The Alchemy of Attire: Transforming Confidence from the Closet Outward

Ever found yourself stuck in a style rut, where every outfit feels uninspired? Break free from that slump with a dose of wisdom from Vickeisha Levy, the queen of confidence and chic. Our conversation travels through Vickeisha's own metamorphosis of self-expression. She shares the secrets to finding your own style that sings in perfect harmony with who you are. We talk about the small steps you can take to infuse your wardrobe with intentional flair and the life-changing impact romanticizing your life. 

Connect with Vickeisha Levy @ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickeisha-levy-7b0055102
Instagram: @eliteexperiencea @vickeishalevyimages 

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to the show. Today we have a very special guest, Vakisha Levy. She's a digital creator, a model, an entrepreneur, CEO of Elite Experiences and Vakisha Levy Images. She's also a friend and someone who always impresses me with her unapologetic level of confidence, her commitment to style and romancing her life. Vakisha, thank you for being on the show.

Speaker 2: 0:39

Thank you for having me. I love that introduction.

Speaker 1: 0:42

I'm very excited to have you on the show, as we were briefly chatting with before we got on. Every time I see your post on Instagram and you just are one of those people and probably the only person I know that romances every part of her life, is so confident. I'm doing it right now. She's doing it right now. I know you can't see, but she has her beautiful glass, has some orange juice in it, and I think what you're gonna share with the listeners today is gonna be so powerful, especially for women, female leaders, but even the men are gonna gain something from this, who may be so busy with their work and creating things and putting things out in the world that sometimes the romancing the life and prioritizing looking good not to just look good, but to feel good Absolutely it's put by the wayside.

Speaker 1: 1:59

I know I can resonate with that. There's been moments where I've felt slumpy, having slumpy periods, and it affects your confidence. It affects how you show up in the world and this podcast is all about how can we be our most confident and connected self, and I believe that passion is an extension of ourselves and how we feel and, whether we like it or not, we only have a split second to make a first impression, especially in the world of leadership and business. So it's a big deal. It is so I'd love to know your journey with confidence and fashion. Have you always been Confident, have you always had this knack for fashion, what looks good, or has it been an evolution?

Speaker 2: 3:00

It has been an evolution. I think most of us can testify to that. I've learned that confidence isn't just about appearance, but also about self-acceptance and feeling comfortable in your skin. Over time, I've experienced styles and what works for me and realized that true confidence comes from embracing my uniqueness rather than just conforming to different trends. It's an ongoing journey of self-discovery, self-discovery and growth.

Speaker 1: 3:33

I like how you said that about the self-accepted. Can you tell me more about for yourself? Was there a period in your life where you felt you made the shift from maybe not feeling a high level of self-acceptance to just because when I see you now it just gives me this aura of unapologetic like? This is me. You either like me or you know.

Speaker 2: 4:04

I don't care. Honestly, I was always shy and always reserved, sorry, but I think over time I've learned to kind of like step outside of that comfort zone and just be bold. Yeah, I don't know what it is, but it's take some time. I remember in high school I was just always quiet to myself, even in college. I guess it started after college, just finding my way around and just you know Wow.

Speaker 2: 4:38

Mm-hmm For the listeners me and and, as I said, I'm still growing, I'm still exploring different styles and, yeah, it's just a continuous revolution.

Speaker 1: 4:53

Yes, yes, okay. What advice would you give leaders who may be stuck in a style slum and possibly afraid to step out of their fashion comfort zone? Even though they know or they feel that they want to.

Speaker 2: 5:12

Hmm, I would say to start by experimenting. Gradually incorporate new elements into your current style. Try different colors, accessory stiletto like, seek inspiration from role models or even fashion icon. I'm always on Pinterest. Pinterest is what I go to, even on Instagram. I follow a lot of fashion blogs and you know people like that influencer that inspire me, so that helps a lot as well. Just anything that resonates with who you are and your style, right. In addition, don't be afraid to seek guidance from stylists or trusted friends that you, you know, look up to or you admire their style, and stepping out of your comfort zone is about embracing authentic. You know your authentic style, so go at your own space. Sorry, gotta edit that out. Go at your own pace and enjoy the process.

Speaker 1: 6:19

What would you give to, let's say, a woman who has no idea where to start? Is there a starting point, a baby step that you would say for someone who has? You know, I'm thinking of myself, at one point in time where I had disconnected from my core self and gone into a place where I thought I had to look like this to be a professional, and it was so far from who I was that when I started to get back into it, it was really hard to know where to start, to even know what my style was.

Speaker 2: 6:58

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 6:58

You have a baby step.

Speaker 2: 7:00

For sure. A baby step is really important and I think, first off, confidence stems from self acceptance. We touched on that earlier. Not perfection, so embrace your uniqueness. It's what makes you special. Also, remember that confidence is a journey, not a destination, so it takes time to develop and it takes time to grow. Practicing I also say practicing self care, setting boundaries and celebrating achievements, big or small, can significantly boost your confidence and overall well-being.

Speaker 1: 7:35

What would you say are some of your favorite self care rituals, Because I know you do a lot of self.

Speaker 2: 7:43

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness. Sometimes I feel like I'm overindulged in self care. Honestly, I do, I do, but it just makes me feel really good and it's about balance, right. I work a lot, so I always try to make sure that I'm also like, mentally I'm in a good space and I think for me is so. Some of the things that I enjoy doing is like going to the sauna doing a facial. I have a nice facial steamer that I use on Sundays, my self care day, so I do my steamer and then a little facial routine and then I would do like a nice bubble bath and, as I said, like going down to the sauna, just stuff like that. I'm making myself delicious meal as well, because I enjoy cooking.

Speaker 1: 8:39

So yeah, I love that. How many? What do you think? Because again, when I see you know it's funny that you mentioned you think you engage too much in the self care.

Speaker 2: 8:55

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 8:56

I think it's perfect because you every interaction I've had with you, you're smiling, you're feeling, you seem like you're feeling great. I don't think you ever complained anytime we've been together and that showed because you're treating yourself well.

Speaker 2: 9:17

And it's funny you said that because someone mentioned that to me the other day. She was like oh my gosh, you're doing so much. Now You're back in school and how are you managing everything and you never look stressed out and all these kinds of things. I'm like you're right, I've always, whenever I'm in like a place where I feel like mentally drained, I take a break and I just kind of like give myself some time to like get through it and I think just having that I don't know what you call it Just a way of you know how like taking care of myself, like knowing when to like reserve that time, to like sit down, like I'll be at home on my couch just sitting TV's off, like. For me, tv is a distraction. I like nice jazz music playing in the background and stuff like that. So I always create a nice calm environment so I can just relax and stuff like that. So I think it's easier and it's outside distraction, even sometime when I'm eating my TV's off Like no noise.

Speaker 2: 10:28

I don't know, it's just yeah, yes, yeah, editative, yes, yes. Everything that I do is surrounded that I don't like noise. I had my brother here recently and his phone was going off nonstop. Lisa, like I can't like this kid was like I try not to call him kid, he's 26. My little brother. So I said to him yeah, could you please turn on your phone? I put it on silent because the noise irritates me. Right, I don't know what you guys, I just like the zen, just like calmness.

Speaker 1: 11:05

Yeah, yes, I think that's so important. At least you know when we're living in the city which a lot of my clients do live in the city having those moments where we're turning off the stimulation.

Speaker 2: 11:18

Right, yes, yeah, I have a moment where I put my phone on pause, I put it on silence and just like meditate.

Speaker 1: 11:29

Yeah, Do you think?

Speaker 2: 11:31

that's go ahead. That's definitely. I think that's an help, cause I also have a friend of mine that said exactly that to me. She was like Vicky, I love how you deal with situation, like you don't let things bother you, you have a way of dealing with things and I think that's just a test for you know, having like a stress-free lifestyle and stuff like that. I don't let it bother me and if I'm upset about something, I give myself like 24 hours to get through it. Cry if I need to cry, let it go, move on. So I think creating that boundary it helps.

Speaker 1: 12:04

Yes, I like how you said that you know you allow yourself to process.

Speaker 2: 12:11

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 12:12

And then do you have a specific time where you're like, okay, now I'm going to move forward. Yeah, if it goes beyond that day, that 24 hours.

Speaker 2: 12:21

Yeah a day, I definitely get through it. I have time or situation where I you know you stress about it, you think about it, cry if you need to, and then be like, okay, let's go, cause there's nothing I can do, it's out of my control. I'm not going to sit here another day, waste another day thinking about something, or you know that I can't control, so that has always been my routine or my. You know my strategy, one of the secrets to you know, yeah, maintaining yeah.

Speaker 1: 12:54

Yes.

Speaker 2: 12:55

Mm-hmm.

Speaker 1: 12:55

Okay, I love that. I love that. Do you have a personal story where a particular fashion choice significantly influence your confidence and the way you were perceived?

Speaker 2: 13:09

Absolutely. I can recall a time when I tried a bright, a bold, bright colored blazer for a professional event. Normally I'll stick to neutral color. I do love, love, love my black and white. Ha ha, ha, bait, that's me. But that day the vibrant blazer made me feel empowered and confident. Surprisingly, it gander positive attention and sparks conversation that I might not have initiated otherwise. That experience taught me the impact of using fashion as a form of self-expression and I would can positively influence bold confidence and perception.

Speaker 1: 13:52

Mm.

Speaker 2: 13:52

Yes.

Speaker 1: 13:54

And it's funny you mentioned that the neutral colors, they're really you, because when I think of you, I do think of bold colors.

Speaker 2: 14:03

And dresses. My personality is bold.

Speaker 1: 14:07

Yes.

Speaker 2: 14:08

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 14:09

Yeah.

Speaker 2: 14:10

But then again, it's not bold, depends where it is. I post something on Instagram the other day saying that I'm reserved, like I'm reserved in a lot of way, but when I'm around certain people I'm very like you know, or extroverted.

Speaker 1: 14:27

Yes.

Speaker 2: 14:28

Yeah, yeah.

Speaker 1: 14:30

Going into that, the blazer that you mentioned.

Speaker 2: 14:34

Mm-hmm.

Speaker 1: 14:35

Is that something that you would recommend for individuals leaders? You know we're talking about women, but also relating to men. To get outside the box even in these professional Settings where you think you need to look a certain way. Yeah, yeah, go outside. Don't be afraid to go outside the box and experiment.

Speaker 2: 14:59

Absolutely it's. It's it feels good going outside the box, you know it's being creative and it allows you to like to think, you know, instead of like putting on the same thing over and over again and not putting much effort into it because it's something that you used to. But Having that, okay, I'm gonna change it up today. What should I do? What should I wear? Mm-hmm, just give you a different feeling to make you feel really good. So Definitely something we're trying.

Speaker 1: 15:32

What would you say to someone who wants to do that? Mm-hmm but is afraid of potentially the attention that they May start garnering.

Speaker 2: 15:45

Hmm, nothing is wrong with attention. What is wrong with attention?

Speaker 1: 15:55

Nothing. I mean I like attention, yeah, but when I can think of some individual, when you kind of have, because it's funny, because we can dress when we want to hide, we can, we can do that. Yeah, and I think a lot of people that I've spoken to Use certain clothes to hide themselves because they're not feeling confident. They're not feeling their best self. Yeah and when you step out and you're wearing something more Colorful or a different style. You're gonna get more eyes on you because, simply because you're, you're standing out absolutely, absolutely.

Speaker 2: 16:39

That's where you make your time.

Speaker 1: 16:42

Take your time.

Speaker 2: 16:43

Maybe start with a nice neutral color, a little bit up from your normal, you know mm-hmm and then work your way into the more bright, bright Colors yeah, yes, yeah, maybe even a bold lip. Yeah, exactly because I feel a way I don't wear a lot of lipstick and when I do, it's always the same like neutral tone, and when I wear red it's like, oh my gosh, this this is a lot right, but sometimes I don't mind a lot. I like to you know. It makes a statement. It makes a statement.

Speaker 2: 17:26

And it put you in a different mood.

Speaker 1: 17:28

So it will. There was a woman that told the story. I won't use her name just in case for confidentiality, but she would talk about and this is always stuck in my mind where she would go to auditions. She would always wear a bold red lip. She wanted to be remembered.

Speaker 2: 17:51

Ooh, yeah.

Speaker 1: 17:52

Right when you're going to auditions for acting, you know you get a lot of people.

Speaker 2: 17:56

And I feel like I want to be remembered.

Speaker 1: 17:58

So I always wear a red lip and I thought, oh, that is really interesting.

Speaker 2: 18:05

I like that. I know I'm going to be thinking next time I go out.

Speaker 1: 18:09

Yes, yes, especially when I'm thinking oh, I started thinking about networking events.

Speaker 2: 18:15

Yes.

Speaker 1: 18:15

Yeah, right, not being afraid to go bold, stand out. Yeah, in a networking event, for the sheer fact that people are going to have that memory. They may not remember your name. I like that, I like that you may not even remember what you talked about.

Speaker 2: 18:33

I like that it you know what, I love it. And I'm here listening to you and not realizing that I actually do it myself. I do it a lot actually. When I go face to face with people, I just a certain way and they always say to me Vicki, what are you wearing? I'm like, don't mind what I'm wearing, right. And then I come and they're like, why didn't you tell me that you're going to get dressed out Right? So I think, not realizing that I'm doing it, I think I do it a lot. Yes, on the weekend I went to a house function for New Year's and everybody was like, oh my gosh, I didn't know that we're dressing up. I said, well, I just wanted you to dress up Right and I had my accessory, my new year at Ben and everything. And they're like I could definitely stand out Right. Yes, so I think I think I do it a lot and that's just my personality. So, naturally, without even realizing.

Speaker 1: 19:39

Without even realizing.

Speaker 2: 19:40

Yeah.

Speaker 1: 19:42

Yeah, okay. So let's get to the practical aspects, because I want the listeners to have practical pieces, because I know it can be daunting. Yeah, especially if you're someone you know for the women who are very fashionable. This isn't for them, because they already know how to do.

Speaker 1: 20:02

This is for the lady who are like I don't know where to. I don't even know what stores go to. I don't know what to do how to. What would you give if a woman wants to upgrade her wardrobe? Practically speaking? What are some core pieces that we can add that are going to be going to help us make us feel confident, you know, self-assured and our best?

Speaker 2: 20:28

Okay, Great question. I would say investing in a versatile, timeless pieces can truly transform a wardrobe. Consider had in a well-tailored blazer I have like maybe a few of those and classic white button down shirt, A little black dress a few of those as well, right, Cause you want to switch it up every now and then. A pair of well-fitted jeans, a quality letter bag comfortably yet stylish shoes and a versatile trench coat or a statement jacket. These pieces form a solid foundation for various looks and can easily be mixed and matched to suit different occasions. So definitely yeah.

Speaker 2: 21:18

My advice to having your closet for sure.

Speaker 1: 21:22

Yes, I completely agree with the statement jacket. Those are pieces where, even if I'm wearing a sweatsuit underneath, exactly, and I put that coat on, I feel like a million bucks. Yes, and it's easy. Yeah yeah, easy to do. You mentioned the tailored blazer. Is this something that you purchase and get tailored, or you purchase it fitted?

Speaker 2: 21:57

Yeah, purchase it fitted. Okay, yeah. So I have like a few of those throw them on over any little dress or whatever. I just change outfit, yeah. Yes, okay, and would you recommend potentially someone feeling this out themselves or hiring a stylist, let's say, I would say it all depends on their budget, right, if you have the budget to go ahead and hire a stylist, why not? That would be awesome. But if you don't, I would say just experiment Something, go to the store, purchase something, try it out and see how you feel.

Speaker 1: 22:44

Yes, love it. Yes, I wasn't sure if you think it would be better for someone to do that first, kind of get their own feel.

Speaker 2: 22:54

For sure, absolutely, absolutely. Why not Nothing wrong with giving it a try and see.

Speaker 1: 23:03

And experimenting. Anything else you'd like to share, vakisha, with women, people who want to feel more confident, who want to bring more romance into their life, whether they are in relationship or single. Any last words for?

Speaker 2: 23:23

I would say just be your best self, just accept who you are as a person and just live lavishly, whatever that looks like for you. Listen, I am drinking orange juice in my champagne glass. To me, that's living lavishly. I even drink water in my champagne glass. And a little simple thing. It doesn't gotta be like a whole lot of spending or whatever. It is Just like daily, little, daily ritual that makes you feel amazing.

Speaker 1: 24:00

Yes, I love that. And where can people find you if they'd like to learn more? See your gorgeous pictures, your content creation.

Speaker 2: 24:12

Definitely reach out to me. You follow me on Instagram at VakishaLevi. I think that's it. Yeah, vakishalevi, so V-I-C-K-E-I-S-H-A-Levi-L-E-B-Y.

Speaker 1: 24:25

Amazing, and I'll put that in the show notes as well, for anyone who wants to reach out. Vakisha is also CEO of Elite Experiences I'm just gonna add this in here who we had, and I don't know if you offer this anymore, but a couple years ago we had a picnic with Elite Experiences and it was just the most lavish yeah love it. Fantastic experience and it ignited my passion to bring more of that into my. We were celebrating a birthday, but why not do that any day?

Speaker 2: 25:02

Any day, any day. Yeah, I do offer it mainly in the summertime, but yeah.

Speaker 1: 25:08

Yes, so check that out. I'll put that in the show notes as well. Thank you, vakisha for coming on the show and sharing your wisdom of confidence and fashion.

Speaker 2: 25:21

Thank you.