You are currently browsing eeosher's articles.
Check out Kalyn featured on Darling Hill, a blog dedicated to life & lawyering:
Lawyer Redefined: Meet Kalyn Johnson, Lawyer Turned Fashionista
Lawyers who dream about stepping out of the law to pursue entrepreneurial dreams, or find themselves chronically wondering if the grass is greener on the other side, will find inspiration in Darling Hill’s latest Lawyer Redefined Pick: Kalyn Johnson.
Kalyn Johnson, a former corporate lawyer, recently launched Style by Kalyn Johnson, a company that specializes in wardrobe makeovers and provides corporate seminars on style. “After ten years of practicing corporate law at a large international law firm, Kalyn could no longer resist the lure of the fashion world.” Darling Hill had the opportunity to speak with Kalyn via e-mail about her business venture and her transition away from the law. Here’s what she had to say.
Darling Hill: How long before you jumped off the corporate law track were you dreaming about doing so?
Kalyn: I was someone who went to law school never thinking I would practice law. I went to law school to complement my policy degree and then I got there, starting racking up debt, saw what the starting salaries were and decided I’d better practice for a few years to “learn” how to be a lawyer. So, from day one I didn’t plan to stay forever, but I ended up practicing for about 10.5 years.
Darling Hill: Were you dissatisfied with the practice of law?
Kalyn: I was tired of dealing with big firm politics and egos. My dissatisfaction came more from that than the practice of law itself. Law is one of the most intellectually stimulating professions out there. I loved being around really smart people and being challenged on a daily basis.
Darling Hill: What were your biggest fears/doubts/concerns, if any, about leaving the law?
Kalyn: It may sound strange, but I didn’t think I was someone who was caught up in the title until I was no longer practicing. When I began to re-invent myself, so to speak, the societal importance of being a lawyer hit me. I’d just taken it for granted. So that was a latent fear/concern for me. My biggest fear was, and is, doing something on my own and being solely responsible for my success or failure. If I succeed it’s all the sweeter, so my mantra has become FINO (failure is not an option).
Darling Hill: How has having a J.D. helped you with your business adventure?
Kalyn: I’ve always loved fashion and have played “stylist” to my family and friends my whole life. It wasn’t until a few years ago that it dawned on me that I could do what I love for a living. Both professions are service driven, so it was natural for me to take the professionalism and customer service skills I learned as a lawyer and apply them to my styling business. I think my attention to detail, follow-through, and customer service help to distinguish me and are attractive to professionals who are looking to update their style.
Darling Hill: What, if anything, do you miss about the full-time practice of law?
Kalyn: I miss my friends, being an entrepreneur can be quite lonely. I’ve built up a great network of friends and colleagues who are entrepreneuers, but I no longer have the luxury of being able to pop into someone’s office to bounce an idea off of them, work through a difficult problem or situation or just shoot the breeze.
Darling Hill: What advice can you give another lawyer who dreams about leaving the law to pursue a non-law dream?
Kalyn: Before you quit your job, really think about what you want to do and why. Join entrepreneurial networking organizations and talk to other like-minded people; create a support group for yourself. Set goals for yourself and your business, save money (save as much as you can), and talk to people who are doing what you think you would like to do - the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. If you can continue to practice and pursue your dream, consider it … Remember you’re walking away from a great deal of security (401K, health insurance, an IT Department, an assistant) and that’s not to be taken lightly. It took me a good 3 years to decide to leave. On the flip side though, a law degree is a great Plan B.
To visit Kayln’s website, click here.
We’re wrapping up our millennial Q&A series with stylist Kalyn Johnson with a question near and dear to every recent college grad: what are the most important fashion pieces to spend your money on when you’re just getting a career started and trying to stick to a budget? Kalyn recommends investing in quality basics that will last:
1. A well-made suit that really fits
2. A nice briefcase or tote bag
3. A quality watch
4. Stylish and classic dress shoes or high heels
5. A trench coat to look professional come rain or shine
6. At least one piece of quality luggage appropriate for business travel
Man, I wish someone would have told me that before I took my first business trip with a beat up European camping backpack. Classy.
Now for the latest advice from stylist Kalyn Johnson, of Style by Kalyn Johnson, in our series about millennial attire at work …
Q: Kalyn, what is the most common mistake that young employees make when dressing for work?
A: I think one of the most common mistakes millennials make when dressing for work is failing to take cues from the attire of their more senior colleagues. If you work in a business casual environment, for example, but the men always wear long-sleeved dress shirts and never roll their sleeves up follow suit initially. Once you get your foot in the door and have begun to prove yourself, you may decide you want to shake things up a bit but at the outset make your goal one of fitting in with your colleagues and environment.
So, wait, no flip flops?
Jack + Bill is all about millennial empowerment, but we often set ourselves back on our career tracks simply by dressing too young or appearing too casual. Stylist Kalyn Johnson is here to the rescue. We asked twenty-something Porter Novelli staffers for their work style questions. Over the next week, we’ll share our Qs and Kalyn’s As to help millennial professionals dress to impress senior staff while still expressing their own style.
Q: Kalyn, what fashion tips would you give to twenty-something employees entering the work force to help them earn the respect of senior staff?
A: Find someone senior to you who you admire and dress like them. The old adage is true, you need to dress for the job you want, not the job you have. The best compliment I received as a young attorney was when a client assumed I was a well-seasoned lawyer. I’d like to think it had to do with my legal prowess, but honestly, I think it had to do with the fact that I was dressed more like the Partner than the other juniors!
Jack + Bill is thrilled to have stylist Kalyn Johnson on the roster this summer. Not only is the former corporate lawyer a picture of professional chic herself, but she’s created a thriving new business, Style by Kalyn Johnson, to help men and women use fashion to enhance and advance their careers. We set out to learn more about her professional style philosophy and tips to help all of us get ahead.
J+B: How did you make the transition from lawyer to stylist?
Kalyn: I’ve always loved fashion and have played “stylist” to my family and friends my whole life. It wasn’t until a few years ago that it dawned on me that I could do what I love for a living. Both professions are service driven, so it was natural for me to take the professionalism and customer service skills I learned as a lawyer and apply them to my styling business. I think my attention to detail, follow-through, and customer service help to distinguish me and are attractive to professionals looking to update their style.
J+B: How can fashion help you get ahead in the workplace?
Kalyn: Clothes are a nonverbal form of communication. Look around, the successful people at work are often the ones who look the part. Employees are the ambassadors for their companies; employers are more apt to give the plum assignments, accounts, and clients to the employees whose attire allows others visualize them as capable, confident and appropriate. No one wants to pay $500/hour for an attorney in a cheap suit!
J+B: In corporate environments, what can you do to inject your personal style into a professional work wardrobe?
Kalyn: Add color and use accessories. Accessories are great way to inject your personal style into your work wardrobe. For example, if you have a bohemian nature, wear a cool turquoise beaded choker rather than pearls. For the guys, if your industry allows, wear a patterned dress shirt or pink instead of the standard white or blue. Use these sorts of details to create a more polished look and distinguish yourself from the crowd. Jewelry, handbags, cufflinks, totebags, briefcases, shoes and belts are all items that you can use to personalize your work wardrobe.
ShootBooth is satisfying millenials’ never-ending itch for new Facebook photos by renting out cool photobooths for parties in New York. You can rent the 8-foot tall vintage replica camera (actually hiding a digital SLR camera inside) for your next party and get printed shots or burned disks at the end of the night. So cool. Our long-lost now-found high school friends are going to be so jealous.
I’m a sucker for style collaborations - best trend ever. Rogan + Target, yes please. Japanese sneaker collabs, be still my heart. But you’ve got to give it up to Swedish designer Olle Hemmendorff and Nike for taking it to the next level by combining two of my favorite things; shoes and snacks. Thanks to our friends at Freshness mag, you can read all about how Nike commissioned a team of artists to pick the iconic sneaker of their choice and interpret it in their own style. Hemmendorff brought my worlds together and created a Nike Air Max 90 out of HAMBURGER. As he said:
“In the tradition of material innovation of AM 90, I constructed a running shoe using the most powerful, must durable and most delicious material known to man: hamburger.”
If you’re lucky enough to live in Sweden, check it out for me. Anyone know of any other snack + style collaborations?
Sneakers ‘n’ Stuff,
Åsögatan 124
116 24 Stockholm
TEL: +46 8 743 03 22
