We're holding the drawing tomorrow, Thursday, September 1st. So, if you'd love to win a bottle of my very favorite makeup primer (it makes your skin so silky and is the ideal canvass for makeup), now's the time to enter!
Read MoreI had a client tell me that she loves the idea of boutiques, but she doesn't love the price tags. There's a common misconception that shopping at local shops translates to high prices. I'm always excited to share boutiques that fit every budget without sacrificing style. Queen Anne's newest shop, Foundation, does just that.
I went to the grand opening, hoping to get ideas for clients and walked out with a bag of pieces for myself. Naturally, I raced home to update you, Dear Reader on Seattle's newest option for the stylish woman on a budget.
Read MoreLet's be real. There are undergarments (we're talking about panties, bras and the like) that are crazy sexy. When you were them, you feel desirable, powerful, gorgeous.
Then, you try to layer those under your clothes. Lacy bras result in bumpy t-shirts. Low waisted underwear means a muffin top. And the list goes on. Of course, thongs are the exception. But, I'm willing to guess that most women aren't wearing those everyday. So, what to do.
Read MoreIf you follow Poplin on Instagram, you've likely seen my immersion into the world of Arbonne. It all started with a chance encounter with a very stylish woman at a coffee shop in Pioneer Square. The next thing I knew, we made plans to get together so I could try out Arbonne, a company with a wide range of products sold in five countries that are eco friendly and meet European standards.
Fun Fact: The FDA does not require cosmetics products and ingredients to have approval before they go to market, although there are regulations that apply for interstate commerce. So, the European standards are a helpful guide.
Helen (as I discovered this very stylish woman was named) trains Arbonne reps. To avoid retail mark up, Arbonne is sold be representatives and online. Having been in desperate need of a new makeup routine, I decided to ask Helen for a makeup lesson using all Arbonne products. That was among my very best ideas. But, before I'd have a crack at the makeup, Helen suggested I sample the entire skincare routine for a week and see what I thought of the products.
And so began my adoration for Arbonne. In fact, I love it SO much, that I'm giving away a bottle of the stellar primer. More on that later. For now, let's focus on why you might want to take a look at Arbonne.
5 Reasons to Try Arbonne Right Now
Read MoreLast night my husband surprised me with tickets to the Band of Horses show at the Paramount. Our musical tastes are like a venn diagram and Band of Horses is one of the artists in the section that represents our overlap. I had no idea they were in town and was recently disappointed by our inability to pick up Chance the Rapper tickets. (Also in the overlap section.) We saw them together over 8 years ago, so we were past due for another show.
It was extraordinary. Seriously. Maybe one of the best shows I've been to, certainly in Seattle. Still playing the record repeatedly on our turntable while I work, I have opted to postpone today's scheduled post in favor of something a little unconventional. (Yes, they sold records at the show.) Today, Dear Reader, I'll bring you a personal stylist's interpretation of Band of Horses. Translation: Here are some cool pieces related to horses. Go!
5 Ways to Integrate Horses into Your Look
(Thank you, Band of Horses.)
Read MoreAh, the eternal question. It doesn't fit right now, but it might fit again. It was fill in the blank (expensive, from a special trip, a gift, a go-to, etc.).
One thing I can count on discussing during a Closet Edit is the fate of that special piece. Or, in some cases, those special pieces. For whatever reason, it isn't working anymore. What it is doing, is taking up space in your closet and in your mind. So, here are a few tips on determining how to deal with the dreaded item that simply doesn't fit.
Read MoreHello there, Dear Reader!
It may seem like summer, but fall is coming up quickly. I know because when it comes to personal style, fall is the busiest time of the year. Maybe it is because we all are trained from a young age to get new clothes for school. Or, perhaps it is just the change in the weather and the lure of fall runway styles. Whatever the reason, my schedule is especially crazy from now through Thanksgiving. Well, then there's Black Friday. Oh, and the holidays. You get the idea.
So, here's a quick reminder. If you have been planning on reaching out to amp up your personal style, now is the time. Here are a few reasons why.
Straight from Poplin Clients:
5 Reasons to Book Now.
Read MoreImmediately after high school, I worked at Sam & Libby. If you are familiar with the Sam Edelman brand, then you know Sam & Libby. It was the predecessor, named after Sam (obviously) and his wife, Libby. (Here's a quick read, if you are interested in learning more.) Anyway, Sam & Libby were famous for their ballet flats, but what they offered me was a wide variety of shoe styles at an affordable price. Naturally, this price was made even better with my 30% employee discount. Within months I had hit thirty pairs of shoes in my closet. It was my inaugural thirty. I'll never forget it.
Where am I going with this? Sam & Libby also introduced me to the mule. A mule is a backless shoe. That's it. Sure, it is often closed toe. But, it can also have an open toe. It's been years since we've really seen the style featured in magazines. I've been in the clog zone for the last few years, which is as close as we've come. Clogs have a wooden sole, but don't really have any other restrictions. If you are thinking of the traditional clog- an open backed shoe with a wooden sole, technically you are thinking of a mule and a clog. Fun fact.
So, I'm starting to see mules coming back and they are more fun than ever. If you don't have a pair, the time is now. Here are an array of my favorites. Enjoy!
21 Mules! Which One's For You?
Read MoreYou know how much I love giving things away, don't you. Oh, so much. Like everyone, I suppose. I have an old friend who often says, "don't take away the joy of giving." Translation: say thank you. Enjoy it.
So, I'd like to start off this Tuesday with announcing a winner who I hope will enjoy this prize as much as I'm enjoying giving it away.
A Free Cut & Color courtesy of (My Stylist) Karen Reichert
at the Collage Salon.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist, I've discovered that there are several archetypes that come up over and over. Clients reference a look they've always loved, whether or not they channel that when getting dressed. Sometimes, the goal is to get there. That's what I'm here for. Other times, they just like elements of the aesthetic and wonder how to integrate those in small parts into their daily looks. Well, Dear Reader. I live for this stuff.
So, today, it's all about the sexy librarian. Yes, this can go so many ways. But today, I'm heading toward a feminine woman who isn't afraid to be feminine. She's confident. She knows her stuff. And, she's a little bit unconventional. Enjoy!
Channeling the Sexy Librarian in Your Look
Read MoreI adore body scrubs. My personal favorite is Laura Mercier Fresh Fig Scrub. It's $60. Up until this point, I endured a constant struggle between two parts of myself. The first part enjoys my super smooth legs. The second, and directly opposing side monitors my bank account.
The struggle is real. And lucky for me, it's over.
Read MoreAs a woman with a triangle body type, I got into the bold necklace thing about ten years ago or more. I couldn't get enough of them. At that point, they were especially hard to find which meant that the emotional thrill of finding just the right one was significant, to be sure.
But, over the course of time, I lost enthusiasm for the trend. It felt like the pieces were all starting to look the same and even the most unusual options weren't as exciting to me. Now, I'm all about earrings and watches, bracelets or rings.
Until Oliver Bonas.
Read MoreThe Poplin process is an intimate one. I often tell people that the consultation is really just an opportunity for a potential client to figure out if she's comfortable changing in front of me.
As a personal stylist in Seattle, my approach goes well beyond the current trends and into what the ideal collection is for each client. Using her online personal profile, her budget and the existing pieces in her wardrobe, we either head off to shop or I create an Uber Wishlist for her. Uber Wishlists consist of 20-30 items that work as a cohesive collection and coordinate with her existing pieces.
Periodically, I add more sample Uber Wishlists
Read MoreWelcome to the third in my series of picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. If you aren't familiar with Anniversary, it's that special time of year when you can buy new fall pieces on sale. Everything moves to full price when Anniversary is over. And, right now we are still in early access (until July 21st). That means only cardholders can purchase. Enough on the background, here are my latest picks. If you've missed them, be sure to check out: my favorite coats & jackets as well as selections for the edgy, urban, sexy woman.
Today's focus: The Fashion Forward Woman.
She's willing to push the envelope, but still needs to get the job done. Off we go!
Read MoreAs a personal stylist in Seattle, my goal is to help my clients elevate their looks so that each feels confident that her look is authentic to her personal style and flattering for her body type. One common theme over the last year has been to encourage women to swap out the cardigan for a jacket that's appropriate for the occassion and reflective of who they are.
Beyond that, here's one essential tip for the Northwesterner: We make a large percentage of our first impressions with our coats on. Yup. That's when we walk into interviews, we meet someone for coffee at a coffee shop, and so on. Let's face it, we are wearing some sort of coat or jacket the majority of the year. And the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is the ideal time to pick up fall pieces at lower prices. With that in mind, I'm focusing on my favorite coats and jackets from the Anniversary Sale line up. Interested in more of my Anniversary picks? Check out this blog post and more to come this week.
Enough talk. Let's get to it!
Top 25 Coats & Jackets from Anniversary 2016
Read MoreWe wait all year for it, and now it's finally here. In a word, Anniversary. If you have a Nordstrom card, you can pre-shop the sale until July 21st. Why would you do this? Because you can shop fall pieces now. And, I know from experience that sizes go fast. On July 21st, sale prices are available to the masses. When Anniversary ends, pieces go from their sale prices up to full price. It's wacky. It's fun. It's Anniversary.
The benefit of having your very own personal stylist, Dear Reader, is that I've gone through every piece on sale to call out my very favorites.
One more thing. If you don't have a Nordstrom card (credit or debit), you might think about signing up for one. There's a wide range of benefits that include $20 Nordstrom notes (same as cash at Nordstrom or the Rack) showing up in the mail. If you are a serious Nordstrom shopper, you might also consider a credit card that earns you more Nordstrom notes anytime you use it (not just at Nordstrom).
No, the company didn't pay me to say this. But, it's my job as a personal stylist to make my clients aware of ways to maximize every dollar.
So there you have it. And now onto some of my very favorite pieces on sale. The selection is pretty great this year, so you'll see a series of posts with more of my favs. Keep checking back.
Round ONE: Edgy, Urban, Sexy
Read MoreThere was a time when renting an apartment in New York meant that you needed to pay an extra (significant) fee to a broker. Then came Craigslist. When I moved to Brooklyn (nearly a thousand years ago), Craigslist made finding an apartment a breeze. Well, at least I didn't have to pay for a broker. I did, however, encounter potential roommates who, "like to watch Sex & the City, but don't live it. You know what we mean?"
Um, yeah. I know what you mean.
I digress.
Read MoreIf you've ever been pregnant, you undoubtedly remember the struggle to find pieces that make you look your best, while still being functional for the days when you feel your worst.
Nearly six years ago, I recall that experience like it was yesterday. Knowing I'd likely only be pregnant once, I really wanted to make the most of it. I was having the time of my life. But maternity wear was not cooperating. Everything seemed dowdy, proper — in a word: boring. My favorite "dress" turned out to be a $9 tube skirt from Forever 21 that I wore as a strapless body con option.
Since then, much has changed.
Read MoreThe first step in any style transformation is the Closet Edit. You need to know what you have, what you need and what you don't before you can move forward successfully. Otherwise, things just become overwhelming. I know I shouldn't be, but I'm always amazed at how transformational a Closet Edit can be for a client. Despite having fewer pieces (and sometimes, significantly fewer pieces), she should feel like she actually has more outfits.
I recently learned that Amazon declared the second most popular book in 2015 as Marie Kondo's, "The Art of Tidying Up." No surprise there. I can't tell you how many women have hired me after reading the book and attempting to tackle their closets on their own. The book is motivating, to be sure. It focuses on simplifying your life rather than ensuring you are authentic to your personal style. Two different goals mean two different approaches.
The Poplin approach focuses on your authentic personal style. This approach uses a client's body type, personal style and goals to determine what should and should not be in her collection. We also organize her closet by type, then by color to make creating outfits easier. I often tell clients that your closet should feel like a boutique curated just for you. Everything should fit, it should make you look and feel beautiful and communicate your personal style. I also organize my closet in this way.
However, I'm experimenting with my own closet and I'm confident that my new approach will be a helpful next step for some readers who are at the edit 2.0 level. Therefore, as we head into a long holiday weekend. This post is all about sharing.