We speak to the stylish mother-to-be about her new personal styling business and why she wholeheartedly believes in approaching life one day at a time

Sena Wakabayashi is a force to be reckoned in the style stakes, she's earned a reputation for her effortless and impeccable personal style—a prime example is her interesting choice of shoes at her wedding. Despite the blazing Bali sun, Sena wore a pair of custom Noritaka Tatehana boots, those familiar with Lady Gaga will remember the sky-high boots she wore for a period of time. It's fair to say that Sena is in a league of her own when it comes to her personal style. 

The Japanese native launched her own branding and creative agency Essentials, and is set to introduce her own eponymous personal styling business this year. We spoke to Sena about her journey into motherhood and why discovering one’s personal style is often an intimate journey:


It was work that first brought me to Hong Kong through my branding agency, Essentials. The city provided a new dimension compared to what I was seeing in Tokyo, with a client base that was eager to communicate and lead the fashion and retail sector into new frontiers. But as the story goes, soon after moving here I fell in love! Hong Kong has quickly become home. 

Currently, I’m running two businesses my first is the aforementioned branding and design agency, Essentials, which I work on with my Japanese and Hong Kong teams who I trust entirely. The second is my personal styling and shopping business that is my primary focus which I’m currently developing and refining you can find more details at www.senawakabayashi.com.

My proudest accomplishment to date is my journey to motherhood, I look forward to all that the future holds for me.

Looking back I have no regrets however, there are many things that I have learned and am continuing to learn everyday that allows me to do things differently going forward. I believe that my ability to go with the flow and to let go of things that don’t stick has really helped me personally, to take one day at a time and not to overthink things, but to take it as it comes and most importantly, to have fun!

My husband is a source of inspiration for me, I think feeling loved and to love someone is such a powerful feeling that can create a sense of lightness, which allows some of my best and most inspired ideas to flourish. 

The best part about running your own business is the freedom to manage my own schedule and to be able to act on my own instincts and do things the way I like them. It also allows me to create a work culture that best benefits my team and to stay true to what we value.

My advice to budding entrepeneurs it to remember to think about what you can give, not what you can get. Don’t get too caught up on one thing, I have my best days when I approach situations with an open mind.

My end goal is to enjoy life, not to be too focused on my own personal goals but to be grateful and proud for all that I’ve done.

In ten years, I would love to continue exploring all the world can offer with my beautiful family.
My words to live by are simple, to quote Diana Vreeland: “There is only one really good life and that’s the life you know you want, and you make it for yourself.”


Find more information at senawakabayashi.com
Photography by King Fung