We were thrilled to sit down with Stephanie Trotta, founder of the beloved Girl Guide, to find out about her plans for the brand, her styling inspirations and family life in Connecticut.
You clearly have a great eye for style, where do you get inspiration for your OOTD and online aesthetic?
Recently I started pinning on Pinterest again and I forgot how inspiring it can be! I wish I could say I had time to look through fashion magazines but I end up reading online ones while I’m working on blog posts. I like Net-A-Porter’s weekly magazine and also love goop articles (style and not).
How many kids do you have and what town do you reside in?
I have two boys, Luke who just turned three in January, and Harrison who will be one in May. We moved from Greenwich, CT to Darien, CT almost two years ago. Our motto is “giving moms the gift of time.”
Do you have any time saving tips or tricks that you’d be willing to share?
Take pictures! And I don’t mean professional ones – think mirror selfies. When I style clients I create an album for them filled with outfit photos. We’ll pair one top back to multiple pant or skirt options, day-to-night etc. It makes it so much easier to get dressed in the morning when you have a portfolio of ideas just a click away!
One thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Hmm..thats a tough one! I recently did this on my Insta stories and I think the thing that surprised people the most was my Political Science/Pre-Law major in college. I was a total nerd in high school, attended conferences like Presidential Classroom in Washington, D.C. and definitely didn’t wear makeup or care about labels. I think I still have a slight obsession with the allure politics and the as seen on TV version aka The West Wing. One of my all time favorite movies and the one that made me want to pursue a career in law was The Pelican Brief.
Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you through parenthood?
This may sound sappy but I have to go with my husband on this one! After Luke was born I began devoting more time to my styling business in addition to the hours I was spending on my full time job. When Harrison arrived over 10 months ago I really kicked it into high gear. My work schedule is not 9-5 and it includes lots of weekends and nights. My husband is an amazing dad and I feel so lucky to have his support especially when I need to leave the boys for long lengths of time.
Favorite things to do with your kids?
We love being outdoors! Our favorite place to go is Blue Hill Farm. They have an awesome cafe and on the weekends their schedule is full of kid-friendly activities. We also like the Darien Nature Center and we recently discovered Grace Farm in New Canaan. Their Saturday drop-in art classes are creative and relaxing. Sometimes I think I enjoy them more than Luke! We love The Girl Guide.
What are your plans for the brand?
I re-launched my blog last January as a creative outlet and a place where I could feature my style and aesthetic. What I didn’t expect is that it would turn into a platform where I could also share my lifestyle and other interests. That part really excites me! Right now I’m focused on continuing to expand my styling business locally and via The Girl Guide online. Last week I received a message from a mom of three in Texas who used one of my What to Pack guides for her trip to Hawaii. She said she loved everything she bought and seeing the outfits together saved her so much time. That email made my week! My goal is to continue inspiring women to love what they’re wearing, how they look, and become a resource for how to dress for every occasion form school pick up to black tie.