As a personal stylist for women, I’ve been writing this blog since 2013. That’s a whole lot of blog posts. Each year, we take a look back at our most popular blog posts of the year. But we ALSO look at our most popular content including posts from previous years. Let’s see how many of these are familiar to you and what is brand new. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts. Happy New Year and thanks for more than a decade of styling!
Read MoreI’m famous for not remembering the big things. I remember the small things—interactions with people, kind gestures, meaningful moments. But I often forget the very big things. Like being quoted multiple times in CNN Underscored, for example. 😉 That sort of thing.
So when it came time to look back at Poplin’s 2025, I was genuinely surprised by just how many important milestones we reached this year. Huge thanks to my camera roll and calendar for jogging my memory.
Whether you’re new to Poplin or have been here for years, I’m curious how much of this will feel familiar to you. (My marketing brain wants it all to feel recognizable. The part of me that wants you to feel joy right now hopes some of it feels fresh and exciting. A mix of the two feels just right.)
Enough talk—let’s take a look at Poplin in 2025.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, loungewear is a big topic of conversation. Yes, we’ve all become more casual over the past several years. But, if you live in a wet or cold place, you really know something about the significance of the right loungewear.
While we all want to be comfortable, it’s important to remember the very real and positive impact of wearing clothes that make you feel good. That can easily be confused with what’s comfortable or functional, because those pieces give you the freedom to move freely for whatever opportunity arises. But functionality can only take you so far. Wearing something that is super cozy, but makes you cringe when you look in the mirror does not set you up for success. This is an integral part of choosing the right loungewear.
Read MoreOne of the great joys of being a personal stylist for women is diving into seasonal trends, especially fall. I’ve been sharing my favorite fall trends for more than a decade, and this exercise never gets old. In fact, my biggest obstacles are narrowing down the list and preventing myself from shopping the entire time I write. Sigh.
As the temperatures drop, being excited about putting together an outfit can feel harder—but that’s where fall fashion trends come in. This year, we’re going for something a little different. Members of Continuum, the exclusive membership for Poplin clients, are integrating fall trends into their daily looks as part of the lifetime style support they enjoy after completing their styling package.
Read MorePart THREE of our three part series on Returns.
There are so many points in the return process that can be a blocker. You may be thinking that the whole thing is a problem for you, but it’s likely that one or two steps are especially difficult. Not to worry. There’s always a way. A key component of having intentional style is making each part of the process as effortless as possible. And let’s face it, if you buy, you also return.
Let’s dive into each step and how to ensure it doesn’t stop you from actually returning those unwanted items.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women, I’m THRILLED that more and more mainstream brands are providing inclusive sizes for women size 3X and in some cases, beyond. But, the options aren’t limitless. And often, the result is that women who wear extended sizes (aka plus size) clothing, end up with boring pieces because they can’t find unique options. No more!
I’m a super fan of these brands that are expressive and size inclusive. If you or someone in your life struggles to find clothes that communicate her authentic personal style in any size, I’m so glad you’re here.
Read MoreI don't know about you, but finding joy right now isn't super easy. Fortunately, there's always a silver lining. Here are a few of mine.
Read MoreI’m SO excited to share another real client style transformation. It’s so important to us that every client learns to buy clothes and style herself to communicate her authentic personal style in clothes that flatter her frame and communicate her values, when relevant. Sharing a few client stories in a row gives us a wonderful chance to show off the distinctive style of each of these women and highlight the importance of being true to yourself. I hope you find each of these women, and their styles, as inspiring as we do.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women, identifying a seasonal color analysis for each client is an integral part of my process, but probably not for the reasons you might think.
Reading this article while eating breakfast this morning, I was reminded that my approach to the importance of seasonal color analysis is not common. I do think it matters. But, I also think it doesn’t. The phrase I often use with clients is, “don’t let the colors run your life. Choose a season that speaks to you, commit to it, and move on.”
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women, I’m always on the lookout for pieces and pairings that are relevant to my clients. Sure! I love clothes and style. But when I travel, both domestically and internationally, I feel an obligation to hunt for pieces and pairings that will inform my clients and my community. And when I find them, I get VERY excited.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women who’s been blogging for over a decade, we have a sea of quality content tucked away in the Poplin blog. Sometimes, the products aren’t current, but the style tips absolutely are. If you read this blog with any regularity, you might think you’ve seen it all. But, I bet you haven’t. The following Poplin blog posts saw the most web traffic in 2024. Think you know what’s in them? We’ll see…..
Read MoreIf you’ve been dreaming of diving into a personal styling package with Poplin, this is absolutely the best time and it won’t be here for long.
Sales are VERY rare in Poplin-land and they won’t get more frequent. We’ve had a handful of sales over more than ten years of business. Why now? First, Shop Small Saturday is a great opportunity to support small businesses. And let’s be honest, folks could use a great pick me up to kick off 2025. Yes, Dear Reader, 2025 can be a glorious year filled with intentional shopping habits that save you time and money, increased self confidence and a great time.
We’ve got TWO great deals for our biggest sale of the decade. One is for new clients and one is for existing clients.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women, I’m always on the lookout for new collabs between brands, designers, bands and more. Some are big hits and some fall flat, to be sure. I was delighted to see that one of my favorite retailers, The Frankie Shop, just launched a collaboration with Barbie. If you know the Frankie Shop, you are likely a little surprised, too. Expect pieces that align with Frankie’s sensibility and celebrate Barbie. The collection will undoubtedly sell out fast to check it out!
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women, few things are more thrilling than seeing the entire styling process come together for a client. After all, we spend well more than a dozen hours collaborating to ensure that her authentic personal style comes through everyday and that she understands how to maintain her style once her package is complete.
Fortunately for me, I get to have this feeling regularly. Even better, sometimes we have a photo shoot and video to share some of that magic with you, the Poplin Community. I’m so grateful for each of you who read this blog (and the newsletter!) and for Gloria, a recent Poplin client, who generously shared her story. I hope you find it as inspiring as I do. Enjoy!
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women, it’s evident how much folks struggle with getting dressed as the seasons change. After all, it may feel chilly when you walk out the door only to discover the sun blazing through your window halfway through the day. If you find yourself taking your coat off and on twenty times a day this time of year, you aren’t alone. But mastering getting dressed in the fall (or spring) doesn’t need to be overwhelming. In fact, there are five easy ways to make looking good and feeling great easy in the fall. I’ve got you.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women, I am fortunate to be surrounded by an always evolving collection of inspiring, complex and fascinating women. Yes! My clients are a really incredible, diverse array of women with different style goals and lifestyles. And that’s only the beginning of the female energy I have around me.
In the past two years, the Washington Women’s Foundation has become an increasingly important part of my life. As you may know, my past life was in philanthropy and since day one, Poplin has been giving back to the community beyond our work with individual clients. As someone who worked in nonprofits both as an employee and volunteer as well as public service and more, the foundation’s approach to philanthropy is fresh, thoughtful and gives me so much hope for the future of philanthropy.
Read MoreHappy Anniversary from your very own personal stylist for women. Sure, Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale is a special occasion for a huge number of people. But in the Seattle area, we think of this as a hometown holiday. That means that every year I put together a collection of blog posts featuring my favorite products from Anniversary. With thousands of items on sale, it’s helpful to have a cheat sheet. And I have the time of my life digging into the year’s deals.
If Anniversary is new to you, it’s essential to understand the approach. It is unique, to be sure. Rather than kicking off fall in September, then marking down items late in the season, Nordstrom puts a collection of fall items on sale in July. Then, the prices GO UP when Anniversary is over. Nordstrom card holders get “early access,” meaning we can shop before non-card holders. And the sizes go FAST. So, if something is speaking to you, dive in before it’s gone.
Here in Poplin-land, we like to help you shop according to your authentic personal style. While each woman has her own unique style, typically at least one of five archetypes resonate with her. That’s why we have Pinterest Boards for those archetypes and many, many Pinterest boards organized by personal style keywords, body types and more.
So back to the archetypes. They are: Classic, Edgy, Creative, Boho and Effortless. As is our custom every year, I’ve created a blog post filled with my favorite items from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale organized by personal style. You can access each blog post below. Sizes are selling out quickly, so don’t delay. I was just in two Nordstrom stores yesterday only to discover sizes and items disappearing before my eyes.
Fun Fact: Pieces can be categorized in multiple styles. Rather than repeat a product in multiple posts, we give you the most bang for your buck. So, even if Classic, for example, isn’t exactly your thing, you’ll likely find pieces on the list that resonate with you. Okay! That’s it. Now, have a great time shopping and once again, Happy Anniversary!
Read MoreHappy Anniversary from your very own personal stylist for women. Sure, Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale is a special occasion for a huge number of people. But in the Seattle area, we think of this as a hometown holiday. That means that every year I put together a collection of blog posts featuring my favorite products from Anniversary. With thousands of items on sale, it’s helpful to have a cheat sheet. And I have the time of my life digging into the year’s deals.
If Anniversary is new to you, it’s essential to understand the approach. It is unique, to be sure. Rather than kicking off fall in September, then marking down items late in the season, Nordstrom puts a collection of fall items on sale in July. Then, the prices GO UP when Anniversary is over. Nordstrom card holders get “early access,” meaning we can shop before non-card holders. And the sizes go FAST. So, if something is speaking to you, dive in before it’s gone.
Here in Poplin-land, we like to help you shop according to your authentic personal style. While each woman has her own unique style, typically at least one of five archetypes resonate with her. That’s why we have Pinterest Boards for those archetypes and many, many Pinterest boards organized by personal style keywords, body types and more.
So back to the archetypes. They are: Classic, Edgy, Creative, Boho and Effortless. As is our custom every year, I’ve created a blog post filled with my favorite pieces and give you ideas for pairing each. Now, it’s time for pieces that communicate your Creative Style.
What is Creative Style? Well, in my mind, these pieces are unique, expressive, unconventional, just unexpected. Creative pieces are often pushing the envelope and pairing multiples together can take things even further. So, opt for one creative piece in an otherwise classic outfit, go full force with all creative options or find your happy place in the middle. Either way, I’m a superfan of Creative style and I can’t wait for you to find some favs in this list.
Fun Fact: Pieces can be categorized in multiple styles. Rather than repeat a product in multiple posts, we give you the most bang for your buck. So, even if Creative isn’t exactly your thing, you’ll likely find pieces on the list that resonate with you. Okay! That’s it. Now, have a great time shopping and once again, Happy Anniversary!
Read MoreHappy Anniversary from your very own personal stylist for women. Sure, Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale is a special occasion for a huge number of people. But in the Seattle area, we think of this as a hometown holiday. That means that every year I put together a collection of blog posts featuring my favorite products from Anniversary. With thousands of items on sale, it’s helpful to have a cheat sheet. And I have the time of my life digging into the year’s deals.
If Anniversary is new to you, it’s essential to understand the approach. It is unique, to be sure. Rather than kicking off fall in September, then marking down items late in the season, Nordstrom puts a collection of fall items on sale in July. Then, the prices GO UP when Anniversary is over. Nordstrom card holders get “early access,” meaning we can shop before non-card holders. And the sizes go FAST. So, if something is speaking to you, dive in before it’s gone.
Here in Poplin-land, we like to help you shop according to your authentic personal style. While each woman has her own unique style, typically at least one of five archetypes resonate with her. That’s why we have Pinterest Boards for those archetypes and many, many Pinterest boards organized by personal style keywords, body types and more.
So back to the archetypes. They are: Classic, Edgy, Creative, Boho and Effortless. As is our custom every year, I’ve created a blog post filled with my favorite items from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale organized by personal style. We kicked things off with my Classic picks to get you started. Then, we moved on to Edgy pieces. And now, it’s time for your Effortless style.
Fun Fact: Pieces can be categorized in multiple styles. Rather than repeat a product in multiple posts, we give you the most bang for your buck. So, even if Effortless isn’t exactly your thing, you’ll likely find pieces on the list that resonate with you. Okay! That’s it. Now, have a great time shopping and once again, Happy Anniversary!
Read MoreAs a values-based personal stylist for women in Seattle, sustainability is a very popular topic. When people discover that values are one of the filters that each Poplin client uses to determine what pieces are right for her, they often think those values mean sustainability. And, of course, they can. Importantly, my focus is on identifying each client’s personal values and encouraging her to use her values as a lens as part of the overall picture when developing her authentic personal style. For example, those values can range from encouraging connection (OMG. I love that bracelet. Where’d you find it?) to supporting BIPOC makers or focusing on the best return on investment for her purchases.
Values can also mean any number of topics under the sustainability umbrella.
The purpose of this conversation is not to force her to make sure that every purchase she makes aligns with her values. Instead, it’s an encouragement to lead with intention and remind her of the power that she has as an individual and the power we all have as a collective. On an individual level, purchasing items that align with her values empowers her and gives her self confidence that carries over to other aspects of her life. On a larger level, working as part of the collective, she has the potential to see her values reflected in the choices companies make. It was, after all, the body positive movement that led to more inclusive sizing from retailers and more models that resemble “real women” rather than the Plutonian ideal.
I love this part of my role and over the years, I’ve seen the impact that this realization has on my community. When it comes to sustainability, the more we see articles about the perils of climate change in the zeitgeist, the more clients want sustainability to be an important part of their personal style strategies. While it’s important to me that the values she identifies are hers and not mine, as someone who is concerned about the changing climate, I’m grateful for the opportunity to help women understand how to make choices that benefit the planet and the individual.
However, as part of this evolution, I’ve started to see the dark side of women’s efforts to make sustainable choices.
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