Appearances matter to this Charlotte style maven

COURTESY KRYSTAL HALL

Krystal Hall (left), a personal stylist who owns Krys Stylez in Charlotte, carved a career that developed when she was a student at North Carolina A&T State University.

Krystal Hall transitioned her tomboy look for a chicer style in 2016, to prepare for a new life at North Carolina A&T State University.

Originally, the Charlotte entrepreneur drew inspiration from Seventeen magazine. Hall then got a new insight as to what fashion really is when she saw the styles of people she met from varying cities, states and countries. On the A&T campus, fashion is paramount, especially at GHOE, or Greatest Homecoming on Earth, also known as fashion week to students, faculty and alumni.

“At an HBCU it’s drip or drown,” said Mikayla Douglas, Hall’s college roommate and longtime close friend. It is like drip or drown at A&T, especially at GHOE, honey. GHOE is that event where if you are not on your game people will say something.”  

As students, Hall and Douglas contemplated how to make money to support themselves. Like many people in Gen Z, Hall aspired to be an entrepreneur. She wanted to indulge in something that brought pleasure, so she opened Krys Stylez LLC in 2018 – two years after Douglas suggested she’d be a good personalist stylist. The launch was just in time for GHOE.  

“If I helped someone else step out their comfort zone to become more confident that’s a job well done,” Hall said. “If I helped someone else learn to appreciate plus-sized bodies and people and just treat us like normal human beings without degrading us I’ve done my job.”  

Peers suspected Hall would open a boutique but that venture never appealed to her. It just made sense since she always made sure her friends were put together when they went out to parties, clubs, and on-campus events where they were sure to be seen.

“I’m an outgoing girl already and I’ve always loved to dress well and look good so I decided I may as well post my outfits and see where it goes and so far, so good,” Hall said.

Douglas noticed Hall’s fashion sense the day they moved in at A&T. “Oh, she is a fashionista for real,” Douglas recalled as Hall carried a bin of purses into her new home.

It didn’t take long for Douglas to ask Hall for guidance. She had not yet found her own fashion sense and going out with Hall in hoodies and sweatpants wasn’t going to cut it. Hall was happy to help.

Hall’s own personal fashion choices have evolved over the years. She can put together impeccable outfits in minutes now and often sources iconic celebrity looks from social media to revise into her own style. She once even put a client in a suite for the Met Gala.

According to Hall, there are three reasons someone may be stuck with developing a personal style: too much focus on trends, fear to go outside your comfort zone or you’re waiting to meet a physique goal before investing in a quality wardrobe.  

Krys Stylez helps clients declutter and reorganize closets to help them find their style. Douglas describes the experience as a fun time despite Hall asking hard questions like when last she wore the clothes she was hoarding in the closet.

According to Hall, everyone should start with basic staple pieces: A nice jacket and/or coat, comfortable shoes, jeans that hug just right – boyfriend jeans are a personal favorite, a versatile blazer and dress shoes that can be worn in and away from the office. Staples are often timeless and once you’ve built a foundation with them you can experiment and expand.

“Even now I still book with her, especially for special events,” Douglas said. “If I can’t find [anything], I book Krys Stylez. I need her.”

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