| Karen E. Costa: Fashion and Image Consultant |
For Karen E. Costa, being an Organization by Design fashion and image consultant is a gratifying blend of the two things she loves best: fashion and people. Karen was drawn to the field by the opportunity to provide clients with the expertise to make the right clothing choices and as a result, improve their self-esteem.
“For me, it’s about building relationships as well as building wardrobes,” Karen says.
Karen joined Organization by Design in 2004 after eight years as an independent image consultant on the south shore of Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Karen’s love for color and fabric was identified early on by a high school home economics teacher, who urged her to take up fashion as a career. Karen graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology in midtown Manhattan with a degree in fashion merchandising and went directly into retail. She is also a graduate of the London Image Institute in Atlanta.
Through her one-on-one work, Karen enjoys helping clients navigate their evolving lives by making sure their wardrobe choices allow them to smoothly transition from one life-stage to the next.
“Many times in life, women have to reinvent themselves. Every five years we’re changing something, whether we’re staying home, whether we’re going back to work, whether we’re a mom. I love working with women who haven’t had time in their lives to spend on themselves, and all of a sudden it’s their time. When I work with someone whether it’s in their home or in a dressing room and I have them turn around and look in the mirror and see something they never saw before, I just love it!” Karen says.
Karen’s appreciation for the miracles wrought by a proper wardrobe manifests itself in her role as past president of the board of directors of the New Bedford, Mass., affiliate of Dress for Success, a nonprofit organization that helps low-income women make a tailored transition into the workforce by providing appropriate attire. Karen has also chaired two sold-out Dress for Success fashion show fundraisers.
After working with Karen, Dr. Penny Dennehy writes, “Karen deserves a big thank you for all the help that she gave me in shaping up my wardrobe. She helped me sort through what I had, made great suggestions of how to use what was in my closet, and developed a comprehensive shopping plan of action. I love all the clothes Karen found for me at the mall and especially appreciated the referral to her seamstress who was able to get them altered in time for an important business trip. I’m getting loads of compliments on the "new me." This service has made a big difference in my life.”
Karen and her husband Joseph have two grown children, Matthew and Jennifer, and a daughter-in-law Kari Ann. They reside in Mattapoisett, MA.
Whether you need a fashion makeover, personal shopper, or image consultant, follow this link to read what some of Karen’s clients have to say about working with her.