Today, we’d like to introduce you to Tara Maietta. Tara was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Timmie Standridge.
Tara, thank you so much for joining us today. We’d love for you to bring our readers up to speed – can you introduce yourself and share your story?
Born and raised in New York, I always wanted to get into the business/creative side of fashion. It was when I landed my first job in 2004 out of the collection for a start-up bridal designer in Soho that I would immediately fall in love with weddings. The start-up in downtown Soho allowed me to learn all facets of running a business at a young age. I had a tremendous amount of responsibility at twenty-one years old. This included running their wholesale and retail business while handling the marketing and PR initiatives. I had the great privilege of working with some of the most incredible photographers, including the legendary Peter Beard. From there, I took on y most crucial position of my life at Vera Wang, where I spent a decade spearheading their international wholesale business and select Vera Wang flagship stores across the globe. I traveled the world styling brides for the brand, including Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
After opening the LA flagship for the brand, I decided to stay in LA to help facilitate the red carpet dressing and celebrity weddings, including Charlize Theron, Reese Witherspoon, Mila Kunis, and Hilary Duff, Debra Messing. Chirssy Teigen.
I was approached by Oscar de l a Retna looking to grow their bridal wholesale business/merchandising. One of the most prestigious houses to date, I knew this would be a great opportunity, and so I headed back to New York. At Oscar de la Renta, I was the Director of Global Sales, I oversaw the wholesale business in addition to closely working with the merchandising team and celebrity dressing. I had the great privilege to help style some of the most incredible women to include Amal Clooney, Kate Bosworth, Anna Wintour’s daughter-in-law, etc. In addition to this, I had the great experience of traveling the world and learning a great deal about different cultures in the wedding industry. I had the great experience of dressing women across the globe and being a part of their special moment.
I took a break in 2018. The long hours and travel had taken a toll on me. I spent the next two years taking care of me. Fast forward to December 2019, I was feeling lost. Weddings were such an instrumental part of my life. My passion was unparalleled to anything I was previously trying to break into. My dear colleague and established planner Yifat Oren reached out dto me and asked me if I missed weddings and that she had my first client for me.
I worked two jobs during a pandemic while I built my business.
Fast forward to today, I now have a successful wedding styling and brand consulting business. I work with clients across the globe, both in person and virtually. In addition to styling all the wedding events/special occasions for the bride, groom, and family, I do brand consulting for the Danielle Frankel house.
Please tell us more about your brand, Tara Maietta Style.
My business has two umbrellas – As a bridal stylist, my job is to make you feel like the most beautiful version of yourself. By identifying your personal style, I am able to make suggestions from the latest styles available. From start to finish, I put together every aspect of your look – attire, accessories, hair & makeup etc. Whether it’s for your rehearsal dinner, pool party or for the wedding itself, my goal is to create the most beautiful looks that make you feel incredible. I ensure your looks arrive, are organized and ready for your events and I am with you through every step of the getting ready process. I work alongside your planner and photographer to ensure that you are picture-perfect at every moment. At the end of the night, I assist to make sure your gown is cleaned and preserved. There is a great tight knit-group of stylists in our industry, I would say what sets me apart from them is my 19 years of wholesale experience. The relationships I have with stores across the globe allow me to provide exceptional service no matter where the client lives. I also have access to designer showrooms directly. I also source fashion that isn’t overly circulated on the internet. I thrive on the challenge of finding something that isn’t everywhere and anywhere. With my events background, this comes in handy for on-site support. Call me Olivia Pope. I am an excellent “fixer” and thrive on high energy/pressure. I am also a great support to the family, making them have the best experience possible during stressful times. I have a great ability to make people feel calm. For brand consulting, I work exclusively for Danielle Frankel. I advise her on new business development. Distribution, merchandising, strategy, etc. She is a force to be reckoned with. I have followed her since she started her business out of her closet in 2016. She is going to big places in the world, and I hope to support her in making those dreams come true.
So, as we mentioned to our audience earlier, you were introduced to us by Timmie Standridge and Timmie Standridge Fitness and we really admire them and what they’ve built. For folks who might not be as familiar, can you tell them a bit about your experience with Timmie Standridge Fitness.
Where do I BEGIN!!!!
Moving to California in 2018, leaving a successful career, put me in a big depression. I already had body issues, to begin with, and was insecure but gaining close to 20lbs was a lot for my tiny frame. Breaking my foot was the turning point.
When the pandemic hit us, rather than sit on the couch and go down the rabbit hole even further, I found Timmie on Instagram and enlisted a friend to support me on my fitness journey; having a. workout buddy with TImmies support changed my life. Timmie went above and beyond any trainer has ever done for me. In addition to introducing me to strength training which completely changed my body in ways I never knew it could, she was my biggest cheerleader encouraging me each week and helping me stay on track with progress photos, food journaling, virtual training when I traveled food recommendations, and being great sounding board.. I wanted a lifestyle change, and to order to achieve that, my journey needed to be more intentional, and she taught me how to do that. Three years later, I have had some downs, but my goals to be healthy have changed solely because of this human being.
It’s okay to realize that we can’t do it alone. Health is also essential for longevity, and if it’s important to you as it was to me, you find the ways financially to make it work/budget. Without our health, what do we have? Clothing, vacations, going out to eat, etc. won’t mean anything if you aren’t happy with yourself.
Website: www.taramaietta.com
Instagram: @taramaiettastyle
Image Credits
Becca Batista
