Today we’d like to introduce you to Kara Batey Bertin.
Hi Kara, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In January 2021, I was let go from an in-house counsel position I’d taken three months prior. To say I was stunned would be an understatement. Before taking that position, I’d practiced law for about 13 years at the same law firm. I was a partner and board-certified in my specialty area. I left the law firm for the new job full of optimism about the path I was on. I was fully invested in my legal career up to that point.
Losing my job triggered a (small) existential crisis for me. I was oblivious to how much of my identity revolved around being a lawyer until I wasn’t one anymore. At the same time, I’d made the decision to move on from law firm life and wasn’t optimistic about finding the right in-house counsel position for my skill set again in Austin.
After many in-depth discussions with my husband and much research, I decided to follow a path I’d long been interested in but had no idea how to pursue: starting my own personal styling business. I had a working knowledge of concepts like fabric, drape, and proportion from growing up with a mother who sewed and shared her love of style with me. I also truly enjoyed the experience of helping women find the right pieces for their wardrobe when I worked in retail before my legal career.
But what truly inspired me to start my personal styling business were all the conversations I had with women during law firm and bar association events and other professional gatherings. I fielded the same questions about what I was wearing, where I shopped, and how I thought of putting that together. Extremely intelligent professional women were struggling to get dressed. As someone who was accustomed to giving structured, practical, and sometimes creative advice, I knew I could help.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not. This was my first foray into starting a business, so everything was new and something to be figured out. Two (now humorous to me) struggles come to mind; know these are the tip of the iceberg. Starting and running your own business from scratch is a series of “opportunities for growth”, one after the next.
I knew less than nothing about marketing when I was first getting started, but I was aware I needed to have a website. I found someone online who was willing to take the job for the amount I was willing to pay. I felt thrilled to put myself out there are a stylist! It was exciting and I was proud of myself! I later realized my first website looked extremely like another website created by the same person for a lawn service. I was going to have to think more deeply about the way my brand was represented.
On a similar note, I picked a terrible name for my business the first time around: Closet. The logo (I created myself on Canva) said “by Kara Batey”, but that wasn’t helping me either. The problem was “Closet” made women think of organizing or cleaning that space in the home or a design and build project. I needed a name that was more representative of the work I was doing for my clients.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
After my initial business naming misstep, I thoughtfully considered the work I was doing with clients, my observations to date of the personal styling industry, and how my professional advisor skills offered a chance to distinguish myself. I knew I wanted to offer my clients a flexible and cohesive framework within which to cultivate their unique personal style.
I kept coming back to the concept that personal style is built over time, layer by layer, block by block. To build personal style, a woman needs confidence in what she owns, what she buys, and the ability to put those pieces together in a way that feels authentic to her. To meet those needs, I offer my core Blocks of Style™ services: Edit, Curate, and Integrate, respectively.
Collectively, these services offer a comprehensive approach to evaluating and establish your wardrobe and personal style. Individually, each of these services addresses one of the most common wardrobe challenges faced by women. Because the services are offered a la carte or in a combination that works for you, women can take what they need at the time and continue building as they are ready and able to do so.
Underlying and guiding each Blocks of Style session is a new style paradigm for women: Style Cornerstones™. I brainstormed the Style Cornerstones shortly after renaming my business Blocks of Style. In short, your Style Cornerstones are the core characteristics of your personal style: the colors, shapes, and repeated aesthetics in your wardrobe that feel authentic to you. This unique combination of traits makes your style truly yours. Think of them as your style fingerprint.
It’s taken a considerable amount of time, thought, and effort to create a framework I feel can serve any woman who desires to understand of her personal style. I’m proud of where Blocks of Style is and simultaneously know there’s a long way to go in terms of building the business.
If you want to learn more about your Style Cornerstones, please head to www.blocksofstyle.com and sign up for my free email course which launched in early 2026!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have a number of steadfast supporters in my corner. First, my husband encouraged me to start this business even though it meant I would make less money than I did as an attorney. He cheers even the smallest victory and consistently pulls me back from the ledge when the days are rough. Second, my family (especially my mom) and a few close friends have fully embraced my business and are really there for me on social media and just generally spreading the word about the styling work I’m doing with women. Third, I chat monthly with a fellow personal stylist in another part of the country who started her business around the same time as me. Having an ongoing dialogue with someone similarly situated has been an incredible resource because it allows us to compare notes about what we’re seeing with clients and encountering in our businesses. Finally, I’m filled with gratitude for my clients who choose to share their experience working with me with their friends and colleagues.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.blocksofstyle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blocksofstyle/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blocksofstyle/
