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a profile in shoptalk
magazine
There is
absolutely no doubt that Darlene Oliver is an astute ambitious woman who knows precisely
what's he wants out of life.
Oliver, a stylist at Natural Motions in Washington, D.C., gave up
a budding career in law to become a stylist because, in her own words, "I discovered
I just wasn't a blue-suiter." |
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Darlene is a 1974 graduate of Federal City College (now the University of the District of
Columbia) who was in her second year of law school at Antioch Law School before deciding
on a very important career change.
"I have invested a lot of time and money in law school so this certainly
wasn't an overnight decision," Oliver says. "But at law school, the life
was so rigid, and it got more so everyday. I always had an interest in
hairstyling. I thought of it as an endeavor that would allow me to express new
ideas, I wanted a career that would let me explore and expand my creative side."
Darlene attended the Robert Lewis School of Beauty in Washington,
DC and graduate in 1979. Not long after, she began working at Natural Motions.
"I've never worked anywhere else," she says. "When you find a
place that satisfies you, why leave? Actually, I knew about Natural Motions while I
was still in beauty school. I had a friend who worked there so I just followed her
towork one day and observed. I liked what I saw instantly. A few days later, I
started as a shampooist."
What Darlene likes about Natural Motions is that the salon
appeals to her philosophy about the importance of basic services. "The
ambiance of a salon is always important. There must be harmony among the staff and
trust among the clients. I saw that here."
Oliver says that the bulk of her clientele consists of women who
are climbing the ladder of success. "That what I'm doing; I can immediately
identify with them and they with me. Their desires are basically my desires, and
that, plus the fact that they know I'm giving them the best possible service, inspires
trust. My clients know that I am not going to recommend a color on hairstyle unless
I've given it lots of thought."
Lately, Darlene has been giving lots of thought to her
future. Contrary to the goals of many stylists, Oliver is not interested in owning
her a solo of her own some day. "There are already so many good salons,"
Darlene says. "I'm more interested in launching a really good publication
devoted to this business. I would also like to establish an agency to represent
make-up artists, fashion designers, fashion photographers and the many other professionals
who contribute to the fashion and beauty industry every day."
Perhaps, when Darlene Oliver launches her new buisness, she'll be
able to fall back on some of her knowledge and training from her days in law school.S.G.
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66/SHOPTALK/FEBRUARY/MARCH JOURNAL 1990 |
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