Meet Lauren Draffin | LD || Fashion Stylist & Owner, Beg & Borrow Apparel

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Draffin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, how do you think about risk?

For me, risk is less about recklessness and more about trusting your vision enough to bet on it before anyone else does. Maybe lots of trial and error. Launching Styled by LD in 2016 was a big leap—it meant turning my creative instincts into a business and presenting as a personal brand. That risk paid off, opening doors to style numerous clients and build a trusted name in the Memphis fashion and creative community.

Then came Beg & Borrow Apparel, which was born out of a bigger risk: creating a women’s customizable, clothing line from the concept of men’s custom clothing, but rooted in solving real fit problems for real women. I didn’t come from a fashion design background, but I believed in the concept so deeply that I was willing to research every element. Taking those risks has given me the freedom to design, teach, collaborate, and show up as my full self across every part of my work, and ultimately life!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Hear me when I say you don’t have to choose between creativity and business, or personal style and professionalism. You can build something that’s deeply you—and that’s where the magic happens because you have to live it! I love to ask people, do you dress by design or default? Because assumptions in anything compromises clarity. My work lives at the intersection of style, storytelling, and problem-solving. Defining visual identity through wardrobe allows anyone to narrate their story before someone else does.

What sets my work apart is how deeply it’s rooted in purpose and people. I’m not just creating looks or clothing—I’m building confidence, clarity, and connection through intentional style.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So many people have poured into me, but if I had to dedicate this shoutout, it would be to my besties who water me, and of course the creative community surrounding. From my network, including fellow entrepreneurs, small business owners, store buyers, all my clients, to my students and collaborators—the creative community is fierce!

Starting Styled by LD and later Beg & Borrow took a village, and still does! From one of my besties, Babbie (who’s 92 years young, blind, and still reminds me to trust my gut) to mentors who encouraged me to take up space, I’ve been surrounded by people who see the vision, even if it’s still in draft form.

Also—BIG love to my clients. Whether you’ve booked a styling session or ordered a custom, your trust built these brands and a story to tell! That kind of belief fuels most things I do.

Website: https://begandborrowapparel.com/ https://www.styledbyld.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/begandborrowapparel/ https://www.instagram.com/styledbyld/

Image Credits
Model, Joya Roy
UofMemphis Women’s Basketball Coach, Alex Simmons
Photography, Audrey Wright