Carol Davidson helps clients create a life that feels as good as it looks.

Growing up everyone looked pretty much the same — except for me. My unconventional style, my spirited curly hair, and my sensitive nature left me looking and feeling distinctly different. I spent much of my early life trying to fit in.  

As a result, learned to play it safe.

I focused on pleasing others. My decisions, both large and small, were driven by what I thought I was “supposed” to do and who I thought I “should” be.

For many years, I ignored the allure of the fashion industry and opted for the tried-and-true business track. Yet as I climbed the corporate ladder, I discovered there was no room for my warm and cuddly persona. Unwilling to alter my demeanor, I went to work on the one thing I could finesse: the image I projected.

Subtle tweaks, sizable results.

I began to use my wardrobe as a tool to communicate my best qualities – my business acumen, quick mind, and keen sense of people. I got results and I got rewarded. At just 5’2”, I somehow stood taller.

I soon became the Director of Corporate Sales for Zagat and was living what most had considered a pretty enviable professional life—eating out 5 nights a week, meeting interesting people, and making incredible money. It was satisfying, at first. But over time, something still felt off. 

A pivotal turning point.

One morning on the treadmill, I watched in awe as a woman was being interviewed about her career as an image consultant. It stopped me in my tracks. At that “aha” moment, I realized that this was the work I was truly meant to do. I had already been doing it successfully for myself my entire adult life…I wanted to help others do the same. 

And so, a business was born. 

In 1999, I started my own image consulting company, StyleWorks of Union Square Inc. I quickly grew a roster of clients who sought a balance of style and ease in their lives. 

As I watched my clients transform from the inside out, I realized it was about so much more than the new dress or the perfect shoes — it was about walking powerfully in them. 

Coaching beyond the closet.

The results of enhancing my image went far beyond my wardrobe. They shifted how I felt about myself, how I showed up in every interaction, and how I created the chapters of my life that followed. Playing it safe was no longer an option.

My mission became to help clients discover that same freedom and empowerment so they could experience life on their own terms. So, in 2016, I rebranded as Carol Davidson Inc. – Life. Style. Strategy, with an emphasis on bringing a more holistic approach to my work. It’s been thrilling to see such widespread growth from clients in both their personal and professional lives.