Joié's Blog

“I styled myself in such a way where it was kind of giving me hope or telling me who I was going to be.”

Chi Ilochi

Chi Ilochi, 21, uses her company “Styling by Chi” to heal, help, and inspire clients through fashion and style. This includes those who are mentally ill, autistic, physically disabled, and the elderly. Helping others through her company has even helped balance her mental health.

According to Mental Health America, major depression affects 6.7 percent of adults each year. The healing component of Ilochi’s mission strives from seeking her own healing. “It was also something I used to bring me out of a dark depression,” she said. “I styled myself in such a way where it was kind of giving me hope or telling me who I was going to be.” She was styling her future self who she saw as happy and confident.

Breaking Through Adversity

Ilochi also opened up about losing a close friend who was very supportive of her career. “We had been friends since I was 14, and shortly after we graduated high school he committed suicide,” she said. “That’s when I tied in the mental health aspect and being able to heal because that’s literally what I used, and therapy, to get through it.”

Ilochi recommends therapy as a means to healing depression but personally uses styling as another tool. She believes fashion and style influence your mood. “They say that wearing a certain color will enhance your mood or the different positive effects that it can have,” she said. “ But If you don’t apply it, you’re not going to see a difference.”

Ilochi believes it’s important to take action to overcome your mental health. “I can’t feel better if I’m lying in bed all day,” she said. “I can’t feel better if I’m wearing the same outfit. You know, you have to make that effort.” She also says that putting in the effort to dress stylishly can highlight a person’s strength.

Ilochi’s Goal

During consultations, Ilochi observes her client’s body language and asks them a series of questions to understand where they are mentally and emotionally. Her goal is to make sure clients are comfortable and leave feeling confident. “One of the questions that I’ve loved asking is ‘What celebrity style do you look up to and do you feel like you can dress like them?’”

Community styling is Ilochi’s favorite part of her career. Helping people who she feels the world overlooks lifts her spirits.  “Being able to see their mood change, how happy they are, and how they feel like they’re cared about is a humbling feeling.” A memorable moment for Ilochi happened while styling the elderly at a High Rise. One of the residents asked, “You bought this for us?” It made her proud of the purpose-driven aspect of her work.

Ilochi wants people to be more open-minded and confident towards the way they can dress.“I believe as a stylist showing them the possibility. That already improves their mental health and how they see themselves, and that’s the goal.”

You can book Ilochi’s services through her website here. Also, be sure to follow her on Instagram @StylingbyChi.