THE EVOLUTION OF ELIZABETH
While just 34, Elizabeth Damrich has learned a valuable lesson early in life that many of us learn too late. Clearly in charge of her life, this self-described micro-influencer listened to her inner voice as it guided her away from the intoxicating opportunities in New York City to exactly where she was meant to be. Tune in as her wisdom may help you find the focus you’re looking for as well as some of her favorite spring must-have looks so classic they won’t let you down.
By Hayley Hill Photos Stevye Photography, StevyePhotography.com Makeup Courtney Matthews Makeup Artistry, Cocokat1978@gmail.com
Hailing from Athens, Alabama, Elizabeth met her Mobile-born and raised husband Michael Damrich just three days before they both graduated from The University of Alabama. With plans and a prestigious program awaiting her in Milan, Italy, Elizabeth decided to change course and follow her heart, and Michael, to New York City instead. Excited to continue dating Michael while exploring career options and living independently in a big city, Elizabeth did just that.
Finding fulfilling work in the creative industry at various top fashion and beauty agencies, she eventually landed at a smaller boutique agency which allowed her to participate in meetings with mega-brands like Estée Lauder, L’Oréal and Shop Bop. “It was incredible to sit in meetings with executives as they shared their brand visions and goals for everything from social media to video production since it was exploding at the time. From the meeting outlines, we created customized content for each brand that included developing the feel, color schemes, and overall aesthetic in addition to photoshoots, model casting, and more. I was hooked!” she shares.
As her relationship with Michael progressed, discussions about their future made Elizabeth push pause and truly consider what life would like married with a family in the Big Apple. Applauding her foresight, she shares, “I was essentially a girl living in New York City with goals outside of a career. I could have stayed forever, but I chose to listen to that little voice inside that encouraged me to envision what I really wanted my future to look like. I realized I need space, lots of greenery, and sunshine to thrive and I wanted those things for my future family as well. Simply put, Manhattan taught me how to live and what I took for granted living in the South.”
Searching for the best of both worlds, the now-married couple decided to relocate to Charleston, South Carolina. “I loved it! It felt like a little European city. Plus, I’m drawn to coastal cities and much like Mobile, Charleston is a port city, too. We lived downtown and were able to walk everywhere and enjoy the fantastic architecture. It was Southern yet still a city so I slid right into a city life. However, when I was eight months pregnant and the bassinet arrived, my husband and I looked at each other and said what are we going to do? My body spoke to me to the point it was yelling and I knew I had to listen. Especially since I was in pregnant nesting mode,” Elizabeth fondly recalls.
““I WAS ESSENTIALLY A GIRL LIVING IN NEW YORK CITY WITH GOALS OUTSIDE OF A CAREER. I COULD HAVE STAYED FOREVER, BUT I CHOSE TO LISTEN TO THAT LITTLE VOICE INSIDE THAT ENCOURAGED ME TO ENVISION WHAT I REALLY WANTED MY FUTURE TO LOOK LIKE.””
Knowing they wanted to be near family paired with the fact that Charleston was 10-plus hours away from future grandparents, the soon-to-be parents took a leap and moved to Mobile in 2019. “We had been to Mobile several times and with a visit planned I happened to look on Zillow and saw this incredible Greek Revival historical home that was built in 1885 for sale. When I walked in, I immediately started crying as I knew I was home,” Elizabeth shares about the stately find on Government Street they quickly called their own.
Elizabeth’s creative content experience proved perfectly timed, too. “From the start of my career, I was immediately aware of my personal brand. I’ve always had a strong aesthetic and I knew it would serve me well to establish my point of view. While in Charleston, I was doing my thing on Instagram as a creative outlet and something I really did just for myself. For example, I posted images of the things I loved in everyday moments. From there, brands started reaching out asking me to use their products to create and post content on my Instagram. Kate Spade was my first campaign and I just started handling it the way I did my job at creative agencies in the past,” she tells us.
Now with over 16,000-and-counting Insta-followers, Elizabeth has found a way to not only curate beautiful content, she’s curating that life she envisioned years ago. Doing it on her own terms and as a business not only for herself, she did it for her husband and two children, too.
“I never imagined brands would hire me to do this; it’s a dream come true. I love creating beautiful imagery that serves the brand and shows how the product fits into my world. It’s a creative outlet that provides instant gratification and it’s amazing how we can tell stories and share our lives from anywhere now. I’m doing a design project for a resort brand I’ve loved every minute of! They hired me to do trend research and design the silhouettes for their collection,” she adds.
With her keen eye for all things aesthetically pleasing, we swoon over her carefully created images that boast soft hues of creams and whites and architectural details that somehow bring what’s old and new together flawlessly. Her list of clients include Sezane, Lake Pajamas, Ann Taylor, Cuyana, Crane Stationery, Kate Spade, and more. The commonality? They see value in her branding abilities. On how it works, she shares, “Clients send me a brief that includes their goals and a bit of direction. From there, they give me creative control for developing the imagery and campaign. At the end of the day, I view myself as a creative director. I’m beyond thankful for my agency and branding experience as my goal is to honor the brand as well as my personal brand. It has to work for both of us.”
Soon to celebrate nine years of marriage, we ask about life on the Bay. “I’m still finding my way but we’ve met a lot of young couples like us investing in these wonderful historic homes. That fact alone gave us the confidence that we’d find our tribe here,” she tells us. As for favored spots, she lists home and antique stores on both sides of the Bay like Crown & Colony, Aubergine, Atchison Home, RF Architectural & Garden Antiques, and Charles Phillips. For food and fashion, it’s The Holiday, The Hope Farm, and Nova Espresso Market.
Bringing it back around, Elizabeth’s deep understanding of herself and what she needs to thrive and be happy has served her well. Many women of all ages ignore their inner voice and simply sacrifice what they need for the benefit of others or out of fear of change. Her story shows us that being true to oneself by realizing and prioritizing our needs isn’t selfish—it’s survival in the best possible way.
FOLLOW ELIZABETH ON INSTAGRAM, @LIZ_DAMRICH
