It’s true that you’re never fully dressed without a smile!
It’s true that you’re never fully dressed without a smile, but it’s also crucial that you’ve got an actual style for yourself. Regardless of your field, you’ll feel your absolute best when you look your best! Reiko Foster, an educator-turned-stylist based in Houston, loved to dress up for the classroom. The teaching veteran is now empowering and encouraging other teachers to discover their own fashion while they take on the timeless job of educating our future. Reiko wants her clients to send messages to the world without even saying a word; she refers to wardrobe as a form of self-care, and we can all imagine how much educators need to embrace that! Deciding how to present yourself is a factor we fortunately have control over; might as well make it incredible, ya know? When Reiko’s not styling educators or speaking at conferences, she’s tuned in to one of her favorite podcasts, “Gettin’ Grown”. We admire your fashionable and scholarly eye, Reiko. We are excited for you to meet Reiko, Queen of Stylish Studies!
What inspired you to start your business? What motivates you to keep going?: I’ve been a Style and Family blogger for years all while being a teacher for over 16 years. A little under 2 years ago, I began sharing what I was wearing to work via my Instagram Stories. I began receiving messages from teachers and simply working professionals that they were getting inspired to make dressing for work more fun. That’s when I decided to write an E-Style workbook, “How To Avoid the Dreaded Teacher Uniform.” My goal is to inspire women to invest in their work wardrobe as a form of self-care. Teachers are especially the worst when it comes to self-care. You’re taught in the education field that if you don’t work yourself to death and look like you’ve been at home checking papers all day that you are not dedicated. I was in the classroom for over 16 years and I’ve seen first hand how honoring my style even in the classroom has helped me to invest in myself. Students love it but honestly, you will grow to love it to. Getting dressed everyday is one of the very few things we can control in life.
What does your company stand for?: My brand as a whole is about empowering the everyday woman to find style as a way to communicate to the world without saying a word. I’m a mom. I’m a wife. I’m a working woman. I’m an entrepreneur. I’m all these things and investing in things that work for my body and spirit doesn’t have to be sacrificed while doing it all. That’s what you get when you purchase my E-Style workbook or follow me on social media or bump into me on the street or book me for a speaking engagement.
How do you create the life you want?: That, for me, is an ongoing process. It changes but what I am learning is to create rules that work for me. What works for one person may not work for me. It’s about finding a rhythm. I’m still in the process of finding it. Right now that looks like me writing tasks down and checking them off day by day.
What makes you HUMAN?: My bank account makes me human! Working on that generational wealth is not a game! Lol! The disagreements I have with loved ones make me human. Being a mom makes me human. Being flawed makes me human.
What are three things your want people to know about self-love?: 1. Self- care is self love and doesn’t always mean a spa day or nail appointment. It could mean unfollowing someone whose posts trigger you or it could mean binge watching your favorite show even though you have something else more pressing to do.
2. Distancing yourself from toxic people even if they have the same DNA or if you’ve been friends with them for years can be self-love.
3. Self-love is not being so hard on yourself.
What's something we can incorporate today to start loving ourselves more?: Book a doctor’s appointment to get a general physical. Simple yet something most of us avoid doing.
What has been your own journey with self love?: I am harder on myself than anyone could be. That has been something I have been working on. I used to get disappointed in myself a lot if things didn’t go according “to plan.” Then I would look around and see that I am actually blessed and there are people all around me who have more challenging lives. It made me become more grateful. I remember a few years ago, somebody from church, reminded me that I had a lisp. (Yes girl, on church grounds.) I have always known that about myself but I never let it affect how I interacted with people. I let that one moment make me “hide” from public speaking whenever possible. Then I was reminded of God’s grace when I realized that somebody didn’t wake up that morning. That was the day that I started doing live videos and started sharing my morning outfits via Instagram stories.
Leave an affirmation for readers.....: Be your own competition. I try very hard not to measure my path based on the size of someone else’s shoes.
Email Address: Reikogfoster@gmail.com
Website: http://reikofoster.com
Social media handles?: Instagram: @reikofoster on Instagram
Facebook: Reiko Foster- God’s Favorite Shoes (@reikofosteronline )
Any books or apps recommendations?: Not any apps or books but I do have some favorite podcasts that keep me giggling throughout the week.
1. The Gettin’ Grown podcast- all about adulting
2 How Married Are You? - All the things. All the things!
3. Ratchet & Respectable- Demetrius Lucas says all the things that brown girls think.