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Shine On Success
Shine on Success is a dynamic, story-driven podcast where extraordinary entrepreneurs, visionary leaders, and resilient change-makers share their journeys to success, revealing both the challenges and the strategies that led to their breakthroughs. Each episode offers a unique blend of inspiring personal stories, practical business insights, and actionable advice, allowing our guests to connect with an engaged, growth-oriented audience ready to be motivated and uplifted. By joining us, you’ll not only have the opportunity to showcase your expertise and inspire listeners but also to be part of a powerful platform that celebrates ambition, innovation, and the courage to turn dreams into reality.
Shine On Success
Dressing for Joy: How Style Empowers Confidence and Self-Love
Have you ever slipped into an outfit that felt like a superhero's cape, instantly transforming your confidence and outlook on the day? Brittney Ventura, our effervescent guest and personal stylist, is here to show you how your wardrobe can do just that—and more. With a philosophy that celebrates each moment, Brittney takes us on a journey from her small-town roots to styling celebrities, proving that fashion is not just about the clothes we wear but a form of self-expression that empowers and uplifts. Through her vibrant stories, including an unforgettable incident during a Spanish dance class, she illustrates the life-changing magic of embracing the present with style and confidence.
This episode is a treasure trove for anyone looking to refine their personal style or simply inject joy into their daily routine. We get into the nitty-gritty of wardrobe assessments, discussing how to curate a mix of investment and budget-friendly pieces that stay true to one's unique taste, even in a world where professional attire is evolving. Brittney shares her wisdom on navigating the sensitive topic of weight loss and its influence on self-perception, and the importance of clothing fit, all while guiding clients to a place of confidence and empowerment. Her message is clear: don't put happiness on hold—dress for the life you want now, and let self-love be your compass towards achieving your goals. Can't get enough? Brittney Ventura's insights are just a click away for those ready to shine in their own style story.
Connect with Dionne Malush
- Instagram: @dionnerealtyonepgh
- LinkedIN: /in/dionnemalush
- Website: www.dionnemalush.com
- Facebook: /dmalush
- LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/dionnemalush
Have you ever faced a challenge or a low point where changing something as simple as your outfit made a significant difference in your outlook or situation? So welcome to another episode of Shine On Success, where we illuminate the past of those who have embraced their challenges and turned them into opportunities. Today, we have the pleasure of hosting Brittney Ventura, a dynamic personal stylist whose mantra Life is the Occasion inspires us to all celebrate every moment. Brittany is here to share how transforming your wardrobe can transform your life, encouraging us to stop waiting and start living now. Many people wait for the perfect moment to feel good about how they look, whether it's reaching a certain weight or waiting for a special event. Brittany, you advocate for embracing the here and now. So welcome, brittany. I'm so excited to have you and let's talk.
Brittney Ventura:Pleasure is all mine. Dionne, Thank you so much for having me. This is a real treat.
Dionne Malush:This is fun and I really enjoy doing it. So what I want to know is if you could share a bit about your background and what led you to become a personal stylist. Let's start there.
Brittney Ventura:Sure, let's. So I am from a really small town in West Virginia, grew up country girl, tomboy. It was the best childhood and it was very much family, family, family, and we're from a tiny town, so we know everybody. And in a small town, you know, there's not those, oh, events and things to go and get dressed up for. So we really had to make the event our own right and get dressed up for ourselves.
Brittney Ventura:And from a small age that's kind of the way that I've just been living life, like well, I don't care if everybody else is doing X, I'm going to do whatever makes me feel good and represent myself. And if that means today it's bib overalls and I'm going to, you know, play outside, fine. And if it's a dress going to school, you know I don't care, fine. And if it's a dress going to school, you know I don't care. And that mantra has stayed with me and it is it's words to live by. You know what I mean, because I don't want to look back, you know, in my eighties or nineties and think I just wish I would have leaned in more to X, y and Z, like no, no, no no no Leaning in now.
Dionne Malush:I love it and it's so fun to think that as a little girl, that you were thinking like that and so early on like were you passionate about fashion when you were young, so was that part of it.
Brittney Ventura:It's self-expression, I think, more than anything. You know, I, as a child, we all my sisters and I took dance class, so expressing yourself through movement was always key. And you know, of course, like the costumes and all the drama with dance and and there was, there was always that as well, and then it just seemed to be on steroids come dress rehearsal and dance review season. So it's, it's always been there, you know, and I remember going into the. So it's always been there, you know, and I remember going into the, you know, applying for my first job and going on my first interview and the excitement that I had to get into the workforce and wear the pencil skirts and all the high heels and you know, just like that whole thing was part of the experience for me.
Brittney Ventura:You know that showing up and showing out and best foot forward thing. So yes, I use it as a tool. I do I use it as a tool. We're visual creatures, I mean, whether we like to admit it or not, you know we are, we are observing what we see and we're making decisions based on it good or bad we are. And so I like to use all the advantages that I can, all the tools in my tool belt, and put them to work in my favor so you'll find this a funny story.
Dionne Malush:So I had a graphic design business prior to owning this real estate company and I had it for many years. I graduated 89 art institute and I've always been entrepreneurial, so I had. It was great. We had a really good thing, and one of my most famous clients was the dance mom, abby Lee Miller.
Dionne Malush:Yes, yeah, so, anyways, probably almost 20 years that we worked together hand in hand on her dance recital books and her, her t-shirts and logos and we did all of that together and so, like I know that she seems like she's mean sometimes, but she really is really a good person and we had a conversation. We had a lot of fights, too, and a lot of tears, because we butt heads a lot, but we had a great time and I thought that would share that with you. And then another funny dance story is I took my very first Spanish dance class about 2015 and I ruptured my Achilles the same in the class. So, yes, it just played both sides for me like it was fun and part of my career, and then it like literally put me on my butt. So that's my story.
Brittney Ventura:Check your open check your close.
Dionne Malush:See, I won't be dancing anymore, see.
Brittney Ventura:I won't be dancing anymore.
Dionne Malush:I had an experience. It was so limp I got up to try to move and for 12 weeks I didn't drive or walk. So, yeah, the worst, there's that whole dance thing. So I'm not the greatest dancer and I am not fashionable at all. So I love that you're here. So you know, our mutual friend, elizabeth, is Miss Fashionista and I'm not. She is and she makes. She always reminds me about it too. So, yes, so what is one of the biggest challenges you've faced in your career?
Brittney Ventura:You know what? It's funny for me because I am my biggest critic and I get in my own way. I am my biggest critic and I get in my own way, so I don't know if it's imposter syndrome or what it is.
Brittney Ventura:But that's my hurdle and it's so terrible, right, because I know, like Britt, you got this, you are this, you are that, you are the other thing. You put in the time, you put in the effort, but it's still. I still get in my own way and that negative self-talk I mean it is a constant thing that I'm working on. I feel like a lot of entrepreneurs go through that whole self-doubt and, oh, my gosh, is this, is this thing ever going to take off? And you just have to. You have to keep grinding right.
Dionne Malush:And you know what I think? I don't think it would be normal if we didn't have that happen. And I have to tell you, on the fashion side, I felt like an imposter so many times because I'm so bad at it. One time I walked into this event and I had on this. I thought it looked nice right, until I walked in and I was like, oh my gosh, my Kmart clothes aren't going to work anymore. Like I got to stop. The Jacqueline Smith edition is not. I was so panic stricken at that. Anyway.
Brittney Ventura:That just kills me, because here's what it is. You can take a Jacqueline Smith treasure and pair it with something else, and nobody's going to know.
Dionne Malush:How do you wear it? The thing is, I will always know, and so it's just not been my thing. And it's so funny because I can remember the feeling. But, on all seriousness, I felt horrible about myself that day. It's, you know, it's not very dressy. Always when I go to an event, I'll be like what's the dress code? I don't know what to wear. I'm just not good at this. I'm good at a lot of other things. This is not one of them. That's why we need people like you to help us with that. Thank you, it's powerful. Tell me more, okay. So tell me exactly what you do, so the audience knows.
Brittney Ventura:Okay. So I feel like personal stylists. Everyone's got a real general hunch of what we'll do, but oftentimes my clients will tell me oh my God, I had no idea you did all this too. What I feel like everyone is thinking is I'm going to go shop for you and I'm going to pitch every single thing in your closet Like I'm just going to get rid of it all, like those shows on TV, right, but not to wear, and this and that and the other thing.
Dionne Malush:Here's what it is.
Brittney Ventura:Everyone that I have ever worked with has told me flat out that they don't have any style.
Dionne Malush:They just they have like a come to Jesus moment before we start working together.
Brittney Ventura:I want to tell you I don't have any style. Before we start working together, I want to tell you I don't have any style. I'm going to stop you right there. We don't know how to interpret it, we don't know how to express it, we don't know how to put it into words and apply it to an outfit. But if we saw it, if we could articulate it, we would know to see it.
Brittney Ventura:So what I do first is an assessment where I will show probably nine or 10 of my slides with clients and on these slides there's all kinds of style, aesthetics and all kinds of pieces that fit to a certain like type of style, and we will go through and we will look at all these looks in detail and we will get very specific like oh no, I really like that shoe that she's wearing on number six, but I love how she's paired it on slide number seven with that bag and with those shoes. So it's a real in-depth assessment. So by the end of it you have an idea of your style aesthetic. Be it, you're a classic minimalist, you love edgy styles paired with romantic frills. We get the idea of who you want to be right, who you want to express to the world and what your style looks like now, Because we do evolve and we do change and our style should be moving and changing and evolving with us, right?
Dionne Malush:I understand that completely.
Brittney Ventura:Because what we did and what we wore back in our 20s and our 30s and you know, it's just not the same thing now. Or we want a fresh spin on it, right, so we don't feel frumpy, or, oh God, does this make me look like an old lady? Like ain't nobody here for that. So after we figure out who you are and who you want to be, and what you want these clothes to say about you, that's when I come to your closet. So we start editing the pieces with this vision in mind, so we can say not only does this spark joy which that's a great place to start but we also know where we're going and what that look we want to look like.
Brittney Ventura:So we start pairing outfits with what you've already got, taking pieces away that don't fit the bill, that are not aligned with the goal, and I love to use places like a dress for success or treasure house fashion.
Brittney Ventura:So you know somewhere like that where the clothes that maybe don't work for you anymore can have another run, helping another lady and be a real treasure, you know. So I always tend to go that direction and then at the end of that, we know what we don't have, we know what would be great, paired with all the things that we do have. So that's when I start to go shopping for you. So it's, it's everything that's going to be in your color palette and that's going to be aligned with that fashion that you're into right now. Those styles that you are into right now that are going to be aligned with that fashion that you're into right now. Those styles that you are into right now that are going to make you feel elevated, that are going to make you feel chic and get you to the goal, so that you don't have an event where you're thinking, oh God, what should I wear? Again, there's a closet full of clothes, but what am I going to wear?
Brittney Ventura:Not on my watch?
Dionne Malush:So do you? Did they give you a budget and then say I have X amount of dollars to work with and then you decide how that works? It's a lot of that.
Brittney Ventura:Yeah. So after, after we've assessed the closet and we do the edit, then we know what's missing, right? We know what we're on the hunt for. So if you are telling me I love to shop at Nordstrom or, oh, I go to TJ Maxx and Marshalls, or do you know what I mean? We have an idea of the stores that are familiar to you, that are in your budget and your price point, and we just stick there. Now I might give you two or three options of like, say, you're looking for a pair of jeans. I might send you three links to a pair of jeans top tier, medium tier, affordable, budget, brand. So if you know, okay, well, I need a pair of investment jeans. You've got an option for that. You need another pair that's not going to break the bank. You've got an option for that no-transcript.
Dionne Malush:I don't think I can wear those funny shirts. I don't think my clients would like that. They wouldn't get the kick out of them like everybody else was, because they're creative, they look at you and they don't even pay attention to that. But when you get into real estate and one of my old brokers he was like you have everyone has to dress according to the, to their industry. So then real estate takes this massive shift. After all of these real estate reality shows comes out and everybody's wearing jeans now. And you know guys would wear shorts, I mean would wear suit jackets and nice shirts. It just changed so much. And then post COVID, like it's.
Dionne Malush:It's odd to see people that are super dressed up in real estate and there's a couple agents I know of in the Pittsburgh area that that's their, that's their niche. You know high end, so they dress more. But most agents are just normal. You know they wear a nice pair of jeans, nice shoes and it's comfortable. You're out showing houses in the heat or in the cold, so it's funny how you can evolve there.
Dionne Malush:You know being a funny and wearing the funny t-shirts because we made them all, because part of my design business we created shirts, unions and for all the local businesses, and then we'd get some funny ones, and of course we keep all the funny ones and then we wear them. But you know, coming from a small town, you know we just we didn't learn, like it wasn't something, that I learned how to even adjust to my profession and even to this day, like I know that there's times that I go out and then when I'm looking down and I'm like, yeah, that black doesn't match at all, you know, or that I like flowers and camo, like I like to mix prints, and again my creative side coming out, because I'm super creative, but I also like black. You know, jet black, everything. So it's hard, it's hard to understand. There's, it's a confusing industry where you're in, like it's really hard, and then things don't fit, like I lost weight and then everything's hanging and all of my friends are like everything is hanging off of you and I'm like, but for me it doesn't feel like that, it doesn't look like that. When I look in the mirror, you know, even 25 pounds or 50 pounds or whatever it is, you don't see it like other people do. So, yeah, so I think it's so interesting.
Dionne Malush:I love what you do and I think that making people feel good it's just it's. It's a great industry. So I hope that I can connect you with a ton of people to see a lot of people have that joy and that confidence and you know so I just think it's funny that how it made me feel so. When I read your information, I could feel that and know that. You know, I've had that feeling of insecurity or impotence.
Dionne Malush:No matter how smart you are, how you're in business, you do all of this great stuff and then you have your clothes and your hair looks crazy wild and it won't work today. It just makes you feel bad. So I think that you know what you're doing is awesome and I really hope that we can share. You know your message, and so let's talk more about the strategies that have worked well for your clients. Is there anything specific that is like a strategy that you use that's been very helpful in you dealing with a new client? Say, I was your client, like what would you? What would be something you would share with me?
Brittney Ventura:Well, what I love to do is learn about you and I like the slides that I use to assess your style, to do a lot of the talking for us and to get conversations started Right. So I'll show you all kinds of things variety, you know, it's the spice of life. So I will show you crazy stuff, and it will. It will be on purpose, because you're going to like something there and you're not going to know how it fits with the other things that you like that seem pretty safe and normal. But everybody's got that mixed bag of tricks and that's the best part. You know we're all multidimensional and there are layers to our personal style. So figuring out your combination, your layers, your mixed bag is just the best, because everyone will say, everyone will say, oh my God, that's me, it's, it's that you're, you're so many things.
Brittney Ventura:But if we can get the combinations right and put them in like a visual kind of like a Pinterest board, you can see them together in a collage sort of you'll say, oh my God, yes, like this was what I've been trying to say, this is what I've been trying to shop for, but I just didn't know how to put it all together. It's a lot of self-discovery, because we're grown women. We've been doing our thing for a while now. We are confident in who we are and who we have become, and we've combated a lot of things to this point. So, showing up for ourselves in a way that makes us feel good, that makes us feel like we are bringing our true self to the table, there's nothing better than that. There's nothing better than a woman who is confident and knows her worth and is projecting all of that, those good vibrations and is projecting all of that, those good vibrations.
Dionne Malush:So if you have any stories you could share with people that you've actually worked with and some success stories you've had from that, oh my gosh, I feel everybody, every client, and there's been probably in the past four years, 55 clients.
Brittney Ventura:We work together, you know, throughout the year. But the clients will always say I didn't have style. Before I met Brittany I really didn't. I didn't know what my style was, I was afraid to wear color or I was afraid to print, or I would have never picked out X, y and Z for myself. And now I wear it and you know people at the coffee shop will come up to me and say, where did you get that outfit? You look so nice.
Brittney Ventura:So I've got a client who is she's an event planner for her company and she does a lot of things, but this is one of the things she does. So she will get all of these conferences organized, organized and show up looking like a million bucks. Every person at the hotel thinks she is like the CEO of the company. She walks in, she walks in with that energy. She is dressing for the job she wants. Do you know what I mean?
Brittney Ventura:So everything about her is elevated, everything about her is confident and polished, and this is something she did not think was possible for herself. You know she was reserved about it, reserved about her greatness and I just saw it in her like sparkling, and I said you need to, you need to step out just a little and, if you trust me, let's try some things. And it was yes, it was color that we experimented with, but it was something that was body skimming, that she was very in the beginning. She was thinking I couldn't possibly, because I'm over 40. I couldn't possibly do that, I'm over 40. And I said, honey, I see you at Solid Core Monday through Friday. You're solid baby. We are going to be wearing a skirt today. You can wear a tank top any day of the week. Do you know what I mean? But we get in our own way with, oh, but I'm not supposed to because I'm a woman over 40 or whatever.
Dionne Malush:Well, I'm a woman way over 50. So, you know, I definitely understand all of the phases of life and where I'm at, you know, and I do feel much more confident when I'm dressed nice and I feel better and it really is amazing how clothes can make you feel that way, and hair and makeup and the things that you know that are all about women. I remember, just growing up, my dad would be like pretty girls don't need makeup. And I'm like Dad, but they do because it enhances their beauty. So if they're already beautiful, it's just going to make them more beautiful, and if they're not beautiful, it will make them feel beautiful. So you know it's.
Dionne Malush:I understand what he said, you know, but I really disagreed because I do feel better, you know, and I remember pretty much my entire life I've not really walked out of the house without makeup on. It might not be a lot of makeup, but I always have foundation on, you know, and I feel good. I remember one time when we were young the water pipes froze in our house and I couldn't wash my hair and I was. I was traumatized. I remember I wore a you know, a little hat on my head when I was like sixth grade and I was so embarrassed because my hair was dirty. And now people, they go weeks without washing their hair and they wear these fall caps all the time.
Dionne Malush:So, like I was part of it, but it really affected me as a young girl and so, you know, I love that we're having this conversation because I know that people, when they come to you, there's something inside of them that they need to have some more confidence and they need help to feel better so that they don't have imposter syndrome, which is huge, especially when you're in business and, you know, when you come. Much you know we had. You know we grew up. We didn't have a lot, we had a lot of love. We didn't have a lot of things, we always had hand-me-downs from everyone, and so which now, like I love shopping in thrift stores and there's some really cool things that you can put together, you know. And so I want to ask you this question because for you it's been four years, right, you've been doing this.
Brittney Ventura:Yes.
Dionne Malush:How do you measure success for yourself? What does it look like?
Brittney Ventura:So in the beginning it seemed like I was measuring my success by dollars earned. What is my profitability? And you know, coming from a corporate America sales background, I mean, why wouldn't it be that way? Because that's the way it had always been right. So I had to switch gears as an entrepreneur in the industry that I was in, because what was going to get better than a testimonial from a client saying I've never felt so good in my skin, I'm the heaviest that I've ever been, but I feel the best that I have in years?
Brittney Ventura:You just, these things are not measurable on a monetary scale. I know that I am making an impact in someone's life and changing the way they see and feel about themselves, and that is just priceless to me. So I look at my book of business, my 55 clients, and I think that's amazing, right, and I no longer feel the tie to the old corporate America spreadsheets like no, I am here for how does it make you feel? And who, who is leveling up? And and if I was a part of that journey, oh, that's success, it is true success, I agree, and that, for me, is the that's true success.
Dionne Malush:It is true success, I agree, and for me it's the same. It's watching people become their best version of themselves, moving beyond their measures. And now for you, looking good and feeling good and the right size clothing makes all the difference, and I can just see it in my own self, and I put on a medium shirt instead of the extra larges that I was wearing Right when I put that on and I look in the mirror and I thought, wow, that actually does fit and feel better, you know. So, yeah, I love this. I'm so glad we had this conversation today. So what advice would you give to someone who feels stuck in their style, other than call you? Of course, that's the biggest thing, call her.
Brittney Ventura:But after that, yes To not feel like you have to stay there, that because of the weight that we're at right now in our journey today isn't it might not be the weight forever, and just because it is the way that it is right now doesn't mean we can't show up and show out. I feel like some some of us will say I'm just going to wait till I lose these last 10 pounds, and then I'm going to get my style together.
Dionne Malush:Why wait?
Brittney Ventura:You can be stylish right now. Why withhold that joy from yourself? Why withhold the feeling that that is going to bring you that lift, that boost? Why deny yourself? Right, I would say, don't deny yourself of joys. And if you are on a journey, keep being on your journey right. Keep getting getting closer to your goals, but know that this, this little tree, is a boost. It's going to take you there faster, it's going to get you on the right track. You know our insides and outsides connecting that way oh manifest in greatness.
Dionne Malush:So if someone were to try to get ahold of you, how could they do that?
Brittney Ventura:So you can get me on my website, which is Brittany Ventura. com, and I'm on all the social media platforms at Brittany Ventura style.
Dionne Malush:I love it and I guess, unfortunately, that's it for our show today. So we have another inspiring journey of Brittany and how she helps women feel so much better about themselves, and thank you for sharing that with me. So don't forget to like, subscribe and share this episode with anyone you know facing adversity, and if we can help just one person, this podcast is a true success. So, brittany, thank you for reminding us that every day is an occasion worth celebrating. Thank keep shining .
