MEMBER PROFILE -- A New Look by Nisha

“Style for the life you want to have.” Anisha Grimmett has had that mantra for years, from working at Collins Aerospace to speaking to kids about their future careers as the executive director for Alignment Rockford.

“By preaching that idea to kids, I realized that I had the opportunity to follow my dreams and put my particular set of skills to work,” she said.

Grimmett, who has a background in electrical engineering and human resources, found herself in a position to follow her passion by helping professionals find a way to dress for success.

“People would approach me and say, ‘I love your outfit. Where’d you get it?’ and [that] would make me feel more confident, whether it was in a meeting or while on vacation,” Grimmett said. “Everyone wants to feel good. That starts when you wake up. You want to feel good when you walk out into the world.”

For the last year and a half, Grimmett has operated her business, A New Look by Nisha, to help local professionals dress for the life that they want.

“I discovered a personal stylist guru, Lauren Messiah, online, and she became my mentor. She was based in Los Angeles, and she has a certified personal styling program called Style Boss Academy. I worked with her and did my own personal mentoring both virtually and in person, and she had an opening for group mentoring sessions. I figured – why not? What did I have to lose?” Grimmett said.

What she gained was a new passion for the entrepreneurial experience of being a stylist.

“Lauren Messiah’s program offered several courses on everything from building the business as a stylist, to using marketing and social media, how to build packages for clients and potential customers, and how to put together a ‘Look Book.’ All the tools I needed to be successful,” Grimmett said.

The training offered her a process to talk with clients about how to approach their goals for their personal style.

“I ask the client about why they’re looking to work with a stylist. I learn about their lifestyle, ask them about their current style, ask about a current style aesthetic, find out who they see regularly with a style they love, who they consider their style icons,” Grimmett said. “It’s not just putting together an outfit, it’s a process of discovery. In a way, it’s therapy. Clients often reply that ‘I didn’t realize that I felt this way about myself,’ or ‘I didn’t realize I could change the perception about how I feel about myself through clothes.’”

After the assessment, clients can work with Grimmett on doing a ‘closet cleanse’ – looking through the client’s closet to see what serves their needs and what no longer serves them well.

“We’ll look through the closet for the clothes that help them dress for their lifestyle. Does it make you feel confident? Was it an impulse purchase? We talk about the whys and the why nots of each piece,” she said. “You can tell a lot about a person by going through their closet. Are they happy, glittery, vibrant? Are they conservative, shy, introverted?”

There are professional looks for all types.

“Even if you’re an introvert, your style may be professional and also comfortable. Comfort can be a goal in what you wear. What does that look like? Brands are leaning into comfort, with clothes that are wrinkle-free, stretchy, and can go from day to night,” Grimmett said. “Stylish tennis shoes are now acceptable in corporate America. Now you can wear classic tennis shoes with suits or trousers and a polo-shirt.”

Grimmett’s brother credits her with starting his love of sneakers. He runs his own sneaker business now, Legacy Sneakers.

She can also find the pieces her clients need: “I want my clients to lean on me for the shopping both inside and outside their closets. Sometimes it’s frustrating for them because they don’t know where to shop or how to repurpose items they currently have. Meanwhile, I’m all over Chicago going in and out of stores. Even if I only find one or two pieces, if they fit you well and suit you well, it can save you that negative experience. Online, in shops or in outlet stores, I’ll find those things for you.”

If you run in to Grimmett at a local boutique, you’ll be able to tell just how much she enjoys what she does.

“I walk in with a positive energy, ready to invest in fabulous pieces that will make my client happy and give them life,” she said.