YOLI BROGGER -- Working

-- Story by Alex Coolman; Photo by Conrad Lau

SHE IS

Creating a style for personal success.

HARD TIMES

It was the early 1990s. The Orange County economy was performing an

elegant swan dive and Yoli Brogger’s personal fortunes were doing a

cannonball.

Brogger’s husband, Bob, lost his public relations business. And Brogger,

who had been a stay-at-home wife for years, was facing a difficult

reality.

The good times -- at least as she had known them so far -- were over.

At first, Brogger didn’t know what could possibly prevent financial

disaster.

“I would have never thought I could do anything except raise children and

go to luncheons!” exclaimed the vivacious, 56-year-old Beacon Bay

brunette.

But circumstances forced her to be more resourceful than she ever

believed she would have to be.

BACK TO BASICS

Brogger had worked as a stylist when she was younger, cutting hair for a

select group of friends.

Now, not knowing what else to do, she went back to the hair game.

The remarkable thing was, she succeeded at it. From an initial and

somewhat unpleasant experience working at a salon in South Coast Plaza,

Brogger moved to the upscale James Albert Salon in Westcliff Court.

There, in a curious little enclave that seems to be inhabited only by the

well-styled, latte-sipping elite of Newport Beach, Brogger has been

snipping and coloring, combing and coiffing for the last seven years.

Friday, with her fiscal picture considerably improved, she will retire

from the salon scene to concentrate her energies on her other love --

interior design.

Brogger says she has no regrets about the way she spent the ‘90s.

“It’s opened so many doors for me,” she said, and gave her a confidence

in her ability that had previously been lacking.

“My esteem is so different. I know that whatever God wants me to do, I

can do it.”

A WELL-KEPT SECRET

Most of the stylists at James Albert, as at many salons, are not at an

age where retiring is a consideration.

But Brogger said the secret of her success through the years has been the

same it was when she was cutting hair decades ago: the regular group of

friends that comes to her for styling and advice.

Now that she’s putting down her shears, she said, she’s going to have to

pick up her appointment book.

“I’m going to be the total Ms. out-to-lunch lady, because I have to keep

up with all of my friends!”