As a personal stylist, my primary goal is to help every woman in my community have the knowledge and confidence to communicate her authentic personal style with pieces that flatter her frame and communicate her values. For over a decade, I’ve done this by offering up a framework for harnessing your unique personal style. Of course, an essential component to my work is illustrating my aesthetic. This is integral to growing my community and client base. After all, who wants to work with a stylist who doesn’t share your taste?
And what better way to share my point of view than with social media? In the first six years of my business (2013-2019), Facebook was a key component of my outreach efforts. I used it to grow my email list, promote blog posts and offer giveaways. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to market directly to my ideal client thanks to Facebook ads. I selected her gender, age, location and other brands she followed. Being a stylist based in Seattle, Nordstrom is the go-to for the majority of women here, so marketing directly to women who followed Nordstrom on Facebook was a no-brainer.
Truthfully, I only used the ads a few times because word of mouth was working well for me and, frankly, I felt a little uneasy about the whole process. Then I moved on.
When Instagram popped up, it was the ideal medium to highlight my activities, showcase local brands and boutiques and discover new makers. It was a lot more appealing to me than Facebook and by that point and I had cornered the market on #personalstylistSeattle without spending a dime.
But as the years went by, I became more and more concerned about the effects of social media on society. When the Cambridge Analytica scandal broke, I started to realize that the average person in my world had not considered the amount of data that Facebook was accumulating about them. My ability to perfectly target my ideal customer thanks to Facebook ads suddenly seemed a little shady. Certainly, targeted ads are a given but in light of Cambridge Analytica, things seemed different. I mean, of course an individual knew that following Nordstrom, sharing her age and favorite hobbies was public. Right? But had it ever occurred to her that this information would be shared with advertisers? I don’t know. Is it wrong? I don’t know that either. Targeted ads do make life easier. How awesome is it for the internet to shop for me without me having to do a thing? But what happens when information is shared when we don’t want it to be or with folks we’d rather not share it with?
I started marinating on all of this and was less and less enthusiastic about Facebook and Instagram. In the early years, my business was also on Twitter. Though I never really got into it, I typically shared the same content I was sharing on the other networks in an effort to get the business out there. It served me well when I was featured in a Microsoft Office ad campaign, a huge boon for my business. If I hadn’t been on Twitter, I would not have been featured.
But, when Donald Trump was elected president, I left Twitter.
I wasn’t a fan of the new normal of allowing our elected leaders to communicate in 140 characters rather than being held accountable in interviews or press conferences. To me, being on the platform signaled my support for the company’s approach and I felt complicit in it. So, I left.
I’ll stop here to say it had literally no impact on anyone that I left Twitter. I doubt anyone noticed. That being said, I knew that doing so meant that I might miss a future opportunity, like the Microsoft campaign, that was so beneficial to the business. At the time, I concluded that making that decision was worth the risk.
So as the years went on and Facebook’s behavior became more and more concerning to me, I already had experience leaving a platform. Sure, leaving Twitter wasn’t a huge shift like leaving Facebook and Instagram would be. But, it was something. And when my concerns started piling up, I knew leaving social media (except for LinkedIn and Pinterest, two sites that were not complicit in the way that Facebook and Instagram were) was becoming more inevitable.
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I don’t know about you, but I’m absolutely determined to have a great 2024. If not great, at least not awful and thanks to the election in November, I know the second option is very real. As a personal stylist for women, I see firsthand the impact that a fresh perspective can have on clients. For me, a space free of clutter with only pieces that are beautiful and functional has an extraordinary impact on my life. Really. And I bet you feel that way, too.
I also know that with the New Year comes new motivation and new expectations. We want to do it all: change our food habits, move more, volunteer and so on. Often by week two we discovered we were overly ambitious. With that in mind, this post isn’t how to do an exhaustive Closet Edit. Though trust me, I’m here for that! Instead, we’re focusing on five easy steps that will have a disproportionate effect on your life. Less effort and more payoff. Here we go!
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An essential component of being a personal stylist is listening. It’s vital that I really see my client then we create a strategy to harness her authentic personal style using that information. Buying the perfect gift takes the same skill. It can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t need to. Really, it’s about paying attention to the recipient AND having a list of potential gifts so that you can match his/her/ their desires with something you can deliver.
As someone who takes a lot of pride in my gifting abilities, I can assure you that giving the right gift feels SO good for the both the recipient AND the giver. So, let’s give you some ideas, shall we?
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As a personal stylist for women and small business owner, I’ve met an array of really wonderful women through the Ellevate Pacific Northwest Community. I leave each event with more knowledge than I when I arrived and equally important, a little spring in my step. The community is filled with energy and light. I am THRILLED to be a mentor in the 7th Annual Speed Mentoring Event.
It’s easy to remember that I’m a personal stylist. So, of course, I’m all about answering questions on that front. When I’ve mentored at similar events in the past, I’m often discussing a wide variety of topics. From various aspects of running my own business for the past decade, integrating giving back into my work and so much more.
Now multiply that times a panel of glorious women- each one a wealth of knowledge on various topics and you’ve got the Ellevate Speed Networking Event. I hope you can join! Details below.
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As a personal stylist for women and evangelist for all things that excite me, making the periodic lists of My Favorite Things is one of my great joys. This one, in particular, is focused on brands and retailers that are not only exciting for their visual design but also because of the values that each brand and/or retailer supports. Ideally, all of our purchases are aligned with our values. For some, those are a willingness to spend more in order to support up and coming designers or those who pay people a living wage. Others prefer sustainable brands that limit materials to biodegradable items, those that take up fewer resources or choices that reuse existing items. And for others, brands that align with her values may mean finding the best deal which leaves more of the budget for other items. My role is not to impart my values on anyone else.
Above all, I teach each of my personal styling clients to shop using clear filters: body type, personal style key words, color palette, lifestyle and when possible, values. So, keep those in mind when you dive into this list of my very favorite brands and retailers right now. I can’t wait to hear what you think!
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As a personal stylist for women, my role is to really see someone. I’m here to listen to observe and then to create a helpful strategy for her to harness her authentic personal style and simplify her life. This highly personalized process includes a deep dive into her values (would she prefer to support BIPOC makers, female founders, sustainable brands?), her mindset (is she struggling to accept her body as it is now or does she lack confidence in her stylistic choices?) and her lifestyle (what actually works for her day to day?).
I spend a great deal of time listening, researching and sharing my knowledge with individual clients and the Poplin community. Sometimes, information is directly applicable to you, the reader. Other times, it makes more sense for a friend or family member and is worth sharing. And then there are times when the information may not feel applicable, but knowing it changes you in some small way. I’m curious which of these camps you fall into.
Few things are as inspiring to me as watching a woman with power use her voice to make the world better. Sure, you can negotiate world peace in your efforts to improve the planet. But, for many of us, day to day choices have a significant impact on the people around us and the future direction of society. The women who have put their energy into offering truly inclusive clothing are making big changes in the industry and changing the conversation around inclusivity.
In the past few years, inclusivity sparks thinking about brands who offer sizes for every body type. Universal Standard was a front runner in this journey and our culture is forever changed thanks to that brand and other like it. No longer do “straight sizes” end at 14. Many retailers offer pieces up to size 18 or well beyond. That’s real progress.
Amplifying brands with female founders and/or founders of color is another big part of our journey to true inclusivity. Venture Capitalists who fund these brands have propelled them forward. We can also thank shows like Shark Tank that give opportunities to folks who may not otherwise have them and retailers like Nordstrom who started selling lesser known brands and introduced them to a huge consumer base.
Now, it’s time to take our conversation about inclusivity in fashion to another level. Let’s talk about Adaptive Clothing.
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As a personal stylist for women, I can’t get enough of new, interesting brands. And as a human doing my best to live my values and help my clients do the same, few things are as exciting to me as discovering new brands that are making the world better with beautiful pieces AND a commitment to their values.
It’s true, I often have clients ask for more brands founded by women, people of color or other folks that don’t often have the same funding opportunities. If you are looking for new black owned brands making innovative pieces, this blog post is for you. Fortunately, we are also seeing an increased presence of creative brands with Asian American female founders. Let’s make sure they are on your radar, too. And rest assured, there are more coming everyday.
Before you dive in, you might be asking why it matters that a brand has women of color as founders, and that’s a fair question. Historically, women-led startups receive just 2.3% of Venture Capital funding. Every purchase you make from a brand with a female founder or a founder of color communicates to funders that there is a market for these ideas and that these founders should receive investment. Brands that are size inclusive are also sending a message to investors. We can’t do everything and it’s pointless to try, but when you are able, shopping your values (whatever they are) really does make a difference.
One more thing, you’ll also find brands embracing size inclusivity, sustainability, designed in the US and more on this list. It’s important to shop YOUR values, when the opportunity strikes, whatever those are. I find that including this information helps folks realize that they do care where or how something is made and may have not considered this before. We’re all evolving on so many issues. Ideally, these posts give you more information to marinate on and some super fun eye candy.
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As a personal stylist for women, sharing client stories with the entire Poplin community is one of my very favorite things to do. Personal styling is an intimate business and I have been extraordinarily fortunate to work with hundreds of truly inspiring, kind, brave women who are beautiful on the inside and out. They say that things will happen when you need them to and Bridget was the perfect client for me at exactly the right time. A Creative who exudes generosity and strength, Bridget lives with intention soaking up every day. She went all in with the Amplified 360 Package. It includes the traditional services: Closet Edit, Uber Wishlist, Tailoring, Virtual Styling and Outfit Creation PLUS an Intimates Wishlist and a Photo Shoot. This is my attempt at making you feel like you were with us along the way. If you find half as much joy as I did, it will be a success.
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As a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, giving back has been a part of my ethos since, well, forever. With a lifetime of volunteerism, a past career in philanthropy and a strong connection to the community, working to be a part of the solution has always been very important to me. Each of us has the power to make change and even what seem like small efforts add up over time.
As many of you know, Poplin started in 2013 and our partnership with YouthCare started within a few months. Over seven years we held styling workshops for youth experiencing homelessness. These folks were in a job training program in partnership between YouthCare and FareStart in which they learned valuable customer service skills and job training. As a crucial component of this program, each young person also received emotional and practical support as they worked to obtain housing and long term paid employment.
It’s easy to forget the impact that having a safety net can have on someone and the advantages that come from a sense of security and someone taking the time to share with you all the little things you need to know to become a successful member of society. In the clothing realm, that could mean taking you for your first bra, buying you school clothes or teaching you how to tie a necktie. Support also means helping you gain self confidence, learning how to open a bank account or helping you navigate the school system. Most unhoused young people have missed out on all of this and more.
20-40% of homeless youth experience sexual abuse, compared to 1-3% of the general youth population. 60% of houseless youth have experienced physical abuse at home before ending up on the streets. Up to 40% are LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, or Questioning).
Those styling sessions gave me the opportunity to style Trans youth. For many of them, I was the first person they had ever spoken with about the possibility of wearing clothes that were not stereotypically associated with their gender at birth. We talked about how their body shapes would change with hormones and how to dress those changing figures. I measured them for bras and taught them about undergarments, sizing and how to embrace your unique personal style. Thanks to these generous young folks, Poplin evolved into working with Trans clients, which has been life changing for me.
In those early days, my husband volunteered with me. We piled donated clothes, accessories and shoes on top of a table in a conference room. He often taught a handful of youth how to tie a necktie while looking at their reflections in an office window. Back then, we didn’t have mirrors or the incredible “basement boutique” that exists today. Youth changed in the bathrooms and did their reveals in the midst of the hardworking YouthCare staff. At the end of one session during our sharing time, one of the young people thanked him for taking the time and said that no one had ever shown him how to tie a tie before. It clearly meant a lot to him and to both of us.
Homelessness is a devastating problem that can feel completely overwhelming and unsolvable. Over the years, it feels like it just gets worse. And, it’s very difficult to engage with it when we see folks struggling on a very high percentage of our streets. But, without commitment and resilience, we will certainly lose out on a society where everyone has not only shelter, but a home.
YouthCare works with young people ages 12-24. Yup, 12-24 living on the streets in our city. Many of them may not be able to work because they don’t have an ID, something you need a birth certificate to get. They may not choose to go to a shelter for fear of abuse or because they need to be separated from their partner or friends because of gender. How many young people do you know who want to be separated from friends, especially when friends are their only support system?
YouthCare recognizes the complexity of empowering unhoused youth and is up for the challenge. This is why we host a Poplin table at the YouthCare Luncheon and why I’d love for you to join us there. It’s an incredible place to learn more about the problems and more importantly the solutions associated with youth homelessness. It’s a place to hear from young people who have persevered and show us all that if we continue the work, we can make a difference, one young person at a time. (If you are interested, you can also see What I learned from Styling Homeless Youth so many years ago.")
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As a personal stylist for women, my job is to help each client ensure that what is on the outside aligns with what is on the inside. At Poplin, we’re all about helping you communicate your authentic personal style, understand what flatters your frame and find makers that align with your values, whenever possible. And we do all this while walking the walk. It’s not about perfection. It’s about progress. And, it’s about making every day just a little bit better than the one before, whenever we can. Because when you wear clothes that feel like YOU, you’ll have more self confidence and show up in the world differently. You’ll know who you are and unequivocally understand that what you have to say matters. You’ll know what it likes to feel seen. Feeling good about how you look isn’t an indulgence, it’s a must have.
But what if you already feel great about how you present yourself to the world? What then? Well, I’ve got news for you. It’s time to take your style to the next level.
Earlier this week, I spoke at the Ellevate Network’s Evening of Style at the Armoire Headquarters. It got me thinking about some things I’d love to remind you of, Dear Reader. So, off we go!
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As a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I spend the vast majority of my time with women. It’s rare. I know. Until I started this business nearly a decade ago, the majority of my friends have always been men. My female friends were typically women who weren’t into clothes or style and predominantly didn’t wear makeup. So, my interest in style often stood out.
Things are very different now. It is a true gift to have met a diverse collection of extraordinary women who continue to be supportive, inspiring and authentic. And while I am grateful for my existing community, I know there are even more like minded women out there. Women that I can learn from, that make my life better just by knowing them AND that also want to make the world a better place.
I’ve had lots of questions about how I find these women. And that, my Dear Reader, is what this post is for. Full disclosure- so many of them are Poplin clients! It’s true. I absolutely adore my clients. Here are some other ways that might help you if you are on the hunt for a similar collection of incredible women. As always, let me know how it goes!
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Being a part of a community of driven, kind and philanthropic women is a true gift to me. One of my favorite members of that community is realtor, connector and all around community bad ass, Cassie Walker Johnson. The content below was shared with Cassie’s community first as part of her amazing monthly newsletter. I read it every time, not just because she’s a friend, but because I love the content ranging from trends in the housing market to giving back and tips for the family. Sign up now and be entered to win a gift basket filled with items from her favorite local businesses including a $50 gift card to my ideal retailers for sustainable hosiery, Swedish Stockings. And hey, have fun at that holiday party!
As a personal stylist for women, I spend a great deal of timing helping each client ensure that her overall look not only communicates her authentic personal style, flatters her shape and reflects her values; but also that her pieces are functional for her life. Here in Seattle, it’s easy to sacrifice style for comfort, but that’s really not necessary.
If it’s time to shop for your upcoming holiday party, be sure to opt for pieces that flatter your frame and communicate your style. Now, let’s dive into how we’ll make sure you are comfortable, too.
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Yes, we’ve been reading for some time now that Roe v. Wade was in danger. (After all, Rebecca Traister has been talking about this for years.) But when the Supreme Court actually overturned the precedent that provides federal protection for a woman’s right to choose an abortion, it was a huge, weirdly unexpected, blow. Yes. There is much work to be done to offer access to all reproductive services to women throughout the country and yes, every little bit you can do matters.
But, there is a HUGE opportunity right now to ensure that each of us and the next generations of women have control over our lives by guaranteeing the right to contraception. It may seem crazy that this right could be in jeopardy, but that’s what so many folks thought about Roe. There is truly no downside to passing a law protecting this right.
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As a personal stylist for women, I spend my time pouring over websites, articles and all things style related. As a human being, I spend a great deal of time thinking about Climate Change. Yes, of course, consuming anything comes at a cost, especially clothing. I often think about the most extreme alternative- suggesting that women wear white cotton items until they start to fall apart, then mend them, then opt for something new. But, years of working closely with women of various income levels, sizes and lifestyles has shown me that abandoning self expression via our clothing simply isn’t going to happen. After all, we communicate so much about ourselves without saying a word- and that is powerful.
This doesn’t mean that we just throw our hands up in the air and consume away. In fact, the very small but real bright side, is that emphasis on the changing climate reminds us of our personal impact. We have an opportunity to express our creative side, communicate our values and be thoughtful about our environmental impact.
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Why does it feel like so often I’m starting newsletters and blog posts with something about how rough things have been? (Typically, newsletters are more personal and have some added good stuff, so subscribe if you don’t already.) These past couple of weeks are no exception. In fact, in a lot of ways, things feel worse than ever.
But they are not. We’re resilient and capable and it’s very important to remember that, especially when things feel like they are at their worst.
Looking for ways to actually FEEL better? How about diving into this list of my favorite things and poaching some for yourself? I’m confident we’ll feel stronger together:)
My Favorite Things Right Now
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As a virtual personal stylist for women, one might expect that all my blog posts are about clothing and accessories. If you’ve been a part of the Poplin community for some time, you know that isn’t the case:) Personal style is about communicating who you are without saying a word. Your clothes can do that. Values are also a part of your personal style. We often talk about sustainable choices when it comes to clothes from shopping second hand and tailoring your pieces to opting for choices that keep the planet in mind.
Living your values is also how you show up for other members of your community. While I’ve been in Seattle nearly 20 years, I’m still a Northern Californian at heart. That means that I constantly interact with strangers, a very not Pacific Northwest practice. My willingness to interact with random folks also means that while I’m not afraid to intervene when I see harassment or discrimination, I have wondered if I could do things in a more effective way. Enter Hollaback.
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For those of you who have been with me for some period of time, you know that I feel very strongly that each of us has the power to make change for the better. It’s why we vote. It’s why we give back to our communities. It’s also the reason we make intentional choices about our consumption and the way we treat one another. I believe that we have more confidence to be our best selves in the world when we know that we are communicating who we really are via our clothing. It’s highly likely that you believe all of this, too, which is why you are a member of the Poplin community. Thanks very much for being here.
I’ve made no secret of my general values and also do my best to acknowledge that not everyone shares those values. And that’s just fine. I’m not interested in a world where we are all the same. It’s often been said that my superpower is to “see” people. And, I certainly work very hard to do that. I say all this to make sure that it is clear that I’m not interested in villainizing anyone for participating in any platform or for working at any company.
In fact, a large portion of my client base works in technology, including a number of people at Facebook. I absolutely believe that these folks are doing the best they possibly can to change the system from the inside. I don’t fault them for it. In fact, I admire the commitment and the willingness to do the very hard work it takes to change the machine. Any of us who have worked at large organizations know that just working somewhere does not give you power to control that organization.
But, Facebook absolutely does need to change in order for our society to flourish.
Each one of us has the voice to help push the company in that direction. The most powerful way to do that is to leave the platforms, and wait until they have addressed their issues before we return. And so, despite the danger that it may pose to my business, that’s what I’m doing. Many of you have asked why I’m leaving and I’ve avoided getting too specific thus far. But, I’ve realized that this is not helpful to you and diminishes the impact of my actions. Because I am not just leaving for myself, I’m leaving for all of us. And between you and me, I hope you decide to leave, too.
So, here’s a high-level list of the reasons that make it clear to me I can no longer participate in Facebook or Instagram. After all, if I’m still on Instagram, I’m just taking the easy way out. Yes! I’ll miss seeing you and your updates. Yes! It will be much more difficult for me to stay engaged in my local community. And yes! Connection is extremely important to me, now more than ever. But it must be done. And it must be done before the next presidential election. So, here I am. Doing it. And here’s why.
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I know, we’ve always got exciting developments over here. And that isn’t stopping now. In fact, these are some VERY big updates and I’m happy to share them with you first.
Like any good team meeting, let’s start with some big celebrations, shall we? Poplin celebrated eight years of personal styling in October. Huzzah! I can’t possibly thank this community enough for propelling me through eight years of adventures, creativity, connection and the opportunity to make an important impact in the lives of others.
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