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Psyche Southwell and Jance Chartae are multi-talented, trailblazing power women in fashion and business. Psyche Southwell, founder of Economy of Style, has been inspiring readers since 2007 with her fashion and style blog, all while building her skillset to become a solutions engineer in finance tech. Additionally, Jance Chartae launched The Boutique Academy in 2019, offering coaching for boutique owners, alongside running Brazen Boutique and a successful YouTube channel. Neither Chartae nor Southwell are bound by a single topic or discipline as they have adapted to the digital landscape and marketplace. With their fusion of technology and fashion, they are inspirations to current and upcoming Black designers, CEOs, and style icons. Through their respective lines of work, they have established a precedent for the future of fashion, style, and business. This opportunity has provided me insight into the impact of power on women.
These women not only spark change for future generations but also reaffirm a power that has often gone unrecognized in the fashion industry for Black individuals. For Southwell and Chartae, the fashion world is theirs to transform.
Southwell and Chartae are two dynamic voices reshaping the intersections of fashion, business, and digital media. Southwell’s blog grew a “grassroots digital community,” aimed at helping women discover their style in a budget-conscious way. Underrepresented people in fashion and style—such as Black women with natural hair, five-foot-four Black women, and other “real bodies”—could see themselves reflected in her work. She transformed a “side hobby” into a “side hustle” after winning Redbook Magazine’s 2015 contest, which landed her on the cover and opened new opportunities. By 2020, seeking to build on her initial interest in tech, she transitioned into the field by enrolling in a coding boot camp to develop foundational skills in HTML and digital media. Now a solutions engineer in finance tech, Southwell continues to solve problems and empower technology companies.
Chartae complements Southwell’s problem-solving mission and voice, through her coaching business, The Boutique Academy. Through her coaching platform and Brazen Boutique, Chartae showcases stylish, functional fashion while fostering a supportive community for women entrepreneurs. Her use of data, personal anecdotes, and video testimonials bridges the gap between inspiration and achievable success, helping women see their goals within reach. Chartae is also rolling out videos on her YouTube channel, serving as a free, accessible resource for aspiring boutique owners, blending industry insights with her real-life experiences. Popular videos like Where Does Fashion Nova Buy Their Clothes? and I Made $10,000 in One Day | Day in the Life of a Boutique Owner, have gained over 100,000 views each. Through building their own brands and skill sets and using their dynamic voices, Chartae and Southwell inspire and empower both emerging and established Black creators and leaders in fashion and entrepreneurship.
Southwell and Chartae share unstoppable visions, each bringing a unique approach to empowering others while building their paths to success. For Southwell, the mission begins with “cementing our presence in this industry,” a goal that reflects her belief in the transformative role Black women content creators have played in building online communities. As someone who has transitioned into tech, she also emphasizes the importance of representation: “Who’s making the decisions about the tools we use every day?” she asks, encouraging others who look like her to enter the field. For Southwell, the path forward involves building skill sets, taking risks, and embracing the learning process: “You will fail at some things; that doesn’t mean it’s a loss. Try to bloom wherever you are planted now.”
Chartae’s mission, as stated on her website, is to help as many women as possible succeed, reducing mistakes and accelerating their timelines to success. Using technology and social media as powerful tools to share knowledge and inspire others, she embraces the digital landscape to accelerate business growth and development. These two women’s stories and work open doors for others, offering a model of courage, community, and forward-thinking leadership. Lastly, the future, and in regards to fashion style and design, it is in good hands. Redefining the future of fashion by blending their expertise in digital media, tech, and personal style to create impactful platforms that resonate with diverse audiences. “You build trust and you remain consistent,” said Southwell. As a regular host of “Tech Talk” on KMOV St. Louis, she can bring her tech knowledge to a wider audience. While she focuses on tech, style is a powerful tool of expression and is foundational to her upbringing. Taught by her mother and grandmother, Southwell believes that “style says something about how you think and how you think about the world.” She recognizes the importance and challenges of being a Black woman in predominantly white spaces, ensuring that her style communicates the messages she wants to convey. “My style choices reflect the life I am living now,” she said, emphasizing that fashion is not trivial—it’s an expression of confidence, identity, and culture. Through experimentation, Southwell believes, anyone can discover what truly resonates with them: “It’s almost impossible not to feel your best self when you’ve created and put on an outfit fit to your style.”
Similarly, Chartae is reshaping fashion’s future by prioritizing representation, accessibility, and empowerment. The power of visibility and representation of Black women in various industries can leave a lasting impact on audience members. As a business owner and digital content creator, Chartae connects with her audience on a personal level, making her brand more accessible. Her ability to offer free, valuable resources has been praised by others in the industry, such as Rebeca Vargas, who highlighted Chartae’s open access to guidance. Her leverage of digital tools levels the playing field offering opportunities to those who have often been underrepresented and undersupported. Chartae is a trailblazer who continues to open doors for emerging voices, ensuring that fashion and entrepreneurship are accessible to all. Southwell and Chartae are examples for a future of the global fashion industry that can be authentic, equitable, and multidisciplinary.
Southwell and Chartae’s experiences remind us that true power is not beyond optimism in the face of adversity and hardship. While that’s still important, true power is about staying grounded and intentional, carrying out your vision with confidence, even when the odds are stacked against you. These two women are deliberate, authentic, and committed to their craft. In doing so, they provide a blueprint for the new wave of designers who will carry this torch forward. Through their work, Southwell and Chartae have laid the foundation for a future where Black people in fashion are not just seen but heard. At Advisor. We aim to elevate Black voices in both fashion and design, and the work of Southwell and Chartae is a clear testament to the efforts that are being made within the industry.
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