Seattle Sunday: Winslow Handmade Ties & Pocket Squares

This post has been in the works for months and I am THRILLED to finally be able to share with you, Dear Reader, what I've been telling every person I come in contact with: my love of Winslow.

I initially heard about Winslow from our good friends at Freeman Seattle (check out the recent post featuring Freeman or the site with new jackets for women). Shortly afterward, I saw one of the ties at Velouria and I was hooked. The brainchild of two bright, energetic and thoughtful women, Winslow makes one-of-a-kind handmade neckties, bow ties and pocket squares from reclaimed fabrics. Each one is unique and impeccably made.

They are inspirational. More than a tie or a pocket square, Winslow offers transformation.

5 Ways that a Piece from Winslow Can Be Used to Alter the Course of Your Life

Happy Bike To Work Day. Time to Get Dressed.

Hello Dear Reader. Happy Bike To Work Day! I recently learned that Davis, CA has one of the highest percentage of cyclists per capita in the country at 19%. I must admit, I'm strangely proud of Davis as I'm originally from Vacaville, only 20 minutes from bicycle central. In fact, one of my sisters lives there and bikes everywhere with her daughter right behind. As you can imagine, I've always associated Davis with biking, (now defunct) Recycled Records and a strange law they used to have that stated you could only smoke on the street if you were moving. While I'm not a smoker nor much of a biker, I took note.

In honor of this special day and the thousands of people who bike to work each day in our city (Hello Dexter!), I thought you might enjoy some fashionable options for cyclists from your very own personal stylist.

Tips for the Stylish Cyclist

I Can't Stop Talking About....

I'm often asked, "what are you into right now?"

My current list of obsessions is especially lengthy. Usually, I like to spread them out over various blog posts. But, when I'm excited about so many things, I find it challenging to hold off on sharing. So, here you go. Hopefully, you'll find some inspiration here, too!

My Favorite Things Right Now.

Try it on!

Editor's note: Below you'll find another blog post from Poplin contributor and plus size fashion guru, Jordan Richardson. Love her and you will, too. Enjoy!

Today’s topic is one that really shook my world.

When I first encountered this information on Gabifresh.com, I was stunned. This gorgeous plus size woman who was probably a size 18-20 was wearing a size L shirt from H&M. I couldn’t believe it. The top fit her perfectly and her post talked about how she had stopped looking at sizes and started looking at what she liked, and what would fit. Mind Blown!

Put Your Back Into It.

I'm always surprised at the number of people who read this blog. It's certainly not in the millions. But, does it need to be? I like to imagine that everyone who reads this is sitting in one room together. As time goes on, that's transitioned from a small room, to an apartment all the way to a building. That's pretty awesome. So, thanks, Dear Reader, for taking the time.

I also like to think that you, Dear Reader, are on your own journey to find your personal style. Perhaps you are at the beginning stages or much further down the path. Either way, you are not only aware that what you wear influences how you feel, it influences how other people feel about you. It's a powerful thing. With that in mind, it occurs to me that we all face challenges to harnessing our style. So, today, let's tackle a few of the biggest.

3 Very Real Obstacles to Embracing Your Personal Style (and how to overcome them)

Seattle Sunday: Freeman Brings the Mountains to the City — in all the Right Ways

Seattle, of course, loves the outdoors. It's not hard to see why — drive a couple hours in any direction and you'll find one incredible natural landscape after another. We take our outdoor recreation seriously, and it's one of the great defining characteristics of our city.

We dress for it, too. It's no coincidence that our very own REI has become one of the biggest names in expedition outfitting. Ask a typical Seattlite the relative merits of wool, synthetic, or silk baselayers and chances are you'll find yourself in a longer conversation than you intended. And this is important stuff — if you're heading out to the backcountry, having the right technical gear can literally save your life.

But sometimes it's hard for us to leave the mountains, well, in the mountains. We come back to the city after a weekend exploring the wild places, and we just don't want to put away our fleece vests and softshell jackets and hiking boots. It's almost as if by wearing our technical gear into the city, we're bringing a bit of that elusive outdoor magic into our daily grind.

You Have the Power to Take Control of Your Style.

Clothes are emotional. They can make you feel invisible, powerful, beautiful, confident. They can make you feel like your mother or your sister or someone you don't recognize. Then can make you feel heavy or thin. Or, they can make you feel like you.

It's a funny thing about clothes. Sometimes we can feel self conscious about caring so much about them or about how much money we spend on them. It can feel shallow or vain. But, it's not. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Like music, your clothes can empower you or they can beat you down. They can give you the confidence to do something incredibly intimidating or they can make you feel like the couch is our only safe haven. The thing I love about being a personal stylist is helping people acknowledge their relationship with clothes and make it work for them.

The Summer Essential Plus Size Edition: Shorts

Editor's Note: Below you'll find another blog post from Poplin contributor and plus size fashion guru, Jordan Richardson. Love her and you will, too. Enjoy!

When it comes time for bare legs there can be a lot of anxiety involved. I myself have long struggled with finding the right short for the spring and summer months. I want them to be attractive and youthful, but still be practical and hit the top of my knee for comfort. It’s a daunting task, and yet one that becomes necessary as the days grow warmer, or if you’re lucky you escape somewhere tropical for a slice of paradise.

There are a plethora of options available, but trying to sift through to find the perfect one for each of us takes some effort.

I’ve compiled some of hottest hits of this year’s styles to make summer shopping a little easier.

What's Wrong with 80%? Looking Your Best, Within Reason.

I once had a conversation with a supervisor who said to me, "you can't always do A work. Sometimes, you need to do B or even C work to get it all done." Recently, my husband received similar advice about setting the bar at 80% instead of 100% or, "you'll kill yourself trying." Well, there you have it.

It's a funny thing about being a personal stylist, it means that people dress differently when they are going to see me. And, I'm pretty confident they expect that I'm going to be up to their standards, as well. I think I am, most of the time. With this new wave of advice, I'm going for 80%.

Let's be honest. Life is busy, things come up and sometimes we wonder: is it really worth all the effort to put lipstick on before going to the store?

I think it is.

Brenda DeVore: Simple Ways for the Stylish Set to Be Green

I'm not going to lie. I'm a consumer. Sometimes, buying something pretty can feel like a guilty pleasure in large part due to the environmental impact of shopping and consumption. But, it doesn't have to be.

In recent months I've had the chance to learn much more about sustainability in the Northwest including local brands devoted to upcycling, recycling and so much more from Recology Store Manager, Brenda DeVore. To celebrate Earth Day, Dear Reader, I asked Brenda to share some of her favorite tips with Poplin. Here's are a few of her favorite tips. I hope you are receiving the Poplin Style Direction e-newsletter. You'll see more of Brenda's eco-wisdom there. She's got a lot of worthy tips!

Seattle Sunday: Velouria. I Can't Get Enough.

For those of you who have been reading the blog for some time or follow Poplin on social media, (Facebook, Instagram & Twitter) you've undoubtedly witnessed my enthusiasm for Ballard's own- Velouria. As a personal stylist, I've had much success with clients in the shop. Stocked with items made in America and Canada with special love given to makers from the Northwest, the shop is authentic, endearing and fashionable, just like the Velouria team. I'm THRILLED to give you a peek into the world of Velouria. Want to hear more? Make sure you are signed up for the Poplin e-newsletter. The complete interview will be included in an upcoming email.

Just a Few Reasons I Adore Velouria, and You Will, Too.

Fashion & Function: Spring Outerwear

Many thanks to a reader who recently sent a special request via the Poplin website:

"The weather is so changeable these days. Do you have some suggestions for outerwear that is both stylish and practical for the Seattle spring?"

Another reader asked via Facebook,

"Can you share some ideas for transitioning from winter to spring?"

Ah, how I love questions. And, I'm especially excited about these as I've been on an Uber Wishlist roll lately for several women with very different body types, personal styles and budgets.

I Ordered From ASOS and You Can, Too.

Clients 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.

I ordered from ASOS and why YOU should, too.

Going Back to Work Post-Baby? Here's What to Wear.

My last three clients are all mothers with kids under 3. In fact, I've spent a great deal of time with new moms discussing the transition from yoga pants and t-shirts to work appropriate clothes that function on less than 5 hours of sleep. After spending the afternoon helping a new mom edit her closet, it seems clear that other women in the same position can benefit from some tricks to get you through this unusual time. Dads- I'm all about equal opportunity. But, I think you are good on this one.

Here are a few tips that helped me after the birth of my son along with others I've learned through my work as a personal stylist.

What to Wear When You Return to Work After Having a Baby

Body Types, Pick Me Ups, Style Tips, Women's fashionmelliciaApril 8, 2014 Comment

Trends, Trends, Trends. What's Current and What's Coming

By now you are seeing pastels, polka dots and patent leather and metallic Birkenstocks all around you. But wait, there's more.

Here are a Few More Trends to Try this Season.

Pregnant and Beautiful. There's More to Your Style Than Target.

Pregnancy. Every woman who has ever been pregnant shares one common experience: the constant hunt for clothes. Personally, I LOVED being pregnant. I felt happy, relaxed and excited. In the early months, before I could tell anyone in the office that I was actually pregnant, I found myself struggling to find clothes to wear. A lover of dresses, I was relegated to one pair of pants that I found at Anthroplogie for $150. They were cute. They were stretchy. They were black. And, they were $150 for a pair of pants that I knew would only be useful for a few months. That's a true sign of desperation.

As I grew, I actually found it easier to find clothes than in the early months when you just feel bigger. And for women who struggle with morning sickness, bloating, weight gain and some of the other less stellar aspects of pregnancy, feeling awful about looking at your clothing is not the path to a happy 9 months. Now, as a personal stylist, I've found a number or fun options for pregnant clients. My goal is to offer some assistance to anyone in this situation. Yes, Dear Reader, I know you may not be pregnant. If not, please share with someone you love who will find this helpful.

Retailers for the hip and pregnant.

Seattle Sunday: Man, Your Kid is Cool. Thanks, Holt and Lulu

Let'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.

Seattle Sunday: Some New Specs and Savings at Rivet & Sway

Happy Sunday, Dear Reader. The weather is incredible, so I hope you are enjoying a leisurely day out in the elements. You may have seen on Instagram that I've recently become an ambassador for Rivet & Sway, an online eyeglass company for women located in the heart of Pioneer Square. For those of you who have been reading the blog for a while, thank you, and you may have seen my November post highlighting the company. For those of you who are more recent readers, welcome and thank you! And, you might enjoy checking out the previous post as it includes very helpful tips for choosing the right frames.

Now, to the nitty gritty.

Seattle Sunday, Style TipsmelliciaMarch 23, 2014discount, eyeglasses, online, Personal stylist, Seattle, Women's fashionComment

Must Have: Pastels. Yes, YOU Can Rock Them, I Promise.

Regardless of age, income, personal style esthetic and lifestyle a pretty common phrase uttered by clients is, "I'm not really into pastels," Understood.

So what do you do when spring is on the way and pastels are, well, everywhere? Option 1: Don't rock this trend. That's easy and being true to your personal style is more important than jumping on the latest bandwagon. But, what if you actually WANT to try to wear pastels but are concerned that they are either not flattering with your skin tone or too juvenile? Well, I can help you out with that.

Here are a Few Tips To Make Pastels Work for YOU.

Style TipsmelliciaMarch 21, 2014 Comment

Do Me a Solid, Be Kind to Yourself.

Someone recently told me that Dr. Deepak Chopra once quoted a study that found that the average person thinks approximately 65,000 thoughts per day. And 95% of those thoughts are the same thoughts that person had the day prior. I have no idea how much of this is true, but it got me thinking about the way we talk to ourselves about our bodies and our sense of style.

For whatever reason, things are especially busy right now. And, like most women I know, when things get hectic, our bodies change, our weight increases and we start to feel less than stellar about how we look each morning. Earlier this week, as I struggled to ensure that my ensemble wasn't showing off things I'd like to keep secret (hello extra 5 pounds!) my husband pulled me aside and told me that he didn't like hearing me criticize my body. Well, Dr. Chopra, if I'm repeating this sort of self criticism every day, I'm in trouble over the long haul.

Thankfully, I have an incredible husband, a closet full of options and the wisdom to know how to dress my best and be kind to myself. Sometimes, we just need a reminder from someone else. With that in mind, I'm your someone else.

So, here are a few tips to feel beautiful, even when you really don't feel like getting out of bed (or out of your yoga pants.)

Body Types, Pick Me Ups, Style TipsmelliciaMarch 14, 2014Personal stylist, Seattle, Self talk, wardrobe stylist, white skirt, Women's fashionComment