Daily Inspiration: Meet Dana Lynch

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Lynch.

Hi Dana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Sure! I’ve always always loved clothes. I absolutely loved shopping with my mom as a kid and begged her to go every chance I got. But I didn’t grow up thinking I’d be a stylist—I just knew I wanted to work in fashion and help women feel good about themselves.

After college, I worked in retail management for a while, and then moved into outside sales. It was during that time that I noticed how much what I was wearing affected how I felt walking into meetings. On the days I liked my outfit, I felt more confident and capable. On the days I didn’t… let’s just say, it showed. That connection between style and mindset really stuck with me.

Eventually, I realized I wanted to help other women experience that same confidence boost without all the stress that can come with shopping or getting dressed. So, in 2004, I took a leap and started Elements of Image.

Now, more than 20 years later, I work with high-achieving professional women: attorneys, executives, consultants—who are successful in just about every area except their closets. My job is to make sure their wardrobe reflects who they are today, not who they were ten years ago. It’s about showing up with confidence and dressing in a way that feels like them, not like someone they saw in a magazine.

It’s been a winding road, with lots of learning along the way, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not always smooth—but I think that’s true for most business owners, especially when you’re building something that doesn’t follow a cookie-cutter path.

In the beginning, one of the biggest challenges was figuring out how to make my own voice heard in an industry that, at the time, felt very rule-driven. During my initial image consulting training, there was a lot of emphasis on “right” and “wrong” ways to dress. But something about that just didn’t sit right with me.

I didn’t want to put women in boxes. I believed style should be personal, not prescriptive—but it took time (and client experience) to really trust my instincts and build a philosophy that reflected my point of view.

Once I did, everything clicked. I started blogging, giving talks, and building a client base of smart, successful women who didn’t want to be told what to wear—they wanted a wardrobe that felt authentic and elevated. That’s when my business started to grow in a way that felt right to me.

So yes, there were bumps along the way. But each one helped me shape a business and a voice that’s completely my own.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a personal stylist for high-achieving professional women, including attorneys, executives, and consultants, who are successful in every area except their wardrobe. That’s where I come in.

I help them create a wardrobe that reflects who they are now, not who they were ten years ago. My work is all about helping women feel confident, aligned, and pulled together without the stress of figuring it out alone. I don’t push trends or rules. Instead I lead them toward fashionable clothing using guidelines. I help clients define their personal style and build wardrobes that support their goals, lifestyle, and body.

I work one-on-one with clients in person and virtually, and I’ve developed digital platforms that make the experience even more efficient. Whether we’re meeting in a fitting room or organizing their wardrobe online, my goal is always to make style feel easier and more aligned with real life.

I’m known for making the process smoother than people expect. Shopping becomes faster. Getting dressed takes less time. And most importantly, my clients feel more confident and in control of their image.

In addition to consulting, I love spreading the “style word” through speaking to women’s groups and my segment on 9News at 3.

I’m especially proud of the long-term relationships I’ve built. A lot of my clients have worked with me for years and keep coming back as their careers and lives evolve. I also love speaking to women’s groups and professional organizations. It’s powerful to see the shift in how women view their own style.

What sets me apart is my approach. I meet women where they are, with no judgment. Just practical, honest style guidance that works.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
One thing I was especially thankful for during the Covid crisis was that I’d already started using a digital platform to style clients online back in early 2019. It allowed me to continue working without missing a beat.

What the pandemic really reinforced for me was the importance of relationships. I leaned into checking in, staying connected, and being a consistent presence for my clients. That part mattered more than any big reinvention.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://elementsofimage.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elementsofimage
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dana.lynch/ and https://www.facebook.com/elementsofimage/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danalynch/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@danalynch9955

Image Credits
Photo of me holding up sweater with client: Mark Woolcott Photography