South African-born Nobuhle Mkhize,30, is a hotshot celebrity stylist, glamorous boutique owner and fashion reporter in New York. Here she explains how a few lucky breaks took her from having nothing, to having it all.
I grew up in Gezinsila, KZN or Emagogogweni as the locals call it because the houses there are made of tin. We lived in a one bedroom house that my father built himself; now I own a luxury condo in Manhattan.
I’ve had a series of life-changing events in my lifetime. At high school I became best friends with Adele Finger. Her family took me in and when we completed matric in 2001 her mom suggested we become au pairs (child minders) overseas.
My first job was as an au pair in Amsterdam and from there I moved to London with the family I worked for. I earned R3 500 per month, which I used to pay for my psychology studies at a college in London.
In 2009, I decided it was time for a change. I moved to America to au pair for a new family. As an au pair I was always around rich people and admired by wealthy men, even though I was nobody. I started getting invites to the ‘right parties’ and I made the ‘right friends’ who loved my fashion sense. I got invited to fashion shows and before long I got offered a job as an assistant in a boutique. I met models, designers and many people who helped me open my own boutique.
I now run a fashion boutique called Lime Designs in Manhattan and I write for local fashion magazines. I play fashion police at high profile events like the Kentucky Derby, and I dress high-profile clients like Bruno Mars for events like the Grammy Awards, which I get to attend as well. I have an image consulting business, I do a regular style feature on Gagasi FM and I also run an online style and store page, Mad About Fashion (http://madabout-fashion.blogspot.com/).
Some of the challenges I face are having super rich and demanding clients who want me to meet their styling needs. I try to keep calm under these circumstances because the success of my business depends on them.
The best thing about my job is getting freebies from designers who want me to help promote their products. As a stylist in America, I also get to attend high-profile functions and meet celebrities.
To survive in this industry you need determination, great work ethic, a high level of professionalism and respect for your clients’ privacy. You have to love people and be willing to serve.
Those who want to follow in my footsteps would have to delete words like ‘can’t’. You have to believe in your abilities, be patient, realise you’re on your own and don’t expect anyone to deliver jobs at your doorstep.
Expert to earn R40 000 – R60 000 per month. This can easily double during award season.
