We recently connected with West Foglia and have shared our conversation below.
West, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Thanks for having me! Imposter Syndrome is one of those things that I’ve realized impacts everyone. I’ve recognized that for me, it creeps up when I catch myself comparing myself to others. We all do it! It’s far too easy, you know? But, lately I’ve found that reading reviews of past clients can really help. That extra bit of validation can go a long way and for me, it helps remind me that other people have been blown away by my designs and that I am in fact a professional. And if that doesn’t work, I’ll look back at an obstacle or a previous project that I tackled. I have a few projects that at once seemed huge, daunting, and really challenged me. Now I look back on them and they seem like they’d be so easy for me these days. I love that feeling.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m a stationery designer, primarily for weddings! I specialize in watercolors – I love how the illustrations lend themselves to adding a touch of whimsy to an invitation or elevating them into a timeless look. They’re so much fun and I’m fortunate that my style has resonated with so many brides.
It’s definitely an honor to be a part of their big day in a way that will really last forever. Wedding stationery get’s a bad reputation for being a collection of “one and done” pieces. I could talk for hours on why this thought bothers me but it’s mostly because I don’t think it has to be true. I really try to work with the couple on how we can extend the lifespan of some of their pieces if they’re interested in doing so. There are so many options, bar signage probably being the easiest to repurpose. More recently I’ve been working with a client on how to repurpose their crest letters into a monogram for a welcome mats & guest towels for their new home. It’s so clever and I can’t wait to see the pieces. I have a few home decor pieces already available for purchase and I’m excited to offer these ideas to new clients as well.
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?
The first would have to be listening! I recently had a client tell me she felt like we were “besties” when talking about her wedding and is that not the best compliment ever? I love that she felt that way and I think it could be attributed to listening. I take client calls very seriously in the sense that I am really making an effort to hear their story, wants, needs, all of it. I try to ask only a select few questions and instead let them tell me absolutely everything and anything they want to.
When it comes to skillset, I’m entirely self taught. They don’t exactly offer stationery majors in college so it can definitely contribute to those imposter syndrome feelings! I did, however, major in Television, Radio, and Film at Syracuse University. I learned a lot about the communications business and also how to tell a good story. Those principles have actually been incredibly valuable to my business. Storytelling is obviously great for social media and marketing but it’s also really helpful in design. I’m creating unique pieces that are a reflection of each couple’s personality while also blending seamlessly into their big day.
When I think about areas of knowledge, I think it’s helpful for many of my brides to know that I’ve been in their shoes and can relate. These days I’m reading trends, market reports, and discussing best practices with other vendors but it was only a few years ago that I was a bride myself. My husband and I actually had two ceremonies and receptions. We can thank covid for that. I planned them both under very different circumstances, locations, budgets, all of it. It really gave me a unique understanding to the stress, pressure, and constraints that brides endure. I hope my clients feel like I can really empathize with their situations whether their wedding is huge, intimate, destination, etc. because of my own experience.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
There’s a book called “The Secret” that transformed my mindset at an early age. The big lesson is about the Law of Attraction. Essentially, negative thoughts bring negative outcomes while positive thoughts bring positive outcomes. I’m often described as a positive person and it’s a trait I hope to exude to all of my clients. Who doesn’t want to work with a positive vendor? And even beyond the professional side of things, life is always better when you can look at the sunny side of things. My personal motto is to “live every day like the whole world is on your side.” Admittedly, I don’t always follow through with it but I like to think that I succeed far more than I fail. I hope you can read it but if you don’t want to, I’m pretty sure there’s a movie on Netflix about it too.
Contact Info:
- Website: etsy.com/wedwest
- Instagram: @WedWest
