We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stephanie Izquierdo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stephanie below.
firstName}, thank you so much for agreeing to talk with us about a deeply personal and sensitive topic. Postpartum depression affects so many in the community and hearing from someone who has overcome PPD might help someone who is going through it right now. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience
After I had my daughter, without really realizing it, I lost my sense of self. Having my daughter was truly the best thing that has ever happened to me and I wanted to give my everything to her, and I did. I was also in grad school at the time and I also gave my all to that as well. I was giving my all to everything and not making any time for myself or for the things I love. When I was still pretty freshly postpartum, I went to visit my friend in LA for a trip, this trip really reignited my love for fashion and encourage me to start dressing the way that I love again. This ultimately encouraged me into launching my vintage clothing small business.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Stephanie Izquierdo. I own stef up your style vintage clothing. Some of my favorite memories growing up were the early mornings spent with my mom, going from garage sale to garage sale, and looking through the aisles of thrift stores.. I didn’t realize it then, but those little adventures planted a deep love for secondhand clothing.
As I got older, that love only grew. I found myself drawn to the uniqueness of vintage clothing, to the creativity it allowed, and the sustainability it represented. I started styling pieces from my own secondhand collection, just for fun. At first, it was just a way to express myself—a creative outlet that felt personal and exciting.
That passion eventually turned into something more: Stef Up Your Style was born out of my desire to share my love for vintage fashion with others. But life has its seasons, and as I pursued grad school to become a behavior analyst and began working with individuals on the autism spectrum—a career I hold very close to my heart—my priorities naturally shifted. On top of that, becoming a first-time mom brought its own beautiful chaos, but also made me lose touch with the version of myself that once felt confident sharing her creativity. I stopped posting styling content. I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin, and slowly, my passion for fashion was placed quietly on the back burner.
That changed the day I visited a vintage market in LA. Being surrounded by bold, expressive fashion reminded me of why I fell in love with this world in the first place. Something in me clicked. I came back home inspired I picked up where I left off, but with a new energy. What started as styling thrifted pieces turned into something so much more. I began selling online, curating personalized style bundles, and setting up at pop-up markets. Stef Up Your Style evolved into not just a business, but a way to celebrate individuality, sustainability, and inclusivity.
Even though I’m still passionate about my work as a behavior analyst, this business is my own personal way of keeping my love for fashion alive. It’s a reminder to myself and hopefully to others that your passions are worth pursuing, no matter how long they’ve been on pause.
Through Stef Up Your Style, I want to promote confidence in all body types, encourage people to embrace secondhand and unique fashion, and most of all, inspire others to never let their creative spark die. No matter where life takes you, it’s never too late to reconnect with the things that make you feel most like you
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
three qualities that are important to have are:
drive, balance and a sense of community.
You have to have the drive to continue to pursue your dreams, balance in your life to know when it is time to work and when it is time to reset and a good sense of community because if you think you can do it all on your own you are mistaken, my community has been essential to my success.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents have helped me in every season of my life. One of the most impactful things my parents have ever done for me was make sure that I know that they would always be there for me no no matter if that means them waking up early to come help me set up at one of my markets or watching my daughter while I can go source inventory or just being there for me emotionally. Knowing that I can always rely on them and that I’m never doing anything in this life alone has given me the confidence to pursue my goals.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @stefupyourstyle.vintage
- Other: Depop: stefupyourstyleTik tok: stefupyourstyle123
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