Guest Post: What's it REALLY Like to Work with Poplin. One Client's Perspective

As a personal stylist for women, there is SO much variety in my daily life. One day I’m running around Bellevue Square on the hunt for the perfect pieces for my client’s shopping trip, another I’m climbing all over her bedroom to take outfit photos and still another I’m in my office scouring the interwebs to create the Uber Wishlist of dreams. Just because I’m doing another Closet Edit doesn’t mean that the experience is the same. After all, every one of my clients is her own person. She has a picture in her mind of her ideal, stylish self. She faces unique struggles and a lifetime of self talk around clothing and her body.

There is one thing that all (if not nearly all) of my clients have in common: they know Poplin. Thanks to the generous clients who have come before, there are endless online reviews about the experience. In fact, right now on Yelp, there are 47 “recommended reviews” with another 15 “not recommended.” I know. Right? So many feelings about those not recommended reviews. I digress…..

Whether she has delved into the Client Stories Page, checked out Google, Facebook, Yelp or been a part of the Poplin community via the newsletter, this blog and/or Instagram, she knows what she is getting into. Very often, she identifies with one or more story.

"I was sick of taking 30 minutes every morning to find something to wear and still ending up feeling frumpy.”

-Ashley

5 Spring Trends That You Can Wear Multiple Ways

The moment that we get a bit of sunshine, I am READY for spring. As a personal stylist who was born and bred in sunny California, I can’t help but have lots of love for warm weather fashion. It’s easy. It’s feminine. It’s functional. Having been in Seattle nearly 15 years, I find myself struggling with late winter/ early spring. You know it, that time of year when you desperately want to wear spring colors and pieces, but it’s still cold and often rainy.

Lucky for us all, there are ways to introduce spring early this year. Below are some of my favorites. I’ve also included some outfit photos from real Poplin clients. Every item on an image works with every other item to create multiple outfits. These aren’t perfectly lighted or displayed because the focus is on creating the maximum number of outfits, rather than having each image look perfect. I hope they are useful for you as you integrate these trends into your wardrobe. After all, you don’t need all new pieces. Leverage what you have and you’ll find that old pieces will also feel new again. Enjoy!

5 Spring Trends That You Can Wear Multiple Ways

Guest Post: Natalie Joffe on Giving Up vs. Letting Go. Tips to Feel More Confident in a Thin-Privileged World

As a nutrition coach, I often hear things like:

· “I just can’t accept my body at this size.”

· “I need to lose weight so that I can feel more confident.”

· “I will [start dating, apply for that new job, try that new class, etc.] after I reach my goal weight.”

The trouble with these statements and the fantasy of how amazing life will be at a smaller size is that they require us to put our life on hold, they perpetuate the weight bias in our culture, and they support the belief that we can shame our bodies into changing.

Sadly, we live in a thin-privileged society. This means that living in a smaller body one gains privileges and access to things that those in a larger body don’t. However, it doesn’t matter how small you are if you still struggle with critical self-talk, comparisons, and inner judgment.

Five strategies to help you feel more confident and empowered in the body you have now

Should I Be Wearing High Rise Jeans or Super High Rise Jeans?

As a personal stylist for women, I spend a great deal of time with women helping each one determine what cuts are most flattering, what pieces are authentic to her personal style and what’s ideal for her lifestyle and budget.

Jeans, as you can imagine, are a big topic of conversation. While there are quite a few women who are not loving this high rise trend (I see you!) because it doesn’t work for their body types, there is also a sea of women who are loving it. For those who are fans, they are often filled with other questions. One key struggle: should I be wearing high rise or super high rise jeans? Here’s the skinny.

What’s More Flattering for my Body? High Rise Jeans

or Super High Rise Jeans

The Perfect Pieces for Your Body Type from Anthropologie's New Plus Size Line

The 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!

How to Dress Your Body With Anthropologie’s New Plus Size Line

The Modern Twin Set. Put Away Your Cardigan.

What’s more classic than a twin set? (A twin set is a cardigan with a coordinating sweater or top underneath.) Sure, a twin set is polished and simple. But, if you are looking for something that feels elevated, polished, current and easy, there’s a new duo in town.

As a personal stylist for women, I’m all about helping each woman feel like her authentic self in clothes that work for her real life. My favorite twist on the twin set right now is a blazer with a top of the same color. Here we go!

The Fine Print: Poplin is an affiliate. That means that when you click through the images below, Poplin may receive a commission without any additional cost to you. Those commissions add up for us small business owners, so please click through when items appeal to you. Thanks very much and happy shopping!

The Modern Twin Set: A Baker’s Dozen of the Best

Blazer + Top Combos

Finally! Shop Your Personal Style Key Words Easily

At Poplin Style Direction, it’s all about balancing a client’s personal style, budget, body type and lifestyle in a cohesive strategy that helps her keep her style elevated, authentic and EASY. After all, who has the time to figure all this stuff out? We’re on our sixth year of providing personalized attention to hundreds of women. Throughout this journey, it has been very important to me to empower each woman to own her personal style. I don’t want her to be depending on Poplin to make decisions or to question how she ended up with various pieces or what to do with them. Therefore the process is structured to ensure that result. (You can see what clients think here).

Get Inspiration From Real Poplin Clients

Yes! We’ve always had an array of magnificent Poplin clients on the website. Now, you can click through the image of any client on the home page and be taken directly to her story. Of course, there are new clients added regularly. It’s addictive.

Shop By Body Type and More on the New Poplin Style Website

Welcome 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!

How to Look and Feel Great at the Pumpkin Patch

As a personal stylist for women, sometimes I have clients who want to save their "good stuff" for special occasions. Think of this as your good china staying in the cupboard until Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.

The Essential, Elegant, Timeless Must-Have for Fall!

Author, coach, mom, all around bad ass and Poplin Client, Julie, is the picture of confidence in her animal print coat. It's time to get your animal print on, my friend. Whether you are going full force with texture AND print, like Julie, or you'd prefer something a little less bold, this is the season to stock up. Remember, animal print is a neutral and can be paired with virtually any color.

Fall Fashion Spotlight: Lightweight Jackets

As a personal stylist for women, I spend a great deal of my time with real women, helping each women determine her personal style. Knowing your personal style isn't enough. Clothes need to be functional for your life and realistic for your budget. And, of course, they should be flattering for your body type. This may sound tricky, but it isn't. It's all about having the proper filters to know what to wear and what to buy.

This High Impact Fabric will Transform your Look

Most of us are drawn to specific fabrics. As a personal stylist for women, I see this all the time. Some women adore the way natural fabrics feel on their skin. Others, care more about the way a fabric looks. Does the print draw her eye? Does it look like a quality item? Whatever your feelings, one fabric feature has an impact on how flattering a piece is on your body.

It's all about whether or not the fabric is shiny.

10 Fall 2018 Trends. Go!

How Do I Style White Shoes?

Poplin 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!

5 Ways to Style White Shoes

Florals: Which Ones Are Right For You?

If you aren't on the Poplin email list, you are missing out. This week's edition was all about florals. Here's a sneak peak. Like it? Make sure you sign up! Plus you get 6 weeks of style tips right to your inbox. Enjoy!

PS. Items listed on the blog and the newsletter may be affiliate links. That means that if you click on something and decide to purchase, Poplin may receive a commission on your purchase with no additional cost to you. These all add up. So, if you are shopping, please consider clicking through. Thanks!

Florals: Bold Impact or Soft and Feminine? You Choose.

Body types: Dressing your body at any size

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.

10 Places to Find Petite Plus Size Clothing

If you've been reading this blog for any period of time, you're probably very familiar with the emphasis on celebrating the body you have and learning how to dress it to ensure you feel like the best version of yourself each day. As a personal stylist for women, it's clear to me that a big challenge to this approach is the limitations that retailers and brands create when it comes to sizing. The typical store carries up to size 12 or 14. I spend a great deal of time with women in the 12-14-16 space. It's hard. As if finding the right clothes isn't already hard enough, when you size out of the stores and brands you know so well, things can quickly devolve.

body image, Body Types, plus size fashion, Style Tips, Women's fashionGuest UserMay 9, 2018

Must Have: Rubber Shoes

I hope you are on the Poplin Style email list. After all, subscribers get a weekly email with my favorite items right now as well as other updates on brands, makers and more. Subscribers are also automatically entered into every Poplin Style giveaway.

accessories, Body Types, My Favorite Things, Poplin Giveaways, Shoes, Weatherproof, TravelGuest UserApril 26, 2018

Repurpose. Repackage. Making an Old Coat New Again.

Upping your style game does not have to mean running out and purchasing a ton of new clothes. Whatever your budget might be, there are creative ways to help you embrace your style and be mindful of your money. On of my very favorite things to do is to find new life in existing pieces. If this speaks to you, you'll should certainly check out the post about updating your "they work for work" pants. There are lots of ways to stretch those Banana Republic/ Ann Taylor/ Express pants.

5 Ways to Wear a Belt Bag in 2018

So 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.