Renowned global P.R. strategist. Fashion and style tastemaker and influencer. Card-carrying florist. Former Division-One volleyball player. Relentless adventurer. Certified scuba diver. Eternal optimist. Kilee Hughes really likes to keep things moving—to wit, her general attitude about life can be summed up by the lead-in line on her gorgeously photographed and well-curated (where she’s got a cool 10,000 followers, in case you’re wondering): “worry less, smile more.” And judging from her level of personal and professional activity, there is no doubt she’s practicing what she preaches. As an undergrad at the University of Southern California, she was on track to becoming a professional athlete but realized it was a relentless pace she did not want to keep. So, after a leap-of-faith move to Manhattan, she landed her first job in fashion and style public relations … which lead her to gigs at Luxottica, Saks Fifth Avenue, L’Oréal, and Nike, and most recently to Net-A-Porter, where she was the director of P.R. before striking out on her own with her P.R. and brand-strategy agency, Six One. “I’m not exactly sure how or why I made the decisions I did along the way, but I haven’t looked back. I think my experience as a student athlete at U.S.C. taught me discipline, focus, patience, and determination, and these are all and always will be core focuses for me.” —Jennifer Henderson
Name: Kilee Hughes
Occupation: Founder of boutique public relations and brand-strategy agency, Six One. “I love what I do. There’s nothing like sitting down and thinking of new ways to keep up-to‐date on industry trends. I get very energized being with my team and building together—it’s an important aspect of my job and one that I truly enjoy. And knowing that someone has heard about my work and was impressed enough to trust me with their project … it’s thrilling!”
Style from the start: “Growing up, my mother treated my sister and I like her mini muses. She handmade our clothes and always dressed us like twins. I wish I had some of the dresses that she made; Mom’s attention to detail was amazing.”
From court to catwalk: “I played sports for nine years and I always thought I would be a professional athlete. Playing volleyball at U.S.C. was one of the biggest highlights of my life, but eventually I burned out. I studied communications and after graduating, I decided to pursue public relations. I moved to N.Y.C. on a whim with few contacts and limited resources. A week into my move, I had doubled my network and landed a job at a boutique PR agency, specializing in fashion and beauty. Fast forward 17 years, and I’m still living and working in the field I started in, but I’ve mixed it up a bit.”
Friends 4Eva: “I am surrounded by a tight network of friends, some who have known me for 30 years. One of those friends once told me to always strive to create my own dreams and pave my own path. It’s like he had a premonition of things to come.”
Her secret to success: “I can’t go it alone and I lean on people who can provide feedback. I like to surround myself with the best people and clients for my business.”
Her work ethic: “Hardworking, honest and open-minded. I don’t like nor feel the need to make my presence known with my team or clients.”
Smelling the roses: “I’m a lover of flowers, since I was a little girl. I love entertaining and hosting friends at my house, and when I do, I tend to go all out. I never thought twice about buying big bunches of flowers and leaves to decorate the table, and over time, friends would comment about how beautiful the tablescapes were, so I turned what was a passion project into a growing business, Mariama Florals.
Her personal style: “I’ve always been an unlikely fit for fashion, and since I’m tall (6’1”), I tend have a style which consists of a few signature and practical items. And I always dress to suit my mood or any event I may have that day. I start with the essentials: T‐shirt, skinny jeans, and knitwear, and then layer with accessories.”
Her must-haves: “This American Life podcast. My iPhone 6. Vanity Fair magazine. Malin + Goetz moisturizer. Aesop hand wash. Darrell Lea licorice. Nike Dunk sneakers. Clothing from Scanlan Theodore and Zimmermann. Dlisted.”
Her life coach: “My sister, Kisa Hughes. Although her life was cut short due to cancer, she rarely complained. She just got on with it and did what needed to be done; and because of her optimistic attitude, she was successful in many things in her life. A favorite quote that reminds me of her is from Randy Pausch: ‘When we’re connected to others, we become better people.’ Too many people go through life complaining about their problems, but Kisa didn’t … she was a connector.”
Beauty is: “When you do something that makes someone smile.”
Inspired by: “Social media. It might be cliché to say, but for me, inspiration is all around. Sometimes when I’m feeling blocked, I go on social media to scroll through images or watch short videos on Vine or Snapchat. I feel that when you look and listen, you learn.”
Her happy place: “Any place in the world with sun, water views, and a glass of white wine. More specifically, Macikizi in Bodrum, Turkey, and Saffire Freycinet, Tasmania.”
Her wisdom: “My dad always refers to a quote by author Napolean Hill: ‘Patience, persistence, and preparation make an unbeatable combination for success.’ But one of my favorite sayings is, ‘A life without risk is like no life at all.’
What’s next: “After digging in and creating a structure for Six One this year, I’m setting my sights on expanding to Australia and London. I’ve developed a personal understanding of both markets and I’d like to help niche brands grow their awareness in the U.S. I’ve been fortunate to befriend some incredible small-business owners (many who are former colleagues) who help me think through many of my own plans and dreams.”