Do you love what you do? Do you feel inspired? Are you making a positive impact in this world? Is it okay, as a mom, to have goals outside of raising your kids? What fills your heart? What motivates you? Are there places in the world you want to visit? Where do you begin?

These are just some of the questions I started asking myself in my mid-forties. At the time, I was a stay-at-home wife and mother, raising three sons in the suburbs. I had become one of those women who measured her self-esteem based on how others treated—or mistreated—me. I’m not throwing shade on suburban moms; I’m simply sharing my truth. I loved being there for my boys, taking on roles like class mom and SEPTA (Special Education PTA) board member, chairing student-teacher events at school, and hosting countless family and neighborhood gatherings. But I reached a point where I realized I needed to do something for me. 

I decided to start a new career and build a brand. “Style by Evan” was born with the intention of becoming a fashion styling business. The first step was creating a logo and a business card to make it official. I launched my brand by hosting a trunk show and that's when it all began. Clients started hiring me, and I began styling editorial photoshoots for various fashion magazines. I networked with independent designers and sourced unique pieces for my clients. It was happening and I felt like I was accomplishing something. My reentry into the business world was daunting at times, but the challenge was exhilarating. Working helped put things into perspective and allowed me to see both things and people more clearly. 

 In 2017, my styling work had become incredibly fulfilling. One day, while styling a photoshoot, I had a conversation with a designer who had recently visited Cuba. He told me that I needed to go and see it while it was still untouched. That evening, I told my husband about the conversation and mentioned that I wanted to go to Cuba. He wasn't interested, so I decided to go on my own.

I booked a ticket to Havana and planned a five-day trip. A few days before leaving, I was asked to style another photoshoot in Havana. I agreed and set off for Cuba with clothes to dress models I had never met before.

My first day in Cuba was unforgettable. I spent it driving around Old Havana in a broken-down van with four models, a photographer, a makeup artist, and an assistant who thankfully spoke English. It was a day that changed my life forever. Seeing Cuba for the first time felt like discovering hidden treasure—the incredible art, the underground music scene, the stylish Cuban people, the beautifully crafted cocktails, and the energy of the people. It was magical. I felt like I had discovered the meaning of life in a place where people take the time to look each other in the eye and connect over the most amazing coffee. The limited internet was a blessing, allowing me to process my experience and truly focus on this fascinating place.

I fell in love with this controversial, antiquated, yet vibrant island. After several trips back to Cuba and meeting incredibly talented fashion designers, I decided that the world needed to see what I had found there. I began interviewing designers and writing about them for both American and Cuban publications. Then, I did the unthinkable (at least for me!). I decided to physically show clients my Cuba—the way I saw it and experienced it.

In 2018, I began hosting Fashion & Culture tours to Cuba. As a way to show appreciation for the Cuban community, I decided to host a fashion show during each of my trips. We planned these shows months in advance. We held casting calls to select our runway models, found venues, designed programs, hired DJs, and invited eight to ten designers to showcase their collections. We served cocktails, passed appetizers, and sometimes had live musical performances. I opened each show and invited our guests to meet the community and see firsthand what we were doing. The shows garnered press from media outlets both in Cuba and abroad. It was crazy, but I was doing something that helped the Cuban people in the private sector while showing my guests the beauty and reality of this forgotten country.

I had accomplished exactly what I set out to do: create a business that would bring me to my favorite place while allowing me to help thousands. I never traveled to Cuba without carrying at least fifty pounds of supplies for friends and people I had never met. My clients truly immerse themselves in the Cuban community when they visit. I curate an experience that’s authentic and eye-opening. My guests have the opportunity to meet local economists, Olympic athletes, famous musicians, tobacco farmers, and more. They ride in vintage American cars and sip rum on the terrace of the Hotel Nacional. I design each trip based on my clients' wishes. Bespoke travel is something I truly enjoy curating. 

I’ve also been traveling to Morocco and India, where I’ve developed relationships with independent designers. I import beautiful, unique pieces for my clients. It’s a wonderful feeling to find a talented designer in a foreign country, build a relationship, and create something mutually beneficial. For me, this is the epitome of networking—discovering a unique, artisan-crafted piece, seeking out the designer, building a working relationship, promoting their designs, and providing clients with something truly special. It’s a process I love almost as much as traveling itself.

If you’d like to visit Cuba, reach out to me to plan your special trip. I am currently directing a documentary film about Cuban culture, and I’ve realized that giving the creative community of Cuba a much-needed voice is part of my purpose.

I’m telling you as a friend, a mom, and a global citizen: nothing is unattainable. Say yes. Take the trip. Start that new career. Have no regrets. Only we can fill the voids in our own hearts.

**PULLQUOTES**

“ I felt like I had discovered the meaning of life in a place where people take the time to look each other in the eye and connect over the most amazing coffee. “

“I curate an experience that’s authentic and eye-opening. My guests have the opportunity to meet local economists, Olympic athletes, famous musicians, tobacco farmers, and more. They ride in vintage American cars and sip rum on the terrace of the Hotel Nacional.”