You've heard from the Queen of Brows, now you get to hear from the Hair Queen, Chantelle Riley.
Who is this Chantelle Riley, you ask? She's been Katrina's hair stylist for years (good things come in twos) and I've quickly become a huge fan.
Oh, Dear Reader, you know I'm always looking out for you. And, the best way to illustrate Chantelle's infinite knowledge of haircare and her generous demeanor is to share a few of her tips. I've asked her to give us the 411 on how to care for your hair in the winter. With any luck we'll be hearing more tips and tricks from her throughout the year.
Chantelle's Essentials for Winter Hair
Read MoreIt's Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. That means a whole lot of people get the day off. (Not everyone, I know.) Between that unbelievable Seahawks win yesterday and the opportunity to sleep in today, it's easy to forget why we have this holiday in the first place.
So, I thought I'd encourage you, Dear Reader, to think about Dr. King's legacy today. And why not do that through fashion? Without him, who knows if we'd have the opportunity to hear these voices?
It's challenging to choose just one African American fashion designer to spotlight. But, not to worry, every February I offer up some others to commemorate Black History Month.
Azede Jean-Pierre was born in Haiti and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. In the words of the good people of Not Just a Label,
"The namesake label is in its third year and has been committed to celebrating the sensual femininity of its customer since the company’s inception. It is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of functionality and innovation through exploring technique and achieving balance in wearability and design."
In short, it is incredible.
Enough talk. Here are some of my favorite pieces from the Fall 2014 and the Spring 2015 Collections. After all, we're still living in the Fall pieces, but there are few things as energizing as seeing Spring looks in the dead of winter. Enjoy and Happy MLK Day!
Azede Jean-Pierre: A Picture is Worth a
Thousand Words
Read MoreLet's talk about my hair.
I'd like to pretend that I have as much knowledge and passion for hair as I do for clothing. But, I do not. That's why I surround myself with people who do. Or, at least I try to. The challenge is that I'd LOVE someone to guide me about all things hair. As in, all things pertaining to MY hair.
In short, I'm looking for the Poplin Style Direction of hair. And I think I've come close to finding it. If you are a hair aficionado, you've likely heard of TONI & GUY, the highly acclaimed London hair brand known for "setting the fashion agenda" in the UK and beyond. Identical twin brothers Jason and Robert Townsend are part of the brand and have just opened up Essensuals London in Capitol Hill. They made me prettier, smarter and happier. And I'm confident, Dear Reader, that they can do the same for you.
Why a Visit to Essensuals London Will Change the Way You Think About Your Hair Forever
Read MoreRemember that day, so long ago, when you discovered what having your eyebrows waxed could do for your face? Or how about when you tried a shaper for the very first time? Or a push up bra? How much do you wish someone had told you years ago about the importance of sunscreen on your face?
It's these unspoken truths that transform how we look and feel. And let me tell you, Dear Reader: lash extensions are your next addiction.
What lash extensions from the Lash Factory did for me and what they can do for YOU.
Read MoreLet's face it, the season of giving can get a little stressful. I've been thinking about this quite a bit. As your very own personal stylist, in preparation for this month of excitement and exhaustion, I've prepared a few special somethings for you, Dear Reader. After all, you've been good to me so I'm going to be very good to you.
Read MoreIt may or may not be obvious, but I think long and hard about the subject of each Seattle Sunday post. What are clients asking me about? What's my favorite new discovery? What do readers NEED to know right now?
With that sort of attention, it's been excruciating for me to hold off on this post. But, it was worth the wait!
My hands down favorite shoe store in Seattle is re-souL. That's right. Hands down.
Because of this adoration, I wanted to kick off the holiday season with a post about this Ballard boutique filled with high quality Italian-made shoes for men and women. But a post just isn't enough. My interview with owners Maggie and Legh Burns resulted in so much valuable information that you'll be seeing tips and tricks from them throughout December. And, read on for more information about how YOU could win your very own pair of men's or women's shoes from the re-souL collection. Off we go!
Why a Visit to re-souL is at the Top of your Holiday To-do List
Read MoreHappy Black Friday!
Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, most people have one thing on the brain: shopping. So, without delay, please enjoy a few quick strategies for you, Dear Reader, from your very own personal stylist.
Strategic Shopping Right Now
Read MoreHello Dear Reader,
It has been a while but I come to you with an essential element of changing weather dressing. The magnificent coat. Now for many of us it may just be a way to stay warm and dry during these volatile months; however once again a utilitarian object can become a distinct and personality driven piece of your wardrobe.
Truth be told this time of year is like candy to me. Sweaters come out, coats become a staple and boots are plentiful. To be honest however some of the excitement for me is tempered by the fact that I rarely get cold until it is true winter. So layering sweaters with coats is difficult. I tend to stick with light layering when donning a heavier winter coat. Regardless, I love coats. The different styles, textures, colors, weather-proof, and accessories just sends me into a tizzy of thrills. As follows are some the newest coats available from lighter layers for that too warm bus commute, to heavier anoraks ready for fall morning treks with the dog.
Coats
Read MoreFew things are as inspiring and pleasing as seeing a really put together person on the street. It's like a little surprise. You're walking along and unexpectedly you see something (or someone) dashing, perhaps even a bit glamorous, that freezes the moment. When this happens, I often want to take a photo to document such a glorious display of fashion sense and personal style. Usually, I keep it to simply complimenting the person, which I'd encourage. Everyone leaves happy. After all, we all benefit from seeing something beautiful. And to me, fashion is a form of artistic expression. Anyway, enough of my musings. Let's get to the practical portion of this post, shall we?
In stark contrast to this euphoria, is that moment when you notice that the sophisticated fella who looks like he just walked out of an issue of Esquire is carrying a floral reusable grocery bag. Recycling- sexy. Carrying a super feminine woman's reusable grocery bag- not so much. (Unless, of course, he's carrying it for the woman he is walking with, which is pretty much the most attractive thing ever.)
As your personal stylist, I want to help prevent you, Dear Reader, from making these mistakes that keep you from realizing your true, very stylish and authentic, potential. Don't worry, they don't cost much.
Ways to Up Your Game Right Now.
Read MoreOur son recently turned four and I'm continuously amazed at the evolution of maternity clothes over the last five years. Lucky for me, I have the opportunity to work with pregnant women and women who've recently gone back to work.
Both of those life stages can be especially challenging for a number of reasons. But, clothes, should not be one of them. So, I thought you (or someone you know), Dear Reader, might enjoy hearing about some new developments for new parents. FYI- That means moms AND dads.
Essentials for the New Parent
Read MoreIt's a funny thing, living in Seattle. If you live or work near Pike Place Market — a plethora of tasty fresh food, flowers and unexpected finds — you may frequent it regularly. If not, you likely only visit when entertaining out-of-towners. We're so neighborhood-centric, we can easily forget that there are very good reasons to venture outside the ten-minute radius around our houses.
So, on this beautiful Sunday, my goal is to inspire you to go beyond your neighborhood, and Pirkko is a worthy destination.
Read MoreToday's your very last chance to save 10% from TomboyX with code: Poplin.
Read MoreThe pros of boutique shopping:
1. You get a piece that no one else has.
2. You have an interesting story to tell about your purchase.
3. Ideally, you have great customer service.
The potential cons of boutique shopping:
1. You walk out with one item, if any, because you simply can't afford the prices.
2. You feel judged when you walk in the door.
Enter Vixen Day Spa & Boutique in Magnolia: Your first and likely new favorite boutique (and day spa!). Owner Courean Napolitano opened the doors in 2002. An esthetician by trade, she started the business as a day spa and eventually expanded so that her loyal clientele could shop before a manicure, relaxing all the while.
As a personal stylist, it's common for clients to tell me that they love the idea of boutique shopping, but struggle with execution. Might I suggest Vixen as your introduction to boutiques?
5 Reasons to Visit Vixen
Read MorePoplin: "I've been meaning to write a blog post about how to wear jumpsuits for months. Personally, I'm obsessed with them."
Blog reader Carly via Facebook: "Indeed. The people are clamoring for it. We need to know how to wear them, Mellicia."
Give the people what they want... especially if what they want is what you are dying to tell them. And, I AM dying to tell you how to wear a jumpsuit. After all, they aren't just for the uber cool woman you aspire to be. They are for you. You are that uber cool woman.