Winner of the Australian Style Institute 2020 “One to Watch” award, Emelia helps clients define their look and build their style confidence with tailor-made styling services. Her warm and supportive approach ensures clients walk away feeling amazing.
Q. What inspired you to launch your styling business?
Emelia: It might be obvious, but I really love fashion. Although that’s not always been the case, it’s something that has evolved over time. But now, I love clothes! And they have definitely become an extension of who I am. How did this happen? I had a bit of a lightbulb moment one day. I already knew that the right clothing had the ability to make people feel confident, to give them ‘feel good’ moments, as well as tell the story of someone or give a glimpse into their personality without even having to say a word. Clothing made me feel empowered, so I wanted to help others not only feel great but look great too. So, I took a leap of faith and in 2019 became a qualified personal & fashion stylist. Now I help my clients to
feel confident and empowered in their own personal style and wardrobe, and there is honestly nothing I’d rather do!
Q. What does self-care mean to you and what role does it play in your life?
Emelia: Self-care is very layered and something that I am still working on. I used to think self-care meant you needed to meditate, do some yoga and be very Zen. However, for me, it simply means doing things that force me to stop and to focus on things that don’t exhaust me. It means taking some time to nourish my soul by making time for myself, whether it’s simply having some me-time where I get to 'Netflix and chill' or getting some fresh air outside when taking my dog for a walk.
In the past, I have been guilty of taking on way too many things and extending myself too far and my self-care has taken a back seat at times which ultimately led to burnout. I’m learning to prioritise and practice self-care a lot more these days and now it’s absolutely mandatory to incorporate this into my life.
Q. How do you like to practice self-care? Are there certain activities/rituals that best work for you?
Emelia: My number one thing would be walking my dog. When I’m outside walking my dog, I often completely switch off - it helps me to reduce stress by getting fresh air and doing something with my best friend. I get so much joy taking my dog (aka the baby) for walks as it makes him so happy, which makes me happy. I don’t find it a chore at all and I find it quite therapeutic.
I also have recently been using the Retreat Society self-care affirmation cards, I don’t use them every day, but when I do I find that it forces me to take a small moment out of my day to switch off and do something for myself.
Other rituals include, Netflix and chill, giving my face some love with a facemask, and just having some me time by myself.
Q. Self-care isn't always easy. What advice do you have for anyone who's struggling to prioritise themselves?
Emelia: I have recently started setting healthier boundaries in all aspects of my life. I used to say yes to way too many things which ultimately left me burnt-out and as a result of this my mental health and general health was starting to suffer. When I started implementing and setting healthy boundaries my stress levels started to come down and when I can say yes, I am so much more present and a better version of myself.
My advice to anyone who’s struggling to prioritise themselves is that you need to set healthy boundaries in all aspects of your life including work, friends and family. It doesn’t mean that they’re not important to you, it just means that you’re saying that your self-care is important too.
Saying no means that you know your limits and saying yes to yourself means that you are prioritising you, your wellbeing and your mental health.
Q. Do you have a favourite quote, mantra or role model that inspires you to practice self-care?
Emelia: “You have to learn to say no without feeling guilty. Setting healthy boundaries is healthy. You need to learn to respect and take care of yourself.”
For more from Emelia, follow her on Instagram at @emeliamorrisstylist or visit www.emeliamorrisstylist.com