Personal fashion stylist Sera Murphy chats with us about sustainable shopping, style transformations, and her go-to tips.
We love entrepreneurs and small business owners at Honeycombers, which is why we’ve created Launchpad, a comprehensive digital networking platform (with IRL benefits, too) that encourages connection, business support and community. It’s a privilege and pleasure to learn from so many talented and inspiring folks, so we’ve decided to share the love by interviewing some of the lovely Launchpad members. Looking for inspiration? Check out how Sera Murphy, the founder of The Reoutfitter, gets it done like a boss.
What is your backstory and why did you decide to launch your business?
I worked as a corporate fashion buyer, always pushing for more seasonal purchases despite the guilt about contributing to fashion waste. To ease my conscience, I hosted clothing swap parties. During a break for family, I volunteered with Redress Asia and saw the staggering clothing waste firsthand. In 2021, I merged my love for fashion, the industry, and empowering women while tackling the waste issue head-on, by starting The Reoutfitter.
What has been your biggest challenge so far and how did you overcome it?
My biggest (ongoing) challenge is trying to drive positive change and actions through education. It’s hard to explain just how complex “sustainable fashion” is. Doing it through one lens of personal styling and reselling is just a small slice of the pie. Even if you’re not ready for a Reoutfit or you don’t want to buy secondhand, there’s still an audience for education. Messaging it in a way that’s approachable has helped, as well as collaborating with entrepreneurs in the same industry.
Tell us about your signature styling approach.
“The Reoutfit Method” begins with the client’s wardrobe. While most people may claim they lack a specific style or preference, my experience suggests that this assumption is almost always inaccurate!
We start by meticulously reviewing every item in the wardrobe. Although it may sound daunting, I strive to make it enjoyable, lighthearted, and fun. Through this process, we discern your unique style; because every past purchase holds meaning and significance! This is where we truly grasp who the client is or was and where they aspire to go.
Additionally, this process clarifies the missing elements. We don’t embark on a shopping trip without completing this, as we believe that getting what you truly need fosters a more conscientious and intentional way of shopping.
As a personal stylist, what are some of your go-to fashion tips?
I constantly tell my clients to shop their closets! Anytime you feel like you’re in a rut, dig back into the archives and see what you can bring up that you haven’t worn in a while. It can be an article of clothing or an accessory. Wear it and see if it gives you the joy it did before. You’d be surprised how many compliments you get when you wear something you already own if you do it with confidence.
Another tip is to find what we call the “easy elevators”. These are accessories that pair well with any item and you can wear them over and over again to add a spark to an otherwise plain outfit. They can be anything from a belt to a necklace or even shoes.
How do you incorporate eco-friendly elements into your styling recommendations?
Sustainability is a journey for everyone, and not everyone is on the same page. There should be more of us doing it imperfectly than less of us doing it perfectly, so we cater the eco-friendly elements to our service based on our client’s needs and comfort. Some choose only to shop pre-loved, which involves a lot more online curation and hours spent finding specific items. For others, we introduce sustainable brands that fit into their style profile, budget and lifestyle.
For our Closetcore Reoutfit clients, we show them how to re-wear what they already own. As much as we love shopping, not buying anything is the most eco-friendly thing we can do, and we love it when our clients fall back in love with what they already own.
Walk us through your proudest style transformation of a client – what was the process like?
Most of my favourite style transformations are of clients who aren’t “fashion people” or those who really dislike shopping. I can think of several women I’ve helped who are more focused on their careers, their children, or their hobbies. To them, thinking about clothes is a chore. So, I’m able to help them actually enjoy getting dressed for once in their life! Everyone deserves to feel nice in their clothes regardless of how much they actually know about fashion.
When I say I’m a personal stylist, people tend to associate that profession with only working with celebrities or people who only shop from luxury brands. This couldn’t be any more false. Shopping and styling someone is so much more than just having a good eye. It’s understanding people, understanding how brands produce, and finding needles in the haystack for each individual and all their emotions and physical needs.
Sometimes, I compare personal styling to accounting. If you’re in need of someone to look through your books and you don’t know anything about finance, you’ll likely hire an expert to help. That analogy can also be used for personal styling. It isn’t just for fun (even though I make it extremely fun!); it’s a genuine service that people need expert advice in.
What are some fashion trends you love and some you’ll never get on board with?
A trend I love lately is wide leg denim. Finally, we can wear denim in Singapore without sweating or having it stick to our legs! I also love the trend of a more minimalist aesthetic: keeping clothes free of too many logos, bells or whistles, with simple yet modern cuts.
But I don’t love trends that are difficult to style. I believe in clothes that don’t require a hack or an extra “thing” to make it look good. I also don’t love an overstyled look: too much mixing and matching can look forced or make clients feel uncomfortable. The more you fuss with clothes, the less confident you’ll appear and that’ll never work in the long run.
Can you share more about The Reoutfitter Shop and what people can expect from the experience?
The Reoutfitter Shop started as an online platform to help resell our clients’ excess pieces. It’s now grown into a showroom where you can make an appointment to shop the collection. Here, we treat you like a guest in our home, because you are!
It’s a place where you can shop for what you need or browse to see if anything catches your fancy without the pretension or pressure you might feel from typical retail shops. Tell us what you’re looking for, give us a budget, and we can help.
I’ve been in retail for my entire career, and I truly believe that shopping for clothes should be an enjoyable experience – one that isn’t stressful or judgemental. We’ll never suggest anything that doesn’t look great or something you don’t need. We also have a big Instagram following for those special pieces: do give us a follow to be in the know about our new weekly arrivals.
How do you stay motivated and energised?
I’ve recently started journalling, which helps if I write down my intention and focus for the day. I also try to fit in socialising with other entrepreneurs because it’s a great outlet for stress and helps me learn from others’ experiences. Lastly, I love music: anywhere I go, I listen to music to help me get into a positive, more energised state!
How do you deal with self-doubt or criticism?
In my journalling, I write down affirmations. There’s something about writing things down on paper that can really help a memory stick. They can be small things like, “I deserve success,” but they are really powerful words and can help that inner critic when it sneaks in.
Favourite places to work?
My showroom, 1880, and my home. I love being with my dog!
Can you share a work mantra that you use?
Lately, my mantra is, “What is in it for our business?” When we’re limited in time, we can’t do it all and need to prioritise what will drive the business forward.
One thing you can keep talking about for hours?
Sustainable fashion!
Your go-to self-care activity?
Doing my own nails at home! There’s something therapeutic about it.
One piece of advice to your younger self?
Keep your passion for fashion. Not everyone will understand it, but one day it will all make sense.
Get in touch with Sera Murphy online.
Launchpad is a comprehensive digital networking platform (with IRL benefits, too) that encourages connection, business support and community. It is designed to make the entrepreneurial journey not only easier, and more successful, but also a whole lot more fun. We offer almost daily activities for members to connect, along with weekly masterclasses, member networking roulette, small-business mentoring and media profiles on Honeycombers. Check it out and join us!
