As mentioned previously, we are giving away an awesome tote bag made by George Jennings. Details to enter are at the end of this post. For now, let’s talk about how to style that bag. It can be hard to style a handbag that has so much going on. The trick is to style the outfit down to balance it out. What I mean by this, is to wear a minimalist look that makes your handbag the feature of your ensemble. Here are a few looks you could go for using the different designs
George and Nakeesa have been friends of mine for years. You may recognize some of the images below from cards I’ve mailed out over the years. Or, you might have seen me carrying around my favorite George Jennings totes. (I have two!) I’m especially excited to share Sophia’s take on George’s work and to give you an opportunity to win one of your own! Enjoy.
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!
I know. It's hard to hear the words, "pant suit," and not think of Hillary Clinton. But, that's not why we're here. We're here to talk about the resurgence of the matching jacket and pants, AKA pant suit, that's about to take over. As a personal stylist for women, I know that this seems well outside of what Seattle-ites are wearing to work. And, this can sound awfully stuffy and conservative. Not to worry, we can look to Cate Blanchett to show why the pant suit is something worth investing in. I was pining over which suit to show you when I discovered this article that chronicles all of the suits she wore on her Oceans 8 press tour. Magic.
Read MoreClients and regular readers have likely noticed that I'm a fan of UK company, ASOS. Affordable and fashion forward, ASOS offers an array of styles, colors, prices and current trends for the man or woman who loves clothes. After weeks of ruminating on whether or not I should order a red skirt from the company as my inaugural ASOS purchase, I was swayed by these words coming from my husband. "Red, a-line, midi, neoprene with pockets. You still haven't bought that? It's everything you love."
He was right. Naturally, that night I ordered the red skirt.... and the same thing in yellow.... plus a vinyl shirt. Um, yeah.
As a personal stylist locally, I've discovered that very few people I've interacted with have ordered from ASOS. With that in mind, I thought you might find it useful to hear how it went.
By now you are seeing pastels, polka dots and patent leather and metallic Birkenstocks all around you. But wait, there's more.
Need a faux fur shrug? If you are getting married or planning for a formal night out, the answer is absolutely, "yes!"
Need a faux fur infinity scarf? It may not seem like you do. Although, If you are a living, breathing woman this winter, it's quite possible your answer is, "absolutely!" Let me explain.
This month my Seattle Sunday posts focus on bringing indulgence and glamour to your everyday life. No need for a special occasion or a life changing event. Invest in yourself with the help of local designers and retailers. Embrace Fancy February.
Read MoreSeriously, a swimsuit? It's February.
It certainly is. For many of us, that means an escape to warmer weather. For others, it could mean visiting a local indoor pool or an opportunity to sit in a hot tub despite the cold weather. Strangely, I've had occasion to wear a swimsuit several times in the last week or so and I'm definitely hyper aware of what flatters and what doesn't.
Every once in a while, I like to try to see things as if I'm seeing them for the first time. It's fun to remember the wonder and excitement that accompanied my first meal in Seattle, for instance. We ate at the Triangle in Fremont. Built to Spill was playing and I had just seen the sign in Fremont claiming the neighborhood as the "Center of the Universe". Built to Spill on the speakers, reference to one of their songs on the sign, it was meant to be. So every once in a while when I drive through Fremont, I try to imagine that this is my very first time seeing the sign and the bridge once again. I can almost hear the music.
Where am I going with this? Zara, Dear Reader. I am going to Zara. Tomorrow, you'll be able to go on your own. But today, I'll do my best to take you with me and we can both experience Seattle's very first Zara — a flagship store, in fact — for the first time.
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.
My 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.
Yesterday 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.
Happy New Year's Eve! (And thanks to everyone for yesterday's very kind birthday wishes.) This is the time of year when we all start to recover from our gluttony and decide this is it. This is the year I…..
Usually, resolutions have something to do with weight, money or the unwavering determination to do something for ourselves. This year, might I suggest a New Year's Resolution strategy that has the potential to hit all three categories?
Read MoreI heart a good platform. But, in a city filled with hills and a lifestyle involving a toddler and a substantial amount of walking, comfort is almost as important as style. (Yes. There are limits.)
Therefore, one of my very favorite things, is finding a beautiful, memorable shoe that is also functional. My current obsession, the J Fresh loafer from Steve Madden. Observe it's awesomeness:
Read MoreI do. An old friend of mine always says, "don't take away the joy of giving." Translation: Just say thank you and allow someone to do something nice for you. After all, giving feels good.
In the spirit of the season of giving, I'm going to do a little extra giving of my own.
One glorious reader (that means you!) will win one closet edit just by sharing this post on Facebook. Not on Facebook? Not to worry. Just shoot me an email and I'll enter you in the drawing.
What's a closet edit, you say?
Read MoreWhenever I work with a client, we focus on four things: body shape, lifestyle, budget and the impression he or she wants make via his/her clothes. Specifically, I ask clients a question: What three words would you like people to use to describe your style? Then, we use those words as a final filter when determining if a piece works for the client.
Read MoreLegend goes that once you are back at the office on the Monday following Thanksgiving, your super online shopping begins. We're pretty sure that started when we all had dial up internet at home and something slightly above dial up at work. So, whether or not Cyber Monday is still relevant is questionable.
Something we can count on? The absolute gloriousness of a good deal.
I recently received a request for a blog post about fashion for the hot hip urban man in his later years. Later as in 50's, 60's, 70's and beyond. As you can imagine, retailers aren't using many models in this demographic, so finding the right look can be challenging.*
This got me thinking about the evolution of menswear. Decades ago, men and women "dressed" for the day. Somehow over time, with the decline of the suit, came the decline of the expectation that men put together a thoughtful ensemble each day. By the 90's, a man who put some effort into his look was known as a metrosexual. It was unusual, for sure.
Nowadays, men have become fashion enthusiasts- talking about clothes, grooming products, tailors and retailers with pretty much anyone anywhere. Personally, I'm pretty excited about this transition as someone who loves menswear and is lucky to be married to my very own fashionable fella.
This also means that there are more opportunities for pieces that are functional and fashion forward for men of any age. The key: stay relevant and true to your style. Here's what you need to know now:
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