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In the News

The following was an article that published in the News Journal shortly after I started my business

Image consultant helps friends and clients discover their stylish selves

News Journal: People & Places April 9th 2006                                       Who: Chantel Stockton, 38 of Chadds Ford, Pa., an image consultant who helped so many friends find their own style that she’s just decided to start her own business, Attitude by Chantel, doing just that. Nominated by: Her friend Dana Harris, who raved about how much Stockton had helped her friends. Wearing: White tank top from gap; chunky turquoise necklace from Attitude by Chantel; military style olive jacket from H&M; cropped jeans from Victoria’s Secret; metallic sequined gold laced up wedged heels by Nine West from MJM Designer Shoes. How does she describe your personal style? “I think I’m very trendy, very contemporary” I love trying something new. .. And now that I think I’m a walking billboard, I’m so aware and conscious of what I wear, it’s hard for me to get dressed and just run out the door.” How did she start her image consulting business? Since adolescence, Stockton has helped her friends select clothes and assemble outfits. She graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in fashion and merchandising. She worked at Lord & Taylor department store for 16 years and became a general manager. When customers needed a personal shopper she stepped up. But when she had the opportunity to leave, her husband encouraged her to pursue her passion for dressing people in clothes that make them look great. She started Attitude by Chantel in November 2005 with the motto: “look … live … love … good!” How does she work? Stockton analyzes her clients’ wardrobes to see what they own, and what they need. She purges closets of worn-out clothes and organizes the remainder. Stockton shops for her clients within their budget “and ‘within their budget’ means from Target to Neiman Marcus.” She also educates clients about what styles look best on their body. How does she actually tell someone they’ve got to change? Usually women know what needs to be  changed already and are opened to the prospect. Stockton said. “If they kind of clam up, I say, ‘Allow my creativity to work for you. Trust me. Trust me.’ And I haven’t had an unhappy client yet. “ Fashion Icon: Jennifer Lopez, because of her presence, sexiness, and ability to dress for every occasion. What special fashion needs do working mothers have? Many of Stockton’s clients are working mothers. “People just loose touch with what the trends are, what the styles are, what they should wear that they look good in, that they feel good in. They get so caught up in their everyday routine, taking care of the kids, and the husbands, and the cars and cooking and working, that they forget themselves. So I come back in and rejuvenate them, make them feel good about themselves again.” What’s a fashion mistake that a lot of people make? They buy clothes in the wrong size, Stockton said. Wardrobe staple: Cropped jackets and blazers “can pull together any outfit, causal or dressy or business,” Stockton said.  She also owns tank tops in every color. They pair well with blazers, can be dressed up or down, and show off a necklace nicely. How does she keep up with trends? Stockton subscribes to Lucky, Vogue, and several other fashion magazines, visits websites, reads newspaper articles, and window-shops at different stores. Where does she typically shop? Target, H&M, MJM Designer Shoes, Victoria’s Secret, Mandee’s, and Marilyn’s.

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Who: Cacia Batts, 25, of Wilmington, a legal assistant at a law firm and second runner up in the 2005 Mrs. Delaware pageant. Wearing: White button down shirt from Express; pearl choker and earrings from Attitude by Chantel; black satin corset from H&M; black tuxedo pants from H&M; and 3-inch, strappy Italian Leather heels by Aldo. How does she describe her personal style? “Monday through Friday I have to do the corporate causal thing, which is not my favorite. I like contemporary. I kind of like the alternative, rock-ish type look on my weekends. Then again I like the club gear: the stilettos, the nice dresses. I’m really versatile.” Dressing to be Mrs. Delaware: Stockton picked Batts’ outfits for the interview, eveningwear, and swimwear portions of last years Mrs. Delaware Competition. For that interview she wore the same outfit she wore for this one: satin corset over a white button-down shirt. A black, ankle-length chiffon gown with gold sequins saw her through the evening wear completion, and a wine colored, one-piece swimsuit with a halter-top completed the wardrobe. Stockton knows how to dress women for their body type, Batts said. “I’m more shaped like a pear, so she made sure the bottom of my bathing suit was cut higher on the hips, which elongates your whole body,” she said.

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Who: Kelly Zingaro, 28, of Beverly, N.J., a senior executive at  Lord & Taylor department store. Wearing: Black satin blouse with butterfly sleeves by French Connection; silver bangle bracelet and dangly earrings from Attitude by Chantel; jeans by Max Studio, and black sequined wedge shoes by BCBG from Lord & Taylor. How does she describe her personal style? Zingaro said she was a “low key” dresser before Stockton encouraged her to wear bigger earrings and lipstick to push her fashion limits. “I would wear small earrings, and not be comfortable with anything this big,” she said, indicating the ones she wore. “But she shows you another light, that you can wear this going out, or even in the workplace.” What did she say to persuade you to wear larger earrings? “She’ll just tell you.  … She’s like ‘Why don’t you try this? You’ll never know until you try it.’”

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  Who: Tanya Williams, 38, of Middletown, DE, who works in banking sales for Citi Group. Wearing: An orange corduroy blazer from Gap; brown shell from The Limited; a cat’s eye necklace; brown leather belt from Strawbridges; cuffed plaid pants from Gap; and low-heeled pump by Nine West. How does she describe her personal style? “Conservatively classy with a twist of nouveau.” Fashion advice from way back: Williams and Stockton met in seventh grade. They were friends through their years at Glasgow High School and roomed together in college. Through those years, Stockton was always the go-to-girl for fashion advice. One summer during college they visited Stockton’s family in Los Angeles. It was the 1980’s when going to L.A. clubs was the thing to do, and we had just turned 21. I didn’t have a lot of clothes because I’m just not a shopper,” Williams said. “She pulled together the funkiest outfit from my clothes that I didn’t even know I had, and we accessorized it … and it just all went together.”

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Who: Renitia Pulliam, 31, of Wilmington, a registered nurse. Wearing: White tank top with a gold bangle bracelet and gold chain necklace from Attitude by Chantel; beaded and embroidered denim blazer by Ashley Stewart; denim gauchos; and tan boots by Nine West. How does she describe her personal style? “I like jewelry. I like accessories. I was never really a trendy person. I was always afraid of that because I didn’t know how to pull it all together. I still don’t go all the way into the trend … because I don’t like to buy and have it go out of style the next year. But I like to put bits and pieces [of the trend] here.” Dressing to impress: Stockton and Pulliam met at Pulliam’s wedding. Pulliman liked to wear sweats and her nurse’s scrubs, but as the two became friends Stockton encouraged her to expand her wardrobe.