As a personal stylist for women, I spend my time highlighting my clients and empowering each one to dress like her authentic self effortlessly everyday. It’s not often that I talk about myself. So, when the powerhouse creator of WomanCake Magazine, an online magazine highlighting women over 40, I was delighted to share my insights on all sorts of things.
Have you seen WomanCake yet?
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women, I’ve seen a lot of stripes. There’s something comforting about the perfect striped Breton tee that is really the symbol of spring. But this print can go well beyond your horizontal striped shirt. This season we’re seeing an array of pieces- some familiar, some groundbreaking, all just right for warmer weather. If you’re looking for some inspiration, we’ve got you covered.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I’m all about teaching my clients how to dress themselves and leveraging technology to make getting ready as easy as possible. It’s true, technology can be a blessing and a curse sometimes. But, it’s all about how (and how much) we use it. Is it making our lives better? My goal is to ensure that when it comes to harnessing your authentic personal style and getting ready every day, the answer is a resounding, “yes!”
Each Poplin client has a password protected webpage just for her. It tells her instantly what pieces flatter her frame, what colors make her look her best and more. Her profile defines her authentic personal style, shows photos of outfits made from her new and existing pieces and is a vast resource for her moving forward. It includes a list of brands a retailers that are ideal for her and a collection of Pinterest boards that can inspire her when she’s ready to dream or to shop. Sure, the online profile is only available to Poplin clients, but if becoming a client isn’t in the cards for you right now, you still have access to those magical Pinterest Boards. They are organized by body type, personal style key words, values and a few bonuses just because. (I’m looking at you undergarments and loungewear boards.)
If you check out the Poplin Pinterest Boards regularly, you may think you’ve seen it all. But, with 45 boards, it’s easy to have missed some. So, here’s your chance to find some inspiration, outfit ideas, product options and just all around eye candy. And remember to pin from the blog to help drive more traffic to Poplin. Every action makes a difference, my friend. Thanks very much for being here and have a great time.
Read MoreI like the idea that COVID won’t permeate every aspect of our lives, especially when it comes to the holiday season. Based on conversations with clients and friends, it’s clear that trying to find the ideal gift often also means considering how that relates to our current very strange state of being. As a personal stylist for women, I often tell people that my job is to “see” people. When I meet a new client, I listen to her and try to see what she sees as her aspirational style. Then, using her budget, body type, lifestyle and personal style, I translate that into a strategy to help her embrace her authentic personal style. Uber Wishlists are a solid representation of how I translate her words into actual items. This, my Dear Reader, is essentially spending 8 years of my professional life gifting.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women, I get all sorts of questions about what to wear and how to wear it. As a stylist during the pandemic, those questions move quickly to loungewear and how to look great while being supremely comfortable. Fortunately, functionality has always been at the core of Poplin, so answering these questions is easy.
Personally, I’ve never been much of a sweatshirt person. I always felt pretty sloppy in them. Historically, I’ve owned one or two at a time, if any at all. Now, I have an entire drawer of sweatshirts and I wear one most days. I love the versatility, the ability to wash them so quickly and with all the germ awareness we’ve developed over the past few years, they feel much cleaner than a sweater because you can bleach them or wash them in hot water. Options abound. The key is ensuring that you feel like your authentic self AND that you are still communicating your style at the level that makes you look and feel your best.
First off, you’ll want to choose the right sweatshirt for your body type and your authentic personal style. Plus, it should obviously be cozy. Otherwise, what are we doing here? Here are some ideas to kick things off.
Read MoreI like the idea that COVID won’t permeate every aspect of our lives, especially when it comes to the holiday season. Based on conversations with clients and friends, it’s clear that trying to find the ideal gift often also means considering how that relates to our current very strange state of being. As a personal stylist for women, I often tell people that my job is to “see” people. When I meet a new client, I listen to her and try to see what she sees as her aspirational style. Then, using her budget, body type, lifestyle and personal style, I translate that into a strategy to help her embrace her authentic personal style. Uber Wishlists are a solid representation of how I translate her words into actual items. This, my Dear Reader, is essentially spending 8 years of my professional life gifting.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women, I’ve had a hybrid work schedule for over 8 years. I’ve spent that time hopping from a client’s home to a retailer to creating online resources for her from my desk at home. Throughout the pandemic, I’ve heard from a number of clients struggling to find the balance of comfort and style while working and often parenting from home and now heading into the office one day a week or a month or maybe never. It’s tricky, but it absolutely can be done. And fortunately for all of us, designers and retailers have doubled down on loungewear so there are more attractive options than ever before. Here are some of my favs.
Read MoreI’m deep into the, “In It Together” Series. I hope you are finding it useful and that it makes you feel better. Despite operating as if I’m in a remote cabin with my family, I find there are all sorts of things I want to make sure you know. So, here’s a post just for that. Enjoy and thanks VERY much for all the emails, messages, etc. They are delightful and are inspiring content for the blog. Mwah!
As a personal stylist for women, I’m getting questions about cropped pants all the time. Yes! You can actually wear ankle length pants all year and be comfortable. Believe it. Here’s how.
When I was in high school, I lived for vintage shopping. My favorite place was Wasteland (either in Berkeley or San Francisco depending on the day). I took great pride in wearing things that no one else was wearing and wearing them in a way that was distinctly my own. As I got older, and made more money, I moved further and further from second hand shopping. Until one day, I didn’t do it at all.
And that’s how it has been for the last several years. Where once I would have loved to hit a thrift store, now I have a similar experience with new clothes at the Rack. But Gen Z is reminding us all of the impact our consumption has on the planet. That means that thrifting has become cool. But you may or may not be up for that. I rediscovered the gems you can find while thrifting earlier this summer at Buffalo Exchange in Ballard. In fact, 60-70% of the dresses and jumpsuits I wore on my travels all summer were from that excursion. And, they were free. After all, I could sell pieces and have some credit to work with.
One challenge with thrift shopping is the need to dig through the racks. If you aren’t someone who enjoys the hunt, this is a major time suck with very little reward. Often, there’s the struggle to find the proper size or a current piece. For most of my clients, the idea of having a few hours to kill while perusing a thrift store just seems insane.
Enter the rental market.
Before we begin, let me clarify. Rental subscription services give you the freedom to curate your own collection and pay a regular monthly fee to do so. I see these as very different from Stitch Fix and Trunk Club. Those are subscription services that have employees selecting pieces for you based on a quick survey to identify your style archetype.
Back to clothing rental.
As I wrap up my sunny beach vacation in Panama, I’m reminded exactly how important it is to stop chlorine from damaging your hair. Local hairstylist Karen Reichert of Structure Salon offers these essential tips. And if you need some ideas for your sunny vacation, check out the Poplin Style Pinterest Board for lots of inspiration. New pins go live everyday. Enjoy!
Read MoreThe average size for an American woman is between size 12 and 16, depending on the source. It’s common for brands to cap out at 12 or 14. As a personal stylist for women, I see how hard this is for real women. Who wants to discover that changes in her body mean that she can no longer shop at her favorite retailers or from her favorite brands? And when she’s an Anthro fan, it’s even more challenging because, let’s face it, there are very few, if any, retailers that really compete with Anthropologie.
So, I was ELATED when I discovered Anthro’s new plus size collection. Size 16-26 is available RIGHT NOW. So get on over and check it out. Here are a few of my favs based on your body type. Remember, defining your personal style is essential to feeling great about how you look. If you already know that Anthro’s vibe speaks to you, this post is for you! And hey, if you are looking for sizes below 16, not to worry. These pieces are inclusive and some also are available in petite!
ditor’s note: As a member of the Poplin community, by now you know how much importance I place on creating opportunities for people to be seen and heard. I’m ELATED to introduce a new Poplin contributor, Sophia Rahimi. Sophia has a deep love of fashion that is contagious. When I met her, I knew that helping amplify her voice would be as valuable to you, Dear Reader, as it would be to her. It’s pretty great to hear from the next generation, and as such, you’ll be hearing from her from time over the next few months. Enjoy!
Read MoreWelcome to the big time, Dear Reader. The Poplin Style website is up and I’m dying to show you around.
The old website was all about explaining the brand for first timers + of course, the blog, as an ongoing resource. Now, you can look to the site for information on determining your body type, how to dress it AND pieces that I adore that also happen to be just right for your figure.
If that isn't enough, the Poplin Pinterest boards are organized by body type or by style key words. For example, if you want a few edgy pieces in your collection, be sure to follow the, "edgy" board.
It's been another record breaking year for Poplin. I can't thank you enough for being here as we dive into the 6th year of helping every woman find her authentic personal style. Huzzah!
It’s time to start your holiday shopping and these are 20 of my favorite holiday gifts for him. In fact, a number of them are really great gifts for all sorts of folks on your list. But, I know how tough shopping for the fellas can be. So, here are some glorious ways to get you going.
Read MoreWhether you are taking candids at home or hiring a professional photographer, trying to determine what to wear for family photos can be challenging. As a personal stylist, I get this question often. Having just taken our family photos for the year, the time is right for some tips on selecting what to wear that represents your authentic personal style and is reflective of your family right now. After all, that’s what we’re documenting for, right?
Read MorePoplin Style Direction is an affiliate. That means that when you click on items on this site, Poplin may receive a commission on your purchase with no additional cost to you. So, please consider clicking when you are ready to purchase.
In the very early stages of Poplin, I won a pair of shoes (of my choice!) from one of my very favorite retailers, the now defunct SoleStruck. I really wanted a pair of giant platform clogs. They were the result of a collaboration between Opening Ceremony and Chloe Sevigny. What could be better. There were two options: black leather or white patent leather. I was on the fence, but kept coming back to the white and since they were free, I decided to take the plunge. At the time, white shoes seemed like insanity. Naturally, there were few places to look for style inspiration and I found myself experimenting with them with much success. In fact, this blog post details that journey.
That experience was just the beginning of my white shoe phase. Next up, platform white Birkenstocks, white sneakers and so many others. My latest love is my white pair of Vince slides. As a personal stylist who works with real women using pieces in their existing collection or purchased using their actual budgets, it's vital that I know how to maximize pieces for my clients. White shoes and the challenges of styling them have come up often. That brings us to white shoes. They are ubiquitous, so if you don't already have a pair, you soon will. Now, let's make sure you know how to wear them so you get the most out of this hot trend. Off we go!
As a personal stylist for women, I spend my days offering tips and tricks to make lives easier. Who doesn't want the mornings to run more smoothly? Who isn't looking for easy ways to keep her style game elevated without having to try too hard?
Read MoreSo I wrote a post in March, 2017 about how to wear a belt bag (aka a Fanny Pack). And now, I'm seeing belt bags EVERYWHERE. So, My Dear Reader, here's what you need.
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