From Shelter to Style: The Story Behind Agnes Who Styling

Written by Shanyn McConnell

Not too long ago, I worked in the heart of Brisbane with families experiencing homelessness—hearing stories that cracked my heart wide open. Amid the chaos and crisis, something beautiful would happen: a fresh outfit, a little lipstick, a simple haircut. The moment someone caught their reflection and smiled? That feeling was electric. It didn’t erase their circumstances, but for a moment, they felt seen. They felt alive.

That’s where my journey started. Not in a glossy showroom, but in makeshift shelters, watching how a change of clothes could ignite hope.

I didn’t pivot into personal styling because I loved clothes—though, let’s be honest, I do love clothes. I changed careers because I saw firsthand the power of personal presentation. How style can shift energy, build confidence, open doors.

Today, as the founder of Agnes Who Styling, I help women reconnect with themselves. I guide them to step into the version of themselves they’ve always wanted to see in the mirror—whether they’re a busy mum, in a career transition, or simply ready for a wardrobe that says this is me now.

It’s not just fashion—it’s transformation.

Because I’ve witnessed it before: when someone sees what’s possible—even if it starts with a jacket and a bold lip—it plants a seed. It’s what makes this job so personal. So powerful.

Style has always been about more than what we wear. It’s about identity. Confidence. Starting again.

And helping people start again? That’s where my story began—helping you feel like you again, one outfit at a time