Kerry Brownell has had a lifelong passion for style and fashion. From a young age, she enjoyed helping friends put together outfits and get ready for events. Though she initially considered it just a hobby, a breast cancer diagnosis seven years ago inspired her to turn her passion into a thriving business. Today, through her styling studio and confidence workshops, Kerry empowers women who have lost themselves to help rediscover their identity, build their confidence and self-esteem.

Turning Adversity into Purpose

Kerry recalls, “I started meeting ladies that were obviously struggling on their breast cancer journey – their confidence was really low and they just didn’t know how to dress to accommodate the physical changes that had occurred from their surgeries: lumpectomies, mastectomies, double mastectomies . I thought, I know how I can help them dress, I know how to camouflage these physical changes.’”

At first, Kerry simply worked out of a spare room in her home with a couple of racks of clothes. But the more women she helped, the more her passion grew. She soon outgrew the spare room. So, with the help of her husband, they bought and converted a warehouse into a styling studio.

That studio, which opened its doors in 2018, allowed Kerry to fully dedicate herself to her styling work. She soon expanded her help to all women struggling with shopping for themselves and finding clothes to suit their body shape and size.

As every woman desires more closet space and clothing options, Kerry’s studio developed into a specialty retail store. She offers apparel from various brands and also designs under her own label, “KStyle.” Her product range includes a cosmetics line called Komplete Kosmetics.

Helping Women Rebuild Confidence

During a three-hour styling session, Kerry sees firsthand the transformation that occurs as these women learn about what colors suit their hair, eyes and skin tone, what styles of clothes compliment their shape and size. Her clients come from diverse backgrounds, ranging from new Mom’s to corporate executives, she has found that even many successful women in top positions still struggle deeply with self-doubt related to their appearance.

By the end of each styling session, Kerry notes that her clients stand taller, have a sparkle in their eyes, and a smile on their faces. She shares, “It’s such a massive change that I see in their body language, and I know that I’ve made a difference and done the right thing.”

Kerry likens the experience to learning any new skill. Initially, it can be overwhelming, but with practice, confidence grows. She explains, “Once someone shows you how to dress properly for your shape and height, and shows which colors suit you, you feel so much more confident.”

A haircut or a new outfit has the power to be therapeutic. Helping women realize they can feel confidence every day, is what inspires Kerry most.

Workshops to Boost Confidence

Kerry also leads confidence-building workshops that focus on mindset, personal style, and presentation. She collaborates with other experts in their respective fields, such as make-up artists, hairdressers, nutritionists, naturopaths, and mindset coaches, to share knowledge through education.

Recognizing that confidence gaps often begin at a young age, Kerry is passionate about reaching teenage girls as well—a need she has observed first hand while supporting her own teenage daughters.

Kerry emphasizes that establishing self-confidence early in life may lead to better choices. Watching her own daughter overcome the challenges of a Type 1 Diabetes diagnosis at age 14, by creating her own personal brand to support other teens, has been a source of inspiration for Kerry. She understands that with the numerous expectations and images bombarding teens today, it is crucial to provide them with both inner foundations and outer tools to feel confident in who they are.

In just six years since opening her studio, Kerry has seen tremendous interest and growth. She is eager to expand her studio concept through franchise options across Australia. Regardless of expansion, she intends to continue exploring partnerships and avenues to empower women by building their confidence from the inside out.

As she says, “When we feel confident, it creates a ripple effect into all areas of our life.”

To learn more about Kerry Brownell’s services or to book a styling session, visit her website here. Take the first step towards boosting your confidence and rediscovering your personal style today.

Published by: Khy Talara