The Life That Styled Me
“Style isn’t just what you wear. It’s how you live, love, and choose joy every day.”
The Years That
Shaped Me
Creativity runs through my family like a living thread. I grew up surrounded by business owners, cooks, decorators, designers, shoemakers, and self-taught artists—people who showed love through what they created with their hands and their hearts.
My father, Milton Stinson, a pioneer among Black business owners, was known as one of the best-dressed men in Chicago. My mother, Jean Harris Stinson, an educator, has always had a natural designer’s eye and a gift for making spaces feel intentional, welcoming, and warm.
That legacy of creativity and style continued all around me. My aunt Gloria Roberts was a hat designer. My cousin Toni Murray embodied effortless, iconic style through fashion, including Ebony Fashion Fair, and through home and lifestyle design.My uncle Charles Murray broke barriers as the first Black man at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Style found me early. Bullied for being different, I found comfort and confidence in fashion—coats, shoes, oversized sunglasses, and bold color. I played dress-up, curated outfits, and fell in love with chartreuse at age four. Style became my armor, my joy, and my voice.
THIS GROWN UP JOY
As an adult, I built a successful career in marketing while quietly living with high-functioning anxiety. In 2025, I chose myself—prioritizing emotional well-being and a gentler, more joyful way of living. That choice didn’t just change me. It made me a better friend, a more present daughter and sister, a more loving, grounded wife—and more purposeful in how I give back, especially to the kids and young adults in my life.
Today, my life is styled around simple rituals that bring calm, confidence, and joy—so I can show up fully for myself, for the people I love, and for the causes that matter most to me:
- Bold colors that lift my spirit
- Walking NYC with music in my ears
- Clean, peaceful spaces
- Celebrating small wins
- Practicing kindness, especially toward myself
- Dressing up—for me
- Supporting and investing in the kids and young adults in my life with intention
Life Styled By Syd isn’t therapy. It’s life styling—using fashion, environment, rituals, and mindset to support confidence, emotional balance, and self-expression. It’s about aging fabulously, honoring your story, and choosing joy without apology—while also using that joy to create impact beyond yourself.
This space exists to inspire people to live more colorfully, feel more grounded, and show up fully—at home, in their relationships, and in how they care for the next generation.
Cheers to life. Cheers to joy. Cheers to styling it your way.