Home PeopleHoboken Girl of the Week Hoboken Girl of the Week: Gillian Brown {of SuitableYou}

Hoboken Girl of the Week: Gillian Brown {of SuitableYou}

by Briana
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There’s nothing more empowering than a woman helping other women be successful — and that’s exactly what our Hoboken Girl of the week does. Introducing Gillian Brown, founder of her very own company, Suitable You. After graduating college and struggling with finding affordable work-attire, Gillian decided to take matters into her own hands by helping women build a working wardrobe. Keep on reading for some inspiration and find out how to get your very own style box designed by Gillian:

gillian brown suitable you

Suitable You + How it Started:

I started SuitableYou because I saw a problem after graduating college. Why is it so hard to find office-appropriate, age-appropriate, stylish, affordable clothes to wear to work? What if there was an easy way to build a wardrobe without going shopping, spending your entire paycheck and still getting that killer top for Saturday night and making your 401-K contribution? That is how SuitableYou was born; SuitableYou helps women build a working wardrobe. We are a style box that gets delivered to your door step with 5 pieces of clothing that make up work-wear outfits that have been styled by a personal stylist. My goal is to empower women because we believe that when you feel good and look good, you have more confidence to nail your interview, presentation, first day, and every other day. This is the mission behind every SuitableYou box.

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On What Motivates and Inspires Her

My biggest source of inspiration is my Mom and Dad. Growing up as a little girl I saw both my parents start and grow many businesses, showing me what entrepreneurship was. Not only did my parents show me what it meant to run a successful business, they believed in me enough to help me start SuitableYou!

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What motivates me the most is when I receive e-mails and comments from our customers telling me stories about how SuitableYou has helped them feel more confident at work and how we have really made a difference in their lives.

READ: Hudson County Women Making Waves {in Honor of Black History Month}

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About Her Goals + Passions

I have many goals for 2018 but to summarize them, they fall into two categories; business and personal. On the business front, after launching SuitableYou and getting it off the ground in 2017, I want to see our company really move to the next level in 2018. That not only means increasing our number of customers and growing our business but truly becoming disruptive – offering working women something really new and different in the way they can shop. We have some big plans for 2018 and one of my goals is to see them through.

My second goal is more personal. I want to make sure I spend time with my new husband and with 2018 being our first full married year I want to make sure we make time for each other. We both have very busy career lives and it is easy to become consumed with the day-to-day challenges that business can throw you. So my personal goal is to make sure we spend enough time together.
I am passionate about a number of things but I am very passionate about fashion and seeing women really look their best. I am also passionate about working out and living a healthy lifestyle. Lastly, I am passionate about family. I have a great family and I love spending time with them.

A Typical Day in the Life:

There is no “typical” day for me. As a startup, every day is a little different. I am very involved with our merchandising and our stylists so I do something that relates to evaluating our merchandise and working with our stylists.

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I also try to touch our various marketing programs each day and work with our marketing team. But on any given day I can be pulled into a meeting about our website or our warehouse, so each day is different, which is what I love about my job. Some days I will be settled up at Bwe Kafe with my laptop. Another day I’m going into New York on showroom appointments and visiting trade shows. Some days I go to our warehouse to see how our operations are running.

On The Highs + Lows

The highs of my job is plain and simple I am doing what I LOVE and this is working with clothes, styling women, and making them feel their very best! The lows of my job are that most of my team works remotely so it’s hard for us to all be together. We do a lot of google hangouts, emails and Slack time.

Career Highlights {So Far}

I feel like I am just really starting my career which is such an exciting and nerve racking time all at once. Running and managing a business especially a startup is so much harder than I ever thought it would be. At the same time, it is so rewarding because I am starting something from the ground up with my own ideas and we have such great people involved with the company.

Giving back and helping others has always been an important part of my life so I am so proud that SuitableYou has been able to partner with STRIVE of Harlem, which works with under severed women in helping them re-enter the workforce. I could not have a company that did not have a social mission. What better way to help women get back into the workforce then by donating work outfits and running workshops on how to dress for their new careers. It’s been about one year since I officially started SuitableYou and so much has happened just in this year. It really excites me to see the possibilities of what SuitableYou will be in five years!

How She Spends Days Off

Days off? As anyone that owns their own business knows, we don’t officially have time off. But when I can sneak away, I like to spend time with my family and friends, whether it’s going out to dinner or just getting a cup of coffee. I also like to work out and walk through the shops in Hoboken.

gillian brown suitable you

Her Advice to Someone Pursuing the Same Career Path

The advice I would give to someone who wanted to pursue my career path is keep moving forward no matter what. As a 30-year-old woman I never in a million years thought I could or would be able to start and run a company. I am lucky to have such an amazing support team around me, but if YOU don’t believe in yourself and that you can do it then nobody will believe in you.

Keep moving forward, no matter what.

See More: We’re Totally Girl Crushing on These Local Ladies

Now, some of her Hoboken + Jersey City favorites:

What is your favorite restaurant in Hoboken or JC?

This is hard question to answer because there are so many amazing restaurants in the Hoboken and JC area that I love. My husband and I are big foodies and love going out to dinner. Our go-to place would have to be La Isla Uptown.

What is your favorite boutique in Hoboken or JC?

One of my favorite boutiques to shop at in Hoboken is Dear Hannah. I love the mix of clothes, jewelry, and cute gifts that they have.

What do you love most about Hoboken?

I love so many things about Hoboken, but my favorite is the sense of community that you feel as a resident living here. There is always an event going on and I love the close proximity to so many great places.

What is your favorite thing to do in Hudson County?

One of my favorite things to do in Hudson County is to walk around and explore new areas, restaurants, boutiques and businesses that are opening up. Just in the five years that I have been living here so much has changed and new places are constantly opening which I love!

How long have you lived in the area?

I have lived in Hoboken for about 5 ½ years.

What is your favorite outdoor place to spend time in the area?

I love going by the water and seeing the New York City skyline – the view never gets old.

What is your favorite place to work out in Hudson County?

My favorite place to work out is CKO. I love their kickboxing classes and then they have an entire gym upstairs where I like to work out as well. I am also all about taking a yoga class from time to time to switch it up.

Where do you go out with friends in the area?

When I am looking to grab a cup of coffee and catch up with friends I love Bwe Kafe. I love going to Anthony David’s for a relaxing and yummy brunch. When I am looking to grab some drinks with friends I like to go to 10th & Willow (where I met my husband).

What is something you think needs to come to Hoboken or Jersey City?

I would love to see more small businesses opening up whether that’s new restaurants, stores, anything that helps the community grow and thrive!

Want to be featured or nominate someone as an upcoming Hoboken Girl of the Week?

Email hello@hobokengirl.com about your/her story!

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