Grace Lemon
~ Beauty/Fragrance Specialist ~

By Kristina Christopher
Copa Style Magazine Fashion Correspondent
I was standing in front of the mirror in the employee’s restroom at Neiman Marcus. My mascara had smeared everywhere, probably because I just spent the morning unloading four trolley’s worth of shipment. After schlepping merchandise up and down stairs, from the Floor to the Stockroom and back again (in heels, no less!), I was sweating profusely and whatever makeup I’d put on earlier in the day had disappeared completely.
That’s when I first met Grace. She looked at me struggling to remove smudged eyeliner with a paper towel, and then said kindly, “When you get a chance, come and see me.” A few minutes later I found myself at the Tom Ford counter in the Beauty Department, sheepishly checking to see that none of my supervisors noticed. Grace gently removed the leftover makeup from my face, and then deftly reapplied some light foundation, a few swipes of eyeliner and eyebrow pencil, a dash of lip gloss – and I was on my way, looking 10x better than I had that morning!
That’s when I first met Grace. She looked at me struggling to remove smudged eyeliner with a paper towel, and then said kindly, “When you get a chance, come and see me.” A few minutes later I found myself at the Tom Ford counter in the Beauty Department, sheepishly checking to see that none of my supervisors noticed. Grace gently removed the leftover makeup from my face, and then deftly reapplied some light foundation, a few swipes of eyeliner and eyebrow pencil, a dash of lip gloss – and I was on my way, looking 10x better than I had that morning!
A few months or so later, I enlisted Grace’s help again – this time in front of a camera! We came in early on a Sunday morning, videographer in tow (shout out to @loxystyles) and took a video of Grace doing a complete makeover on me. I felt somewhat self-conscious at first, but Grace immediately put me at ease! She not only lifted my spirits with her genuine, light-hearted nature, but she also gave me plenty of beauty tips and product recommendations that I still use now a year later.
That’s why I’m so thrilled to celebrate her here in Copa Style Magazine, as she launches her own brand, Grace Lemon LLC. With 22 years’ experience in the fashion industry, primarily in beauty and fragrance, she is expanding into offering personal styling appointments, either virtually or in-person. She offers style consultations, shopping assistance, wardrobe assessments, and follow up assessments. She has high profile clients throughout the DMV, and always stays on top of the latest trends.
We meet for lunch at Paul’s Salon de The before she starts her shift at Neiman Marcus, which is still her home base. Her eyes light up and she moves her hands energetically as she begins describing her brand. She is clearly passionate about taking her business to the next level, reaching beyond the beauty counter and assisting her clients with their complete image from head to toe.
“There is an old saying, ‘You never get a second chance to make a good impression.’ When you first meet someone, you want that meeting to be memorable for them. You never know when you will meet a potential new friend, love interest, or business connection. So, always be prepared to present the best version of yourself. In all my years in this industry, I can tell you one thing for certain – not one of my clients has ever regretted adding to their wardrobe, fragrance collection or having just received a complete makeover prior to a special event...When it comes to style, it is not only about the clothes you wear. It’s also finding a captivating scent that you connect with. Something memorable that leaves an impression after you walk away…..When you enter a room, your look and your choice of fragrance should both make others notice and naturally gravitate towards you.”
“There is an old saying, ‘You never get a second chance to make a good impression.’ When you first meet someone, you want that meeting to be memorable for them. You never know when you will meet a potential new friend, love interest, or business connection. So, always be prepared to present the best version of yourself. In all my years in this industry, I can tell you one thing for certain – not one of my clients has ever regretted adding to their wardrobe, fragrance collection or having just received a complete makeover prior to a special event...When it comes to style, it is not only about the clothes you wear. It’s also finding a captivating scent that you connect with. Something memorable that leaves an impression after you walk away…..When you enter a room, your look and your choice of fragrance should both make others notice and naturally gravitate towards you.”
Her mission is to “help you find yourself again…the best version of you!” I’m confident that with her eye for style and her warm personality, she is good news for all of us here in the D.C. area who are looking for that je n’sais quoi that will set us apart from the crowd. In my opinion, we all could use a “Touch of Grace.”