We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rayne Parvis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rayne below.
Hi Rayne, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
How did I find purpose? At the age of 32, I found myself still living in my parents’ converted garage, embarking on a quest for purpose in my career, love life, and existence, devoid of employment, a significant relationship, or spiritual guidance. For more than a decade, I had dedicated myself to the entertainment industry, first as an actress and later as a stand-up comedian. It demanded all of my time, effort, and finances, yielding little in return aside from applause and an exquisitely crafted and fun sitcom that all major networks ultimately passed on.
Deep down, I sensed that stand-up comedy was not my true calling, despite me being good at it and the love of making people laugh. It had always been a struggle, a constant uphill battle. My love life had reached a standstill as well, leaving me with no option, or distractions, but to embark on a search for my true purpose.
One of my dearest friends, a bright soul I greatly admired, frequently spoke of finding guidance from a higher power, particularly God. Over the years, I witnessed how her life had transformed into something profoundly meaningful, overflowing with gratitude and love. She had overcome numerous life challenges, forged a clear path, and discovered fulfillment in her mission to empower and uplift women one at a time through her ministry, Treasures. If Jesus was the reason she was so upbeat and found joy in the little things, then He could work for mine.
With no other hope in sight, I began attending church independently, and let Jesus take the wheel. I had faith something profound and purposeful was bound to happen. I had nothing to lose and found myself in a “yes” state of mind, committing to explore wherever the “signs” would take me.
In my previous pursuit of comedy, I had filled my days with ceaseless efforts to organize photo shoots, produce YouTube shows, scout talent, promote local stand-up events, and make sure an audience showed up. However, the void of having all this to do left me with a foreign feeling as if I had nothing to strive for….no purpose. I recalled a piece of advice I had heard – the best way to improve one’s self-esteem and find meaning is to shift the focus away from oneself and help others. Acting on this wisdom, I became a volunteer at an animal shelter, offering my time to take dogs for walks, pet them, groom them, and accessorize them to make them more appealing to potential adopters.
The most gratifying moments were when I encountered dogs labeled as “yellow,” indicating they were unfriendly and had behavioral issues. My goal was to make their lives even slightly better, and that was enough to brighten my day. Dogs, being forgiving creatures, held no grudges and readily accepted the love I offered. I vividly remember a particular dog, a small 7-pound PUPPY with long reddish-brown fur that resembled a dachshund mix. He cowered in a corner, unwilling to let anyone touch him without nipping or growling. Labeled as “yellow,” he had arrived at the shelter the previous day. With protective gloves, I patiently earned his trust by using a calming voice and simply sitting beside him. After about five minutes of gentle petting, I picked him up, looked into his eyes, and assured him that everything would be okay. I brushed his fur, had him sit on my lap, and within a brief visit, he was wagging his tail and playing. The staff was notified of his progress and he was removed from the “yellow” list and ready for adoption. YES! This was followed up by many more doggie rescue goals accomplished.
I started incorporating small acts of kindness into my daily routine, such as returning my parents’ car with a full tank of gas.I know what you’re thinking; “you didn’t already do this?”. No, not everyday with a set out intention. Despite my initial laziness, I recognized that these simple actions made the people around me happy, which in turn gave me purpose.
Each day began with a prayer: “God/Universe, what are we going to do today? Please make it good!” In my newfound state of acceptance and openness to opportunities, I accepted an invitation to a seminar for small business owners, organized by my talent agent’s husband. Despite not having a small business of my own, I found the topics intriguing. At the seminar, all attendees’ names were entered into a drawing, with the grand prize being a consultation with a renowned mentor who could provide guidance on making money, marketing a business, and setting one up for success. Against all odds, my name was drawn from the pool of a thousand or so participants. Again, YESSS!!!
During the consultation with Tom Antion, the business mentor, he asked me a series of questions aimed at identifying my strengths and potential areas where I could thrive. It was clear that my primary objective was to find a career that would be both financially rewarding and personally fulfilling. Tom pointed out that I already had a knack for helping friends reinvent their style for dates and interviews, suggesting that I become a personal stylist – a path that celebrities like Kim Kardashian had also taken. The rest, as they say, is history. Fourteen years later, I run a successful and highly-rated Style Coaching and personal styling business called Style by Rayne, which I am deeply passionate about. I had discovered my purpose – providing individuals with personalized fashion solutions to help them rock their style with colors and confidence.
I woke up each day with a clear goal: to reach people who needed help with editing, shopping, and refining their style through my business. I eventually found an amazing man, got married, and welcomed a child into my life. With these new additions, new purposes emerged, and I continue to embrace them all with open arms.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Unlike many stylist who started out for their love of fashion, I started out for my love of people. By being a certified Style Coach™, mixing life coaching techniques with fashion styling, my passions of helping one not only love their style but love and accept who they are now brings so much daily joy.
With over a decade in the industry, a fashion book Ultimate Guide to Style: From Drab to Fab! under my belt, TV spots and virtual events for Nordstrom have all solidified my reputation as a trusted voice in fashion, where I serve the latest style tips with a side of humor. My goal is to make style accessible and fun for people with all backgrounds, helping them learn how they can level up their style to not just look fabulous, but feel confident. Could that next soul be you? My style packages all start off with learning and understanding your basic foundations through: closet edits, shopping, styling, and color analysis.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three qualities I feel positively impacted me and would help anyone succeed is to be humble and not being afraid to pivot to a new direction. For example, one way to find your true calling is to discover what you are innately not good at and what you don’t want to do. I thought I could be prosperous at TV wardrobe styling so I pivoted from personal clients to tv wardrobe styling. Well, after 4 weeks of stress, being embarrassingly belittled while making so many daily mistakes, and asking to quit twice before being fired as a wardrobe assistant, I realized this avenue was definitely not for me. Moving back to personal styling without batting an eyelash or letting that experience affect my confidence was a must. Over the years I’ve tried many avenues that were not a great fit, but I always took each experience as a learning curve and pressed forward no matter what.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
Oh, I could talk about my ideal client all day long! My ideal clients are souls with immense compassion, a deep love for their family and friends, a genuine enthusiasm for learning, and a commitment to self-improvement. They embrace life with a positive attitude, enthusiastically undertake style development assignments such as private selfie challenges, and are eager to explore what makes them uniquely themselves. They aren’t afraid to embrace new experiences and are open to personal growth. Typically, my ideal clients possess all the elements for leading their best lives but have neglected their personal style for some time. They’ve honed their skills, whether that means advancing in their careers, raising a family, caring for loved ones, or succeeding as entrepreneurs, and they’re now prepared to embrace a style that truly reflects the remarkable individuals they’ve become today.
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rayne.parvis
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StyleByRayne/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rayneparvis/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rayneparvis
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/style-by-rayne-los-angeles
Image Credits
Vanie Poyey of www.PoyeyPhotos.com took all of them except the one with two in the black and white dresses in the art gallery.
