever budget you have, making sure that your clothes are ironed.,
[00:16:38] Gillian: Yes. Clean, ironed, fresh .
[00:16:40] Jane: Yeah. Just those are little details that we don't think about. They actually matter.
[00:16:44] Gillian: That's a very valid point. Tell us about some of your transformations, because I imagine you've taken people who. Maybe didn’t care, Jane. Maybe they cared, but they just didn't have a flare for putting clothes together because it is, it is a bit of a talent at putting clothes together.
[00:16:59] You have such an exceptional eye at being able to do it, but most people don't have that natural capacity to be able to do it. So tell us about some of the transformations. Because I bet you've got some beautiful stories and experiences.
[00:17:15] Jane: I think one that comes to mind, I'm not going to name names, but she was really struggling after having kids, with the baby weight and everything like that. And her body had changed, so, you know, she's already petite-ish size, but with that rounded figure, sort of the apple body shapes are very round, always loved fashion and somewhere along the way, while building her business, which is now very successful, it was just like rushing through them all trying to grab that stuff for that special meeting. there was no thought process through, through that. And so when I worked with her, it was, it was really kind of defining, okay, where are you going wrong? What sort of rooms are you walking into? And why the hell did you buy that?
[00:17:58] Gillian: We've all, we've all got one or two of those things in our wardrobes.
[00:18:00] Jane: Yeah. Yeah. And so we kind, we kind of like nailed it. It was just an impulse bias, you know? She flew business class. It was just like, you know that running through the airport, I've just got to buy something to go to the meeting. And so the turning point for her was when she was in the meeting and she was wearing a top that another lady had in the meeting.
[00:18:21] She was of senior position and this lady belonged in the room but wasn't as polished as her. They had on the same top. And she went, oh my God, what am I doing with my life? I don't feel good in this because I'm now seeing someone else who is wearing the same as me, and it just, I don't want to be the same as everybody else.
[00:18:42] And that's when her sister actually found me on Instagram and forwarded her one of my videos and we ended up working together. She's still a client now, but now her wardrobe is filled with modern cuts, modern designs. Things that are different with personality. Even if she did walk into like a room of tech finance guys, she still feels there's personality in her dressing, which was missing before.
[00:19:11] So yeah, she's been working with me for a couple years now, I think going on in three years now. And it's a totally different person. Like people have comments with what she, what she wears, and it's, and I say, you know, it's not about the comments.
[00:19:26] It's how you feel when people comment. And it's a change in your energy knowing that you not only look good but feel good. Do you know what I mean? Usually I work with people. Most of my one-on-one clients have gone through having kids or through menopause.
[00:19:42] So the body change is a big thing for a lot of women, and I help them through finding themselves through that new body. Another beautiful client who plucked up the courage to walk up to go pitch her idea. Again, she was just dressed in a way that, that spoke. She was modern, she had new ideas, and she really felt confident in whatever, whatever outfit I put her in. She had very, like, strong shoulder pads. The transformation is not just the clothes, it's how you feel in the body that you have in dressing that body.
[00:20:14] I think the clothes is just cherry on top and I think it's a deeper understanding of that season of your life and not sitting in like, oh, I can't because I don't have the right body, or I haven't lost the weight. It's accepting that body and going, how can I dress for that and how can I make myself feel good in this season?
[00:20:37] Gillian: You're so right. It is how you feel. Like I often look at young people, God, I'm going to sound old saying this, but I often see young people experimenting with their look, and I really love that, Jane. It's like, go for it. You know what I mean?
[00:20:49] Like they're just figuring out what's their groove, because they've obviously got an appetite to figure out what is their style and what makes them feel really good in that season.
[00:20:58] Jane: 100%. And I think that's a great season to be doing that in. And a lot of women, once they go past their season, they lose it. Right. Because you got work, life, kids. And for me, I get the client at the other end who was once that person.
[00:21:14] They'd like to experiment, they'd like to wear all these clothes, and then something happened along the way and they've kind of lost it. And now we're, now we're working together to find what that experimentation is in this new season of life and still have that energy of play.
[00:21:52] Gillian: What would be some tips or tricks to try and create that individualism? You mentioned colour. Yep. So colour is a very powerful thing to do. Is it? Clever accessorizing. This burgundy colour seems to be playing a big role at the moment. Like, what, what would you suggest, like if someone asked you what can they do to kind of have a point of difference and feel good about buying a few extra things this year to help them up level their style for work? What, what would you suggest, Jane?
[00:22:21] Jane: Well, shoes are always a biggest hack, right? Shoes because you can get away with wearing all black on top and then your shoes are super colourful with a little bit of embellishment on it. Do you know what I mean? If you are in an environment where the top half of you is going to look really cookie cutter.
[00:22:40] A bit more conservative. Cookie cutter, navy, black. That's fine. On the bottom play. So you've got, your beautiful heels with beautiful details, colour or even embellishments and things like that. Loafers, brogues, patent leather. Right. Go wild. And the other thing is, if you are in an environment where it is, say it is just navy and black, why don't you go look for navy and black things that have personality. There's a wave at the moment of those, like really big 3D flowers on things, but the whole garment is black. So, you can even play with broaches.
[00:23:23] I love those. Very big. Not just on your blouses but like on your blazers. And why don't you layer them up with different ones. Multiple. You don't have to wear necklaces.
[00:23:34] You could wear broaches, so many brands are doing them now, and they're not just like your old antiquey looking ones. They're, they're really cool designs, you know? So, so add those. What else could you do? Oh, yeah, there's a movement at the moment with like big earrings, like big statement earrings.
[00:23:51] I know that in a conservative environment, you probably won't be able to get away with that, but why don't you look at the stud version of it.
[00:23:58] Gillian: The scaled down version, but you could put the big ones on for the cocktail party, couldn’t you.
[00:24:01] Jane: Exactly. The networking because you want to also, those are great conversation starters, right? Because someone's like bound to come up to you and be like, oh my God, I just love your earrings. And then you say, oh, thank you. What do you do?
[00:24:15] Gillian: Totally, and if you've just got a very elegant navy-blue suit on, but you've got these incredible earrings, it's really not too much.
[00:24:22] Jane: It is not really too much.
[00:24:24] Yeah. I usually, um, usually with my clients, my high-profile clients who are going from boardroom in a navy dress into networking straightaway or dinner, I just change out the earrings and go for a more statement earring. So you're still wearing the same navy dress, you have just changed out the accessories.
[00:24:45] Gillian: I remember coaching for, for many years, she's now a very high profile, but she was the CEO of a Japanese bank at the time. And she was the only woman in the broader executive team. There was 200 worldwide. She was the only woman, and she had bright red hair. Short, bright red hair, and she always wore these beautiful earrings.
[00:25:05] They weren't absolutely massive, but they were quite bold. They were quite bold, and she had such a signature style and confidence about her. And she really owned it, and she was the most likable, she was a very good leader, but people really liked her as well. And I think, the Japanese tradition can be quite conservative, but all the Japanese people really loved her as well. I just think they loved that she embraced this individuality and, and owned the space with it so well.
[00:25:35] Jane: It's about having your own spin to the way you dress, because that's going to bring you so much more joy than just looking cookie cutter.
[00:25:43] Gillian: Mm. Fun question for you, Jane. If we raided your wardrobe and oh my God, I would love to raid your wardrobe. I see lots of colour. I see lots of colour in my vision. But what would we find too much of? Because most of us have a bit of a thing for something, be it shoes or whatever.
[00:25:59] Jane: Oh my goodness. So I'm meant to be known for colour, right? I actually don't have that much colour. I have a lot of black in my wardrobe. I've always had a lot of black and I love black, but not just any black garment. It's a statement piece in black. Black with like sequin detail on the, on the jacket.
[00:26:20] Like a lot of like little chandeliers, black patent coat. Uh, I could just like name every black beast there is. I have a thing for black. I think for me, black for my personality, because I'm quite bold, it's in alignment with that. I use colour for business,
[00:26:38] Gillian: And it's very good for online, isn't it? Colour is very good for online.
[00:26:41] Jane: Exactly. yeah, I choose colour to be able to connect with people. Because black online or black on a screen does come across it as a little bit intimidating until you've known that person for a while.
[00:26:55] Gillian: And you don't get to see the detail, the beautiful texture or what, whatever it is that makes that statement, because it just doesn't come across online nearly as much.
[00:26:57] So very importantly, where can people find you for either your one-on-one service? Because we do have senior women that listen to the podcast. And also you, you, you offer something else. So maybe you give us a picture of what that looks like so people can find you.
[00:27:19] Jane: Yeah, firstly you can find me on Instagram @JaneMowStylist. So Instagram is great if you want to see a lot of behind the scenes work that I do with my one-on-one clients because it is that platform that I can video things and put things into folders and things like that.
[00:27:34] LinkedIn is a great way to find me as well. I'm always reachable on LinkedIn. you can either work with me one-on-one exclusively. It is a bit of a higher investment, because of the amount of time it takes to, to accomplish these wardrobes.
[00:27:47] And then I do a monthly workshop. I run a monthly workshop called the Unforgettable Style Workshop, and it's something that I'm deeply passionate about because it runs for three days, two hours each. And the transformations we get in that one workshop blows my mind every single time we run it. So it's not you sitting there consuming content and implementing it by yourself. It's a done with you thing where we, you actually have homework, and you will see a result at the end of it.
[00:28:18] And a lot of women that go through it see a transformation. At this stage. I'm running that every month. The next one is in May, usually at the beginning of the month. So yeah, I can't wait for the next one.
[00:28:29] Gillian: it sounds amazing and you're so right. I think so many of the programs and experiences, particularly in the fashion industry, they are a series of prerecorded videos, but yours is a very high touch, interactive.
[00:28:40] Jane: Very personalised. You will get my personal feedback. It is part of that workshop. You will get personalised feedback from me. You'll get my eyes. We are together for over a week, uh, over seven days, uh, because I do provide support in a private group as well. And it's a, a group of women where you'll find, uh, at the same level as you.
[00:29:03] They're all going from the same goals. They're all trying to figure out whatever phase they're in. Women who are tall, petite, round, in their forties, in their fifties. They're just trying to figure out how to feel good in what they wear, and you will feel seen. Because that's what everybody says.
[00:29:22] They just feel seen, they feel understood, and they feel cared for. And it's something that I'm deeply passionate about is running these workshops live so that I can connect with people and hear their pains and solve the problem live with them.
[00:29:36] Gillian: I love that, Jane. It's so beautiful. It is about confidence and self-belief and self-efficacy. It's all of those things, isn't it intertwined, and you do it so well, like you just do it so well.
[00:29:48] So thank you so much. We will include all those links in the show notes so people can check it all out and hopefully join you.
[00:29:54] But thank you so much for sharing all your insights and stories and all your fun tips as well.
[00:29:53] Jane: Thank you, Gil. Thank you for having me.
[00:29:55] Gillian: You’re welcome, Jane. See you soon.