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What does the former Costume Supervisor for the hit show Friends do for her own venture? Maria Turkel went to school for Fashion Design and Art History, then spent ten years working on television shows and movies in Hollywood. She was the one who found the wedding dress that Jennifer Anniston wore in the pilot of Friends. Who could forget that scene?
“I had to know each character’s personality and background. Then I would shop the department stores, Rodeo Drive and thrift shops to find what would work for them and their scenes. There were tons of fittings, multiple changes, and lots of drama in creating outfits for actors and it was always crazy-busy.”
A move back East with a new baby kept Maria out of the work force for seven years but when her youngest of three children went to preschool, she had an idea for her own business. “I wanted to be a personal stylist, helping people pull together outfits for all of the occasions in their lives. My husband said that if someone would pay me to do that, to go for it.”
Maria got started with business cards and a simple web site that showed her service description and contact info. Then she told everyone she knew about her venture. A local mom became Maria’s first client, “It was a great feeling to get paid for my talent. She told her friends and soon I had four clients I was working with.” From Friends to friends….
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How does Maria work? “I usually start with a new client by doing a complete closet clean out. We weed through what works, donate what doesn’t and organize what’s left.” Maria is very good at ascertaining a client’s personal style and works to showcase that, “The last thing I want to do is dress someone in clothes they don’t feel good in. My goal is to highlight a person’s true personality with the clothes they have plus a few of my suggestions. I want to help them be authentic to who they are while looking the best that they can.”
Maria lays out outfits that include tops, bottoms, a handbag, jewelry and shoes. She works to give her client’s outfits for each part of their lives whether it’s every day, a ladies lunch, work or a night in the city. “I recently outfitted a woman for a wedding in St. Johns Island. We chose complete outfits for arriving on Thursday, lunch on Friday, the Rehearsal Dinner, shopping on Saturday, the wedding itself and brunch on Sunday.” Maria makes her clients look great by using her knowledge of color, proportion and composition. One client says, “After working with Maria, I received so many compliments on my wardrobe from my friends and family. She really helped me complete my outfits with accessories. I go to the ‘look book’ she created for me almost every day.”
Maria also helps many clients on a seasonal basis, coming once a quarter to see what is needed to update a wardrobe. “Purge, purchase, combine – each season.” She even helps cancer patients who may have special wardrobe needs, “One husband was so grateful that I was able to make his wife feel good about her new self after surgery.”
Maria often shops the thrift shops and antique malls for special pieces that might work for particular clients and outfits. “This is so much fun. I love the satisfaction of using my talents and having the flexibility to make my own schedule.” She currently has between 50 and 60 clients who reach out to her for help. What does her husband say now, “He’s so supportive and says, ‘Keep going babe.'” And she will.
