Over a month ago I got married to the love of my life. Our micro-wedding was an intimate celebration, with family and close friends by both of our sides. True, between our engagement (in February) and the wedding day (in May) there was very little time: just a few months of preparation and a limited budget (less than $10,000). We decided to allocate the rest (and more) of our finances to travel and renew our vows in the following years with proper celebrations in Italy and Brazil, the countries of my heritage.

Now that I know what it feels to organize a wedding and have the chills, emotions, and even the typical worries of a bride - will the dress fit nicely, will the photographer get the right angles, will the guests enjoy the food, etc. - I completely understand how certain services can come so in clutch. For this reason, I think Risa’s The Rescue Kit Company is a genius product.

My wedding was enchanting, don’t get me wrong. No fashion emergencies, but I’ll be honest: having a personal stylist on your big day could surely be an elevated experience. Had I had the chance to work with Risa I would have rested a little bit more and would have left my styling days in the past and let someone else take care of my fashion stance. I could have used a bit of pre-ceremony TLC with another fashion professional by my side, not gonna lie. Taking care of your styling, whether by your own self or with a seasoned professional, turns the whole bridal journey into a crafted fashion journey ready to make an unforgettable statement.

Unlike myself, whose styling days made up just for a brief season before my role at FOTB, Risa has been in the fashion styling industry for more than 20 years. Founder of her own West Coast-based styling company she is the co-founder and CEO of The Rescue Kit Company to assist brides with their fashion needs on their big day.

Risa radiates a distinct warm energey with a unique touch in what she does, through a fervent joy and true passion. Launched in 2019 with sister Jessica Zeldner, The Rescue Kit Company has one clear goal: to help brides being at peace with no worries for any fashion emergencies throughout their “Yes, I do” day.

You can find more information on the curated kits provided by The Rescue Kit Company on their website and Instagram page. From the ceremony (“I Do” Crew) to the wedding party (“Wedding Party Kit”), each kit contains essential items such as a travel-sized sewing set, tissues, a makeup face shield, blister and chafe balm, a compact mirror, and much more. This is a perfect bachelorette gift you can plan to purchase, if not booking Risa herself to come and doll your bride up.

I wanted to know more about Risa and her experience in fashion styling, particularly in such a niched space like the bridal one, filled with high-in-demand inquires, busy seasons, and the level of professionalism expected for each and every client. Risa can inspire future generations of stylists looking to build curated services and products in their preferred sectors, catering to brides, grooms, celebrities, athletes, politicians, caregivers, and many more categories of clients.

As a stylist, you must be often on-the-go, yet intentional in how you allocate your time with clients. What's your approach to time management? 

Time management is crucial when it comes to balancing not only my styling business, but the schedules and needs of my client roster. I also have another business that is only a few years old, so I’m constantly running from place to place trying to keep it all straight! My first line of defense with time management is less of a logistical approach and more of a holistic approach of strict boundary setting. With the nature of what I do, I often have requests for styling advice coming from social media, texts from people, emails, you name it. I love helping people, so it’s hard not to just go off track and respond, but I’ve learned how to steer people in the right direction for how to book my time. Holding this boundary has been a game changer for me. Being a stylist means being available for your clients and all their last minute needs, so I can never stay exactly on schedule, but I do have a baseline routine that works really well for me. Flexibility is the nature of the game, and I’m so lucky that I have a clientele that understands I’m only one person managing a lot of people’s special events and wardrobe needs, and I’m very honest with them about how I operate at all times. 

You worked in PR before jumping right into styling: what made you pivot from one career to the other? 

My job in fashion public relations was completely unexpected and something I never imagined I’d be able to do. I have always been a natural connector and networker, and there’s nothing like the dopamine hit of landing notable press coverage. I knew when I took that job that not only would it give me backend knowledge of how the industry works, but it would also connect me to a lot of people coming up at the same time as me. I was able to host sample sales, help on the set for all our lookbook shoots, attend fashion week events, and work closely with editors and stores. It was the perfect segue to styling, because it gave me a crash course in what the public wants to see in fashion but also helped me make the connections that would later serve me in the styling world. I felt like it was the last piece of the puzzle before really going off on my own and it armed me with the ability to not only pitch myself and my work, but also understand how stylist pulls and what it’s like to work with designers. 

Is there a particular path or are there any essential milestones that stylists should consider embarking on/accomplishing when they want to build their own company?

Styling is such a dynamic field. There are so many different paths you can take, and what makes you a commodity is usually an innate secret sauce that can’t be taught. That’s what I love so much about this space, the idea that your work will never be exactly like anyone else’s, and there’s a synergy between you and your clients that just works. If you’re hoping to become a stylist, I do think learning about how to operate a business first and foremost is of the utmost importance. Creatives are notoriously not keen on the logistics or operations of their business, so if you can master the art of systems and running a proper business, you’re off to a good start. Secondly, once you know what kind of specialty you want to have in styling, go all in on that. Until then, do as much as you can. When I first started I experimented with everything from family photo shoots to editorial to closet audits to bridal. I was able to discern what I was good at and what made me tick, then I went all in on mastering those areas. If you’re someone that wants to do magazine work or celebrity styling, I highly suggest learning from someone who is fully immersed in that world and getting as much real-world experience as possible. There are plenty of courses you can take, but there’s nothing like the masterclass of being on a photo shoot set or pounding the pavement and meeting designers and brand reps on a scouting trip alongside someone who has been doing it as their career. 

Where do you find the most inspiring pieces - from garments, textiles, to shoes and accessories? 

Scouting fashion is one of the best parts of my job. I live for the hunt and when I find something I’ve never seen on anyone, it’s one of the best feelings in the world. My best discoveries have come from vintage and resale stores that I’ve discovered both where I’m based in Arizona and in places like Paris and NYC. There’s something so special about where a piece has been, the story behind it, and even something that shows a slight bit of wear. For vintage tees and sweatshirts I love Red Vintage Co. based out of California. The founder Nina is incredibly knowledgeable and has somehow found a way to source pieces that have told the story of my life. For vintage jewelry, I am obsessed with Kimono Dragon NYC. The founder Laura has the most incredible eye and sources her pieces daily from all over the world. I dedicate time every single day to scouting and sourcing for my clients and my personal styling collection. When it comes to my own collection, about 90% of my wardrobe is sustainable and has come from a vintage store or reseller. Going to an antique store like Antique Gatherings in Phoenix is a common stop for me, as they have individual sellers with everything from clothing to fine jewelry. I try to mix in resale for my clients as much as possible too, and I love supporting female-owned and operated businesses as much as I can. Anytime there’s a chance to buy American-made, I will make the effort, and if ever there’s a chance to shop a textile where it originates from, I’ll do that too. Style for me comes from a mood, the place in life where you are emotionally, and what your lifestyle is at the moment. I am always inspired to seek pieces that can go on the journey with me. 

Is there a specific aspect you aim to cater to your brides?

I got my start in fashion/beauty as a cosmetologist and started my first business doing hair and makeup for weddings when I was 21, so I just love that I’m able to lean into my knowledge of the head-to-toe look for my brides and their wedding parties. When I’m hired for a wedding my number one goal is to give my couples a concierge level styling experience. Not only do I steam and prep the wardrobe for wear, but I make sure that everyone involved in the day feels taken care of; everything from adjusting straps to double stick taping to prepping feet with anti-blister balm in case they haven’t broken in their new shoes.

Any particular moments that stood out to you in styling brides that you had so far?

The best story I have from working with a bride was actually what gave me the aha-moment to start my product line. It was a stifling hot day in Arizona and I was just starting to offer my day-of dressing service. A photographer friend of mine asked me if I’d want to be at a wedding she was capturing and in exchange she’d give me some behind the scenes photos to help promote the service. I agreed and like most wedding days, I didn’t meet the bride until I showed up to dress her and style everyone. As she was walking down for the first look someone stepped on the back of her train and the zipper completely broke. I ended up having to sew her into her gown after some attempted safety pinning and super gluing, and it was like nothing ever happened. I will never forget that day not only because it was the catalyst for The Rescue Kit Company and my now popular dressing service, but also because saving the day is the absolute best feeling in the world. I knew then that I had to continue to create an experience that would elicit that feeling for me and my clients. 

What's a piece of advice you would offer to emergent stylists? 

My biggest advice is just to start. There’s never a ‘good time’ for anything, but if you don’t start when you get the urge, it will be your biggest regret. Start sloppy, start inexperienced, just start. I would also encourage emerging stylists to stay as authentic as possible. I truly believe that there are hundreds of incredibly talented people that can do this job, but the ones who make it have a strong point of view and attract the clients that resonate with their unique vision.