August Member Monday Recap
Meet Kimberly O. Milstein of TASSLEY
Hi! I’m Kimberley O. Milstein, Co-Founder and Creative Director of TASSLEY, a luxury resort and lifestyle apparel brand inspired by the timeless symbolism of the tassel. With a background in fashion merchandising and design and more than 25 years in the fashion industry, I’ve had the privilege of working as a designer, entrepreneur, and print model.
Together with my business partner, Jennifer Adams, we created TASSLEY to celebrate women through thoughtfully designed clothing that blends timeless elegance, performance fabrics, and meaningful storytelling. Every collection is designed to help women celebrate life’s special moments with confidence, beauty, and purpose.
Why did you join TSC Membership?
I joined The Southern C because I believe relationships are one of the greatest investments we can make in business. As a new brand, I wanted to become part of a community of creative, supportive entrepreneurs who genuinely want to see one another succeed.
The Southern C isn’t just about networking—it’s about learning, collaborating, encouraging one another, and building lasting friendships. Being surrounded by women who inspire and challenge each other is incredibly motivating, and I’m grateful to be part of that community.
What is a favorite small business you like to shop or support?
I love supporting independent businesses because every purchase helps someone’s dream continue to grow.
Whether it’s a neighborhood boutique, an artisan maker, a local coffee shop, an interior designer, or a family-owned restaurant, I believe small businesses bring character and heart to our communities. I especially enjoy discovering unique boutiques while traveling, particularly in Palm Beach, Naples, Chagrin Falls, and other charming towns where creativity and personal service truly shine.
Where do you go to get your inspiration now?
Inspiration is everywhere.
I find it while traveling, walking through beautiful gardens, exploring historic architecture, visiting museums and antique shops, and spending time around the equestrian lifestyle. I’m especially drawn to chinoiserie, Palm Beach style, timeless resort living, and meaningful symbols that tell a story.
At TASSLEY, we believe clothing should do more than simply look beautiful—it should make women feel confident, joyful, and ready to celebrate life.
What is the best business advice you have ever given or received?
The best advice I’ve ever received is “No risk, no reward.”
Every meaningful opportunity in my career has come from stepping outside my comfort zone. Whether introducing myself to someone new, attending an event where I knew no one, or launching a new collection, growth has always required taking a chance.
I would add one more piece of advice: keep showing up. Success rarely happens overnight. It comes from perseverance, building authentic relationships, staying true to your vision, and continuing forward—even when the path isn’t perfectly clear.
Meet Amy Mezzanotte, REALTOR®
Hi! I’m Amy Mezzanotte, a REALTOR®, wife, mom, and lifestyle content creator living on the Intracoastal Waterway in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. I’ve been helping buyers and sellers navigate the real estate market since 2002, combining over two decades of experience with a passion for exceptional service and meaningful relationships. After earning my degree in Business and Economics from Pfeiffer University and completing my MBA, I’ve built my business on communication, integrity, and helping people feel confident throughout the buying and selling process.
Outside of real estate, you’ll usually find me creating content that celebrates coastal living, entertaining, home design, and the simple moments that make a house feel like home. Whether I’m boating to Bald Head Island, antiquing, or spending time with my family, I love sharing a lifestyle that’s both beautiful and intentional.
Why did you join TSC Membership?
I joined The Southern C because I love connecting with creative, like-minded entrepreneurs who believe in supporting one another. As both a REALTOR® and content creator, I appreciate being part of a community that values authentic relationships, collaboration, and celebrating the businesses and people behind great brands. The connections and inspiration I’ve found through TSC have been invaluable.
What is a favorite small business you like to shop or support?
One of my favorite things to do is support local businesses throughout coastal North Carolina. From charming boutiques and antique shops to locally owned coffee shops, restaurants, and home décor stores, I love discovering the people and stories that make our community so special. Shopping local not only strengthens our communities but also creates the unique character that makes a place feel like home.
Where do you go to get your inspiration now?
I find inspiration in everyday life. Living on the coast reminds me to slow down and appreciate the beauty in the little things. Whether it’s a walk by the water, traveling, exploring beautifully designed homes, or connecting with creative entrepreneurs, I’m constantly inspired by people who build businesses with intention and authenticity. My family and clients inspire me daily to create a life and business rooted in purpose.
What is the best business advice you have ever given or received?
The best business advice I’ve ever received is to always put principles before personalities. Staying grounded in your values—integrity, honesty, respect, and doing the right thing—is far more important than reacting to emotions or circumstances. That mindset has shaped both my business and my personal life.
I also believe that people may forget what you said, but they’ll never forget how you made them feel. When you lead with kindness, consistency, and genuine care for others, relationships naturally become the foundation of your success. In real estate and in life, trust is earned one interaction at a time, and putting people first will always be the best investment you can make.
Meet Ally May Taylor of ALLY+SETH
I’ve always been drawn to beautiful places and good stories. Old houses, books, gardens, hotels, and antique markets all have something in common. They make you curious about the people who came before you. These days, I’m fortunate to spend my time building ALLY+SETH, traveling whenever I can, and trying to leave every room I walk into just a little more beautiful. I’m also married to the kindest man I know, Kimbrough, stepmom to two wonderful daughters, and hopelessly devoted to our miniature poodle, Edward.
https://www.sothebysrealty.com/
Why did you join TSC Membership?
I’d been hearing about The Southern C for years from women whose taste and opinions I trusted. Eventually, I realized I should stop admiring the party from outside and walk in. I’m really glad I did.
What is a favorite small business you like to shop or support?
Scotts Antique Market is a dangerous place for someone who believes every object deserves a second chance. I recently spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to justify buying a Turkish teapot, despite having absolutely nowhere to put it. Honestly…I should probably go back.
Where do you go to get your inspiration now?
I’m inspired by beauty in ordinary places. A perfectly lit room, an old house with good bones, a favorite book, or a quiet afternoon by the river. It doesn’t take much to make me happy, but 2,700 Kelvin certainly helps.
What is the best business advice you have ever given or received?
“You are the average of the people you spend the most time with.”
Meet Luisa Rangel de Alba of Fait à Main Studio
I’m the founder of Fait à Main Studio, a Houston-based atelier where we hand-paint mahjong mats, craft custom leather goods, and create bespoke needlepoint and accessories. I trained in textile design across Mexico City, Florence, Milan, and San Francisco, and later mastered marquage — the art of precision hand-painting — at Goyard. Fait à Main is where that French artisan tradition meets my Texas roots.
https://www.fait-a-main.com/
Why did you join TSC Membership?
I joined TSC because I wanted to be part of a community of women who understand what it’s like to build something from the ground up. I’m still new, but I’ve already loved getting to know other women in similar spaces and starting to build real relationships, not just networking, but the beginning of what feels like genuine community. I love the way TSC connects people that way.
What is a favorite small business you like to shop or support?
I love supporting small businesses; I admire Tigre de Tartan and Blue Canary Canvas, along with Houston favorites Little Coterie and Howdy Honey. There’s something special about championing other makers and entrepreneurs building their dreams, wherever they’re rooted.
Where do you go to get your inspiration now?
These days, my inspiration comes from close to home, my family heritage, my children, and Paris, where my daughter lives. My travels play a role too; a recent trip to Seville left a real mark on me. There’s something grounding about pulling from the people and places that shaped me, and it constantly reminds me why I do this work: to create something lasting, the way it was always done, by hand and with heart.
What is the best business advice you have ever given or received?
The best advice I hold onto is simple: just keep trying, and don’t be afraid, even when it feels difficult. Show who you truly are, and keep your creativity and connections alive. That’s really what’s carried me through building Fait à Main: staying true to the craft and the relationships along the way.
Meet Mary Jo Riddle of MJC Designs
Founded by Atlanta-based creative director Mary Jo Riddle, MJC Designs is a lifestyle brand rooted in international travel, artisan craft, and a lifelong obsession with finding the beautiful and the unexpected. Her jewelry design is unique, and her repurposed designer resort wear and curated bags are a favorite find, brought home or redesigned by inspiration from MJ’s travels.
https://www.mjcdesignsandfinds.com/
Why did you join TSC Membership?
I joined The Southern C to enhance my knowledge of starting a new business and found the community to be a great place to network. Part of The Southern C introduced me to other members who have helped me develop my business. I bought a sprinter van from another member, Morgan Hutchison of BURU and hired Carolyn Sutton as my PR and Marketing person from a Zoom call. Every touchpoint of The Southern C is helping to grow my business and networking with other members is the best.
What is a favorite small business you like to shop or support?
I love Atlanta-based BD Jefferies and Rebecca’s, also, Cloth and Label in St. Simons. They have all carried my necklaces and bags and they are fabulous boutiques!
Where do you go to get your inspiration now?
MJ’s journey into design began long before MJC Designs had a name. Drawn to fabric and textiles from an early age, she studied Fashion Merchandising and Communications – always with an eye for what was beautiful, original, and worth keeping. Shopping in various countries gave her a taste of the buying world: the trade shows, the artisans, the thrill of finding something no one else had found.
MJ’s first collection debuted by sourcing vintage luxury-brand towels and turning them into resort wear and accessories. From there, she went on buying trips and began sourcing items that were not easily found in local boutiques in the cities she traveled to.
Today, MJC Designs offers jewelry, resort wear, bags, and designs one-of-a-kind pieces, each selected with the same instinct that started it all: if MJ hasn’t fallen in love with it first, it doesn’t come home. The coverup line grew from a simple observation: that a beautiful, chic layer transforms the entire experience of being at the beach, by the pool, or at lunch, and has since become as much a signature as the bone and horn heart pieces that started it all.
The world of MJC Designs is inspired by movement: the light of Greece, the markets of Italy, the showrooms of South America. It is a brand for the woman who knows what she likes, and who walks into a room with confidence. Each piece is a story. Each collection is a journey. And every find is, above all, a favorite.
What is the best business advice you have ever given or received?
Don’t wait until everything is perfect, just start, keep showing up and let your business grow as you learn.
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