Dear Teenage Me: You Were Onto Something

16 years ago, at the age of 17 (I've been a business owner for HALF of my life), I wrote the website copy for my first business - an online store selling kitschy juniors fashion.

Reading it now feels like stepping into a time capsule (I'm trying not to cringe but I'm still proud of my younger self - she was a freaking TEEN, after all). My words reveal just how deeply my beliefs, passions, and creative vision have remained the same, even as I’ve evolved.

The opening words of my About Page were drenched in whimsy, self-discovery, and rebellion.

"She was walking barefoot, staring up at the sun because it was the only star large enough to contain all of her wishes. Oblivious to her surroundings, she wandered into a forest where magical creatures watch from the shadows and mysteries reveal themselves if you stay long enough. She found herself on a pathway lined with doors, dressers, and armoires which in turn were filled with the clothing and accessories of her dreams. This pathway is Ambry Lane, and this is where you find yourself."

I envisioned a world that felt like a mix between Wonderland and Narnia. Something magical. Something a little odd, too. But ultimately, I wanted it to be a place where you could explore who you truly were.

I didn’t just want my customers to buy something. I wanted them to feel something. I wanted them to step into a world that I built, one that resonated with who they were or who they wanted to become.

Back then, I didn't have any training and the extent of my education came in the form of books I checked out from the library. But even then, I wasn’t just picking products and throwing them up on my site. I was building a brand that had a soul, a story, and an entire atmosphere.

I was creating experiences. I can see how much that vision has carried into everything I do today.

My About Page continued...

"Ambry Lane was created by a girl who refused to live within the boundaries set for her. Now, I'm here to tell you to immerse yourself into your wildest dreams, and that it's okay to make all the wishes you want. This is about embracing imperfections, loving yourself, and living life to the fullest. This is for the girls who refuse to put a label on their style, because it's just as unique as they are. This is for the girls who refuse to be anything other than themselves. This is for YOU."

Creating Immersive Worlds Through Branding

The essence of my first brand was about discovering something magical, a world where fashion wasn’t just about wearing clothes but about stepping into a version of yourself that felt like the real you. That immersive, almost cinematic approach is still at the core of how I work today! I create experiences that transport people, making them feel like they’ve found something meant just for them.

Defying Labels and Encouraging Self-Expression

I wrote, "This is for the girls who refuse to put a label on their style, because it's just as unique as they are. This is for the girls who refuse to be anything other than themselves." That belief still drives me to this day! Everything I create is about embracing individuality without people pleasing and without constraint.

A Love for the Strange and Enchanted

The imagery of mystical forests and hidden doorways in my early brand copy is something I never outgrew. My work has become darker, more refined, and infused with gothic and fantasy aesthetics, BUT the soul of it is the same. I’m still drawn to the mysterious, the rebellious, and the beautifully strange... and now I create for people who feel that same pull.

My Vision & Mission Has Never Changed

My purpose has always been the same: helping people rediscover and reconnect with their truest selves. My first business encouraged people to dream without limits and embrace their weirdness. Today, I do that through branding. I do it through experiences and storytelling. That first business is long gone but my mission is not. It's still as alive and stubborn as ever.

My current brand, Muse & Misfit, is the most refined version of this vision yet. It still holds that same sense of magic, self-expression, and storytelling, but now it’s backed by years of experience and a deep understanding of what makes brands truly unforgettable.

And I endeavor to bring this same magic to every brand I work with!!

Because it's not just about cool visuals - it's about creating with our dark little hearts, spreading the messages that are alight in our blood, and giving people experiences that keep them coming back for more!!

That first business of mine evolved as I did, eventually selling fashion that felt very Tumblr-coded, before I gave it an edgy rebrand.

From there, I opened more businesses and would eventually open another clothing store a decade later.

But the craziest part about all of it? I didn't have any design skills back then! I had to hire people to design things for me, until I eventually started dabbling in Microsoft Paint!! Yep, good ol' Paint. Oh how things have changed...

Somethings haven't changed though - I'm still walking that path in my mind...the one lined with doors. And each door has become a portal. You never know where I'll go next!

Want me to create a brand that feels like stepping into another world?

I'm currently booking!

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