With two businesses and two kids to take care of, no one day is the same for the fashionable entrepreneur
How I’m Making It is a weekly series in which Tatler speaks to influential individuals about their unique journeys and what keeps them going.
“The biggest misconception is that my life is all glamour, exotic travels, and luxury fashion,” says Korean-American influencer Chriselle Lim, who first found a following over a decade ago by sharing tips on style and beauty through her blog and YouTube channel. “What people don’t see on social media are the long hours, demanding clients, and exhaustion that come with those perks.”
Indeed, the woman that Lim is today is not merely defined by the brilliant outfits that she puts together—which constantly land her on our best-dressed lists—but also by her tenacity and tenderness as a single mother, her sense of humour (have you seen her TikToks?), and her industriousness as a business leader.
Those long hours that Lim alludes to? They go largely into growing BümoWork—a communal workspace that she created for working parents and which comes complete with childcare services—and tapping onto her creativity as the owner of the fragrance brand, Phlur.
All of that happens while she supports her two young daughters—no easy task, especially for Lim, for whom motherhood took on a whole new dimension after her recent separation from her husband.
How does she find the time to do anything else? Below, the stylish and savvy entrepreneur shares with Tatler about how she juggles her many roles, her secrets to dealing with stress, and the importance of investing in yourself.
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What is a typical morning like for you?
Chriselle Lim (CL): Every day is different depending on what’s going on in my girls’ lives, what I have going on with work, and of course, the season (I travel a fair amount for Fashion Week). Once I became a mum, I became a morning person. I typically wake up around 5 am or 6 am as this is really the only time during the day I get time to myself; my daughters are still asleep and my emails haven’t quite started piling up. During these few hours, I either meditate and read or workout, usually on my Peloton bike. These few hours in the morning are precious to me and what gives me the strength to get through my hectic days.
Once my daughters wake up, our mornings consist of getting dressed and washed up, eating breakfast, and rushing out the door for our morning drop-off. Our drives are always fun as my girls always educating me on the latest and greatest songs. Currently their favourites are Old Town Road by Lil Nas X and How You Like That by Blackpink.
Once I drop the girls off, I typically grab coffee on the go and head to work, whether that is taking meetings at BümoWork, going to meet my business partner to discuss launch cadence for Phlur, or meeting my team to shoot content.
No one day is the same in my line of work and I love it.