Meet Stephanie O’Dell | Founder/CEO Celebrate The Gray Agency

We had the good fortune of connecting with Stephanie O’Dell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Stephanie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When my 60 year old client told me the fashion industry had forgotten her, that she felt invisible and I noticed that she had begun to dress in gray, tan and black in an effort to disappear, I knew something had to change.

I asked myself, was there a need for a fashion line specific to the over 50 woman, one that addressed the needs of a body that had changed from pregnancies, menopause and life? I started a blog, Celebrate The Gray with the goal to talk to 100 women over the age of 50 to find out the reality of finding clothes as women age.

I didn’t know what me, a 54 year old (at the time) part time fashion stylist, mother of two could accomplish but I knew I had to try. I remember my first interview in Trader Joe’s – “Pat with the pink hair” – it took me about 15 minutes to work up the courage to talk to her but that conversation changed my life. Not only did I feel inspired by Pat, she too was thankful for being noticed and happy someone was trying to change things. At the end of our conversation, Pat said “You made my day”. When in fact, Pat had ignited a passion in me that I had never imagined existed.

Celebrate The Gray was born
Little did I know that the first conversation with Pat would grow into Celebrate The Gray, a full service agency for and about the 50+ woman. Now almost six years later and after talking to 1,000’s of women over 50, I am one of the leaders representing the “real” older woman. Celebrate The Gray Agency is the vehicle for change and the opportunity for women to stand up and say “hey look at me, I’m older, beautiful, relevant and important.”

Celebrate The Gray represents over 200 “real” gray haired models, each with a powerful aging story. These models represent the possibilities not the limitations of aging. They are rewriting what age can look like. I work with brands to understand the 50+ customers to ensure the visuals and narratives represent how she looks, feels and acts.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I left a career in marketing/customer service to raise our kids, which I felt was what I was put on the planet to do (raise two very thoughtful and kind kids). And in my late 40’s I had that moment of is there something more I’m suppose to do? But like a lot of women didn’t have any idea what I was passionate about or what my next career could be. Which my kids in middle and high school and me with more time on my hands, I got a part time job at Athleta. That job led to a full time job doing fashion styling for Athleta, Stitch Fix and Shape Your Style (my own styling business). After 8 years of styling, I started a blog, Celebrate The Gray. The women I met were amazing and I had the “ah-ha” moment of why aren’t these the women I see in advertising and marketing because if I did I would feel completely different about aging. I realized my past jobs have all led me to Celebrate The Gray. I was alway been a champion for the unseen and giving them a voice. By building the Celebrate The Gray Collective, I have been able to bring women together so they are seen and heard.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, I live in San Francisco/Marin so we have TONS to see and do. To start with I would hit the trails of Marin, there is so much beauty and inspiration around Marin. We would also hit Sol Food, the best Puerto Rico food in the world! We live on the water so grabbing a beer by the bay would be another stop on itinerary. And then we would head to San Francisco, where we do some of the tried and true – Cable car ride, walk across Golden Gate Bridge, hike in the Presidio. Then of course, we head to drinks and food – either Italian in North Beach or Chinese in Chinatown – YUMMM. We are big wanderers and love to full into adventure so we would have one thing to do and let the world guide us for the rest of the day.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband and kids have been my biggest cheerleaders! There have been so many points along the way that I have thought what am I doing, but a quick talk with my husband or kids would encourage me to keep going. There are always peaks and valleys and in those valleys you need that community to support you. Sometimes your community doesn’t see your vision so you may have to seek out another community that can support you. The 50+ woman has also been one of my biggest cheerleader. To be given the support, advice and most of all collaboration opportunities has made a lot of the growth of Celebrate The Gray possible.

Website: www.celebratethegray.com

Instagram: @celebratethegray

Linkedin: Stephanie O’Dell & Celebrate The Gray

Facebook: Celebrate The Gray

Image Credits
Amy Carr, Ash Baker Photography