Meet beautiful Natalia Macri, Personal Stylist & the Founder of personal styling agency **STYLE-AND-YOU.com**, where she empowers women to be more stylish, confident, successful, and powerful through style. Natalia has loved fashion and style ever since she was a little girl. She has such a warm, creative, supportive, and articulate manner, and this is reflected in every post, every review, and every image she shares.
Read on as she shares her style (and soul) wisdom with Mys Tyler.

What inspired you to pursue a career in styling?

Actually, it was my friend, who suggested that I start my personal styling business because she knew that I was constantly being approached by strangers in the street, asking me where I purchased a certain outfit or a piece of clothing I wore. That was over 10 years ago and at the time I did not even know that you could make a business out of it. So, that was the beginning of my styling career.

What is it that you love most about your job?

I love that I can touch people's lives, give them confidence and empower them to be the best version of themselves.

When working with a new client, what are the first questions you ask?

Your presentation and appearance will speak volumes before you can say a word, it tells your story.

So the question is - what story would you like to tell?

Tell us more about your personal style.

My personal style is quite minimalistic. I would describe it as Classic, Chic, and On-trend. I like clean lines, structured minimalistic silhouettes, and pieces that are modern yet classic. I like when my clothes fit well since I believe that is the key to feeling great in your outfits.

Your Go-To outfit? Pieces you can’t live without?

My top wardrobe must-haves include a white button-down shirt, a white and black t-shirt, a pair of well-tailored trousers or high waisted jeans, a tailored blazer, a black leather jacket, an LBD (Little Black Dress) or a comfortable figure-hugging dress, a good quality statement bag and a comfortable pair of heels, flats, or white sneakers.

How has your style evolved over time?

My style has definitely evolved and I would say it became more timeless and sophisticated over the years.

Who are your style icons? Who or what inspires you?

I love the minimalistic side of Victoria Beckham's style as it reflects my own style a lot. And her denim collections are the best, I have a few pairs of jeans, in different colors, that I got years ago and they still fit and look great.

Natalia wears an oversized turtleneck sweater by WHO (shop similar here), LA high-rise jeans by Victoria Beckham, and leather pouch by Bottega Veneta (available **here**)

Can you name your greatest success or something you are most proud of in your career? What have been the highlights so far?

If you watch testimonials from the clients I styled, they say to me ‘You have changed my life!’ – AND this is the best reward for what I do, what I am proud of and it is definitely what gets me up and going every morning. I love changing people’s lives in a positive way.

You have shared that you were bullied as a child for your weight and appearance, and this affected the way you dressed and presented yourself to the world. This led you on a journey of self-discovery and experimentation with fashion and style, and you saw some real changes - and it seems the most important changes happened within. You felt amazing. You felt empowered. Your confidence and sense of self bloomed. You are now a Mama to the most beautiful little girl. What are the most important lessons you have learned on your path to self-love and acceptance that you wish to share with her? What would you say now to that young, beautiful girl who was hiding herself from the world?

Trust yourself and be strong. You can do anything you set your mind to. It takes action, perseverance, and hard work, facing your fears, and getting out of your comfort zone. And then - Dreams magically come true! Because nothing worth having comes easy in life.

What does 'beauty' mean to you?

Beauty is who you are on the inside, not the outside. If you create a beautiful inside then you will look beautiful on the outside.

Please talk us through the difference between 'Fashion Forward' and 'Elegance'.

In the context of appearance, Elegance is the quality of being graceful and stylish, while Fashion Forward means being very fashionable and wearing things reflecting the most up-to-date fashion trends. We all know that trends don’t last, while elegance and style do. I think it says it all.

Beautiful Natalia wears **SABA** for a Mys Tyler photoshoot in Sydney, 2021.

Why is it important for us to build our own personal brand?

Personal Brand is how you present yourself to the world. Your Personal Brand is there to help you articulate who you are, what you do, and how you help others. The truth is we all have a personal brand, whether we've defined it or not. In reality, potential clients, colleagues, and other individuals we meet will make judgments based on our appearance. So, whether you’re looking for a better job or more sales for your company, personal branding is more important than ever and should not be neglected.

Elevating your personal brand starts with a distinct look. Your personal style is an integral part of your personal brand and is the quickest way to stand out in today’s competitive marketplace, and it also makes getting your personal brand across to people much easier.

For more inspiration from Natalia, or to book a consultation, please visit her website STYLE-AND-YOU.com

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