Julieta Almanza is a conscious stylist. Do you need help bringing your personal sense of fashion to life, but want an eco-friendly option? Julieta is the one to call, because, as she argues, over-consumption doesn’t look good on anyone.
It’s 2026, and social media is full of influencers showing off their fast fashion hauls.
As a fashion stylist of 8 years, I like trends, but they don’t define me or my work. In fact, that’s why I named what I do “Conscious Styling”, because my mission is to make you look good while you feel your best inside as well.
Most of the time, this isn’t achieved by buying more or what’s trendy: the best way to look stylish and feel great is a strong foundation.
I was born in Mexico City, and I live in Dubai, where shopping is popular, and there’s a mall on every corner. While I love shopping too, I have learned to put fast fashion at the end of my list and give priority to either pre-loved shops, clothes swaps, or upcycling and fixing what I already own. And I do the same for my clients; We’ve all seen images of landfills overflowing with unwanted clothing. Once you realize the impact of our consumption, it changes how you want to shop.
The Myth: Styling means going on a shopping spree
One of the reasons why I love my job is because I get to help people find and reflect their true potential. I believe we all have the right to look our best, and usually, we think only celebrities can have a personal stylist.
I wanted to change this. Nobody taught us how to choose clothes or our style, and yet, clothes are so personal. They literally touch our skin every day, and they are our first tool of communication, without us even realizing it.
Nobody taught us how to choose clothes or our style, and yet, clothes are so personal. They literally touch our skin every day, and they are our first tool of communication, without us even realizing it.
Julieta AlmanzaI don’t think there has ever been such a way of consuming as it is today. We don’t even need to walk into a shop; just a click on our favorite social media platform, and that’s it, a new item will be shipped to our door. This scenario is both exciting and frightening, and let me tell you why: When we’re following so many people telling us directly or indirectly what to do (also known as influencers), we often end up buying things that might look amazing on said influencer but look different on our bodies, be of poor quality, or just an item we’ll never really wear.
The best way to avoid shopping for unnecessary things is to know yourself–your likes and dislikes, as well as some technical details such as your size (sounds obvious, but it isn’t). Ordering garments on a whim late at night means some garments might look beautiful on someone else, but not work for you. And the answer isn’t to order and return endlessly.
The answer is to know yourself first, and that’s exactly where I can guide you.
What Actually Happens in a Wardrobe Curation
One of my services is wardrobe curation, where I come to your closet and help you edit and build a style that feels authentic. When I visit my client’s closets, we always end up with a pile of clothes that no longer reflect who they are or don’t fit. Having options such as resale, donation, or upcycling finishes the cycle for me. I always hope that through my work, my clients know how to shop consciously and get rid of their clothes in the same way.
I love what I do because it gives me the chance to connect with people and help them achieve their dreams. However, I don’t like the reputation styling sometimes has; some people think that I will make them shop non-stop, and the rest believe I will dress them in such complex ways that they won’t be able to do their normal activities.
This couldn’t be further from reality; the truth is that styling can be the foundation for a sustainable lifestyle. My objective is to be a stylist for normal people, to push for pre-loved clothing, and to make sure you feel comfortable while still looking amazing.
Intention and Attention: finding the perfect outfit
So, how do you actually start? Here are some practical questions to ask yourself before you buy, wear, or keep anything in your closet.
Identify your intention: What do you want to project with your image? Do you want to look accessible or more authoritative? Is this garment achieving said objective? When you’re scrolling through that influencer’s post or browsing a pre-loved shop, pause for a second. Ask yourself: Does this align with who I am trying to be or how I want to show up in the world? Every piece we wear helps us to send a message, whether we’re projecting confidence, professionalism, or creativity.
Know where attention should go: Where do you want attention to go? It could be a body part, a garment, or the message you are trying to share. A stunning red dress might be amazing, but if it’s not aligned with where you want energy and attention to flow, it becomes a liability in your closet instead of an asset.
Check before you buy. Do you have a similar item already? If the answer is yes, then you might not need to purchase another one. I know it’s tempting—that piece might have a slightly different cut or color—but ask yourself honestly: will I actually wear both? Or will one gather dust while the other gets all the love? This is where conscious shopping really happens.
Think in combinations. Can you wear the item with at least three other garments in your closet? This is the real test. If you can’t imagine three different outfits with that piece and using what you already own, it’s probably not a good addition. A fail-proof wardrobe isn’t about having everything; it’s about having pieces that work together, that you actually wear, and that make you feel like yourself.
This is the foundation of conscious styling. Not shopping sprees. Not trends that fade in a season. Just you, knowing yourself, making intentional choices, and building a wardrobe that actually serves your life.
