Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Mazzarella Poulakos.
Natalie, please share your story with us.
I am a seasoned publicist with a background in fashion and luxury consumer brands. A former visual merchandiser and now Director at SKOOG Productions, a brand strategy and communications firm, I am also the Editor and Creator of Wear You Are Now, a lifestyle website for kindred spirits who believe fashion plays an integral role in making memories. A self-proclaimed clothes-horse and word play enthusiast, I never pass up a good pun or a glass of wine (or two). I currently live in Boston with my husband, who I hopes will one day agree to adopt a pet hedgehog.
I will be the first to tell you that my career trajectory hasn’t exactly been straight forward. I started my career as a cosmetologist. After cutting hair to pay for a college, I earned a degree in Fashion Marketing and Merchandising and transitioned to a career in Visual Merchandising. From there, I earned another degree in Integrated Marketing Communications and segued into the field of Public Relations. All of which contributed to the creation of Wear You Are Now.
Through my work in both fashion and public relations, I felt there was an open niche, an opportunity for a 30-something to create a space for like-minded women to talk about genuine things with less focus on perfection and more focus on real life. Launching Wear You Are Now was an incredibly natural transition for me, not to mention a life-long dream realized.
Without knowing it at the time, the idea for Wear You Are Now started years ago when my mother gifted me the treasure that is “Love, Loss and What I Wore” by Ilene Beckerman; a book that I fervently connected with. To her readers, Ilene shared the story of her life- a half century romp through American fashion – via the clothes she wore; articulating one very truthful finding: our memories are often tied to what we are wearing. I wanted to explore that connection. And through Wear You Are Now, I hope I’ve done just that.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I wish I could tell you that it was a seamless road and that I always had some sort of a grand, master plan in mind. But the reality of my story is so much more interesting. I don’t believe in complacency. I do believe in finding new ways to educate and challenge ourselves. We should always be learning. We should always be trying new things. For me, that means taking a leap every now and again into the unknown. I knew the kind of career I wanted to build for myself and I knew what I wanted Wear You Are Now to become. It took a few wrong turns, a lot of “Plan B’s” and a lot of work, but somewhere along my path I reached a jumping point that landed me where I was supposed to be. And so I went for it.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Wear You Are Now story. Tell us more about the business.
Living genuinely. Celebrating imperfection. Making memories. This is the foundation of Wear You Are Now, a lifestyle website for kindred spirits and like-minded women to gather and gab about the topics most near and dear to our hearts. In a world where selfies and perceived perfection reign supreme, Wear You Are Now isn’t about having the newest or the best. It’s about embracing where you are in your life and how you live- how you eat, how you travel, how you work and how you dress. From fashion, to recipes, to travel tips, to inspiration, Wear You Are Now is a witty and open-armed approach to genuine living viewed through the lens of what you’re wearing. Think of it as a loft where you can gather with your friends, feel free to be unapologetically yourself and find inspiration from other women along the way.
One of the things I enjoy most about what I do, through both my work as a publicist and through my blog, is the unbelievable kick-ass group of women I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know. I have never been able to fathom existing in a world where women don’t band together to build each other up. You know the saying, “It takes a village? Well, it does. I don’t care if you’re a stay-at-home Mom or a CEO- you didn’t get there alone. And you’re not alone now.
In keeping with that mantra, I also cultivate a monthly interview series titled “WEAR THEY ARE: A Snapshot of Fearless Females and How They Got There,” highlighting stories of women from varying backgrounds and walks-of-life, who have embraced the foundation of Wear You Are Now firsthand. These women are working hard in their field, are making a name for themselves, and are living proof of the importance of women supporting one another.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I believe we make our own luck. That may sound trite, but working hard, educating yourself, and being kind are all major contributing factors to “being lucky.” No one is ever going to just hand you your dreams. But if you set yourself up for success, you may find yourself face-to-face with a lot more door-opening moments.
Every opportunity that has come my way professionally has been through a connection or a situation I’ve built for myself. You never know who you’re talking to. You never know who you might meet. You never know who you may need to call upon for a favor someday. So stay informed. Ask people to meet for coffee. Write hand-written thank you notes. Go the extra mile. Be kind. And luck will show up, trust me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wearyouarenow.com
- Email: natalie@wearyouarenow.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/natmazz
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/wearyouarenow
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/natmazz
- Other: www.pinterest.com/wearyouarenow
Image Credit:
Marian and Gus Photography
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