Hot Tips to Improve Your Mood During Quarantine: from a Stylist who Works from Home

I know, it’s been a while. In the words of one of my clients, “you know I love clothes, but my heart just isn’t in it right now.” True story.

So, my Dear Reader, I can promise you this: I’ll only be writing when my heart IS in it. Because, as far as I’m concerned, I owe that to the both of us. Today, my heart is absolutely in it. Yes, I’ve got a sea of content that I never shared. Spring fashion just isn’t speaking to me right now. I’m going to guess you feel the same way. What is speaking to me? All the hot tips I have for you. After all, not only do I work from home (when I’m not with clients) but I also have been predominantly home since the end of February. So, I’m further down the road than most. Get ready for some ideas that will hopefully inspire you, and if nothing else, give you a few minutes of distraction from the other media. One quick thing before we begin: Remember to listen to the experts and local officials. I especially find the Daily from the NY Times helpful. Wash your hands, stay at home. Okay- Off we go!

10 Ways to Feel Better While You are at Home

Everybody's Doin' It: Your Poplin COVID-19 Update.

Let me ask you this: When is the last time you wore a bra?

I, for one, haven’t worn one in weeks. Welcome to life with the Corona Virus. Home quarantine can mean lots of things to you: working from home, lots of time with your immediate family, a sea of comfort food and little exercise, lots of wine, maybe a board game or two. Whatever this unprecedented time is in your world, it’s highly likely it involves skipping your bra and spending most days in oversized sweatpants.

Understood. Why bother putting on makeup or doing your hair if you aren’t leaving the house?

With the newest updates on school closures (our son is out until late April, at least), it’s time to make a plan for the temporary new normal. Here’s mine:

On the home front

Must Haves for Spring 2020: Bermuda Shorts

If you’ve been looking around and feeling like shorts are getting shorter all the time, you are correct. In fact, short shorts and hot pants are coming on strong for spring and summer. But, rest assured, if that isn’t your jam, there’s a new alternative that is on trend and crazy comfortable.

As a personal stylist for women, it’s on me to find pieces that are just right for the real world and also make you look and feel your best. I’m also having the time of my life digging into spring fashion trends so expect to see a number of different choices popping up in your inbox over the coming weeks. The last post featured my favorite colored leather and vegan leather for the season. In case you missed it, you can find it here. Next up: Your latest 90’s flashback, Bermuda Shorts.

Spring Must Have: Bermuda Shorts (Especially as Part of a Summer Suit)

Must Haves for Spring 2020: Colorful Leather

Man, if you are stuck in the house working from home on this beautiful spring day, this is just what you need to put yourself in a positive head space. Spring Fashion. Let me say it again, Spring Fashion. As a personal stylist for women, I pay attention to trends, naturally, but my work is really about helping women translate those trends into their everyday looks.

Here are some pieces that are sure to bring you joy.

Spring Trend: Colorful Leather (and Vegan Leather)

Hot Tips From a Client: 3 Ways to Effortlessly Save Money While You Shop Online

You know how much I love talking about the Poplin Community. You, Dear Reader, are a valuable member. Poplin clients are members, too. As a personal stylist for women, I spend my time both sharing with and learning from members of my community. And let me tell you, I learn a lot. So, I’ve decided to start offering up periodic blog posts filled with expertise from my clients that I am confident will be helpful to you. These tips are from one of my new clients in the Bay Area, Daniela. Enjoy!

Daniela’s Words of Wisdom: 3 Ways to Get the Best Deal

When You Shop Online

Buy 2nd Hand Pieces at Nordstrom. That's Right. Nordstrom.

As a personal stylist for women, it’s important that my recommendations align with my client’s values. Whether she is going for affordable options to keep her budget in check or she’s more interested in sustainability or Fair Trade, it’s all about honoring those values as best we can.

Over the past year or so, the requests for second hand pieces have sky rocketed. While we always catered to our the values of each client, now things are more explicit with sustainability modifications on every package. But things just got a whole lot easier.

Seattle Fav Nordstrom Offers Curated Second Hand Pieces

Beyond Seattle: Poplin Goes National

As a personal stylist for women in Seattle, I spend the majority of my time working with individual local women to help her elevate her style. Starting with her personal style, body type, budget and lifestyle, we create a strategy for her to look and feel like her authentic self every day- whether she’s giving a presentation or sitting at home in her pajamas.

From the outside, it may seem like all of this goodness is here in Seattle. But, actually, Poplin’s reach goes beyond the Pacific Northwest and lately, I’ve found that lots of folks have questions about that. So, let’s do some celebrating, shall we?

10 Game Changing Ways that Poplin Style Goes Way Beyond Seattle

Fashion and Function: Over 30 Winter Coats that are Just Right for your Body and your Style

If the snow storm has taught us anything, it’s that it’s vital to have a winter coat that you adore and is also ready for crazy cold weather. As a personal stylist for women, I’m all about making sure that your pieces are functional AND communicate your authentic personal style.

Remember, if you can only afford to upgrade one piece in your wardrobe, it should be your coat. You make the majority of your first impressions wearing your coat. Whether you are walking in the door for a coffee meeting, heading from building to building or ready for a night out, your coat can make or break your look. Here are some favs! Enjoy.

The 30 Best Winter Coats for Your Body Type. Go!

5 Tips to Make Your Hair Look Amazing (Without Killing Yourself to Make it Happen)

Happy New Year, Dear Reader!

As a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I spend a whole lot of time chatting about which socks work with these shoes and what undergarments make this dress flattering and how do I simplify my morning routine without sacrificing my style. Yes, this is how I spend my days.

But it doesn’t stop with clothing. I get lots and lots of questions about laser hair removal, microblading, skincare, body positivity and of course, hair. So, let’s kick off the New Year with some hot tips on making your hair make your day.

5 Easy Ways to Make Your Hair Look Amazing

25 Hip Sustainable Brands and Retailers

As a personal stylist for women, I’m focused on ensuring that every woman’s clothing communicates her authentic personal style. That style is also reflective of her values. For some, those values mean supporting local designers. For others, that means putting more towards sending her kids to college and less on clothing. I find that most of my clients fall somewhere in between. They would love to purchase pieces from brands and makers that are paying attention to sustainability and fair wages, but they also need to stay budget conscious. Others are watching large and small retailers go out of business and are really just in search of somewhere new and interesting to find those treasured items. With so many questions on this topic, I decided to put together a blog post filled with new places to explore to find makers and retailers that align with your values. So, start thinking about your own priorities and take a look at the list. As always, please let me know what you think. Happy holidays!

25 Brands and Retailers for Sustainable Shopping

Get Poplin on Your Holiday Wish List

I don’t know about you, but I’m deep in holiday shopping. Whether you are putting together your own holiday wishlist or shopping for others, it’s time to give the gift of style. Here’s what you need to know to set you up!

5 Reasons to Give (or Get) Poplin Style This Holiday Season

The Lazy Person's Way to Save Tons of Cash While Shopping (Use it for Black Friday and Beyond!)

HONEY, IT'S TIME TO SAVE SOME SERIOUS CASH WITHOUT TRYING.

I shared this Google Chrome Extension for the first time back in the spring of 2016. Yesterday, I did some early Black Friday shopping and saved crazy extra cash without even trying. My J.Crew order was $60 less after using Honey!

This Google extension is so extraordinary that I considered writing an entire blog post about it. As it turns out, Buzzfeed already did. And who can write things as succinctly as Buzzfeed? You must read this article entitled, "this lazy online shopping trick actually saves you a ton of money." For real.

Celebrity Stylists Just Launched a Line of All the Undergarments You'll Ever Need

As a personal stylist based in the Seattle area, I tend to have pretty intimate conversations with women. These conversations are often about style. For instance, I can’t actually pull off a jumpsuit, can I? Oh yes, you can. Or, how exactly do I stay warm in ankle length pants? Or how do I style ankle boots? Sometimes, folks can feel uncomfortable asking those questions.

Once we’ve connected, the questions get a little deeper. My feet smell after I wear shoes. What can I do about that? Are there any products to help when my thighs rub together? And so on.

One of the things that is truly most perplexing to my client base, is tackling next level style problems. I love that dress, but do you wear a bra? Or, how does J Lo look like that in that dress? Isn’t she worried that it’s all going to come out at some point? The answer is, “no” she doesn’t need to worry. She’s got the right team and the right products. And now, everyone else has access to those resources, too. Enter The Kit.

Two celebrity stylists paired up to answer all those tricky questions to prevent wardrobe malfunctions. The site’s tips and tricks will give you a quick education. My favorite part of the website is the glossary. Once you’ve brushed up on your style speak, get ready to shop. After visiting this site, you’ll be dying to try a new silhouette for the holidays. Here are a few of my favs. Have fun and let me know how it goes!

A Few of My Favorite Pieces from The Kit

Must Know Now: How to Stay Warm When You Are Wearing Ankle Length Pants

As a personal stylist for women, I’m getting questions about cropped pants all the time. Yes! You can actually wear ankle length pants all year and be comfortable. Believe it. Here’s how.

How to Stay Warm While Wearing Cropped Pants

A Rooftop, Some Friends, an Uber Wishlist and a Long Legacy

Let me start by saying that Heidi would have hated that I’m posting these photos. But, they are the only ones I’ve got and they remind me of a really lovely evening with some of my very first clients. Each one went from an acquaintance to a good friend. So I’m posting them. It’s also a reminder that we are our own worst critics.

Six years ago this month, I started Poplin Style. Jumping into an entirely new career based entirely on my feeling that I’d be good at it and it would make me happy, I announced to the world that I was now a Personal Stylist.

I never could have done this without the intricate, vast, surprising support system all around me. Yes, my husband is incredible. And, yes, I have great friends, too. Yet, surprisingly, it was the friendly acquaintances who took a chance on me that were integral to building this business.

When I decided to reinvent my career, I happened to meet my husband’s boss, Heidi. She insisted on using my services. In fact, my first client was a good friend, Lauren, and Heidi was my next. But, Heidi was different. She saw what I had to offer, the early incarnation of the Style 360. But, it wasn’t for her.

“I know what I like. I just hate to shop. I don’t want to go to the store together. Can’t you do something else?”

And the Uber Wishlist was born.

I poured over her Uber Wishlist for hours next to the pool on a family vacation. When I finally completed it, she was elated. And that kicked off wishlist subscriptions. Heidi subscribed to a monthly list for a year.

The rest is history.

We lost Heidi a couple of weeks ago, now. I’ve been thinking all about this post since that day. But, it’s taken me some time to sit down and write it.

Here’s what I’m taking away.

Sustainability: How to Buy a Sweater that Won't Pill

As a personal stylist for women, I spend a whole lot of time in closets. That means I see an extraordinary number of sweaters- and most of them aren’t holding up.

It’s vital that each piece in your collection communicates your personal style, is flattering for your shape and is functional for your lifestyle. Equally important: the pieces in your wardrobe should all show the world that you are successful. When you are wearing a sweater that has pills (little balls of sweater-ness all over), your clothing is not consistent with who YOU really are. You are a successful professional. You are on your way to the top or already there. You are someone who doesn’t feel her best in a pilled sweater.

You are also savvy and don’t like to waste your cash. So, how about we avoid buying sweaters that pill in the first place? Yes, you can do that. It’s not 100%, but this will take you far. Off we go!

(If you have some sweaters that you love and have already started pilling, try my favorite fabric shaver included in the Style Essentials.)

How to Buy a Sweater that Won’t Pill

Sustainability: How to Care for Your Jeans

As a personal stylist for women, I’m all about respecting each client’s values and helping her communicate those through her clothing. I got so deep into this values discussion that I did a workshop at Amazon last year to help employees learn to live their values when it comes to clothing. As it turns out, it’s not as difficult as it sounds. And, like everything, it doesn’t need to be perfect. Really, who needs more things to feel guilty about? No one, that’s who.

So, I’m kicking off a new series of posts on Sustainability. This will also be woven more intentionally into posts in the future. This does not mean that I’ll only focus on pieces that are made from sustainable fabrics or recycled water bottles, etc. Although, I’ll certainly share those with you, too! What is means is that it’s important to be of service to the Poplin community where YOU are. So, if you’d like to pre-cycle (buy less, buy previously worn pieces or maximize what you have), recycle (find new homes for your unwanted pieces in a way that makes the world a better place, or at least doesn’t make it worse) or make intentional purchases (fabric choice, makers, number of pieces, and so on), this series is for you.

We’re going to kick things off with some essential info for just about everyone: How to care for your jeans. Off we go!

How to Care for Your Jeans

Extending the life of your jeans saves you money and heartache.

One FREE Hour of Styling + All Your Questions Answered about Money + Style (in person!)

As a personal stylist for women, I spend a great deal of time discussing budgets with my clients. We talk about when to invest, when to cut back, when to buy new and when/if to buy used. A lot goes into balancing your money and your style.

What’s more fun than getting a crash course about how to elevate your style while respecting your financial goals? How about an entire evening filled with engaging, fascinating and friendly women who are there to learn the same thing? Register now for an evening of Money + Style with Poplin Style Direction hosted by the Koa Club. Here’s what you need to know.

Money + Style

Poplin Discount Code Alert: Salty and Sweet Design

As a personal stylist for women, I can’t tell you how many people I have introduced to Portland’s own, Salty and Sweet Design. I ADORE this maker. The jewelry is lightweight, laser cut to perfection and crazy cool. Plus, it’s affordable. (You can also shop hanging mobiles, knives and more on the site.)

After all these years, it seems only right that we start offering a discount to Poplin clients. So, here you go!

Sustainability: Get Ready to Fall in Love With Renting Instead of Buying Your Clothes

When I was in high school, I lived for vintage shopping. My favorite place was Wasteland (either in Berkeley or San Francisco depending on the day). I took great pride in wearing things that no one else was wearing and wearing them in a way that was distinctly my own. As I got older, and made more money, I moved further and further from second hand shopping. Until one day, I didn’t do it at all.

And that’s how it has been for the last several years. Where once I would have loved to hit a thrift store, now I have a similar experience with new clothes at the Rack. But Gen Z is reminding us all of the impact our consumption has on the planet. That means that thrifting has become cool. But you may or may not be up for that. I rediscovered the gems you can find while thrifting earlier this summer at Buffalo Exchange in Ballard. In fact, 60-70% of the dresses and jumpsuits I wore on my travels all summer were from that excursion. And, they were free. After all, I could sell pieces and have some credit to work with.

One challenge with thrift shopping is the need to dig through the racks. If you aren’t someone who enjoys the hunt, this is a major time suck with very little reward. Often, there’s the struggle to find the proper size or a current piece. For most of my clients, the idea of having a few hours to kill while perusing a thrift store just seems insane.

Enter the rental market.

Before we begin, let me clarify. Rental subscription services give you the freedom to curate your own collection and pay a regular monthly fee to do so. I see these as very different from Stitch Fix and Trunk Club. Those are subscription services that have employees selecting pieces for you based on a quick survey to identify your style archetype.

Back to clothing rental.

The Best Ways to Rent Clothing and Rock Your Authentic Personal Style