Stylishly Stella is the Fashion Inspo We All Need Right Now

This Manhattan mom and fashion blogger will reignite your excitement for fashion so you're runway ready when New York reopens.

By Stella Leo May 15, 2020

You may find it difficult to find the motivation to be 'fashionable' right now (or even to get out of your sweatpants). One day, we'll all be returning to some version of our everyday lives, and while it may seem far away, one day we'll be social again. That's why we love Manhattan mom and fashion blogger Stylishly Stella. She is the fashion inspiration we all need right now to get excited about social interactions down the road and remind us how good it feels to swap those sweatpants and old t-shirt for a cute pair of jeans and stilettos.

Stella Leo is a Manhattan mom who celebrates the everyday in a stylish way. The Ivy League graduate is the brains behind the lifeSTYLE blog, Stylishly Stella, which offers advice and fashion inspiration, party planning, travel, artsy adventures, décor, and more. She has also covered New York, Dubai, and Los Angeles fashion weeks, kids fashion week, and InStyle Magazine's Summer Social, as well as numerous celebrity events in NYC. She was named as a top blogger by Children's Club and MomTrends, and featured on Good Day New York, NY Post, Beyond Mom, TableVogue, Transform, and others. After giving up an executive career in international branding and PR, she became a stay-at-home mom to a mini-fashionista, who now serves as a brand rep for Guess Kids, True Religion, and Lee Jeans, among others. It’s probably no surprise that Leo also organizes the most fashion-forward mommy and me playdates Manhattan has ever seen.

Why follow Stylishly Stella? She not only has the style thing covered, she’s got the smarts to make us want to follow her every move.

Blog | stylishlystella.com
Instagram | @Stylishlystella • @fab_kids

What is a typical day for you?

Every day tends to be a little different because I don’t have a daily 9-5. My daily schedule depends on the blogger events, meetings, meet-ups, my travel schedule, and my daughter’s schedule. But every day, I respond to brand pitches, review contracts, negotiate rates and proactively pitch new brands. And every day I spend some time working on photos, social media, and the blog. (This includes researching locations, planning and coordinating outfits, working out schedules, editing photos, crafting the perfect caption, and writing blog posts.)

Of course, there are the daily mom duties too. I’m constantly hosting playdates…did you know I sometimes host sponsored “posh playdates”? Everything is highly stylized; there are giveaways and décor items from sponsors, and the cutest Instagram-able pictures!

Additionally, once a month at least, I try to learn something new for my business whether it’s learning a helpful app for bloggers, figuring out new photo editing software, or learning from my Instagram analytics. We travel a couple times each season, so sometimes researching, pitching hotels and entertainment, or simply packing and unpacking fills my free time. Once or preferably twice a week, I’ll try and find time to work out or hang with girlfriends now that my child is school-aged. Sometimes, I’ll combine both and get to workout with a friend (double-check!)

What do you think is a parent’s hardest job?

Trying to maintain a balance of being able to do everything for your child while trying to work on a side hustle. I take on a lot and my to-do list sometimes feels endless. If only there was more time, I constantly think!

What’s your favorite place in the New York City area to bring your kids?

We love the beautiful Battery Park City area. The tree-lined pathways facing the Hudson River are gorgeous at sunset. Our favorite neighborhood playgrounds are there. And Brookfield Place offers great eats, live music, and boardgames in the summer; and ice-skating and yummy hot chocolate in the winter!

What is the best thing about raising kids in the New York City area?

Having a family in Manhattan definitely has its challenges, but we love it here because it’s brimming with so many new things to do, see, eat, and try that we never get bored. Plus, as a blogger-mom, my child gets to attend movie premiers, pop-up previews, special toy events, and fun product launches. Our weeks are filled with so much revolving art, culture, and family-friendly activities that there is constantly something to look forward to.