McKenna Wesley I Contributing Writer STYLE UNLOCKED {living fashionably} RESCUE AND REPAIR Risa Kostis curates kits for life’s little emergencies Photos by Jillian Rivera Photography I recently spent the day with Risa Kostis, who is not only warm and beautiful, she is one smart woman. She’s an entrepreneur, author, stylist and philanthropist — she’s chairing the Valley Youth Theatre VYTal Affair-athon in August. Born in Maine, Risa grew up watching her mother sew, which led to a love of all things fashion. “I feel like I was infused with the fashion gene from the time I was born,” she said. “I used to lock my closet so my sisters wouldn’t steal my clothes and always experimented with bizarre styling techniques from about the age of 10.” After stints doing hair and makeup for brides, working for a handbag and shoe designer and being in-house public relations director at Prairie New York, she took what she considered her best skills and launched RISTYLE Consulting in 2014. MAY/JUNE 2021 | 42 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA

“ Fashion to me means celebrating yourself and your own vision, no matter the path or the trend,” said Risa Kostis, shown here, along with the Rescue Kits she created with her sister, Jess. FRONTDOORS MEDIA | 43 | MAY/JUNE 2021