Meet Gabriela Gasbarro of Westlake Village, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriela Gasbarro

Hi Gabriela, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
At 18, I was a student at my local community college and worked as a sales associate at Steve Madden, a women’s shoe store. I instantly fell in love with styling, merchandising, visuals, sales, product, business, and the entire retail environment. Once I discovered this passion, it led me to pursue fashion school, where I completed four years at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) in downtown LA, studying merchandising, marketing, and business management.

Attending FIDM had a profound impact on me. I found my voice and personal style there. Being surrounded by other students who always dressed well and looked put together was inspiring. Getting dressed for school, putting together outfits every day, and studying in such a motivating environment ignited a fire inside of me that has stayed with me ever since.

Fast forward to now, I’m 32 years old, working in fashion for a contemporary clothing brand, and have spent my career in the e-commerce, marketing, and digital landscape. The Chic Collage is a thoughtfully curated style guide I started as a creative outlet, where I curate my own looks through original flat lay images to provide women with outfit inspiration. I truly believe that getting dressed in the morning is the most important part of the day because it subconsciously uplifts and emits a positive aura. We all deserve to feel that fire inside ourselves every day, and I think people forget that, as we are caught up in the mundane of our day to day routines. The Chic Collage is slowly turning into a styling business, and I can’t wait to see where it goes.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Developing a niche for The Chic Collage has been fun but also a challenge. The styling and creator space is competitive, but I truly believe there is room for everyone at the top if you maintain your own aesthetic and are true to yourself. It has definitely taken time to find my unique voice and build a brand identity, and it continues to evolve every day. There’s pressure to stand out and build my clientele, but it has also pushed me to keep creating outfits that I would wear myself and that I hope will resonate with my audience. I work full time in fashion so juggling my time between my career during the day and The Chic Collage at night has been an adjustment, but I wouldn’t trade it.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work in the fashion industry in e-commerce where I manage the email and SMS marketing programs for a contemporary clothing brand. My role involves strategizing and executing campaigns that engage customers, drive online sales and traffic to the website, retention, and ultimately building brand loyalty. I also run The Chic Collage, a new personal styling business and curated style guide where I create fashion collages to inspire women with their outfits choices, no matter the occasion or destination.

I specialize in digital marketing with a focus on e-commerce as well as creative marketing. My expertise lies in developing marketing campaigns that resonate with the audience and drive conversion. With The Chic Collage, I also specialize in styling. My goal is to re-ignite the excitement of getting dressed and feeling good every day, to offer a unique perspective, and to create outfits featuring high and low price point items to make my looks accessible to everyone.

What I’m most known for is my ability to blend creativity with data-driven marketing strategies. I’m both an analytical and creative thinker – not only do I need both to feel stimulated, but it has truly benefited me in my career. This is what sets me apart. I have a deep understanding of both the artistic and strategic sides of fashion and marketing. This allows me to create content that is visually appealing and highly effective. My passion for this industry, combined with my expertise in digital marketing, gives me a distinctive edge in both fields.

I’m most proud of how I started The Chic Collage with a desire to express myself, and how it’s evolving from a creative outlet into a growing hustle. Seeing my content resonate with so many people and feeling their excitement and support is the most rewarding feeling. I’m proud of my ability to start something new, embrace the unknown, and to see where it takes me.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I’m very into personal growth in all aspects of my life, whether that’s through learning new skill sets, setting challenging goals, or experiencing new things. If there is any piece of advice that I could give to those wanting to start a business or grow their careers, it’s to have an unshakable faith in yourself. Believe in yourself, block out the noise, and just go for it. Once you start believing in your own capabilities and what you offer, others will feel that energy too. I think thats the winning formula for reaching your goals and achieving success.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thechiccollage/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/thechiccollage/

Image Credits
@thechiccollage