Style Story: Chi Ilochi
Hey, fashion friends! We’re back with another Style Story that we’re excited to share with you.
Our guest today is Chi Illochi. She’s a Pittsburgh-based Fashion Stylist and Image Consultant who is the mind behind Styling By Chi, a company whose mission is “to heal, empower, and inspire our clients through fashion and style.”
She is also one of Style for Good’s major role models!
For those who missed our first Style Story with José Pérez IV, Style Stories is our interview series with people who embody our mission, including some of our previous clients.
Chi Ilochi: photo by Donna Ilochi
Hello! How are you? Oh my gosh. This is so wonderful, thank you for talking with us.
Thanks for having me.
We were so looking forward to this. Do you have any big questions for us before we start asking you stuff?
What made you guys start Style for Good?
Taylor: Well, a big one for me, besides the fact that last year when the pandemic hit, all of my teaching work disappeared (I'm a freelance teaching artist by career), I have always loved fashion. My mom was a model when I was young, so I grew up going to shows with her and seeing all these different styles and just being around clothes. My grandmother was a very, very fashionable person. She was a big proponent of the “when you feel bad, look great” kind of thing. So, that was how I was raised, and that was how my mom functioned as well throughout my whole life.
I’ve had depression for a lot of my life and a couple years ago it got really really bad. I kind of leaned into making fashion choices as a part of scaffolding myself out of it. Like, I wasn't loving myself but I could love the clothes I was putting on my body. And so, it really has changed how I perceive myself and it really made a big difference. Of course it wasn’t “The Answer,” or the only thing to help, but it made a big impact.
When everything switched up last year, it was just a great opportunity to finally really dive into the fashion side of life and make that more of a career than a super intense hobby!
Chi: Yeah, it’s cool to see that what you went through, like the pain, brought out purpose. I’m excited for you, that’s awesome. I’m happy you’re here!
Taylor: Thank you! I really appreciate that. Sarah, do you want to share your story?
Sarah: Oh yeah! So, the stars kind of aligned for us. We were both working for a popular styling service company, but weren’t loving it. We realized we want to keep styling, just in a more sustainable way that is more directly helping people. And then we were like, “hey… why don't we just do that now?” And now we’re here! We're doing it! And it's really cool.
And something that I’m excited about is making it more accessible to people with different price points, and serving people that don't fit the standards of what the fashion industry says is fashionable or popular.
We want people to FEEL really good first. We just want people to be confident and happy, and to love what they have and who they are.
Taylor: And we really share one of your big missions, Chi, which is showing people that sustainable fashion can be very affordable and can be really really fashionable and bright and exciting. It’s very cool. It’s a great thing to be focusing on.
Chi: Yeah, for sure. Fast fashion isn’t going to last long. I mean, of course, they’ll keep creating and keep putting things out. When you buy a shirt at Forever 21 and you wash it once it’s going to fall apart.
Sarah: I know, and they make it that way on purpose, which is what bothers me. They know it’s going to fall apart.
Taylor: Yeah, I’m very heartened by all of us who are doing this stuff, even big companies.
Chi: That's cool.
Taylor: Do you feel like you know us a little bit better now?
Chi: I do, I do!
Okay, awesome! So, who are ya? Start with telling us what you do, who are you, where do you live? Any kind of bio that you want to share with us.
I’m Chi Ilochi, I’m a Fashion Stylist and Image Consultant. My company is Styling by Chi. I'm 21 years old and I’ve been styling since I was about 14, although I didn't know it was fashion styling at the time.
I just knew I loved fashion and it was a way to express myself. I’ve always been introverted, to myself, just have my headphones in, stayed with my friends and people that understood me. I really began to push it when I met a friend of mine who was a visual artist, so we kind of clashed that way. When I graduated high school he unfortunately committed suicide. So that put me in a really, really dark, dark place. I've never been that low before, if I’m being honest.
I found that, as Taylor said, “when you feel bad, look good.” And that's really what got me. You know, fashion saved my life if I’m being honest with you. And from that point, when I saw what fashion could do for me, I knew I had to share that with other people. That was like my tithe back to the universe.
So, I began to do community styling for free for those who may be mentally ill, or have some sort of physical illness, or are autistic, homeless, elderly, because it shouldn't be a luxury to look good. You know what I mean? I feel like that should be something that's accessible to everyone and I wanted to share that with people because if something like that could get me from such a dark place, just imagine what I could do for other people who have access to a Stylist. And here I am with you guys today! I guess it worked out.
That’s so cool! When did you start your business?
I started my business in July of 2017. I had just graduated, so I was just trying to have a good time and I wasn’t really taking it that seriously. I didn’t really begin pushing it until after my friend passed, and that was December of 2017.
You touched on this a bit, but what is the role of fashion and style in your life?
It’s everything to me. I know that sounds cliche, but I can't see myself not doing it.
That's one thing that I realized; I can go to the grocery store, or just walk down the street and I'm like paying attention to everything, every detail. What type of shoes are they wearing? Well, I might not pair those shoes with that outfit, but you know, express yourself! I’m constantly watching everything looking for ways to be inspired.
And as I said, I'm pretty quiet so it's really my way to speak to people without me having to say anything. So if I show up in a bold outfit, I’m having a good day. If the colors are a little darker, then don’t talk to me, you know, I'm not really feeling it.
Yeah, it's just my passion. I feel like it's my purpose. So, it plays a huge role in my life.
Considering the work you do with different populations of people who often don't feel like they have access to fashion, and especially your own experience with fashion as a mental health tool, how do you think style habits can impact the mental health of others?
I believe it impacts others because it makes them feel seen. It's one thing to have some sort of privilege, maybe struggling with depression or anxiety but you don't have to worry about where to live or how your bills are going to be paid. Or “how am I going to eat today?” When you add all those things in, on top of being homeless, mentally ill, or maybe you're living in a high-rise and nobody ever visits you, it makes you feel like you’re overlooked and nobody cares.
“If nobody cares about me, why should I care about what I wear?”
When you bring a stylist or style into these scenarios, there’s hope again. Then there's a reason to dress well, there's a reason to look presentable because it matters and makes the difference.
Giving them the style tips or sharing experience with them, you know, like I may not have been in your position, but I've been low before and this is what helped me. Of course, it's not an overnight process, sometimes you have to go to therapy if you have the resources.
But it did its part. I want to share as many tricks or tools of the trade that I can, that can make life easier because I believe that we all have the ability to make someone's life easier in some kind of way and we shouldn’t be gatekeeping Joy.
Taylor: I love that phrase. “I should not be gatekeeping joy.” Wow!
Chi Ilochi: photo by Donna Ilochi
How did you get connected with all these different groups of people?
I just prayed on it. I really just wanted God to take this passion to another level because the fashion industry is so self-serving. And I’m like, “This isn't about me,” you know. So, I just started reaching out to people. I’d reach out and say “Here’s what I’ve done, here’s a resume.” You have to pitch yourself, and then they’d say “come right in.”
I remember I provided some clothing to the elderly and gave some style tips, and they said, “Please come back!” They were so happy! They were like, “This for us?!” So, I just reached out and let people know what I do. Just hope for the best.
I feel like sometimes people don’t know how to get into helping more and sometimes the answer is to just start asking to help. Sometimes you have to do it scared. I was terrified every single time, even though it was through email.
Sarah: Spoken like a true introvert.
Chi: Yes!
Sarah: I understand completely. Awesome.
Why were you interested in Sharing Your Side Story with us?
I mean, you guys are pretty cool! Though you probably shouldn’t put that in the interview
Sarah: ...We can keep it, haha!
Taylor: Yeah, that’s just fine!
But I’m actually inspired by you guys. I don’t remember how I stumbled across your Instagram but I was scrolling and was like “Wait a minute, are these stylists here? Let me see what they’re about and what they do.” I found out about your mission and all you try to do, from donating clothing to making people feel good and making them have access to a stylist because they deserve to look nice. I was like “How can I support this, how can I be a part of that?” We need more like you guys.
Sarah: I think you were actually the first person to comment on our first Instagram post and I was like “Oh my goodness!” Because, actually, when Taylor and I were first doing research before we launched, we found you. You were one of the first people who we were like, “This is who inspires us,” and then you found us and it just feels very meant to be. So we were very excited that you had time to talk to us!
Taylor: Yeah, we were very starstruck. I kept saying “Oh my gosh, Chi just said something about us! Oh my gosh!”
Chi: I felt the same way! This is awesome.
Taylor: There are a lot of people in Pittsburgh trying to do this good work and it is so enlivening and inspiring.
Chi: Yeah. We’re all we have, that’s the way I look at it.
You were talking about how you love to share your favorite tips! Is there any particular tip that you would love to share about developing your personal style or pursuing thrifted style or anything else that you want to get out there?
When you want to start thrifting, one of the biggest mistakes that I made was just trying to buy everything. Like, “This sweater is only $6, I need this sweater,” even though it was 90 degrees outside. When you start thrifting, you want to start moving with a sense of intentionality. Like, “Okay, I want a casual-chic look, so what am I going to look for?” You gotta do what works for you. So that’s what I recommend.
I think the biggest tip I have to say is you don’t have to follow trends. The best thing you can do for yourself as an individual, as a person who maybe loves fashion or who is trying to get into it and recreate themselves, is be true to you. Express yourself however you deem best fit. Everybody is not going to like your outfit but as long as you do and you feel good in it, that’s what matters.
What is your favorite piece of pre-loved, thrifted, hand me down, or handmade clothing that you’ve owned?
Well, before I got into fashion, I was into visual art like painting and anime and cartooning, still life and things like that. So, I believe it was 2018 and I thrifted some scrubs and I painted on them. I think those are my favorite right now. And they’re really comfortable! Sometimes I just wear the scrubs with a t-shirt and I’m good to go.
Awesome, Chi! Thank you so much. Is there anything you would like to say to kind of wrap up your interview?
Thank you. Like, I really appreciate the opportunity. I’m just so excited you guys wanted to do this with me. And if there’s any way I can support you, just let me know.
Right back at ya!
Check out some of Chi’s styling work below, and on her website stylingbychi.com
