Elevate your style
with Wardrobe Styling, Closet Editing, Personal Shopping, Style Consulting, and Speaking services
Who is Rachel J?
Authenticity is the philosophy of Rachel Jimenez Penca.
For Rachel, getting to know people is as essential as knowing fashion. “You have to feel natural—that you’re staying true to your individual style, whatever it may be,” she said. “If you’re a jeans and tee shirt person, then we’re going to find the best jeans and tee shirt that fit you and your personality.”
In February 2013, Rachel launched Rachel J Styling, a wardrobe styling, personal shopping and consulting business in Chicago and Los Angeles. She stepped out on her own to share her passion and devote more one-on-one time to clients. Rachel customizes all her work to meet their individual styling needs.
Her services are backed with years of experience that began in 2007 when managing Totem, an upscale, independent boutique in the Chicago suburb of Hinsdale. She loved exploring the creations of both established and emerging designers, and learning the stories of locals while styling them.
When Totem shut its doors, she accepted an offer to work at Nordstrom. The company quickly promoted her to Los Angeles to help manage one of their most prestigious designer departments. There she met Vivica A. Fox, who became her most loyal client and dear friend. Rachel quickly learned how to accommodate the fashion needs of a celebrity lifestyle. She moved on to become Wedding Stylist Manager at Nordstrom’s Wedding Suite, then a new venture of the company.
Her resume grew quickly after her launch and over the past decade, she has extended her styling services to include editorial and commercial work. In addition to running her own business, she was the Head Stylist for Felix Magazine, a Founding Outfitter/Stylist for Trumaker, a custom menswear company. Rachel represents emerging designers, getting them into select boutiques and department stores around the country. She has also done consulting work for promising fashion start-up companies in Chicago.
In 2021, Rachel became the Head Instructor and Author of the online course, “Be a Personal Stylist,” at Pivot School guiding aspiring Stylists all over the country on how to develop their styling skills and build a profitable personal styling business. She was the Keynote Speaker for the graduations of 5 Pivot School Cohorts and has been asked to guest speak at LIM College and Columbia College Chicago. Just this past year, she became a Professor of Fashion Styling in the Fashion Studies department of Columbia College Chicago.
Before delving into the industry of fashion, Rachel graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Advertising and a minor in Journalism. She worked in Account Management for several Fortune 500 companies at Shaker Advertising Agency based in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park.
Rachel brings both savvy and sincerity to Rachel J Styling. Her honesty has earned the trust of her clients. She works to bring out the best version of you—authentically you.
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