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…..
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, 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 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 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.
Read MoreI 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!
Read MoreWe’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.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I spend a very high percentage of my time with women. One of the benefits of this lifestyle is the constant trading of resources. We’re always sharing books, shows, products and more with one another. Regularly referred to as, “Idea Girl” in my family, offering resources and solutions is one of my very favorite things to do. I also LOVE learning about new options. This personality trait brings us to one of my periodic blog post themes: My Favorite Things Right Now. Here we go!
Read MoreIf 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.
Read MoreAs 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.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I like to think of the Poplin newsletter and blog as a resource that brings surprise and delight to your inbox every other Friday. Yes! There are all sorts of style tips. And there is so much more. For folks who subscribe to the newsletter, I include my favorite things from articles to books, products, TV shows and more. My goal is for the Poplin newsletter to be a feel good experience jam packed with useful information in this world that often feels filled with dark perspectives. I especially appreciate connecting with you, hearing feedback and shouting from the rooftops when I have exciting finds to share.
Because of this, it’s very rare that we feature guest posts on the Poplin blog.
But an insanely inspirational acquaintance of mine introduced me to Cass, a Sex and Embodiment Coach. Honestly, I had no idea that this was even a thing. Sure, I am familiar with Sex and Dating Coaches (which can be super helpful to folks), but a coach specifically focused on the individual’s connection with their own sexuality, loving and accepting their body at all sizes? I had no idea.
Then I met Cass. I’m not going to lie, I’m very private about all things sex-related. But, ever since our son was born, almost 13 years ago, I’m also very aware that it’s important to have open conversations about sex, sexuality and our bodies. As a personal stylist, I am fortunate to have women confide in me about how they view themselves and over the years I’ve been amazed by the self talk women developed that can be traced directly back to an older woman’s feedback about her body as well as what she “can and cannot wear”. Understanding that comments by a mother or an aunt or a friend to a 14 year old girl can still drive the way she perceives herself in her 40’s make me very committed to paying attention to my own language with my son, my clients and myself.
Enter Cass. She brings a fresh perspective to something I had thought about, but not like this. So, I hope you enjoy hearing from her and as always, please let me know how the Poplin community can better serve you on this journey to love and accept your body and understand that changing your clothes can be just as powerful than changing your body. Enjoy!
-Mellicia
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women everywhere, I’ve spent over a decade working with hundreds of women to harness their style. At a Poplin client event a few years ago, we took a group photo. It wasn’t until looking at the photo that I realized how many of my clients are petite. Of course, it makes sense. Finding pieces that fit your body is an essential component to feeling amazing in your clothing. And whenever retailers and brands make that process difficult, the result is often negative self talk and always frustration. This can happen thanks to the limited number of pieces available in certain size ranges- petite, tall, plus and especially petite plus.
Whether or not you are petite, defined in the US as 5’4” or below, you’ll find some real gems in this blog post. (As an added bonus, this post also features petite Poplin clients so you can dive into each woman’s style and see the magic of great fitting clothing and hear her perspective on working with Poplin.)
Before we begin, it’s helpful to truly understand the impact that having limited options has on a woman’s approach to personal style. Over the years, I’ve discovered that when a woman is limited to a small selection of pieces because of her size, she has often closed herself off to the idea of truly wearing what she wants. (This can also happen for women who don’t have access to desired retailers or brands because of their location or Trans women who are new to women’s clothing altogether.) Regardless of the reason, when a woman can’t even SEE the clothes she is interested in available to her, she an easily internalize that those styles aren’t for her. So, when I ask her to think aspirationally, if she could have any style without concerns about budget or lifestyle, she has no idea how to answer.
This is only one of the many reasons that fashion’s more inclusive approach to showing models of all body types and sizes is extraordinarily beneficial. Of course, there’s a long road ahead. But, we’re absolutely seeing progress.
Now, back to our original question: Should I buy petite clothing or buy standard sizes and have things tailored? The answer is: it depends or both, depending on who you are. Let’s dive in!
Read MoreAs 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.
Read MoreFew 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.
Read MoreAs 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.
Read MoreAs 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.
Read MoreAs 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!
Read MoreSummer is here and that means it’s time to stock up on sun protective clothing. The challenge is that so many options are functional but not fashionable. Not to worry. Your very own personal stylist is here to help. Take a look at an assortment of my favorites. Whether you are looking for extended sizes, various lengths or just something that feels fresh, there are options for you. Have a great time out there.
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