Have You Seen Us in CNN Underscored?

As a personal stylist for women focused on teaching as many women as I can how to simplify their lives while harnessing their authentic personal style AND understanding how to dress their body types, I LOVE opportunities to share insight with new audiences. Fortunately, I’ve become a regular contributor to CNN Underscored, allowing me to share the Popiln perspective with others. This is exciting for multiple reasons. First, I mean, it’s CNN Underscored. So, there’s that.

But more importantly, we’ve spent the last few months deep in photo shoots for our Sustained Style Series. We’re highlighting clients who have been with Poplin 5, 7, 10 and even 13 years. I can’t tell you how meaningful it has been to connect and reconnect with so many clients and hear about how Poplin has impacted their lives. Our goal is to teach each client to fish, as in, I want her to finish her initial Poplin package understanding how to leverage the Poplin filters and her digital tools to shop and dress in a way that is streamlined, focused and ensures she communicates her authentic clothes with every look.

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Reasonably Priced Custom Made Jeans?! Yes, Please!

As a personal stylist for women based in Seattle and works with clients throughout the country, I’m VERY grateful for my years-long partnership with a Master Tailor. Finding a great fitting pair of jeans seems like an impossible dream for so many of my clients. Whether she’s short waisted, petite, wears extended sizes, has a small waist and larger hips, you name it, we’ve addressed it. Identifying the specific cuts that flatter her frame makes shopping for the perfect denim significantly easier. But sometimes, we still need tailoring. A short waisted petite woman, for instance, is destined to a life of tailoring…. until now.

I learned about Neems from one of my clients in Continuum. The brand was hosting a Pop Up in Pioneer Square and I opted to go check it out. I know you’re thinking it, so I’ll answer proactively. Yes, I could reach out to the brand first and find out about a complimentary pair. But, I’ll be honest. In these situations, I usually prefer to go in like any other customer, keep my line of work to myself and try things out, the same way one of my clients would. Otherwise, how will I know what her authentic experience will be?

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Your essential vote for girls in Washington state

Yes, the midterms are consuming our media, but don't let your local issues pass you by. Here in Washington State, there's a strong chance that we'll pass the country's most restrictive ban on Trans girls (K-12) in sports. 

As it turns out, folks have conflicting feelings about whether or not Trans girls should be allowed to participate in sports aligned with their gender identity. The polls show that while voters may not say out loud that they would rather not have Trans girls play sports with the gender they identify with, they will vote privately to ban the practice. Right now, there are only about 10 girls in that situation in Washington State. 

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Mellicia MarxComment
Petite Plus and More- Hot Tips from the Continuum Community

One year after our launch, Continuum, the membership exclusively for Poplin clients continues to flourish. We’ll be opening up this private community to clients not currently enrolled next month. Whether or not you are a Poplin client, you can get some hot tips from the membership as a thank you for being a part of the Poplin Community.

This month, were focused on leveraging the 16 Fall Color Trends expanding our wardrobes and experimenting with monochromatic and color blocked outfits. The RSVPs for this month’s Virtual Live Style Studio happened to have 100% women with petite plus figures. So, I streamlined the session with their needs in mind. In the end, more members were able to join last minute and whether or not they had the same body type, the conversation was a fruitful one. Who doesn’t love to learn more about the best pants for her figure or tailoring fixes? Here are some key takeaways.

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16 Fall Color Trends You’ll Actually Want to Wear (Modeled by Real Poplin Clients)

As a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, but serving clients everywhere, Fall is a high energy time. There’s the typical whirlwind of back to school energy (whether or not you have kids, this one is in us all.) And of course, the flurry of new clients ready for the seasonal change.

Right now, we’re also kicking into fall on Continuum, the private community exclusively for Poplin Clients. Each month’s challenge sets the tone and gives achievable, low pressure goals to help members engage with their closets and walk out the door looking and feeling like their authentic selves. This month, members were torn between two of five options for the September Challenge. Option 1: All Color All The Time: Monochromatic and Colorblocking and Option 2: Back to School Energy- Rekindling the Joy of Getting Dressed.

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Twelve Years Later: What Real, Sustained Style Actually Looks Like

Poplin began in 2013 when I left my career in philanthropy to dive into what had, until then, just been a hobby. Now, more than a decade later, I’m having the time of my life with an assortment of new and ongoing clients. Between styling services and Continuum, our exclusive membership for clients, I spend my days getting to know an extraordinary group of women and help each one communicate her authentic personal style.

At Poplin, our goal is to teach her to fish. That is, I want her to understand how to harness her own unique style, choose pieces that flatter her frame while making her look and feel her best everyday. Gone is the stress and overwhelm associated with getting dressed. Few things are as gratifying as seeing your vision realized.

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Wild and Wonderful: Paris Taught me to Adore Camperlab

As a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I’ve always had an affinity for Camper. The shoes are comfortable, reasonably priced and have a range of quirky, to referential to avant garde. They are a dream for some clients and not right for others. One of the reasons I love this job so much is the wide variety of personal styles of Poplin clients. Camper is just one of a zillion resources that have been useful over the past dozen plus years.

But Camperlab! THAT is an entirely different animal.

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Wrapping Up My Top 100 Favorite Coats and Jackets from Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale

As a personal stylist for women, I’ve been curating shopping lists from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale since day one- over 13 Anniversary Sales ago. I’m excited to report that this year’s collection is better than we’ve seen in several years. Of course, there’s a wide array of basics, a jam packed selection of denim and then, as per usual, some major themes. When it comes to tops, you’ll find a balance of classic choices, super feminine looks and a smaller portion of edgy and boho items.

Each year I organize my picks in different ways, with a goal to make the sale as shoppable as possible for you, Dear Reader. After all, the women’s portion of Anniversary has over 18,000 items. This year, rather than organize by style or body type, I’m listing my favorite pieces by item type. I’ll highlight my top three or so on each post and then give you my overall favs- typically you can expect about 50 items per post. Have a great time and remember that things go quickly, so if you love it, snap it up.

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The Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Outerwear: My Top 5 Favorites & The First 50 Styles

As a personal stylist for women, I’ve been curating shopping lists from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale since day one- over 13 Anniversary Sales ago. I’m excited to report that this year’s collection is better than we’ve seen in several years. Of course, there’s a wide array of basics, a jam packed selection of denim and then, as per usual, some major themes. When it comes to tops, you’ll find a balance of classic choices, super feminine looks and a smaller portion of edgy and boho items.

Each year I organize my picks in different ways, with a goal to make the sale as shoppable as possible for you, Dear Reader. After all, the women’s portion of Anniversary has over 18,000 items. This year, rather than organize by style or body type, I’m listing my favorite pieces by item type. I’ll highlight my top three or so on each post and then give you my overall favs- typically you can expect about 50 items per post. Have a great time and remember that things go quickly, so if you love it, snap it up.

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Wrapping up My Favorite Bottoms from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

As a personal stylist for women, I’ve been curating shopping lists from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale since day one- over 13 Anniversary Sales ago. I’m excited to report that this year’s collection is better than we’ve seen in several years. Of course, there’s a wide array of basics, a jam packed selection of denim and then, as per usual, some major themes. When it comes to tops, you’ll find a balance of classic choices, super feminine looks and a smaller portion of edgy and boho items.

Each year I organize my picks in different ways, with a goal to make the sale as shoppable as possible for you, Dear Reader. After all, the women’s portion of Anniversary has over 18,000 items. This year, rather than organize by style or body type, I’m listing my favorite pieces by item type. I’ll highlight my top three or so on each post and then give you my overall favs- typically you can expect about 50 items per post. Have a great time and remember that things go quickly, so if you love it, snap it up.

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The Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Bottoms: My Top 5 Favorites & The First 50 Styles

As a personal stylist for women, I’ve been curating shopping lists from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale since day one- over 13 Anniversary Sales ago. I’m excited to report that this year’s collection is better than we’ve seen in several years. Of course, there’s a wide array of basics, a jam packed selection of denim and then, as per usual, some major themes. When it comes to tops, you’ll find a balance of classic choices, super feminine looks and a smaller portion of edgy and boho items.

Each year I organize my picks in different ways, with a goal to make the sale as shoppable as possible for you, Dear Reader. After all, the women’s portion of Anniversary has over 18,000 items. This year, rather than organize by style or body type, I’m listing my favorite pieces by item type. I’ll highlight my top three or so on each post and then give you my overall favs- typically you can expect about 50 items per post. Have a great time and remember that things go quickly, so if you love it, snap it up.

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Wrapping up my top 100 favorite dresses from Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale

Each year I organize my picks in different ways, with a goal to make the sale as shoppable as possible for you, Dear Reader. After all, the women’s portion of Anniversary has over 18,000 items. This year, rather than organize by style or body type, I’m listing my favorite pieces by item type. I’ll highlight my top three or so on each post and then give you my overall favs- typically you can expect about 50 items per post. Have a great time and remember that things go quickly, so if you love it, snap it up.

Curious about my finds from my recent trip to Paris and Berlin? I’m dying to share. You’ll see all of that and more after Anniversary. Expect a sea of blog posts over the next week or so. Enjoy!

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The Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Dresses: My Top 5 Favorites & The First 50 Styles

As a personal stylist for women, I’ve been curating shopping lists from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale since day one- over 13 Anniversary Sales ago. I’m excited to report that this year’s collection is better than we’ve seen in several years. Of course, there’s a wide array of basics, a jam packed selection of denim and then, as per usual, some major themes. When it comes to tops, you’ll find a balance of classic choices, super feminine looks and a smaller portion of edgy and boho items.

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The Best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Tops: My Top 5 Favorites & More than 50 Editor-Approved Picks

As a personal stylist for women, I’ve been curating shopping lists from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale since day one- over 13 Anniversary Sales ago. I’m excited to report that this year’s collection is better than we’ve seen in several years. Of course, there’s a wide array of basics, a jam packed selection of denim and then, as per usual, some major themes. When it comes to tops, you’ll find a balance of classic choices, super feminine looks and a smaller portion of edgy and boho items.

Each year I organize my picks in different ways, with a goal to make the sale as shoppable as possible for you, Dear Reader. After all, the women’s portion of Anniversary has over 18,000 items. This year, rather than organize by style or body type, I’m listing my favorite pieces by item type. I’ll highlight my top three or so on each post and then give you my overall favs- typically you can expect about 50 items per post. Have a great time and remember that things go quickly, so if you love it, snap it up.

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Bring on the Sunshine: 20+ Ways to Embrace Yellow (Even if You Swore You Never Would)

As a personal stylist for women, I am not only required to follow color trends- but I obsessively love it. So, let’s call that a major win. I’ve always been a big fan of yellow- mostly because it brings me joy, but also because it’s an unappreciated color. When I ask potential clients about colors that they want to avoid, most mention yellow. Although, while some genuinely dislike it, most just mention that it doesn’t flatter their skin tone. While this may or may not actually be true, that’s no reason to skip integrating a color (or a shade of that color into your collection). Opt for pieces that are away from your face: pants, skirts, handbags and shoes, for starters. Or, layer flattering colors over top. Navy blue is gorgeous with every shade of yellow and is flattering on so many skin tones.

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Tailored with Intention: The Ultimate Classic Style Guide to 35+ Brands

As a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, one of my very favorite parts of the job is helping each client channel her authentic personal style. I don’t dress her like everyone else. I don’t dress her like me.

We create a curated collection of pieces that flatter her frame, are in her color palette, are functional for her lifestyle and fit into her budget. And every one is authentic to HER style.

Since we kicked off this business in 2013, we’ve included online shopping lists (AKA Wishlists and Uber Wishlists) as an integral part of the shopping process. As we emerged from COVID, it was clear that those would become the bread and butter of the shopping experience as local shopping options became more limited and online choices continued to expand.

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How to Curate a Non-Conformist Wardrobe: A Stylist’s Strategy for the Artistic Individualist

As a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I’ve been creating Uber Wishlists for more than a decade. An Uber Wishlist is comprehensive shopping list designed specifically for one client. I take into account her Poplin Filters: body type, color palette, personal style key words, budget, size and values when designing each list. Importantly, I also am thoughtful about the pieces that she already owns. After all, there’s no need to buy new jeans when you already have several that are winners. (That was the case with this client.)

I’ve always appreciated the flexibility and wonder that online shopping lists provide. Rather than being restricted to the items at a handful of nearby stores, wishlists offer up the entire internet filled with an array of unique choice and combinations.

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The Non-Conformist’s Guide: 60+ Brands for the Artistic Individualist

As a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, one of my very favorite parts of the job is helping each client channel her authentic personal style. I don’t dress her like everyone else. I don’t dress her like me.

We create a curated collection of pieces that flatter her frame, are in her color palette, are functional for her lifestyle and fit into her budget. And every one is authentic to HER style.

Since we kicked off this business in 2013, we’ve included online shopping lists (AKA Wishlists and Uber Wishlists) as an integral part of the shopping process. As we emerged from COVID, it was clear that those would become the bread and butter of the shopping experience as local shopping options became more limited and online choices continued to expand.

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How to Dress Your Body Type: A Personal Stylist’s Guide to Visual Balance

It's about balance, not about size. As a personal stylist for women, I find this concept comes up pretty regularly. The loudest voice we hear is our inner voice and more often than we'd like, that inner voice can actually be the voice of the inner critic. 

We're all familiar with the inner critic. She has all sorts of opinions on career, parenting, keeping the house clean and so on. She also, has some very strong feelings when it comes to our bodies. 

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Must Have: The Perfect Product to Look Cool While Staying Warm this Spring

As a personal stylist for women, I hear so many questions about how to dress for the shoulder seasons. As we transition from colder temperatures to sunnier days, there is this instinctive pull to wear more warm weather clothes. Seattle-ites (like me), constantly make jokes about having Seasonal Affective Disorder, affectionately known as SAD. But, the manic wave of enthusiasm we all feel as the sun comes out highlights that there must be some element of truth to it all.

While I technically became a Pacific Northwesterner more than two decades ago, my inner Californian pines for spring dresses and open toed shoes long before our local weather endorses them.

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