LIFE

Faithful fashion: Christian image consultant reveals women’s God-given beauty

Liz Senn
Special to the News Sentinel

“I have a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear!” That common cry for help sparked Donna Roland’s passion for helping women embrace their God-given beauty. This passion became her personal ministry, which inspired her career change from corporate human resources to certified Christian image consultant.

Donna Roland uses drapes in a variety of colors to determine clients' most flattering clothing shades.

Five years later, Roland is the proud owner of her own thriving business, Faithfully Fashionable. Roland’s services include clothing analysis, closet organizing and personal shopping, along with speaking at Christian women’s events and corporate events.

STYLE IN SCRIPTURE

“Beauty is in Bible scripture all over the place,” Roland said. Then she quotes one of her favorite verses: “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” Proverbs 31:25

A Knoxville native raised in a Christian home, Roland said, “God has made us beautiful women, and my mission is to help women create their best style, to bring out that inner beauty by finding the best clothes and accessories for their personal coloring and body shape.”

Trained by Christian Image Consultant Shari Braendel, Roland attended a Stacy London workshop and spoke with Ruth Graham at an event in the Cayman Islands. Together, Roland and Braendel have now trained more than 80 Christian Image consultants throughout the country.

“Nothing’s worse than a frumpy Christian,” said Roland with a laugh. “Just because I’m a Christian woman does not mean I’m going to wear sacks. I like to be fashionable, I like to be trendy, and I want to be approachable.”

“How are we going to be a witness and show the love of Christ to other women if we’re not confident, approachable, and loving the woman we see in our own mirror?” she said.

FASHION DISCIPLES

Roland recommends beginning the Faithfully Fashionable journey with a 90-minute personal style analysis, which determines her client’s best colors, body shape, frame size and fashion personality, along with best choices for makeup, hair and skincare.

As part of the style analysis, Roland determines that her clients are one of four different fashion personalities - Style Fashionista, Pure Natural, Classic Modern or Creative Original.

“The Style Fashionista can walk into the store and find anything she wants. She wears heels and likes funkier jewelry,” Roland said. “She’s not afraid of fashion.”

The Pure Natural probably never wears heels; it’s just not her lifestyle, Roland said. “She is more comfortable in cottons and linens and flats, with lower key makeup and hair.”

Roland said the Classic Modern wears classic pieces, but she wants to add a more modern touch with some fun trends, like a statement necklace.

“The Creative Original shops at a lot of vintage stores, and she can mix textures -- like a denim skirt, lace top, and wooden bracelets - in a way that is very unique,” Roland said. “She brings her artistic personality into her clothes.

"During this transformation, my goal is to help women create and develop that fashion personality, she said. “Then they can decide to see the beautiful person in the mirror that I could already see.”

PERSONAL SHOPPING TESTAMENT

Ashley McCallum sought Roland’s expertise to help choose professional interview outfits for a new job in human resources.

Ashley McCallum and Donna Roland shop for possibilities.

“Donna urged me to step outside of my comfort zone when choosing apparel, and that opened my eyes to many different possibilities I hadn't considered before,” McCallum said.

“I don’t shop for people - I shop with them,” Roland said. "I use that personal shopping session as a training experience for them," she said. “They may know in their head what they like, but what I like about this job is I can tell them why, based on their coloring and body frame,” Roland said.

“My experience working with Donna was wonderful,” McCallum said. “She is so passionate about what she does, and she truly engages her clients to provide them the best overall experience possible.”

Ashley McCallam, right, chooses a teal dress and cardigan set. She said Donna Roland, left, helped her consider new wardrobe possibilities.

A LEAP OF FAITH

“I am so humbled and blessed to use this platform of fashion and style to share my Christian faith and teach women how to always look and feel their very best,” Roland said. Changing careers at 50 was a huge leap of faith, but now I realize that God was calling me to this ministry, and it was where He wanted me all along.”

Contact Donna Roland at donnajeanroland@gmail.com or 865-599-6682. For more information, go to faithfullyfashionable.com.