The Joy of Feeling Confident: Meet Acclaimed Stylist Malia Anderson
Posted: March 3rd, 2020
When you feel secure in your personal style, your true self shines through
We are back with Garden Society’s Fresh Perspective series. This week we had the opportunity to sit down with local stylist Malia Anderson, founder of Styles by Malia. Growing up in San Francisco, Malia knew two things: she would be a business owner like her grandmother and she would never give up her love for making things pretty. Over decades in the fashion industry, Malia has styled clients and spoken to groups large and small throughout the Bay Area and country. Style by Malia today is much larger than the dream of a little girl. Not only does Malia cater to clients of every lifestyle, she also works with North Bay companies to establish their corporate brand and style. Malia also serves as a style expert and contributor to several blogs and print publications.
Thank you for joining us, Malia! From our clothes to Garden Society’s branding, we can always count on you to make sure we are on point, which has given us so much joy and confidence throughout the years. Now’s your turn, what brings you joy?
Pretty things bring me joy—from flowers to handbags. Laughter and music, of course. Brunch with the girls. And the BEACH, above all things, brings me the most joy.
The beach, brunch and flowers…throw some Garden Society pre-rolls in the mix and we are there! As a business owner, what is it like to be a female leader in today’s climate?
Things are not as hard as they were ten years ago, and hopefully not as easy as it will be in the next ten years. I love being in this space where what it means to be a female leader is constantly changing; it won’t change overnight and it will make people UNCOMFORTABLE, but it is an exciting movement to watch and join.
Perfectly said! From cannabis to wine to fashion, the female tribe we have gathered in Sonoma County alone has no doubt impacted our community. We are looking forward to blazing the trail ahead with you. What lessons did you learn from your mother, a mother-like figure, or notable woman in your life?
My grandmother raised me and my sisters to be strong, smart women as well as kind, present ladies. For me, that is a life lesson I still take with me today, as it’s not an all or nothing. You can be a little bit of everything—and it changes. I get my strength from my granny and my hustle from my mommy. Faith and grit are a family trait.
What a simple, yet powerful statement. As we pass values from our own childhood to teach our kids, it’s amazing to see what sticks. This is a great reminder that simple lessons can be the most powerful. Could you share a valuable lesson or gift from girlfriends or a girlfriend (it’s ok to shout her name out here!)?
My girlfriends get me. They let me be me without judgement. They have taught me that there is more to life than work and that my work is not all I am. They teach me it’s ok to slow down and to have fun.
This is why sisterhoods are so important, our tribes know what we need to find joy. With that, at the end of the day, what matters most to you?
Family! The one I was born into, the one I married into, and the one that I created. Also, happiness matters to me. The knowledge that being happy is something others contribute to, but ultimately my happiness is up to me.
Thank you so much for joining us today Malia. You are proof that feeling and looking confident is a huge part of finding joy. We have seen first hand the magic you have brought to countless women and men. Thank you for being a part of our tribe and for sharing your story and optimism. For those of you in our audience who’d like to follow along you can follow @StyleByMalia or visit her website.
