Alexis Stiles is used to sticking out. She does not try to blend her own style with that of the executives she advises. Instead, Stiles—a healthcare consultant at Spencer Stuart—wields her authority in sculptural Schiaparelli, fabulous Fendi, and bold Bottega Veneta.

“There’s always this part of me that would love to be described as chic, but I don’t think that’s the case,” she says with a laugh. “I’m not minimalist, but I’m not eclectic either. I’d rather have things that are unique, but uniquely elegant and interesting without being quirky.”

Stiles grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where “people dress for the weather, not for fashion.” After earning her MBA and MHSA at the University of Michigan, she moved to Philadelphia and New York City, where she discovered fashion, tailoring, and the power of a good stylist.

“I realized that fashion is a really interesting and fun way to express myself,” she says.

Now, she refuses to “tamp down” her personality for work and sees her clothes as armor.

“When you feel good about yourself, and you feel like you look good, it makes you more confident,” she explains. “People look at you a bit differently.”

Did you always have a strong sense of style?

I was an artistic kid growing up and had an interest in fashion, but I never felt it was for me—both because I was short and lived in Michigan. I played flute and danced ballet, and as I got older and spent less time on those things, I gravitated toward different ways to express myself. I find fashion to be wearable art, and that became where I put time and effort.

What is your first fashion memory?

The first piece of clothing I saved up for was a pair of jeans when I was in junior high school. They were baggy with pockets that folded down with snaps on them. But my first important fashion moment as an adult was buying my first Chanel jacket. I got it secondhand. It’s yellow with a white trim, tailored. I still have it, and it makes me happy every time I see it.

You partner with a Style Advisor at Neiman Marcus. How does that work?

We met during a Chanel luncheon in Paris. We were seated next to each other and just hit it off!

A lot is done during fashion week. We travel together to the shows in Paris and Milan, and we pick out pieces when we’re there. Because she’s in San Francisco, we also do a lot virtually, through text and email. I’ll find pieces, she’ll find pieces, we’ll talk about how to incorporate them into the wardrobe. She’s always on the hunt for things that are unique and different. We are similar sizes and have similar tastes, even though we have different lifestyles. And we’ll push each other.

Any advice for developing your own style?

Many women find shopping both a chore and frankly, overwhelming. There are so many choices and so many options, and it’s time consuming. So I would say: Find a stylist who can help hone your style. Take a half day and go shopping and have them pull a lot of things for you to try so you can understand what brands look good, what fabrics feel good, what looks good on your body, and kind of develop your own sense of things.

Style matters. You want to remember the impact that you can have, and I think you do that so much better if you feel confident in how you look.

RAQUEL LANERI is a New York–based journalist and editor whose work has appeared in various national publications.