As a personal stylist for women, I am always bursting with new favorites to share. Of course, I share all sorts of delightful finds in the newsletter, on the blog and on LinkedIn and Pinterest. But, sometimes, it’s just not enough. That’s when it’s clearly time for another collection of my favorite things right now. Here we go!
Read MoreAs a personal stylist based in Seattle, I’ve spent over a decade deep in women’s closets. The initial tour of a new client’s belongings includes an overview of her pieces including and inevitable comment about belts. She either has a zillion of them in a drawer that she doesn’t wear or doesn’t have any. Regardless, a surprisingly high percentage of women feel that they lack some sort of expertise when it comes to styling a belt and that they are interested in my guidance on the topic.
With many things related to fashion and style, clients often feel that they didn’t get the memo and are ready to finally understand what to wear, when, why and most importantly how. That’s where I come in.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women I am always on the hunt for new trends. Sure, there are shifts on runways that don’t translate to real life and yes, there are ready to wear movements that, while popular, aren’t super flattering. So, when we see trends that work on a runway and in real life, I’m all over it.
Sheer pieces are one of those trends. Considering wearing see through or semi-see through pieces tends to evoke a strong emotional response. You are likely either in the “no thank you” camp or in the “intrigued to yes, please world.” Most often, sheer pieces are one of those, “I’d love to if I can pull it off” trends. And my Dear Reader, I’m here to show you how you can absolutely pull it off.
Specifically, knowing which sheer options are right for your authentic personal style and your body type will give you the confidence to rock them on the regular. A few years back, I gave a friend a sheer grey long sleeve fitted top for her birthday. I’m guessing she was in her late forties then and she was surprised by the gift. Her initial response was gratitude and a clear message that she was unlikely to ever wear the item. But now, in her early fifties, she told me she was wearing the top for her birthday dinner. Few things have made me so happy.
The right sheer pieces can be timeless, age appropriate and still super sexy. (As an aside, if you’e been with me for some time, you likely know my stance on “age appropriate.” Essentially, just imagine you are living to 90 and be sure you aren’t wrapping up one phase too soon only to be left with the same four items for a good thirty years. Anyway, I digress.)
Don’t be afraid to embrace sheer pieces. Below is a collection of some of my favorites organized by body type. After all, if you know what flatters your shape, you are able to filter out all of the noise and start to build a sustainable, authentic collection that will be with you for years. Off we go!
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I have had a hybrid work situation for over a decade. Some days, I’m out and about meeting with partners and colleagues, other days I’m with a client at her home and still other days, I’m at home with or without Zoom meetings throughout the day.
Now that a much larger percentage of the population is in a similar situation, I find that my learnings from years of choosing what to wear while walking this tightrope are more relevant than ever.
Read MoreBefore I became a personal stylist for women, I loved clothes. I had an ever evolving wardrobe and would vacillate between joyful exuberance and overwhelm as I’d feel guilty for spending money, using resources, consuming, you get the idea. Then, I’d buy some new pieces and the cycle would start again.
This eternal inner conflict was a driving force in creating Poplin Style. Over a decade ago, I developed a clear system to help clients simplify shopping. As a client, she now knows how to find pieces that flatter her body type, focus her choices on colors in her color palette, stick with decisions that communicate her authentic personal style and when possible, opt for clothing that aligns with her style.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I get an endless number of requests to write guest blog posts. Truly. So. Many. Requests.
I take our relationship very seriously, Dear Reader. You trust me with your time and my commitment is to give you quality content that helps you transform your authentic personal style and feel good about getting dressed everyday. I like to write those myself.
Simultaneously, I absolutely LOVE connecting you with other amazing folks. It’s great for you, great for them and frankly, makes my heart swell, too. You can find several of these guest posts in the In It Together Series that we launched in early lockdown.
One of my clients asked me for tips on taking a great selfie and I immediately knew who to ask. My friend and branding photographer, Suzanne Rothmeyer, generously agreed to share her tips and tricks and they exceeded my expectations. Let’s face it. We all need this skill. I expect you’ll be bookmarking this one- or pin it on Pinterest! Have fun with it and as always, let me know what you think. -Mellicia
Read MoreI don’t know about you, but I’m absolutely determined to have a great 2024. If not great, at least not awful and thanks to the election in November, I know the second option is very real. As a personal stylist for women, I see firsthand the impact that a fresh perspective can have on clients. For me, a space free of clutter with only pieces that are beautiful and functional has an extraordinary impact on my life. Really. And I bet you feel that way, too.
I also know that with the New Year comes new motivation and new expectations. We want to do it all: change our food habits, move more, volunteer and so on. Often by week two we discovered we were overly ambitious. With that in mind, this post isn’t how to do an exhaustive Closet Edit. Though trust me, I’m here for that! Instead, we’re focusing on five easy steps that will have a disproportionate effect on your life. Less effort and more payoff. Here we go!
Read MoreAn essential component of being a personal stylist is listening. It’s vital that I really see my client then we create a strategy to harness her authentic personal style using that information. Buying the perfect gift takes the same skill. It can feel intimidating, but it doesn’t need to. Really, it’s about paying attention to the recipient AND having a list of potential gifts so that you can match his/her/ their desires with something you can deliver.
As someone who takes a lot of pride in my gifting abilities, I can assure you that giving the right gift feels SO good for the both the recipient AND the giver. So, let’s give you some ideas, shall we?
Read MoreWelcome to yet another super rainy winter, Seattle-ites. As a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I have over 20 years of experience getting dressed in the rainy city. A very high percentage of my personal styling clients are recent additions to the Pacific Northwest and although they are enthusiastic about the city, they tend to me flummoxed by the thought of getting dressed in anything but a North Face parka. That’s what I’m here for.
With another Atmospheric River upon us, it’s time for more guidance on dressing for the weather without sacrificing style. After all, fashion should be functional. Otherwise, those pretty things will hang in the closet while the sweats or jeans come out yet again. Fear not, Dear Reader, I’ve got you covered.
Read MoreWe’re finally here! This is the last installment of Black Friday Sales organized by body type. Our annual “Shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale by Personal Style Key Words” is so wildly popular, we decided to try something different this Black Friday.
We’re organizing Black Friday Deals by Body Type to simplify your life, streamline your shopping and bring a spark of joy to your week. Here’s what you need to know.
Read MoreAs your very own personal stylist for women, I’d like to welcome you to your 4th installment of Black Friday Super Sale items for your Body Type. This post is focused on the Inverted Triangle Body Type. Our annual “Shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale by Personal Style Key Words” is so wildly popular, we decided to try something different this Black Friday. We’re organizing Black Friday Deals by Body Type to simplify your life, streamline your shopping and bring a spark of joy to your week. Here’s what you need to know.
Read MoreWelcome to Wednesday and the 3rd installment of our Black Friday Series. Our annual “Shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale by Personal Style Key Words” is so wildly popular, we decided to try something different this Black Friday.
We’re organizing Black Friday Deals by Body Type to simplify your life, streamline your shopping and bring a spark of joy to your week. Here’s what you need to know.
Read MoreHappy Tuesday! Welcome to the 2nd installment of our Black Friday Series. Our annual “Shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale by Personal Style Key Words” is so wildly popular, we decided to try something different this Black Friday.
We’re organizing Black Friday Deals by Body Type to simplify your life, streamline your shopping and bring a spark of joy to your week. Here’s what you need to know.
Read MoreHappy Monday! Our Black Friday Sales Series starts NOW. Our annual “Shop the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale by Personal Style Key Words” is so wildly popular, we decided to try something different this Black Friday.
We’re organizing Black Friday Deals by Body Type to simplify your life, streamline your shopping and bring a spark of joy to your week. Here’s what you need to know.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I spend a very high percentage of my time with women. One of the benefits of this lifestyle is the constant trading of resources. We’re always sharing books, shows, products and more with one another. Regularly referred to as, “Idea Girl” in my family, offering resources and solutions is one of my very favorite things to do. I also LOVE learning about new options. This personality trait brings us to one of my periodic blog post themes: My Favorite Things Right Now. Here we go!
Read MoreIf you, like me, have become totally enamored with silk slip dresses, this is the blog post for you. Yes! They are everywhere. And Yes! They are feminine, functional and can be flattering. They can also be challenging to work with as the weather cools off. If you adore the idea of a silk slip dress but find that it doesn’t feel flattering on your frame or is a chore to style, we’ve got you covered.
Before we begin, All Saints has a stellar collection of “2 in 1s” or “two-fers.” Either name refers to a sweater that comes with a silk slip dress. They are beautiful and not inexpensive. This is one of my favorites. Enjoy a wide variety of prices and several styling options just for YOU. As always, I’d love to hear how it goes. Happy Fall, Dear Reader.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women and small business owner, I’ve met an array of really wonderful women through the Ellevate Pacific Northwest Community. I leave each event with more knowledge than I when I arrived and equally important, a little spring in my step. The community is filled with energy and light. I am THRILLED to be a mentor in the 7th Annual Speed Mentoring Event.
It’s easy to remember that I’m a personal stylist. So, of course, I’m all about answering questions on that front. When I’ve mentored at similar events in the past, I’m often discussing a wide variety of topics. From various aspects of running my own business for the past decade, integrating giving back into my work and so much more.
Now multiply that times a panel of glorious women- each one a wealth of knowledge on various topics and you’ve got the Ellevate Speed Networking Event. I hope you can join! Details below.
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women and evangelist for all things that excite me, making the periodic lists of My Favorite Things is one of my great joys. This one, in particular, is focused on brands and retailers that are not only exciting for their visual design but also because of the values that each brand and/or retailer supports. Ideally, all of our purchases are aligned with our values. For some, those are a willingness to spend more in order to support up and coming designers or those who pay people a living wage. Others prefer sustainable brands that limit materials to biodegradable items, those that take up fewer resources or choices that reuse existing items. And for others, brands that align with her values may mean finding the best deal which leaves more of the budget for other items. My role is not to impart my values on anyone else.
Above all, I teach each of my personal styling clients to shop using clear filters: body type, personal style key words, color palette, lifestyle and when possible, values. So, keep those in mind when you dive into this list of my very favorite brands and retailers right now. I can’t wait to hear what you think!
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women based in Seattle, I like to think of the Poplin newsletter and blog as a resource that brings surprise and delight to your inbox every other Friday. Yes! There are all sorts of style tips. And there is so much more. For folks who subscribe to the newsletter, I include my favorite things from articles to books, products, TV shows and more. My goal is for the Poplin newsletter to be a feel good experience jam packed with useful information in this world that often feels filled with dark perspectives. I especially appreciate connecting with you, hearing feedback and shouting from the rooftops when I have exciting finds to share.
Because of this, it’s very rare that we feature guest posts on the Poplin blog.
But an insanely inspirational acquaintance of mine introduced me to Cass, a Sex and Embodiment Coach. Honestly, I had no idea that this was even a thing. Sure, I am familiar with Sex and Dating Coaches (which can be super helpful to folks), but a coach specifically focused on the individual’s connection with their own sexuality, loving and accepting their body at all sizes? I had no idea.
Then I met Cass. I’m not going to lie, I’m very private about all things sex-related. But, ever since our son was born, almost 13 years ago, I’m also very aware that it’s important to have open conversations about sex, sexuality and our bodies. As a personal stylist, I am fortunate to have women confide in me about how they view themselves and over the years I’ve been amazed by the self talk women developed that can be traced directly back to an older woman’s feedback about her body as well as what she “can and cannot wear”. Understanding that comments by a mother or an aunt or a friend to a 14 year old girl can still drive the way she perceives herself in her 40’s make me very committed to paying attention to my own language with my son, my clients and myself.
Enter Cass. She brings a fresh perspective to something I had thought about, but not like this. So, I hope you enjoy hearing from her and as always, please let me know how the Poplin community can better serve you on this journey to love and accept your body and understand that changing your clothes can be just as powerful than changing your body. Enjoy!
-Mellicia
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