Women everywhere have a common desire to be fashionably attired exuding style and grace. Too often, knowing how to achieve that desired look escapes both women and men. More commonly this is the case with women who tend to suffer from body image issues until they learn how to be comfortable in their own skin. No need to despair, coming to the fashion rescue is Patrice DaCosta and Stoosh.

“I am so happy to be living my passion; there is nothing else I can see myself doing at the moment. I enjoy building self-confidence, self-esteem and showing people how to dress their bodies in the best way. So many people are caught in a fashion rut, my objective is to enhance, not to change an individual,” says image consultant and founder of Stoosh Images Inc., Patrice DaCosta.

Trained by Dominique Isbecque, internationally renowned image consultant at the Image Resource Center in New York, Patrice has distinguished herself as a Corporate and Business Enhancement Professional.

In 2005, she founded her New York based firm Stoosh Images Inc., a renowned agency that has been making marked impressions on corporate and individual image enhancement in the Caribbean and USA. “Stoosh started out of a general love for colors and fashion. I helped friends in dressing, and the more I divulged the easier it became. I would always be complemented about my appearance,” she says about what drove her in this direction.

Stoosh she said started with start-up capital of approximately US$2000 and also included the services of an administrative assistant and a marketing associate.

“After completing a Masters of Science degree in England, I moved to New York and realized this desire was becoming stronger. I researched and found the Image Resource Center where I pursued courses in Image Consulting – Color and Body Analysis, Personal Shopping (Men and Women), Menswear and Wardrobe Audit.”

Stoosh offers a wide variety of services such as corporate and personal image evaluations, image enrichment mentoring, color assessment, wardrobe assessment and personal shopping.   Among her clients have been political, business and community leaders.  Patrice holds firm to the view that if people are enhanced then so too will be business entities, communities and the society. Her goal is to help her clients look and feel better about themselves, whatever their age, size and shape, lifestyle, career, or budget.

Cognizant of individual client’s needs, Patrice and Stoosh seeks to develop unique values that set them apart from others and being mindful of the importance of holistic solutions that meet their requirements, Stoosh has committed to the delivery of exceptional service.

She notes that the reception to her business operations has not always been positive or welcoming. “When I decided to bring my business to the Caribbean, I was not well received as what I did was very rare. It took a lot of market penetration, radio advertising and newspaper articles, hosting public workshops, and eventually, others started hearing about the impact I made with individual clients. It has been a challenging road but a worthwhile one,”she confesses.

Among the companies and entities she has consulted for in Jamaica include: The Lascelles Group of Companies, CVM Television, First Global Bank, Digicel Group, Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union, First Caribbean International Bank and the Jamaica National Building Society. Stoosh also boasts an influential and a large client base in Barbados which includes – KPMG, Grenada Broadcasting Network, and Barbados Youth Business Trust. She has also offered personal and professional advisory services and has conducted speaking engagements in St. Lucia, The British Virgin Islands, the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico,  and Grenada.

Stoosh is a labor of love that pulls on the professional and educational experience of its founder. Patrice holds a Professional Diploma in Fashion Merchandising from Professional Career Development Institute in Atlanta and is also a graduate of the Barbizon Modeling School.  She also holds a Master of Science degree in Information Technology and Marketing which she obtained at the University of Salford, Manchester, England and a Bachelor of Science degree in Administrative Management from the University of Technology, Kingston, Jamaica.  Professionally, she worked for Air Jamaica from 1995-2000 and Alken Tours from 2002-2008. It was during this time that Stoosh was born. In 2008, she left her day job to take on Stoosh full time.

“The response so far has been great. I go overboard for my clients – whether it is personal or corporate. That’s the difference when you are passionate about what you do.” When she started out, she had no idea that she would have made such an impact on people. “I also found out that many women especially are battling low self-esteem and things were said to them in the past which are still affecting them. I’ve also confirmed that as an entrepreneur it takes persistence, drive, and self will to stay in business and be successful. I would encourage other entrepreneurs to surround themselves with positive people and identify the lions in their industry and see what they are doing and if possible draw close to them.”

The St. Ann native and Westwood graduate is also a strong believer in social responsibility. “I am involved with charity organizations in each location I operate from focusing on building self- esteem, volunteering my time, sending needed items from overseas out of pocket to organizations that deal with teenage moms, abused women and teenage homes. It’s very fulfilling for me and it’s my way of giving back.”

In the next 5 to 10 years, the Stoosh CEO sees her company spreading into Europe and Canada and having a Stoosh team in key markets. She also envisions having specialized boutiques in at least two locations for those hard to get body shapes and height. And finally she would like to style at least one major celebrity and commence a Stoosh Youth Program for schools in the region.

“Stoosh for me is stylish sophisticated and success and that’s what I want for all my clients, both corporate and personal.” BM