In my recent post listing 10 2018 Fall Fashion Trends, Western-Inspired fashion made the list. It also gave me a chance to plug one of my favorite bands, the Old 97's and remind me of my deep Alt Country phase. I digress.
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It's about balance, not about size. As a personal stylist for women, I find this concept comes up pretty regularly. The loudest voice we hear is our inner voice and more often than we'd like, that inner voice can actually be the voice of the inner critic.
We're all familiar with the inner critic. She has all sorts of opinions on career, parenting, keeping the house clean and so on. She also, has some very strong feelings when it comes to our bodies.
Read MoreI spend a fair amount of time with clients who are navigating plus size fashion for the first time. Whether it is following the birth of a new baby, other life changes or just growing older, it's common for a woman's weight to fluctuate. And, finding clothes in a new retail sphere can be daunting, to be sure. For this of you who have always been curvy, finding current, beautiful and affordable clothes has likely always been a challenge. And, there are so many retailers finally catering to your body and budget.
Recently, I met a lovely and incredibly knowledgable fashionista, Jordan. So, this Seattle Sunday, we're doing things a little differently.
It's my pleasure to introduce Jordan Richardson to you. She'll be contributing to the Poplin blog periodically with her vast knowledge on rocking your personal style regardless of your size. Love her and you will, too. Enjoy!
Read MoreLet's start with some basic arithmetic:
Fashion forward kids' clothes + Functional and thoughtful design + Made in Seattle = Holt and Lulu.
Dear Reader, I am THRILLED to finally be able to share Holt & Lulu with you. Owner Angie Anderson and I met a few years ago through mutual friends and I've been a fan of Angie and the brand ever since. The company makes high quality fashion-forward kids' clothes that you won't find anywhere else. She plays with gender roles, uses a variety of high quality fabrics ranging from faux leather to fleece, and as a parent herself, Angie understands what should be the ultimate goal of all children's fashion — for their clothes to be fashionable AND functional.
Top 5 Reasons for You to be a Fan Too.
Read MoreSometimes, we are fortunate enough to have some disposable cash to buy something pretty. This is especially gratifying when we've had a challenging day or are not loving our options when we get dressed each morning.
Unfortunately, extra cash is not always on hand. What to do?
Here are a few tips for FREE solutions to style-related questions.
Read MoreI'm heading out of the house in my very own handmade faux fur infinity scarf from Foxglove. Care to do the same? Simply sign up for the Poplin Style Direction e-newsletter and you will be entered into February's drawing which takes place on Friday, February 28th.
Read MoreFancy February continues. When the weather is cold and dark, the most appealing thing to do is crawl up in a ball, covered in fleece, holding a cup of coffee and wait it out. Sadly, we aren't actually able to do that. So, if you can't avoid leaving the house, why not embrace it?
Read MoreFor those of you who've been following Poplin on Facebook, you've certainly noticed my recent obsession with Citizen Rosebud, reseller of vintage and pre-loved clothing. I have her to thank for three coats in the last month. So, you can imagine my excitement when she told me that she had two, not one, but TWO Valentino dresses that she had yet to list for sale.
Read MoreI'm going to try something a little different for Seattle Sundays this February. I call it Fancy February. Oh, yeah, Valentine's Day, right? Date night. Love, etc. Right?
Nope. Actually, I've been thinking more about how we give ourselves permission to indulge on special occasions, like our wedding day, for instance. I'd like to challenge you to think of the last time you totally indulged in something that made you feel unquestionably beautiful. Please tell me it wasn't your wedding day. If it was, that's a good indication that Fancy February is for you. (Apologies, I started calling it that and couldn't bring myself to choose something wittier.)
The goal of Fancy February is to highlight local sources that will enable YOU to indulge today, because you can.
Let's start with hats from Olive & Boone.
Read MoreMy very stylish friend, Kelly, sent me a special request:
"I'm looking for a short statement necklace that I can wear with everything. Not too elaborate, please. Ideally with a little color. Everything I have is long and metal."
I love a good challenge.
Here are a few of my favorites:
Read MoreRemember that glorious contest to ring in the New Year with a Neu Year Calendar? I do. Why? Because I gave one away and because I happen to have one in my office and use it daily. I also remember it because it inspired some other readers to buy their own. (Plus, Jesse from NeuYear sent this incredible video over about how to remove permanent marker from a dry erase board. The guy is awesome. )
Read MoreWhether you are a die hard fan or just along for the ride, you are undoubtedly going to participate in Sunday's game in one way or another. I'm posting this a little early to help you plan your ensemble for the big game.
Fashionistas may be excited to learn that members of the Nordstrom family were the first majority owners of the Seahawks, with Lloyd W. Nordstrom signing the franchise agreement in December, 1974. If you've been to a Nordstrom store lately you've likely seen the "12" decals on the doors. It all comes together.
Nearly 40 years later, I thought we could root for the home team from the personal stylist perspective with:
My 12 favorite Seattle Seahawk inspired shoes.
Read MoreYesterday was a thinking day. I spent the morning listening to a few dark stories on NPR. Then, I devoted some time to friendly acquaintances who've recently experienced tragedy. Yes, thinking for sure.
It's a funny thing, being a personal stylist. At first glance it can seem shallow and unnecessary. But, it truly is a quest to help people take the time to value themselves. I get to help them feel confident that they are expressing who they really are, so that they can unleash their power to do great things. It is, in fact, pretty darn rewarding.
This thinking day evolved into two questions: Do you value yourself? And can anybody else tell whether or not you do?
Read MoreI'm especially enthusiastic about all of the people signing up on the Poplin email list in the hopes that they might win this orange leather tote bag- and receive some useful information from me in the future, of course. If you want to see me get REALLY excited, you'll see me creating an outfit inspired by said handbag. Not sure what you'd wear with this baby? Here are a few suggestions, depending on your personal style.
For the woman who is:
Read MoreTwo caveats before we begin:
- Yes, I know Issaquah is not Seattle. But, it is in the Seattle metropolitan area and this is worth the drive. Trust me.
- If you are someone who loves the idea of sustainable fashion, but isn't too keen on wearing hemp or sandals made from bike tires, you will still love this store. So, please, read on.
Before our son learned to speak, he had already developed a love of the recycling truck. He can hear it coming and races to the window to watch the entire process unfold. So, when a client offered to give us a tour of the truck yard and visit the Cleanscapes store filled with recycled items, I jumped on the opportunity. Little did I know that the store was not just another boutique that stocked reusable shopping bags. Instead it is a well-curated showroom with a goal of Zero Waste products (meaning products and packaging are made from recycled goods that can be recycled or composted again) that are predominantly sourced in the Northwest. Equally important, they are stylish. Yup. Stylish and good for the planet. Love.
For you, Dear Reader, I'm offering up four reasons to visit Cleanscapes in February.
Read MoreI had a conversation with one of my favorite people yesterday and it, like so many conversations we've had before, it centered around her holiday cocktail dress. My friend purchased this dress for a wedding late last fall and had trouble styling it to her satisfaction. Last night, she mentioned that she was planning to wear it again for a nonprofit fundraiser, but still didn't feel like she had the proper accessories... or something.
We've all been there. We buy a dress we love with the hopes that the styling will come together. Sadly, we discover we aren't sure what shoes to wear or jewelry. And, forget about staying warm at the party.
So, as a tribute to all of us who've stared at the dress we love, but never wear, in our closet, here are three ways to rock that holiday cocktail dress before next Christmas.
Read MoreWhen I was 12, I desperately wanted a pair of Guess jeans. So, I started saving up until I reached the $50 needed for the pair I wanted- black pegged Guess jeans. Everyone else had blue so I was especially keen on the black. Anyway, because I didn't receive allowance it seemed like it took a lifetime to earn the money, although it was likely a few months.
In the end, I rode my bike the long way to Macy's (sadly fashion sense does not give you a sense of direction) with my stash of cash to buy just the right pair. When I arrived, I discovered that I couldn't bring myself to spend my entire savings on one pair of jeans. That was the day I discovered that you can express yourself without spending your life savings- which led to years of vintage clothing stores, colored tights and my first "major" fashion purchase, green three hole Dr. Martens.
Last week I met with a new client who took me back to my roots- fabulous fashion on a budget. Everybody loves a deal, here are a few tips to get you there:
Read MoreRecently, I had the pleasure of attending the launch party for the brand-new Seattle location of Suitsupply, the made-to-measure menswear store that is going to give your local Nordstrom some serious competition. Menswear is all about construction and fit. Because the trends don't move as quickly as those for women, it's especially important for men to invest in pieces that will communicate their personal style and last for several seasons. Quality, my friends. Quality.
Read MoreHere's something I've noticed- a large percentage of women (and lots of men, too!) truly love the experience of a mani/pedi. The relaxation, the final result. You name it, they love it. What is especially interesting to me is that nail care can be a very effective and low barrier way for someone to communicate his/her personal style. You might notice someone rocking fleece and a pair of jeans with manicured nails, for instance.
The real battle is finding the time (I'm talking to you parents and/or workaholics!) and choosing the right color. As a redhead (thank you hairdresser and the joys of color), my bold nail color is orange-red. But, when that isn't calling to me, I am a big fan of neutrals. Wah wah. Right? Nope! Not, "I don't notice your color because it is so neutral." Instead, "holy cow. That nail color is awesome," despite being a neutral.
And, as a special treat, I'm going to show you the brands I used… which are not at all fancy. It looks like a trip to the drugstore is in order.
As we are in the month of financial cutbacks, here's an inexpensive way to up your game: Make an impact with neutrals.
Read MoreHello, Dear Reader. I've been surrounded by love and I hope you have, too. The average person is probably still recovering from the holidays and questioning his or her New Year's Resolutions. In contrast, I'm all about the countdown to Valentine's Day. And, if you have been considering a style update, perhaps you are, too.
I've mentioned before how frequently partners purchase my stylist services for their loved ones (husbands, wives, friends, parents). It's pretty great for me because not only do I get the joy of helping someone discover his/her style identity, I also get to help execute a surprise. You should know, surprises are at the top of my favorite things list.
So, might I suggest that it is officially time to start dropping hints to your loved ones (or to yourself!) that you deserve a style update. (I'm leading by example by dropping some mad hints to you right now.) They say it takes the average person 3 to 7 times of hearing something before they internalize it. In this case, more is more.
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