Ranked number one on the 2016 Forbes List of Best Places for business and careers, it’s no wonder that people flock to Bend to start new lives, careers and small businesses. Our little mountain town not only has high job growth and employment statistics, we’re a haven for outdoor sports, recreation, and of course, beer!

Four sister entrepreneurs highlight our cover story, all who’ve relocated and started companies in Bend for these very reasons. From personalized fashion to art to interior decorating to skin care, these entrepreneurs are passionate about what they do and how they do it. It’s a sister thing!

JAX DOLEZAL AND GWEN DUKE

STYLE IQ
Styl-IQ.com

It’s obvious from looking at their website that sisters Gwen and Jax have amazing style. It’s sleek, colorful, and immediately introduces you to their brand. Style IQ offers everything from a complete closet overhaul to shopping, packing, home party decor and decluttering. Above all, the business is about boosting personal confidence and peace of mind. Follow their tagline—Look Smart, Live Smart!

FASHION & STYLING BACKGROUND

As the youngest of six girls in our family, I was exposed early on to the world of fashion. Each one of my sisters has their own unique style with incredible taste in clothing and accessories. That was a great start! I, then, had the good fortune to later travel the world and hone my own sense of style. I modeled in lots of exotic places, managed various clothing stores and according to life-long friends, I’ve been dressing them forever! I think my styling background is just in my DNA. I’m not sure any amount of schooling would have been as valuable. —Jax

INSPIRATION FOR STYLE IQ

That’s an easy question! We love to help women and men feel amazing about themselves. Because, when you feel great about how you look, it changes you from the outside in. Before Style IQ was born, I would pass people on the street and think to myself, “Gosh, if she/he would have only done this or that to their outfit they would look so much better!” For the longest time, I felt like I was just being judgmental until the day a friend asked me if I would sort through her closet with her and help dress her. I realized then that my motivation wasn’t that I was being critical, but that I am driven to help people look their best—and that I was born to do this! That moment, and others like it, was my inspiration to start my personal stylist business, which I launched as Style IQ.

We are passionate about showing people—on any budget—how to put their best self forward. I love that you don’t have to be rich or famous to dress well! Although I love fashion, my business is about choosing styles that compliment your body type and wearing clothes that fit into your everyday lifestyle. —Jax

WORKING TOGETHER

Gwen and I are best friends. One of my best days ever was when my sister Gwen moved to Bend from Seattle nearly three years ago! We immediately knew that we would be in business together. Not only does Gwen have a keen eye for what works in fashion, she has an unbelievable sense of how to look at a closet, office or kitchen, take a person’s lifestyle into consideration, and then arrange it all to make life work peacefully and with ease. So, it was a natural evolution for us to expand the personal styling business to include home organization and restyling your home with what you own.

These days, when we start with a woman’s closet, we usually end up working with the husband’s wardrobe—and now we even finish up with styling the whole house. —Jax