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GRAVITAS MAGAZINE GravitasMag.com | 53 Brenda Michel Co-Owner, e Met Fashion House, Day Spa & Salon St. Armands Circle Brenda, as one would imagine, has exquisite style. As the creative force behind e Met Fashion House on St. Armand's Circle one would expect no less. In 2001, she and her husband, Geoffrey, began their journey to create a world- class shopping experience in Sarasota. Two children and many seasons later, they have created a brand that has come to define her family. Since her first sales job at the former Jacobson's department stores in Michigan and Columbus, Ohio, Michel has been keenly aware of fashion and its impact on men and women. As she learned design concepts, she also developed an appreciation for fabrication in terms of what feels and looks good to a high-end clientele. With her fit frame and strik ing good looks, Michel oen wears classic and sophisticated styles updated with bold prints and must-have trends. A self-described "numbers girl," she says she learned accounting and finance work ing in her father's company, growing up in Michigan. A rmed with a sav v y business sense, a background in marketing and communications and a strong sense of style, Michel has perfected the personal lu xur y shopping experience for her customers at e Met Fashion House. As an entrepreneur and work ing mother, she and Geoffrey are the proud parents of daughter, Ava, 12, and son, Saw yer, 10. In this GV ITAS inter view, Michel talks about work ing alongside her husband and how she balances work, family and fashion. What makes e Met Fashion House attractive to shoppers in Sarasota? What woman doesn't love fashion? I think the way that I create for the store and what I select makes us different. We have multi-generational customers, so I have to buy something that fits ever ybody. I love when I can find a line like DV F, Helmut Lang , or Rag and Bone. ere are pieces from each of those collections that can resonate with someone in their 20s or 60s. e customer ser vice that we offer is the reason people keep coming back, along with our k nowledgeable staff and special selections. People like the level of taste in the designers that we've brought in. Plus, they can come in, get a lae, and have a conversation. We have a couple that come here twice a year who tell us, "We always wait to do our shopping here because we love your store." How would you describe your own fashion style? I always maintain an updated classic look. I love prints and trends, but I tr y to represent them in a more sophisticated way. Continued page 54 Visit GravitasMag.com to hear the full interview embedded into the digital edition.

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