WOMEN WHO INSPIRE

At KF, we believe in the power of women. Each month, we'll introduce you to a 'Woman Who Inspires'. These incredible women are entrepreneurs, innovators and makers who are paving their own way in business, education, society, motherhood, and many more aspects of life.  Learn how they started their ventures, the challenges they faced along the way and see how they are building their future - all of our futures - while inspiring others.

Founder of Fashion Blog LUXYMOM™ Libby Romano

Libby is the founder and editor of LUXYMOM™. LUXYMOM™ was founded in 2017 by Libby Romano, a mom and business-woman who understood the body confidence issues and style anxiety women face after having children.

She knew her professional backgrounds in marketing, fashion design, and personal styling would allow her to create an unparalleled resource to uplift and inspire moms everywhere. [excerpt from website https://luxymom.com/ ]

Libby is one of the most stylish people we know. Her blog posts include seasonal favorites and fashionable advice for all shapes and sizes in a variety of ages. Enjoy reading about her passion on the fight against climate change, how failing is extremely important to success and how her two boys inspire her daily.

Introduce yourself!

My name is Libby Romano, and I'm a wife; a mom to two human boys and a Golden Retriever; and a true lover of style, business, and entrepreneurship. I grew up in Omaha; then moved to Chicago after college, where I met my husband and we had our first child; and a few years ago, we moved to Naples, Florida, where we're now based and where we had our second child. It's a fun life, and we're still able to spend our summers in Chicago. The best of all worlds.

Why did you start your own company or brand/become an entrepreneur/be your own boss?

I knew from a very early age (probably 7) that I would do two things - work in fashion, and own a company. I was born with these interests, and they've carried on throughout my life. It's a very empowering, exciting, and wonderful feeling to have dreams and then set goals and achieve them.

I would be the middle-schooler buying books at Barnes and Noble about how to start a business. I'd buy Inc and Wired magazines along with Vogue and Elle when I was a teenager. I enrolled in a sewing class at JoAnn's Fabrics when I was 16 and could drive myself there. I was a proactive learner as a child. I also wanted to save the rainforests - more on that in my response to another question...

What has been your biggest failure in business and what did you learn from it?

I'm glad you asked this question, because first of all, I think if you don't fail, you're not human. And if you can't admit your failures and learn from them, that's a shame, because you won't grow to your full potential. So it's okay to fail, and it's even better if you can take away lessons that propel you to bigger and better things. I actually feel like I've had a lot of failures in life and business, even if I'm being overly critical of myself - but I feel they've all helped with the great successes I've had, too, because they taught me how to also become successful in many different ways (from handling finances and growing revenue to maintaining a positive attitude and being able to truly manage people). 

One of the biggest lessons I've learned from my failures has been to become a better planner. When I was younger, I was more impulsive. I'd start something without truly thinking it through first. And as they say, "failing to plan is planning to fail." So my ability to plan now at this point in my life, as a 40-year-old woman with two kids, is much better than when I was in my 20s, and I've seen a lot more success from becoming better at this one thing.

What is the first thing you do after waking up to jumpstart a successful day?

Have my coffee. :) I have two young children, and the first "job" I have in my day is to get them ready for school and out the door, before I can even begin on my work. But in order to start tackling that, mama needs her coffee. LOL! It may sound like a small or trivial thing, but I can't imagine my day (or my attitude) without it.

What tools (apps, books, podcasts, etc.) would you recommend to anyone trying to start their own business/make your work day easier?

Oh, how I love to read inspirational and business books. I love ones that help me think differently about life, or how to go about my day or managing my business. 

By FAR, I would recommend the book Smartcuts by Shane Snow. I just got done reading it, and it's a game changer for business. I'll be making my kids read this book well before they get to college. 

And I've always loved the book Outliers by Malcom Gladwell. It'll give you great new perspectives on life. 

What person in history, living or dead, has inspired you and how?

I take inspiration from so many places. From great designers like Christian Dior to great artists like Monet and composers like Saint Saens. But I'm also inspired by my family, friends, and colleagues who I'm around me every day. My husband, for one, is a huge inspiration to me - he's the most positive, generous person on the planet, and he's managed to also build a really inspiring career for himself while supporting me throughout everything I want to accomplish.

If this wasn't your job, what's something else you've always wanted to do/start/create?

Another of my big motivations in life - which stems from my childhood and being obsessed with my grandfather's National Geographic magazine collection - is to help in the fight against climate change and to preserve our natural resources. When I was a kid, I would stare at the pictures in the magazines and even make inspiration boards (where was Pinterest back then!) of all the beautiful creatures in the world, all the beautiful places in the world. And I was so sad hearing about things like climate change and extinction of species. I just remember thinking "I'm going to do something to help." So I have some things I'm working on now to incorporate this into my world and to join the movement to truly do something positive.

Let's Get Deep...

What emoji(s) do you use most when texting?

I'm very emphatic, lol. I'm the person who uses too many exclamation marks in my emails and texts! But in general, I use the "smiley face with heart eyes" 😍 emoji, and the "laughing sideway" 🤣 emoji. 

Go-to cocktail?

Champagne, baby! Brut or Rosê, I like them both. Perrier Jouet is a favorite everyday brand.

Number two choice is a good flat Rosé. I live in Florida now, so a rosé is really fresh and crisp in the heat.

What book are you currently reading?

I just got done with Smartcuts about a month ago, so I'm looking for my next great read!

Go-to favorite garment in your closet that always makes you feel amazing?

Ugh, there are so many!! I love a good jacket or blazer, though. I have a killer red tweed jacket from IRO that I'm obsessed with. It's tailored so nicely and I feel so put together and polished when I wear it. 

But I also love a good pair of heels and a great bag. It's all about the accessories!

What is your signature scent?

Chloé. It's fresh and floral and just feels light, bright, and happy, which is how I like to live.

Early riser or night owl.

My body wants to be a night owl (I'm a creative entrepreneur!), but I have young kids, so I'm forced to be an early riser, because they're up at 6am on the dot. Sometimes I just burn both ends of the candle to get it all done in a day.