Case Study Two
A Fresh Perspective, from 6,000km Away
The Brief
Prior experience with a personal stylist and an AI-powered app have been mixed. Both tend to suggest generic or safe options that don’t help the client stand out or elevate her executive presence. Need to liven up the professional wardrobe and infuse personality back in; also need to add enough versatility for after-work client entertainment. Commensurate with client’s global remit, the wardrobe needs to flex for diverse cultural and business norms. Above all: satisfy the client’s desire for change while still remaining on-brand at a conventional firm.
CLIENT INDUSTRY: Economic Consulting Practice at a Big 4 Accounting Firm
COMPANY BRAND PILLARS: Integrity, Professionalism, Deep Knowledge Base
CLIENT TITLE: Senior Partner
CLIENT REMIT: Heads a regional Spanish office of the practice, responsible for all performance metrics. Also has global responsibilities related to the cross-functional financial services offering of the firm.
DRESS SIZE: US 2
HEIGHT: 5'2"
The Vision
A fun assignment that entailed pushing the client out of her comfort zone just enough to pique her interest but not so much as to turn her off! The “autopilot” wardrobe had some great basics in neutrals in classic cuts, so we could create several new looks from the strategic addition of a few key elements. Her favorites were the military-style jacket and the navy blue dress. We loved playing with the powder blue suit — although a suit is classic (and necessary given her company’s brand messaging and her role), we picked a modern silhouette and color, and then styled it in slightly edgy ways. We enabled our client to simultaneously project that she is the trusted advisor her audience expects, but can be agile as needed.
The Results
Using the client’s existing classics — well-tailored, neutral suiting apt for a prominent client-facing role in a Big 4 accounting firm — was a great foundation to build from.
Then all that was left to do was to add some playfulness to create visual interest. Being able to successfully strike the balance between conservative and bold is a unique type of confidence signaling, one that will yield strong returns.
To protect the client’s privacy, the selected wardrobe choices are shown on an AI-generated model.
The Feedback
I was lucky to meet Aparna years ago — we were colleagues at my first job, when I worked in New York. I always admired her outfits, which were consistently the coolest in our very Banana Republic office.
When she launched her styling venture, I was quick to ask to be one of her first clients. It's hard for me to find outfits that fit off the shelf, and dressing for work has never been a passion: I was always focused on looking the part, but I struggled to develop a personal style or point of view. I found myself buying iterations of the same outfits on repeat, and getting frustrated in the process.
Aparna put together a full lookbook for me — professional and casual — without setting foot in my wardrobe. She's based in New York; I'm in Barcelona. That distance didn't slow her down. What came back was thoughtful, specific, and genuinely useful: pieces that felt like me but slightly bolder, shapes and colors I'd consistently overlooked, and a handful of stores that simply hadn't been on my radar. Nothing felt random or generic. It felt considered.
What impressed me most was the calibration. She didn't overhaul my style — she pushed it, just enough. She had the confidence to suggest things I wouldn't have chosen; I trusted her and ordered everything. And it didn't disappoint.
If you're someone who has a busy life and has let your wardrobe coast on autopilot, or if you've always been curious about working with a stylist, you'll be lucky to work with Aparna. She has a deep understanding of what professional women and executives actually need — because she's been there. Nearly two decades in finance and consulting gave her a firsthand sense of how to dress with intention, authority, and style in demanding environments. That experience now underpins everything she does as a stylist, and it shows.
— EV, Senior Partner, Big 4 Public Accounting Firm