Fashion / Style

How Dallas Women Do It — New York Transplant and Stylist Marissa Birdi on Finding Yourself Through Clothes

The Clothing Curator on Her Mindful Approach to Dresssing

BY // 10.01.21
photography Katie Rosebraugh

For Marissa Birdi, fashion has always been a creative outlet, especially when it comes to the magic of fitting certain pieces together. After spending a decade working in New York City’s fashion industry, a move to Dallas inspired her to bring her own unique style to the Lone Star State. In 2019, she launched Marissa Birdi Styling Group, a high-touch personal styling business specializing in womenswear.

Birdi talks to PaperCity about everything from finding space for her style in Dallas to setting boundaries as a mom.

 

What’s your go-to Dallas coffee order?
An iced latte or a cappuccino, and I love La La Land.

 

What’s the best Dallas meal you’ve ever eaten?
Uchi. I go out to eat maybe once a month, and that’s our go-to place.

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What are your favorite local wellness spots?
The Joule Hotel for a massage and a facial — the experience is just so beautiful.

 

What’s your favorite Dallas hidden gem?
It’s absolutely not hidden, but sometimes underrated: the Dallas Arboretum and White Rock Lake — those nature points. I got very heavy into those when my kids were super little because I’d just take them there. But, once they go to school, it’s hard to revisit those spots just to go… and you see those through a different lens. So for the last year and a half, those have just been a gathering point for walks around the lake. It’s a nice alternative to going out, because it’s outside, fresh air, you think different things, and you see different things.

 

image1-2 (Photo by Katie Rosebraugh)
“I promise that styling is going to be a benefit to my clients, and that’s a big promise to make.” – Marissa Birdi (Photo by Katie Rosebraugh)

How did you start and grow your styling business?
I moved to Dallas about seven years ago, and I had worked in fashion in NYC for about 10 years prior. I knew I wanted to get involved in the fashion community in Dallas, but when I moved here, I got pregnant about 10 minutes after and went very deep into motherhood, parent life, and figuring out how my life would look here. I decided about three years ago that I was missing this creative, expressive piece that was such a big part of my life.

I’m always people watching — not judging! — but was always kind of observing: what’s going on around me, what are people wearing, what are the stores here, how different is the merchandising here versus New York? It’s a very observational process, and I learned that there really was space for my style here in Dallas. It was something I didn’t really notice [at first], but it felt very true to me. I decided to pursue this, and I love to work with people and the educational aspect of styling. If styling doesn’t come naturally to you, it really can be broken down into different lessons, and that’s the approach I wanted to take.

 

What does working with you look like?
I have been very lucky to work entirely by referral, which I think is very important. My business and approach are incredibly high-touch. I am in my clients’ homes, so that alone is a very trusting experience. On top of that, I am texting my clients on a daily or weekly basis and seeing what they’re wearing, and I want to see them putting their pieces together and being proud of the work that we’ve done together.

All of my clients are different, and it really does come down to a crafted experience for each person. For that reason, I’m intentionally small, because there’s a lot of emotional output from my perspective trying to understand my client, their dressing insecurities, and what I can offer. I promise a really good experience and that styling is going to be a benefit to my clients, and that’s a big promise to make. I always want to make sure everyone leaves feeling good.

 

Where do you personally find style inspiration?
Personally, my favorite designers are absolutely Brandon Maxwell (without even thinking about it — I just love what he’s putting out), Sally LaPointe, and Bottega Venetta. Recently, I’ve been really intrigued by Max Mara and Etro, especially around the tailoring and the classic Italian prints.

I also use a lot of celebrity stylists and international magazine editors or digital editors, too. So some of the biggest influences for me with styling and with a similar kind of mindset are Jenna Lyons (she’s always got ideas), Shiona Turini (a costume designer and former editor), Jason Bolden, our Dallas hometown pride Taylor Tomasi Hill (I’ve always really admired her style and kind of take it as a cosmic sign we both live in Dallas), and Maeve Reilly (it is undeniable that we are all taking styling cues from her, whether or not we know it).

 

image0-2 (Photo by Katie Rosebraugh)
“There’s a way to get in touch with how you’re feeling with clothes.” – Marissa Birdi (Photo by Katie Rosebraugh)

How do you balance it all as a creative, a mom, and a business owner?
I don’t think I’m the first to say this, but there really is no work-life balance. As a mom of two sons, it’s really important for them to know what I do for my business and understand that this is a career. Whenever I’m dressing myself or get something new or am really excited about something around styling, I will always share it with them. I ask them what they think, just to get them forming opinions and figuring out what they like, too. It’s important for them to learn that your opinions are important, and there’s a way to get in touch with how you’re feeling with clothes.

When I formed the business, there were things that were really important to me that I’ve maintained from my stay-at-home-mom life. You have to figure out your non-negotiables and work around those. I’m pretty transparent when I start with a new client so they understand that these are my priorities. It helps that a lot of my clients are also moms, so that’s a great connection and point of relation as well. We all kind of know what this life is like, and my clients are all very welcoming of that.

 

What’s your favorite styling advice?
This really relates to my styling and life philosophy in general: don’t feel like you have to subscribe to any one style or theme. A lot of us grew up around the idea of ‘boho’ or ‘glam’ or ‘preppy’ or ‘California chic’ themes, which are all useful elements — but it’s important that you don’t subscribe to all of those.

When you start to blend elements from your lifestyle, where it’s like ‘Yeah, sometimes I am California cool transitional, and some days I am kind of downtown grungy,’ that’s when you can really connect and find your own styling point of view.

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