Julie Watson was 3 years old when she decided that a blue chiffon party dress was the "look of the season" and she refused to wear anything else for an entire summer. From that point on Julie’s passion for apparel was clear, and that became the foundation of her successful sixteen-year career in the retail industry.
After earning a B.A. in Business Administration in 1991, Julie started her career with positions at Carroll Reed and Eagles Eye, and then she spent 8 years in the merchandising division of Talbots. Most recently, Julie was senior director of merchandising for Banana Republic, approving assortment, pricing, marketing, and strategy decisions for a $500 million division of the company’s women’s apparel business.
Julie’s success in developing collections for some of the country’s largest retailers has been grounded in customer insight. After gathering information from store visits, competitive analysis, customer focus groups, and international trend scouting, she worked closely with designers to create collections that satisfied her customer’s unique wardrobe needs. Another key to Julie’s success has been her ability to balance and integrate "of the moment" trends and timeless wardrobe builders in a way that maximized her customer’s investment. Assorting collections ranging from conservative to contemporary has given Julie the ability to address the style preferences of many different types of women.
Julie’s merchandising experience also made her an expert in garment fit. She worked with pattern makers, designers, fit models, and fit technicians to ensure that clothing would both fit and flatter. The "fit clinics" Julie conducted across the country educated her about the variety of fit issues women struggle with, and her analysis of the fit offering throughout the retail landscape gave her insight into which brands flatter which body shapes. Julie has traveled to fabric mills and production facilities in the US and abroad, where she observed the manufacturing process from fabric weaving to the sewing line. This technical training on the elements of garment design and construction that determine which fits will flatter different body shapes has given her the skills to tackle a variety of fit frustrations.
In January 2007, Julie decided to trade her corner office for clients’ closets to address what she saw missing in the marketplace: a personalized service rooted in merchandising experience that teaches clients how to make getting dressed in the morning effortless.
Since the launch of juliewatsonstyle, Julie and the consultants she has trained have worked with everyone from CEOs and celebrities to schoolteachers and stay-at-home moms, many of whom travel from other cities to take advantage of juliewatsonstyle’s services. The secret to juliewatsonstyle’s success is every client is treated like a star. That’s why customers say things like, "It’s a really positive experience because she’s not critical. It’s about taking you to another level. It’s more fun to get dressed now, because my new wardrobe is a reflection of my personality." (Chicago Sun Times, July 2007)
Julie’s warmth and her open approach to fashion combined with her extensive industry background quickly established her as a "go-to" expert within the field. In 2009, Chicago Magazine named her the "Best Personal Shopper in Chicago," and recognized what sets her apart from the rest. "Julie Watson offers deep and wide fashion knowledge without the standard fashion hauteur." (Chicago Magazine, August 2009)
In response to countless requests to provide juliewatsonstyle wardrobe consulting services for men, in September 2010 Julie launched the Men's Division of juliewatsonstyle. This exciting addition marked the beginning of a new era for the business.
In October of 2010, Julie took a fashionable step forward into a brand new storefront studio in Michigan Avenue's luxury shopping center, The Shops at 900 N. Michigan Avenue. The new location offers Chicago clients a one-stop shopping experience. Her goal in opening the studio was to create a comfortable and inviting space to conduct client appointments and host events supporting local and national designers.
When she’s not helping individual clients, Julie consults for ad agencies, national retailers, apparel manufacturers, designers and brokerage firms. She also commentates fashion shows, hosts private shopping nights, and presents unique wardrobe-building seminars to professional groups.
Julie has also served on the Chicago Board of Directors for Step Up Women’s Network, a national non-profit organization that provides programming for under-served teen girls focused on empowerment, esteem and education.
If you’d like to bring Julie Watson's insight and expertise to your clothing concerns, email julie@juliewatsonstyle.com.
