Introduce yourself!

My name is Taylor Reese. I am a proud mom of two boys, wife, and business owner and designer for my namesake jewelry brand. I am a deep creative and entrepreneur at heart. Prior to starting my jewelry brand, I worked at J. Crew, was in trend forecasting at Belk, worked for the NFL and in college football, and ran a fashion blog for 15 years. I am equally passionate about sports and fashion. As a southern woman and a business owner, it’s important to me to show up and put my best forward. My goals now are to make the game of fashion more fun, one statement piece at a time.

You’re a jewelry designer whose designs are made by hand in North Carolina. Tell us about what it was like to start your business.

The idea to start this business, or move the hobby to a business came out of the pandemic. I have been making jewelry for myself and close friends since I was 14 but never took it too seriously. It was a fun creative outlet that generated some spending money for more beads to play with. In 2020, I was running a fashion blog full-time and at home, pregnant, and with my 18-month-old son. Events and fashion jobs were slow and I was bored at home. One day I pulled out my big box of beads and began to play. After many dormant years, I felt inspired to create and discovered a point of view on the market I hadn’t had before. I began developing the brand, logo, website, initial products, and what the brand would stand for. I really took my time with this part as I was expecting, and knew it wasn’t the right time for our family to add a new business to the mix. I officially launched the business September 22 of 2022 and it has been full steam ahead ever since. I’m so grateful I took my time those first couple years. My plan for growth was to scale slowly and focus on direct-to-consumer sales first so I could be a work from home mom while my kids were getting into full-time school but the business had other plans. The response to the brand and the growth we’ve experienced so far has been so exciting to witness.

How are you styling Taylor Reese Jewelry with the Ellison Convertible™ Gown from Mestiza? 

Oh! Let me count the ways. What I love about pairing our jewelry with the Ellison Convertible™ Gown is how it can change the vibe of the gown. The gown itself is already convertible (genius!) and offers so many styling options but is inherently a more formal material. Swapping out gemstone earrings to a fun stack of bracelets or a fully dramatic set of modern pearls can make it work for a variety of different events from the golf course to a formal social event.

Your style is feminine, colorful, and polished, and has gained you a following on Instagram for it! What do your followers admire about your style/page?

I think what they love most is how fully transparent and honest I am about what I’m wearing and how I’m wearing it. I have never liked the traditional approach to content that has to look and be perfect before it’s posted. It has never worked for me because that’s not my life. I have two young boys that are messy and I want to spend my time with them. Perfect edits or the perfect transition are less important than sharing a real outfit with my audience. On the other side of that, we spend more time at the ball field or the hockey rink than I do nice dinners and professional events. I’m always sharing what I wear to church, family functions and work trips because that’s where people really want the most help and inspiration for packing ideas. What I really try to do in between those occasions is share what I’m wearing in the studio creating, or in carpool or to golf practice. Those outfits are still intentional and thought out, but show that my life is two modes: super casual and super fancy (as my kids say). I think that resonates with a lot of working moms and women in business juggling different roles.

When curating your wardrobe, what key elements or details do you always look for?

I always look for something that makes me gasp or stops me in my tracks. It can be a really beautiful saturated color that I haven’t seen or really purchased before or it can be a well-placed print. I am a details person and love hidden gems or fun secrets about an item. The Ellison Convertible™ Gown was one of those pieces for me. The print, fabrication, and tiered construction together made for a scroll-stopping design. When I saw that it was convertible and it was 4 styles in one, it became a must have piece. It is instant value added to any wardrobe.

Fall and winter can sometimes dull our wardrobes, but you always find a way to keep things playful. How do you incorporate romantic, feminine pieces into your cold-weather looks? Are there any Mestiza styles you’re eyeing for the season?

The winter is so hard for me! I try really hard to appreciate all the seasons -  they all serve a purpose; but I thrive in Spring and Summer when the days are warmer and longer. For me it all goes back to that psychology of fashion and how our clothing choices effect our mood. When winter gets cold and hard I keep my wardrobe warm and sunny to keep my mood up. Mestiza is a go-to brand for me because the cold weather styles, like the Este Convertible™ Quilted Jacket are warm, but still feminine and colorful. I pair it back to a white corduroy pant or a long dress. I am also really embracing fun, printed pants this season. The Antonella Pants are the perfect transitional pair. I love the navy ground of the print and how it is complemented by lighter colors. It’s a versatile palette to pair back with a cozy sweater for cooler days or a lighter blouse or peplum tank for the warmer ones. 

What are your favorite tips for feeling your best, inside and out? 

Put your best self forward. A girlfriend once told me “even if you don’t feel good, look good.” That has stuck with me for a long time and there’s a lot to be said for it. Even if I don’t feel like fixing my hair, putting on “real clothes” or getting all fixed up, I do. Taking the time to put on a nice outfit, put my best self forward for the day makes me more productive, confident and I show up better for my family and business. There’s a lot of psychology in how or outfit choices make us feel and show up to those around us. I’m a firm believer in it all and can tell a difference when I don’t get dressed and “take the day off”.

What are some of your favorite things to do around Charlotte, North Carolina? 

This one is tough because there really is so much to do in Charlotte. I would say high-level it’s eat, shop, and sports! The Charlotte restaurant landscape is always growing and changing. There are some really great spots that have been around forever and some great new places opening with some really creative chefs. When I get time with my husband or girlfriends, it’s fun to pick to new places and adventure out. 

Shopping is another great thing in Charlotte. There are some fabulous local shops like Poole Shop, Beads Inc, Charlotte’s, Five One Five, and Bedside Manor I love to visit. As a small business, I always appreciate when people choose to shop with me. I always check local spots before ordering online. These stores make it easy. Their customer service is top notch and even if they don’t have it, they are willing to get it for you. 

The sports is another really awesome thing about Charlotte. We have professional or minor league teams for so many different men’s and women’s sports. Since I worked for the Panthers in college, I love going to football games, but also really enjoy the Charlotte Checkers, and Knights games with my family. 

What draws you to the Mestiza brand? Are there any specific details, inspirations, or values that resonate with you?

When I first discovered Mestiza, I was immediately drawn to the intricate details and exquisite embellishments. The Elliana Poplin Palm Tree dress in ivory was the piece that stopped me in my tracks—the perfectly placed embroidered palms with beaded centers made it an instant must-have. When it arrived, my love for it only deepened. The fabric exudes luxury, but what truly sets Mestiza apart is the impeccable fit. Each dress feels as if it were custom-tailored for me, flattering in all the right places. This consistency across styles and categories is unmatched. Mestiza’s mission to celebrate the women who wear their designs resonates deeply with me because every time I slip into one of their dresses, I feel effortlessly confident and beautifully seen.

How does wearing the Ellison Convertible™ Gown make you feel? How are you styling it differently as a gown, vs. a midi and a mini? 

The Ellison Convertible™ Gown is everything! The fit is everything I expect from the Mestiza brand with the added benefit of 3 dresses in one. With an open neckline and fitted bodice, I feel confident, fashionable and sexy in any version of it. The ease at which this gown converts from full length to midi to mini has me constantly thinking of new ways and places to wear it out. Right away I thought about the PGA championship coming to Charlotte this year. The mini length with a pair of easy flats or sandals and a fun bracelet stack (I recommend the green jacket stack) is perfect for walking 18 in May. I’ve got the midi length on deck for spring charity events. Some of the daytime events are fancy brunches or lunches and require an elevated, but not too formal look. I’ll unzip the bottom layer, add a light sweater draped, and a fun spring heel in a playful, complementing color and some layered necklaces to complete the look. In a super casual world, I really love getting dressed up for a formal event. The full gown length of the Ellison makes it even more fun. I plan on taking this full on glam with metallic gold heels, a statement bag, and elegant gemstone earrings.