Today we’d like to introduce you to Claire Roberts.
Hi Claire, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m one of those lucky people who genuinely loves what they do. Each day, I get to help men and women feel excited about how they show up in the world — because a thoughtful wardrobe isn’t just about looking good, it’s a powerful tool. I like to say: good clothes open doors.
My path here actually started decades ago, on my bed as a kid, flipping through J. Crew catalogs for hours. I wasn’t just looking at clothes — I was soaking in the emotion each outfit created. I dreamed of being a high-powered exec living my best fashion life in New York City, killing it in the boardroom by day.
After college, I got close to that dream — I spent ten years as a sales executive at SAS Institute, working with large financial institutions in New York. As a twenty-something woman navigating that world, I learned how to dress in a way that said “I’m ready for anything” while still staying true to my easygoing nature. Looking back, that decade was its own crash course in the power of image — I just didn’t have a name for it yet.
Eventually, I knew I was ready for something more creative, and I realized what genuinely lit me up was helping other people discover their own potential through how they dressed. So in 2008, I left the corporate world and started Claire Roberts Style, diving into formal training in image consulting and wardrobe styling. I’ve been fortunate to study under some real legends in this industry — Carla Mathis of Body Beautiful, Brenda Kinsel, Bev Dwane, and Rachel Nachmias all shaped how I see this work.
Six years ago, I became certified as a Sci/ART Color Analyst, which opened up a whole new dimension of my practice. Eighteen years into running Claire Roberts Style, I’m just as passionate about this work as I was on day one. These days, no two weeks look the same — and I love that my work with Raleigh clients is never one-size-fits-all. One day I’m helping someone build a personal brand wardrobe for a big career move, the next I’m color analyzing a client who’s finally ready to stop guessing what looks good on them. I’ve packed suitcases for dream vacations, styled brides for their big day, prepped clients for photo shoots, and helped people get dressed for the most important events of their lives. Whatever the occasion, the mission is always the same: help someone walk out the door feeling like the most confident version of themselves.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a perfectly smooth road, and if I’m honest, one of the biggest hurdles has been convincing this market that styling and image consulting is a worthwhile investment, not a luxury. When I started, a lot of people had a narrow idea of what a “stylist” did — maybe they pictured it as something only celebrities or the ultra-wealthy needed. I spent a lot of early years explaining that this work isn’t about vanity; it’s about strategy. The way you show up affects how people perceive your competence, your confidence, even your trustworthiness — and that has real impact on careers, relationships, and opportunities.
What really helped shift that mindset was Raleigh’s growth. As more people moved here from larger markets like New York, DC, and Atlanta, I found a built-in audience who already understood the value of this work — they’d used stylists and image consultants before and didn’t need convincing. They became some of my earliest champions, and as they shared their experiences with friends and colleagues here, it helped the broader Raleigh market warm up to the idea too. Slowly, “investing in how you show up” started to feel less like an indulgence and more like something smart, successful people just do.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
At Claire Roberts Style, I offer personal styling, color analysis, body line analysis, personal branding, bridal and event styling, travel packing, and photo styling. But at the core, everything I do comes back to three values: individuality, empowerment, and joy. I want every client to feel like fashion is fun, not a chore or a source of stress.
I’m best known for taking a client’s color analysis and weaving it directly into their styling — building a wardrobe that’s both functional and intentional, not just “these are your colors” and leaving it there. I’m a certified Sci/ART Color Analyst and Master Body Line Analyst, but the real value comes in connecting that knowledge to real life: making sure every piece in someone’s closet actually works for their coloring, their body, and the way they live. It’s one of those processes where clients often have an “aha” moment — they’ve spent years avoiding certain colors or styles without knowing why, and suddenly it all clicks into a wardrobe that just makes sense.
I’m also proud of the commercial and editorial work that’s come out of this business — I’ve styled projects featured in GQ, GQ Middle East, AARP Magazine, Midtown Magazine, an Olay ad campaign, and Haworth Furniture. It’s been rewarding to see this work translate beyond one-on-one client sessions into bigger creative projects.
But honestly, what I’m most proud of is simpler than any press feature: it’s the client texts and emails I get after a session — someone who finally feels confident walking into a big meeting, or who tears up trying on clothes that actually fit their life and their body for the first time. One client put it perfectly: she said I transformed not just her wardrobe, but her confidence, and that she never knew she could feel so good in her clothes. That, more than anything, is why I do this work.
What sets me apart, I think, is my years of experience in the corporate world. I spent a decade in corporate sales before I ever picked up a tape measure professionally, and that experience is baked into how I work with clients today. I understand boardrooms, client meetings, high-stakes presentations, and the unspoken dress codes that come with climbing a corporate ladder — because I lived it. When a client needs to dress for a promotion, a big pitch, or a career pivot, I’m not just guessing at what reads as “professional” — I know it firsthand.
I also stay sharp by being part of The Noel Circle, a mastermind group of top stylists from across the country. We’re constantly sharing information, brand knowledge, and best practices with each other, which means my clients benefit not just from my own experience, but from a whole network of expertise behind the scenes.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success isn’t measured by revenue or how many clients I see in a week — it’s measured by transformation. If a client walks away feeling more confident, more like themselves, and more excited to get dressed in the morning, that’s success. I love hearing from clients months or even years later, telling me they still think about something I taught them every time they get dressed — that the impact outlasted our time working together.
On a bigger-picture level, I also measure success by whether I’m still growing. Staying connected to other top stylists through The Noel Circle, continuing my training, and bringing new ideas to my clients — that, to me, is success too. I never want this work to feel stagnant. As long as I’m learning and my clients are walking away feeling empowered, I consider that a win.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.clairerobertsstyle.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clairerobertsstyle/
- Facebook: clairerobertsstyle
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-roberts-480a9315/
