Thanks so much for being a member of the Poplin Style Community. It’s time to celebrate your awesomeness, eight years of Poplin and our move away from Facebook and Instagram with your chance to win a $500 gift card. Here’s everything you need to know to enter to win.

What will I win?

One lucky winner will walk away with a $500 gift card to Poplin Style to use toward any Poplin personal styling service. Wonder what it’s like to work with Poplin right now? Check out this short video with Poplin client, Angela, sharing her story.

Unexpected and Thoughtful Gifts for Everyone on Your List

I like the idea that COVID won’t permeate every aspect of our lives, especially when it comes to the holiday season. Based on conversations with clients and friends, it’s clear that trying to find the ideal gift often also means considering how that relates to our current very strange state of being. As a personal stylist for women, I often tell people that my job is to “see” people. When I meet a new client, I listen to her and try to see what she sees as her aspirational style. Then, using her budget, body type, lifestyle and personal style, I translate that into a strategy to help her embrace her authentic personal style. Uber Wishlists are a solid representation of how I translate her words into actual items. This, my Dear Reader, is essentially spending 8 years of my professional life gifting.

How to Order an Amazon Gift for Your Partner and Keep it a Surprise

As a personal stylist for women, I spend a very large amount of my time on the interwebs. In that capacity, I’m on the hunt for items that help each client communicate her authentic personal style to the world using a strategy to balance her budget, body type, lifestyle and personal style. As a mom and wife who likes to keep things fun and eventful, I also spend a lot of internet time trying to keep my online orders a surprise from my husband and son…. which has been challenging… until now.

First off, yes! You should absolutely shop local, if you can. And full disclosure, my husband is a designer for Amazon. Personally, I tend to search for a specific item I’d like on Amazon and then move on. But, that doesn’t mean I don’t struggle with this surprise factor. And, I know my clients face this, too. So, this holiday season, here are a couple of game changers for shopping on Amazon when gifting to your family. Off we go!

Coachella 5.0: Your Elevated Tie Dye

As a virtual personal stylist for women, I’m all about monitoring trends and deep into the internet. If you, like me, are a fan of Japandy (the hybrid of Nordic and Japanese style that very much speaks to our home design), then you’ll love the Shibori Tie Dye Blog post. If you are into tie dye, but not so much the Japanese inspired version, then wait no more. This treatment is at an entirely. new level now with luxurious pieces that feel handcrafted and specially made just for you. I’m thinking Boho, Luxurious, Elegant.

Here’s a collection of my favs right now. As always, let me know what you think and have a great time shopping.

Big Changes for Us and for You: We’re Leaving Facebook and Instagram

I know, we’ve always got exciting developments over here. And that isn’t stopping now. In fact, these are some VERY big updates and I’m happy to share them with you first.

Like any good team meeting, let’s start with some big celebrations, shall we? Poplin celebrated eight years of personal styling in October. Huzzah! I can’t possibly thank this community enough for propelling me through eight years of adventures, creativity, connection and the opportunity to make an important impact in the lives of others.

4 French Girl Style Brands You've Never Heard Of

As a personal stylist for women, I get LOTS of questions about how to channel, “French Girl Style.” Over the years, I’ve come to understand that French Girl Style, more than anything, is a state of mind. It’s about an effortless self confidence that isn’t focused on showing off brands or following trends. Typically, it means having a capsule collection of pieces that make her look and feel great. A striped shirt (naturally), jeans, a classic button down shirt, a black dress or two. Then, the flavor pieces come in as something unexpected, likely edgy or sexy to amp everything up. This could be a leather jacket, textured hosiery, a bold lip or accessories in her signature color. Yup, her signature color. A beautiful Parisian friend of mine explained to me years ago that French women like to have one color that is their, “signature color.” It comes up again and again in her wardrobe. Otherwise, it’s all about neutrals. (My friend’s color is pink.)

So, if you are going for a literal interpretation of this approach, you now have it. If, on the other hand, you are looking for an Amercianized version of this, looking to some specific brands can help you lock in your target. I’m a big fan of all four of these sites. I expect you’ll find them as addicting as I am. Each one offers a different aspect of French Girl Style. All of them exuding the confidence, sophistication and effortlessness that we are pining for. Have fun with it and as always, let me know how it goes.

Must Have: Shibori Tie Dye

Last year, my incredible personal styling client, Melanie introduced me to the term Japandy. I had never heard of it before. Apparently, it’s the marriage of Japanese inspired style and Scandinavian inspired style. I laughed because apparently my husband and I have been Japandy enthusiasts for years without knowing we were part of a named club;) As Melanie and I chatted about our mutual love for Japandy, we also talked about the attraction to Shibori, a Japanese style of tie dye using “thread to isolate many small related points on the fabric.”

Since then, it’s been clear to me that you, my Dear Reader, might just adore Shibori as much as Melanie and I do. If so, here’s a collection of my very favorite things right now in Shibori- land. We’ll kick things off with a photo of Melanie from her business photo shoot. She lives in the Bay Area so we work together virtually. Part of that work was selecting pieces for her photo shoot, which also explains why she isn’t in a traditional Poplin photo shoot because let’s face it, I’d be a fool not to feature her if she were in the area.

Pacific Northwest Style: What can I Wear Besides my Fleece Jacket?

As a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I’m well aware of how much my clients rely on their fleece jackets. During the Closet Edit, we inevitably end up in a sea of fleece with her face full of dread. She’s wondering if I’m going to pull that fleece out of the clutches of her cold dead hands. Typically, I am not. What I am going to do is offer her alternatives to the same old North Face choice she’s had for years. She’ll need to hold onto that essential to walk the dog until her Uber Wishlist arrives. THEN… we’ll move past that old fleece.

There’s no need for sacrificing comfort for style. Personal style is all about feeling beautiful and confident because you know you are expressing your authentic self to the world via your clothing. If you are uncomfortable, you are certainly not feeling confident.

Elevated Loungewear: Hip Options for Home

As a personal stylist for women, I’ve had a hybrid work schedule for over 8 years. I’ve spent that time hopping from a client’s home to a retailer to creating online resources for her from my desk at home. Throughout the pandemic, I’ve heard from a number of clients struggling to find the balance of comfort and style while working and often parenting from home and now heading into the office one day a week or a month or maybe never. It’s tricky, but it absolutely can be done. And fortunately for all of us, designers and retailers have doubled down on loungewear so there are more attractive options than ever before. Here are some of my favs.

9 Ways to Enjoy Shopping with Less Guilt About Climate Change

As a virtual personal stylist for women, I hear a sea of concerns from my clients and the Poplin community. These range from dressing for various occasions to understanding how to create new outfits and much more. For many of my clients, and for me, climate change and sustainability are important factors when thinking about style. In fact, you can see past blog posts on sustainability here including how to care for items to help them last longer, my favorite sustainable brands and more.

Loving to express yourself through clothing and making responsible choices for the environment are not mutually exclusive. In fact, your personal style is not just the colors or silhouettes that you adore, it also includes communicating your values through your clothing. Yes! It’s possible to balance your love of style and your commitment to the next generation. Here are some ideas to get you started.

6 of the Best Pants for Working From Home or the Office AND the Shoes that go with ALL of them

As a personal stylist for women, I’m hearing lots of questions about how to navigate your wardrobe when it’s unclear whether you’ll be working from home or the office. I hear you.

Many of the large tech firms in Seattle were planning to head back to the office in September and now that date has been pushed back to the first of the year. And for folks who are in the office right now, many of them are only there a few days a week with the rest of their schedule taking place from the comfort of home. That can be a blessing and a curse.

Whether you are working in the Pacific Northwest or somewhere else in the country, COVID-19 is undoubtedly affecting your daily wardrobe decisions. A number of new clients are wondering if they need two wardrobes: one for the office and one for home. That, my Dear Reader, is not how we roll.

Here at Poplin, we’re all about functionality. You dress for yourself first and foremost. When you feel like your authentic self, you will conduct. your work with more self confidence, less brain power spent on body shaming or worrying about your look and more time spent kicking ass all day long.

So, how do we do this? It’s all about intentional dressing. One aspect of this approach is ensuring that your pieces are functional for your life and with minor tweaks, can work in various scenarios. For example, swapping your house shoes or sneakers or flats, heels or boots. The same pair of pants has an entirely different vibe when its paired with a different shoe.

Need proof? Every pair of pants on this list will work with all of the shoes listed below. Believe it.

Here’s your go-to for styles that are comfortable at home, but don’t make you feel like a slob AND can work just as well when you head off to the office. Have fun and let me know how it goes!

P.S. One key aspect of the Poplin approach is ensuring that all your pieces will work with one another now and into the future. How do we do that? One way is to limit your new pieces to your color palette. Everything in that palette will work with everything else, some bolder and some less so. You can see that in action below.

Comfortable and Stylish Pants for Work AND Home

My Favorite Things Right Now

As a personal stylist for women, I’m always on the lookout for valuable recommendations for my clients and my community. At Poplin, we are all about simplifying your life and making getting dressed a stress free experience. Plus, we like cool stuff.

So here’s my download of all the things that are making my life better right now. Let me know what you think!

My Favorite Things Right Now

Hooray for the First Client Photo Shoot of 2021!

What better way is there to celebrate the Summer Solstice than with a Poplin client photo shoot at the beach with Chamonix Films? As a personal stylist for women, I’m always ELATED to share the style evolution of my clients. We’ll have more photos and info on Poplin client, Sarah’s journey in the coming weeks. For now, enjoy this super fun glimpse of our evening together. Fun fact: Sarah values sustainability so all of her items were made with this in mind including sustainable fabrics, fair trade workers, local makers, etc. Interested in a client photo shoot? That’s part of the Amplified 360 Package. It’s.a good one.

P.S. Equally of note, I’m wearing a crop top. Believe it, ladies. You can wear a crop top at any size. It’s about balancing your frame and pairing wisely. In this case, I’ve got high waisted wide leg jeans with fringe at the hemline as well as eye catching jewelry and lipstick up top. But make no mistake about it, I’m out in the world in a crop top. Yes, you can.

The Color of the Season also Happens to Match Everything in your Closet

So often, we think of black, white, grey, brown and navy blue as our neutrals- meaning they go with everything. As a personal stylist for women who happens to be based in the Pacific Northwest, this also means that I see a whole lot of closets dominated by those colors. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are other colors that can act as neutrals in your closet. My favorite of those also happens to be EVERYWHERE right now: Green.

Yup. Oh, yeah. Olive green is a neutral, you say. But, it’s not just olive that can expand your wardrobe and offer you unexpected color combinations. All shades of green have something to offer. As I like to say, the stem never clashes with the flower. Green works with everything in nature. The key is knowing which green is appropriate. Simply match the intensity of your green with the color you are going for and you are solid. You may find that some combinations are too much for you. That’s fine. But, they do work. It’s just about your authentic personal style. Also, you can tone it down by introducing another neutral into the mix- say white, navy or black, as examples. Need some visuals? That’s what I’m here for.

Get Your Green On!

Holy Crow! Poplin is on HuffPost

As a personal stylist for women I often hear my clients tell me that they hear my voice in their heads. If you ever feel like this, you aren’t alone. Yours truly is a featured interview in this comprehensive and relevant article on HuffPost.

I’m not going to lie. I’m losing my mind a little over here.

Mellicia MarxJune 4, 2021

5 Simple Ways to Save Money While You Shop Online

Oh, man. Where would I be without my incredible personal styling clients and you, the members of the Poplin Community. Thanks to your magical crowd sourcing wisdom, I continue to learn more all of the time AND I get to share it with all of you. Huzzah! Here are some of my favorite money saving tips from clients. Enjoy!

5 Ways to Save Cash When You Shop

Life After Quarantine: The 10 Things You Must Do Before You are Ready to Go Into Someone's House

It’s FINALLY happening! Lots of folks are coming up on their two weeks post 2nd shot and that means we can, wait for it, socialize. Woah. We’re not just hanging outside anymore. It’s time to actually cross the threshold into a friend’s home.

I don’t know about you, Dear Reader, but I’ve found lots of my social skills have deteriorated over the past year and a half. So, it feels like the right time to take a good hard look at what steps need to be considered before committing to dinner at a friend or family member’s home. Feeling anxious? No need. I’ve got you.

10 Musts Before Heading Into Someone’s Home to Socialize

Who do you really want to be.... really?

My new office is my living room. When I gave my old office to my son last spring for online school, it hit me hard. But, now, I actually love it. The living room has giant windows on three sides and I can enjoy the greenery outside and one of our giant fishtanks while I get things done. It’s a win-win.

It does, however, mean that whenever my son or husband are grabbing a snack in the kitchen, they can hear my side of a conversation with a client. It’s the first time they’ve actually heard me doing my job. And, I’m starting to get some feedback.

Last week, my husband told me that he heard me talking to a client about her beloved acorn shirt. It was a button down shirt with acorns on it. That acorn shirt was a pivotal moment in her closet edit and apparently, even while only hearing one side of the conversation, my husband understood the significance, too.

As a personal stylist for women for over seven years, there are certainly some reoccurring themes. This is one of them.

Is that who you REALLY want to be or just your first step in getting there?

Jonesing to Shop? Your Guide to Relevant 2021 Spring Trends

I don’t know about you, but I haven’t worn a heel since February of last year. So, the idea of spring fashion trends seems wildly out of step with my everyday life. That being said, as the sun has come out, I’ve found myself gazing at a dress or two online and only coming up for air hours and several websites later. President Biden’s announcement that there should be enough vaccines for all Americans by May put a major spring in my step. Sure, having “enough vaccines” for everyone doesn’t mean we’ll be wearing heels again in May, but at least there’s light at the end of the tunnel. And, I, for one am ready to bring that fresh enthusiasm to my wardrobe.

So, here we are. Most of us at home in the softest pants available, both dreading and dreaming of the day when putting together a full outfit is not a special occasion of its own. To get you started, I thought I’d offer up Spring Fashion Trends that actually mean something to you, right now, and in the coming months. This is a big list, so we’ll break it into a few posts. Enjoy! And, as always, let me know what you think.

2021 Spring Fashion Trends for your Real Life In and Out of Lockdown

Poplin on a Podcast: I just spent an hour not talking about clothes.

It’s been a while, my Dear Reader. Choose Clarity founder, good friend and client, Aga Lawrynowicz, pulled me out of hibernation for her video podcast series, “Moms Who Dare.” Aga is a life coach for busy moms. Like so many of my clients, my adoration for Aga runs deep. It also transformed this conversation which is intended to be about how motherhood has shaped my life into a much more intimate conversation between friends. We touch on parenting during the pandemic, living your best life despite shame from trauma, identifying who you once were and who you are becoming. It’s all the things. Naturally, there’s some technical craziness in there, too. We wanted to keep it consistent with 2020, after all.

Right now, so many folks could use some love. Here it is, virtually, if nothing else. Enjoy and let me know how it goes.

Giant hugs to you from over here.

Moms Who Dare with Mellicia Marx