Basking Ridge Personal Stylist Adapts To New Reality

BASKING RIDGE, NJ—In March, personal stylist Swapna Patel wondered, like everyone else, what the future would bring for her business, Style Remixx.

Patel, a Basking Ridge resident, previously spent her days working with clients, including editing their wardrobes and shopping with them at the mall. When things began to shut down, she felt a new reality coming.

"I knew I needed something besides programs where I actually go into people's homes and go through closets together and stuff like that," said Patel. "I could see that was disappearing."

Patel, who has a background in fashion and advertising, started Style Remixx after leaving the workforce to have her children. She soon found a niche, helping professional women look their best.

"Most of my clients are busy executives and entrepreneurs," Patel said. "I help them identify what the right things are to wear for things like speaking engagements and photo shoots."

When the quarantine began, she did not hesitate to take her business virtual, becoming more active on social media and posting helpful content on her website. But the transition to an online business didn't stop there.

First, she set up a virtual shopping tutorial for women. Next, she published a free, downloadable guide to how to be ready in five minutes or less on her website. Then, she got even more ambitious.

"I'm actually launching a virtual course, a six week program, that takes women through right way to edit your closet to finding the right pieces for you," she said.

Patel said the course is scheduled to launch around the end of November, and she sees this as a silver lining to the terrible pandemic situation.

"My reach has expanded," she said, of the focus on virtual services, "you don't have to live in New Jersey to work with me. You could really be anywhere."

Although she seems to have seamlessly transitioned to a virtual operation, Patel said there have been bumps in the road since the pandemic began, especially when all photo shoots were canceled. She added that she would love to be able to work in person with clients again.

"I'm looking forward to it," Patel said, "because I can get people results much faster when we're together."

Still, Patel said she realizes where Style Remixx is headed, and how to get there.

"Whatever our normal is, is to be seen," she said, "but I definitely don't think it's gonna look anything like 2019. This hybrid lifestyle is here to stay, at least for the next couple of years. I think people are going to need to dress for that, and it's going to be the key to growing my business."