Interview with Moonlit Finerie Founder, Lynn Ann Carley

What led you to start Moonlit Finerie?

I want to make women feel beautiful and inspired. I have been interested in fashion design since I was 16 years old, but decided to become an engineer instead of following my passion. It was the right decision at the time, but my desire to be part of the fashion industry never really faded.

I have always been intrigued by those "it" pieces — clothing, shoes, and handbags that make you feel amazing when you wear them. When I was working as a consultant, I had a favorite black suit, Christian Louboutin shoes, and Prada purse. Every time I put on that outfit, I felt like I owned the world. I walked out of my house with confidence, and walked into my meetings ready to make a difference.

I realized that I could create those "it" pieces that make people feel good about themselves and inspire them to do big things. Thus, a brand was born!

What has been your biggest learning since starting your company?

I have learned that the biggest hurdle I have to overcome is myself. Our minds create obstacles through fear: fear of failure, fear of embarrassment, fear of success, fear of losing money, fear of vulnerability. Some of these fears are legitimate, but many of these are not.  

Gratitude meditation is important to me. The act of quieting my mind allows me to distinguish between feelings of fear, and actual signs — for example, that I need to do more research to make a calculated business decision.

I remind myself that 20 years from now, I will not regret the vulnerability of showing my designs to others who do not like them, or my having failed at a business venture. But I will definitely regret never trying to make this lifelong dream come true.

What was your first job?

My first job was working a phone bank, cold-calling people to see if they would purchase tickets to a traveling circus! (The circus donated a portion of their proceeds to the local police department.) 

That experience taught me: 1) to try new things; and 2) it is important to do things that make you uncomfortable. While I was never great at that job, it gave me an appreciation for people who have strong communication and sales skills.

What gets you up in the morning?

While I enjoy the creative aspect of making something new, I really love the planning, organizing, and problem-solving part of it. I think that is the engineer in me. I am constantly thinking: What is the next step? How can I make something better? Where can I find the answer to this problem?   

What's next for your company? 

In the short term, I'm planning to add several more pieces to my current silk collection. In the future, I would like to create a collection of eco-friendly sleepwear. There are so many new and interesting fabrics that are soft and durable. Eventually, I would like to branch out into men's sleepwear.