Unleashing Personal Style And Personality Through Fashion – Exclusive Interview With Shani Breiman
- Feb 1, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 2, 2024
Shani Breiman is a personal stylist and wardrobe organization specialist. With a childhood spent in sports jerseys and a signature green wig at every Celtics game, Shani’s journey from the soccer fields to the fashion industry proved an unexpected yet transformative transition! As the founder of Styled By Shani, based in Boston, she extends her expertise in person and virtually worldwide, empowering clients to unleash their unique personalities through fashion. Shani is dedicated to helping her clients navigate the evolution of their personal style, much like her own—an ever-changing, dynamic reflection of true self to help live this life one outfit at a time!
Shani Breiman, Personal Stylist
Introduce yourself! Please tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better.
My name is Shani Breiman and I am the founder of Styled By Shani, a personal styling business based in Boston, MA. I am a second generation American born to two immigrant parents, speak three languages, and have three different passports! Growing up you could find me in my Boston Celtics jersey, soccer uniform, and running around playing every sport under the sun. To top it off, I was known for my infamous green wig I wore to every single Celtics game – you could say I am a Celtics fanatic! I played soccer in college as well as on an international stage winning two gold medals from Team USA in the Pan American Maccabi Games. Traveling across the globe to visit extended family in Europe and Israel, I was fascinated by the different styles and fashions of the world. As I entered young adulthood I began to develop my own style by drawing influences from my multilingual and multicultural background. I would walk down the city streets of Boston and people began to ask “where did you get that?” “I love your outfit!” Fast Forward to today, I channel my inner athlete's mindset into operating my business as a full-time fashionista!
Can you provide some background on how Styled by Shani came to be? What inspired you to start this business, and what is its mission?
My journey into the fashion industry is truly unexpected to say the least! I came into college with no sight set on a career in fashion. I majored in Economics at Connecticut College graduating with Phi Beta Kappa recognition while being a college athlete. During soccer offseason and school breaks, I began to dip my toes in the industry and work a myriad of retail jobs.Watching a client light up in the pieces I pulled for them was a feeling that gave me such immense joy and excitement and filled me up in ways I never experienced before. That is when it clicked for me – personal styling was my calling, and I immediately dove into the industry.
I enrolled in the Fashion Business Certificate Program at Parsons School of Design while completing my undergraduate degree. My passion grew immensely the more knowledge I gained and I was ALL IN! I landed a month-long intensive personal styling mentorship at Milan Fashion Campus with Angelo Russica, Ex Designer for Gianni Versace where the framework of Styled By Shani was created. My calling was to take what I learned in Milan and bring it to Boston. Being an entrepreneur was not a journey I envisioned for myself, but upon graduating a leap I knew was in my heart. Being a young entrepreneur has beautifully combined what I have learned on the soccer field with my love for fashion and continues to push me every single day!
I realized that while my style has changed so drastically from my days as a “tomboy,” it has always been a reflection of me and what has made me feel most confident. Just like my style transformed through the different stages and experiences of my life, your personal style evolves as you evolve and is ever-changing. I am dedicated to helping my clients unleash the layers of their personality through fashion. Our wardrobe can feel daunting, overwhelming, and a place of stress. I want to help make my clients' wardrobe a reflection of their inspiration and for them to feel empowered, and most importantly like the most elevated version of themselves in what they wear day in and out! After all, we are all living this life one outfit at a time!
How would you describe the unique selling proposition of Styled by Shani? What sets it apart from other similar businesses in the industry?
My goals as a personal stylist stem far beyond the garments themselves. Styled By Shani is all about shining a light on your unique personality that makes you you! I am dedicated to changing the way each and every one of my clients steps into their day. I want my clients to treat their wardrobes as an expression of their identity. It is all about integrating my personal style and knowledge of the industry with my clients point of view to craft the most elevated version of themselves. I strive to select pieces that fit seamlessly into their lifestyle.
Styled By Shani is dedicated to curating a strategic wardrobe that emphasizes elevated basics. I firmly believe that a robust collection of basics, enhanced with distinctive features in materials, hardware, or accents, can elevate your wardrobe to new heights. The quality of your foundational pieces sets the tone for your entire outfit. I like to think of these essential pieces as the core ingredients of cookie batter, with the trendier statement pieces acting as the flavorful additions we mix into our wardrobe.
Ultimately It is not just about what you wear; it’s about how you feel wearing it, and the overarching story it tells about you!
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be and why?
If I could alter one aspect of the industry, it would be dispelling the notion that a personal stylist is only essential for grand or formal events. Collaborating with a personal stylist is all about improving your every day life. A meticulously organized closet tailored to your lifestyle holds the potential to bring about unimaginable changes in your daily routines and allows you to step out into your day as you!
