Posts in shop local
Poplin Wrapped: Our 15 Most Popular Blog Posts in 2024

As 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…..

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Poplin's Biggest Sale of the Decade is Here!

If 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.

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My Favorite Products Right Now: BODY

As a personal stylist for women, I do love my products. And as an enthusiastic recommender of things, I love sharing my products even more. Welcome to our series on my favorite products right now. This three part series will focus on my absolute obsessions for 1. hair 2. face and 3. body. Love one? Love them all? Have your own to share? Please do!

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Connect, Learn + Make an Impact for Women & Girls in Washington State at the Washington Women's Foundation PopUp Event

As a personal stylist for women I’m fortunate to spend a great deal of my time both personally and professionally with women. Prior to starting Poplin in 2013, my career was in philanthropy. Giving back has been an integral part of the business since Day 1. Thanks to my prior career, I’ve been fortunate to have a a unique perspective and thanks to the platform that Poplin provides, I’ve also been able to be a bridge between women seeking to have an impact and nonprofit organizations doing important work in the community.

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Yes! You Can Actually Stretch Those Shoes for $10 Thanks to This Product!

As a personal stylist for women, an important part of every client’s Closet Edit is determining which of her shoes go, which stay and which just need some extra love. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a client struggling to part with a pair of shoes she adores because she knows they simply aren’t comfortable.

After all, your shoes MUST be functional for your life. Otherwise, they are simply taking up space where stylish and comfortable shoes could go. Of course, I’ve experienced this exact scenario and only now have I finally discovered a product that truly does easily and effectively stretch my shoes.

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Overwhelmed by the Thousands of Items on Sale for Anniversary? Check out Our 273 Favs from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Organized by Personal Style

Happy 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!

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Creative Style: Our 70 Favorite Picks from Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale 2024

Happy 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!

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Effortless Style: Our 46 Favorite Picks from Nordstrom's Anniversary Sale 2024

Happy 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!

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Your Favorite TV Show on Your New Favorite Sweatshirt

As a personal stylist for women, I’m all about staying on top of trends. As a Superfan of the Bear, I’m all about, well, the Bear.

If you, like me, have been elated for the return of Carmy and crew, then you’ll likely also be very enthusiastic about this new collaboration.

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Guest Post: Tips for Taking Top Shelf Selfies

As a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I get an endless number of requests to write guest blog posts. Truly. So. Many. Requests.

I take our relationship very seriously, Dear Reader. You trust me with your time and my commitment is to give you quality content that helps you transform your authentic personal style and feel good about getting dressed everyday. I like to write those myself.

Simultaneously, I absolutely LOVE connecting you with other amazing folks. It’s great for you, great for them and frankly, makes my heart swell, too. You can find several of these guest posts in the In It Together Series that we launched in early lockdown.

One of my clients asked me for tips on taking a great selfie and I immediately knew who to ask. My friend and branding photographer, Suzanne Rothmeyer, generously agreed to share her tips and tricks and they exceeded my expectations. Let’s face it. We all need this skill. I expect you’ll be bookmarking this one- or pin it on Pinterest! Have fun with it and as always, let me know what you think. -Mellicia

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Forget Panic Shopping: Get the Perfect Last-Minute Gift Now

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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Shop Black Friday Sales for Your Hourglass Body Type

We’re finally here! This is the last installment of Black Friday Sales organized by body type. Our annual “Shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale by Personal Style Key Words” is so wildly popular, we decided to try something different this Black Friday.

We’re organizing Black Friday Deals by Body Type to simplify your life, streamline your shopping and bring a spark of joy to your week. Here’s what you need to know.

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How to Style a Silk Slip Dress for Fall

If you, like me, have become totally enamored with silk slip dresses, this is the blog post for you. Yes! They are everywhere. And Yes! They are feminine, functional and can be flattering. They can also be challenging to work with as the weather cools off. If you adore the idea of a silk slip dress but find that it doesn’t feel flattering on your frame or is a chore to style, we’ve got you covered.

Before we begin, All Saints has a stellar collection of “2 in 1s” or “two-fers.” Either name refers to a sweater that comes with a silk slip dress. They are beautiful and not inexpensive. This is one of my favorites. Enjoy a wide variety of prices and several styling options just for YOU. As always, I’d love to hear how it goes. Happy Fall, Dear Reader.

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The 31 Best Boho Pieces at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023

As a personal stylist for women, few events are as impactful as Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale. Yes! Seattle is the home to Nordstrom HQ and that alone makes us love this sale. But, what truly sets anniversary apart from the others is that the sale consists of items for fall that are on sale first. When the sale is over, the prices increase. So, we have the opportunity to stock up on items that we’ll be wearing as the weather changes, rather than items that are from last season.

As a member of the Poplin community, you know that seeing something you like that is within your budget and available in your size is not reason enough to purchase it. The most important factor to determine whether or not you make a purchase is confirming that this piece communicates your authentic personal style and is available in a color that works for you. This color can bring you joy or be in your color palette. Ideally, it will do both.

Every woman has a unique authentic personal style and our goal is to help her harness that style and have the confidence to wear pieces that make her feel like the best version of herself. Anniversary is a great place to start that journey. The Poplin Pinterest Boards are another resource to get you there.

So this week, we’re combining the two. Each day we’ll share a blog post featuring my favorite items from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023 organized by style key words. You’ll see incredible finds in a range of price points and sizes for your Effortless, Minimalist, Edgy, Boho and Classic Style. So, get ready to shop and as always, let me know how it goes! Welcome to Day 5- Boho Style.

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How to Shop for the Best 46 #EdgyPieces at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023

Few events are as impactful as Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale, at least when you are a personal stylist for women:) Yes! Seattle is the home to Nordstrom HQ and that alone makes us love this sale. But, what truly sets anniversary apart from the others is that the sale consists of items for fall that are on sale first. When the sale is over, the prices increase. So, we have the opportunity to stock up on items that we’ll be wearing as the weather changes, rather than items that are from last season.

As a member of the Poplin community, you know that seeing something you like that is within your budget and available in your size is not reason enough to purchase it. The most important factor to determine whether or not you make a purchase is confirming that this piece communicates your authentic personal style and is available in a color that works for you. This color can bring you joy or be in your color palette. Ideally, it will do both.

Every woman has a unique authentic personal style and our goal is to help her harness that style and have the confidence to wear pieces that make her feel like the best version of herself. Anniversary is a great place to start that journey. The Poplin Pinterest Boards are another resource to get you there.

So this week, we’re combining the two. Each day we’ll share a blog post featuring my favorite items from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023 organized by style key words. You’ll see incredible finds in a range of price points and sizes for your Effortless, Minimalist, Boho and Classic Style. So, get ready to shop and as always, let me know how it goes! Welcome to Day 4- Edgy Style.

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My 27 Favorite Minimalist Pieces from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023

As a personal stylist for women, few events are as impactful as Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale. Yes! Seattle is the home to Nordstrom HQ and that alone makes us love this sale. But, what truly sets anniversary apart from the others is that the sale consists of items for fall that are on sale first. When the sale is over, the prices increase. So, we have the opportunity to stock up on items that we’ll be wearing as the weather changes, rather than items that are from last season.

As a member of the Poplin community, you know that seeing something you like that is within your budget and available in your size is not reason enough to purchase it. The most important factor to determine whether or not you make a purchase is confirming that this piece communicates your authentic personal style and is available in a color that works for you. This color can bring you joy or be in your color palette. Ideally, it will do both.

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Discover How to Communicate Your Classic Style with 75 Essential Pieces from the 2023 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

As a personal stylist for women, few events are as impactful as Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale. Yes! Seattle is the home to Nordstrom HQ and that alone makes us love this sale. But, what truly sets anniversary apart from the others is that the sale consists of items for fall that are on sale first. When the sale is over, the prices increase. So, we have the opportunity to stock up on items that we’ll be wearing as the weather changes, rather than items that are from last season.

As a member of the Poplin community, you know that seeing something you like that is within your budget and available in your size is not reason enough to purchase it. The most important factor to determine whether or not you make a purchase is confirming that this piece communicates your authentic personal style and is available in a color that works for you. This color can bring you joy or be in your color palette. Ideally, it will do both.

Every woman has a unique authentic personal style and our goal is to help her harness that style and have the confidence to wear pieces that make her feel like the best version of herself. Anniversary is a great place to start that journey. The Poplin Pinterest Boards are another resource to get you there.

So this week, we’re combining the two. Each day we’ll share a blog post featuring my favorite items from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023 organized by style key words. You’ll see incredible finds in a range of price points and sizes for your Effortless, Minimalist, Edgy, Boho and Classic Style. So, get ready to shop and as always, let me know how it goes! Welcome to Day 2- Classic Style.

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The 30 Best Pieces to Communicate Your Effortless Style from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023

As a personal stylist for women, few events are as impactful as Nordstrom’s Anniversary Sale. Yes! Seattle is the home to Nordstrom HQ and that alone makes us love this sale. But, what truly sets anniversary apart from the others is that the sale consists of items for fall that are on sale first. When the sale is over, the prices increase. So, we have the opportunity to stock up on items that we’ll be wearing as the weather changes, rather than items that are from last season.

As a member of the Poplin community, you know that seeing something you like that is within your budget and available in your size is not reason enough to purchase it. The most important factor to determine whether or not you make a purchase is confirming that this piece communicates your authentic personal style and is available in a color that works for you. This color can bring you joy or be in your color palette. Ideally, it will do both.

Every woman has a unique authentic personal style and our goal is to help her harness that style and have the confidence to wear pieces that make her feel like the best version of herself. Anniversary is a great place to start that journey. The Poplin Pinterest Boards are another resource to get you there.

So this week, we’re combining the two. Each day we’ll share a blog post featuring my favorite items from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2023 organized by style key words. You’ll see incredible finds in a range of price points and sizes for your Effortless, Minimalist, Edgy, Boho and Classic Style. So, get ready to shop and as always, let me know how it goes!

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Connecting with other Women in the New Year

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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5 Ways to Ensure You Feel as Good as You Look at the Holiday Party

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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