Let’s connect with Paula

Today we start a series of interviews with inspiring and fascinating people. Paula shares her journey from South America to the United States with us, growing up multicultural, putting college on hold to pursue her dream of modeling internationally, and ultimately finding her passion in fashion and entrepreneurship as a wardrobe stylist.

Andrés: Hola, Paula, could you tell us a bit about your background, where you were born, and your journey to Dallas?

Paula: I was born in Brazil and when I was six years old, moved to Florida, where I grew up. I go back to Brazil as often as I can. I speak Portuguese fluently, which tricks people a lot because I don’t have an accent, so no one would guess I’m Brazilian. 

After graduating high school in Florida, I signed with a modeling agency, Next New York, and started working right away. I also traveled overseas for work. 

At 22, I decided to study at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in San Francisco. After graduating, I returned to Florida and owned a women’s accessories boutique for four years until I sold the business.

I came across Trunk Club in Dallas, interviewed with them, and got a stylist position. Around the holidays of 2019, I decided to take the leap and start my own styling business here in Dallas.

A: Amazing, thanks for sharing your story. So, tell us a bit more about your business. What do you do now?

P: I noticed that many clients signing up with Trunk Club would always ask for someone to come to their house, look at their closet, see what they need in their wardrobe, and Trunk Club doesn’t offer that service. I saw this niche. 

First, I do closet assessments, where I go piece by piece and separate anything outdated, outworn, stained, etc. What needs to be updated? 

Second, I take notes and create a shopping list to help my clients update their wardrobe gaps. I also assist with their personal shopping.

Third, I lay out all the clothes on the floor, create complete outfits with everything they have in their closet, and take photographs of the outfits. After the appointment, I’ll share a photo album with them. The album with pre-planned outfits helps my clients get dressed in the morning or for any occasion.

People walk into their closets and think they have nothing to wear. They have a lot to wear but are sick of wearing the same outfit over and over again. I help my clients step out of their comfort zone and refresh their wardrobe.

A: That’s fantastic. How can people find you?

P: You can find all my services on my website at www.paulanewlands.com. I also have my social media accounts, Styledby_Paula, on Instagram. On Facebook, Pinterest, and Linkedin, you can find me as Paula Newlands: Personal Stylist.

A: You mentioned that you grew up in Brazil and moved to the United States at a very young age. Do you feel that you had to adapt to two cultures? A culture at home with your family and another culture outside of the house? 

P: If you are not born in the United States, there will be a bit of a culture shock. When you leave the house and come back home, you have that culture instilled in you, how you grew up, and then you have the culture of the outside world around you. Thankfully, the Brazilian culture, the Latin culture in general, is easy going and loves life.

A: Was your dream always to be in the fashion industry?

P: I vividly remember being five years old in kindergarten in Brazil. We were all sitting in a circle, and the teacher asked us to get up one at a time and act what we wanted to be when we grow up. I remember walking down the aisle, doing a little turn. I always wanted to do it.

A: What’s the thing you miss the most from those years?

P: What an experience. I guess my favorite part was when I got to a point where I didn’t have to go to castings anymore. They knew who I was, and they knew I provided good work. Recognition for the value I could provide. That and getting paid to travel the world.

A: When do you pivot from being on the runway to having your own business and become an entrepreneur?

P: I’m so glad I was allowed to take a break between high school and college to pursue my passion for modeling. Pursuing my dream taught me that fashion is what I want to do. 

I decided I wanted to go to school because I knew what I wanted to study: fashion. An entrepreneurship class at FDM turned into a business, my boutique in Florida. It was fantastic to see it go from paper to real life.

A: What’s something you believe helped you keep your business going during the pandemic?

P: You know that feeling before you go on stage? You feel you will throw up, but you go on stage anyway. That’s the feeling I had when I quit my job to start my own business. But the thrill, that feeling that I have to do it, that got me through. Even during the pandemic, most stylists focused on selling more clothes. Stop thinking you must sell more clothes, and get more creative in the added value you can provide.

A: What motivates you the most?

P: I love what I do so much, and I love people. I love making people feel good in their own skin. I love the confidence. Confidence comes from inside, but the way you look, the way you present yourself, the way you carry yourself also has a lot to do with confidence. You might be self-conscious, but you put on the right outfit, you look in the mirror, I bet your attitude will change. It changes their mood and changes my mood.

A: Now, some fun cultural questions. If the skies reopened tomorrow, where’s the first place you would like to visit?

P: My old roommate lives in Bali. I want to go to Bali and visit her. I haven’t been to Indonesia and would love to travel to that region.

A: What is your favorite film or tv series in Portuguese? Maybe you have more than one?

P: Definitely ‘City of God.’ I haven’t seen it in a long time; crazy film. Also, during covid, I found this fantastic show named ‘Girls from Ipanema.’ The protagonist, a woman, decides to open her own Bossa Nova speakeasy bar; it just had me so nostalgic; I saw myself in this girl, you want to chase your dreams, go after them. Lots of troubles and tribulations but a fantastic show, you need to watch it.

A: What are you currently reading?

P: I’m currently reading ‘The Ideal Team Player.’ It speaks to small business owners, you have to know all sides of a business, and you have to figure it out. It’s an excellent book, I do recommend it.

A: You are currently bilingual. If you could be fluent in any other language tomorrow, which one would it be?

P: I’m indecisive between French and Italian. Both beautiful languages. I do love them both.

A: As a wardrobe stylist, what’s an essential tip that you would give to gentlemen?

P: Tailored, not tight. Buy clothes that fit you. They don’t have to be designer clothes. Get something that fits your body type.

A: Any piece of advice for young ladies pursuing their professional dreams?

P: My number one advice, if you are going to follow your passion, is to embrace the word no. Just embrace it. You will probably get shut down a lot, but you cannot be discouraged or the reason you quit. If you love it, you have to keep going. Embrace the word no.

A: Paula, thank you for your time. Thank you for sharing your projects with us. Muito obrigado!

P: De nada!