I trust these last few days have been a whirlwind of making lists, buying things, getting geared up to give them and the realization that there's much to do in these next few weeks. A treasured holiday season tradition is to donate to your favorite nonprofit organizations. Whether you do it on Giving Tuesday or some other time this year, I thought you might enjoy some guidance on giving from your very own personal stylist for women (who happens to have also had a career in giving, does philanthropic consulting and serves on a nonprofit Board.) Please enjoy and hey, let me know what you think.
Well hello there, Dear Reader!
I trust you are gearing up for the holiday weekend. If you are on the Poplin email list, you received word earlier this morning about some hot spots for Small Business Saturday. If not,
Read MoreThis is big, really big.
During World War II, the country banded together to fight a common enemy. Not only did they do this through taking on unexpected jobs; but they also conserved resources. Women were an essential part of this endeavor. Locally, women worked in various capacities including at Boeing.
As an aside, here's a super interesting tidbit.
Read MoreWhat are we on now- day 3 of stormy weather? I really have no concept of time. But, I can tell you that as a personal stylist for women, every weather event is an opportunity to think about what to wear and how to offer tips to my clients and you, Dear Reader. So, naturally, this insanity has brought me to a solid, comprehensive coats on raincoats.
Before we begin, let me say that when you are wearing something incredible that makes you look and feel good, we want to avoid tossing your North Face jacket over top simply because, "it's comfortable and keeps me dry." That is true. But does it communicate your personal style? Is it at the level that you are or the level that you are headed to? Does it say, "director" or "leader" or whatever you want the world to see? I'd argue that it doesn't. So, when perusing these guys, keep your personal style in mind as not every jacket is right for every woman AND not every jacket is right for everyday. This list is predominantly cool kid coats that work well with casual ensembles. I'll call out the choices for dressier options. Good? Okay, let's go!
10 Raincoats When You Want to Look Cool and Stay Dry
Read MoreVeteran's Day is a thing at our house. Our 7 year old is a big fan of patriotic songs and sings them often. Veteran's Day is his, "favorite singing holiday." We also try to call up vets that we know, including my Dad, to just check in because we're thankful they are home.
On the fashion front, it's a good reminder to check out the wealth of businesses owned by vets and their spouses. Moving every year or even more often can be brutal on a spouse's career, so I'm a HUGE fan of the innovative businesses that allow spouses to work from home wherever they happen to live. This ensures that they won't miss out on income or job stability from a move. And, if you are a long time reader, you are familiar with my adoration for the folks at Combat Flip Flops- a local company started by two former Army Rangers who had served a number of tours in Afghanistan started with a mission to, "To create peaceful, forward-thinking opportunities for self-determined entrepreneurs affected by conflict." It's incredible and produces equally inspiring results:
- Every product Combat Flip Flops sells puts an Afghan girl into secondary school for a day.
- Each Peacemaker Bangle or coinwrap sold clears 3 square meters of Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) from a region rocked by long-term war (those are landmines, folks) - saving lives and providing economic opportunity.
You can hear all about it from one of the founders and friend of Poplin in his TedX talk. SO good.
Flip Flops are only the beginning. Check out the high quality products (we have several including a necktie my husband wears regularly) and pick some up as early holiday gifts for the ones you love and, naturally, a little something for you.
Combat Flip Flops, affectionately known as CFF, is just the beginning.
Very Cool Products Made by Veterans & Their Families.
Read MoreHello Dear Reader!
As a personal stylist for women, I have all sorts of conversations with folks. Topics range from skincare to hair and makeup referrals, of course. But, we also talk a lot about our kids, the schools they attend, giving back to the community and so much more. Recently, I was honored to share my thoughts on empathy with the Simple Intentions audience. If you haven't checked out Simple Intentions, now is the time. The force behind the company is Jae Ellard. Not only is she a friend and client, she's also a successful author and teacher focusing on mindfulness and balance.
Here's the post. I hope you enjoy it and have an opportunity to check out Simple Intentions. Happy Monday.
Practice Random Acts of Empathy
Read MoreI fell in love with Ilse Jacobsen sometime in 2013/2014 when I finally realized she was the woman behind an unexpected rain boot. They were a mashup between a pair of traditional rubber boots and a pair of Docs. At least, that's how I viewed them. Naturally, she's Scandinavian because that's always been a sweet spot of mine. When I discovered her stylish rain gear. I was hooked. Soon after, Nordstrom started offering a raincoat or two of hers online only. To try one on, I went to Scandinavian fashion central in Seattle: Pirrko. If you haven't heard of this shop, here's my post from then all about it.
If I haven't mentioned it on the blog already,
Read MoreHoly crow, Dear Reader. We're at Day 5. So soon? Check back on Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, and Day 4 and get ready to dive into our final installment of the Fall Trends breakdown: Military pieces. As a personal stylist for women, I've seen this trend continue to gain momentum year after year. So, it's likely you already have a few military- inspired pieces in your closet. Here are some tips to ensure you are maximizing their awesomeness for YOU.
Making Military- Inspired Pieces
Work for You.
Read MoreWelcome to day 4 of our 5 days of fall trends. If you missed them, be sure to read up on criss cross, sleeves, velvet and tomorrow's final installation. A few years ago I found a long sleeve floral dress on Amazon for $20. I questioned the quality, sure. But I REALLY wanted a long sleeve floral dress that was reminiscent of the designer trends of the time and I found this print with giant flowers and woodland animals. It was weird but wonderful. I took the risk and ordered it, despite the shipping fee that rivaled the price of the dress.
Sadly, it was a bit of a mess. I engaged the tailor to try to save the day, but when something is that wrong, it's hard to make it right.
Luck for all of us, the bold floral trend is happening. I mean it is happening, people. So, there's no need to make such crazy orders anymore. Even if you weren't a fan of florals in years past, you might surprise yourself with the new prints available. Here are some ideas to get you there.
How to Wear Florals Now.
Read MoreWelcome to Day 3 of our 5 Days 5 Fall Trends Series. Check out Day 1 and Day 2 if you haven't already.
When you are out and about doing some retail therapy, you are likely well aware of the velvet trend. And this is the ideal time of year for it. As a personal stylist, I'm seeing a whole lot of velvet and I must say, I like it. The fabric works for varying personal styles and keeps you nice and cozy. Plus, who doesn't love an opportunity to touch soft fabrics in the middle of a challenging day? For you, my Dear Reader, here are some tips for embracing fall's velvet trend.
Do Velvet.
Read MoreMake sure to take a look at the first post of this series, if you haven't already. Fall is an especially fun time to experiment with new trends. Try mixing things up by adding some unexpected sleeves into the mix. Whether you opt for giant 80's shoulders or sheer sleeves, drawing attention to your arms has lots of benefits.
How to Do Sleeves
Right Now.
Read MoreThere's a large number of us who hear the words Criss Cross and think of this. But, in this case, I'm all about embracing my role as your very own personal stylist. So, we're talking plaid, gingham, checks, you get the idea.
Whether you are wearing a prim Gingham (think Audrey Hepburn) or punk rock Tartan (think Johnny Rotten), it's all about embracing the trend in a way that is authentic to your personal style and flattering for your figure. Fun fact: Just as the punk rock movement embraced big black eyeglass frames because those were the frames you received as part of the medical care provided by the government, the movement also embraced Royal Stewart Tartan. You know it, red plaid plaid. The upper class rocked the print in Victorian and Edwardian times and the punk rock community took it and made it their own.
Here are some ideas to make plaid your very own.
Read MoreOh my goodness, Dear Reader. How many times has someone asked me a question that can easily be answered via a past blog post? So many times. Lucky for me, I tend to remember most of them and can shoot a link over. But, let's face it, that's not super efficient. And, you know, I'm all about efficiency.
And now, a revelation!
Read MoreIf you love the Nordstrom Rack, you're also going to be a big fan of Saks Off 5th. The discount arm of Saks 5th Avenue will soon, and I mean very soon, be located in Westlake Center, mere steps from the Rack. You've likely seen me feature items from the website. It's a good one, so remember that you can purchase online or in store.
Here are details for the grand opening NEXT week.
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 MoreThere's a fine line between frumpy and fabulous. You know what I mean. Before we move forward with my recommendation about this style of dress, let me be clear: it won't work without great shoes and some love to your hair/makeup/styling. Okay, now that we have that out of the way. As Seattle-ites, we all know how integral layering is to our lives. But, what's even better than layering? Staying warm in the first place. So, here's a suggestion for a bad ass and beautiful dress that is everything: warm, fashionable and functional.
Say, "hello" to the Long Sleeve Maxi Dress
This is
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Finally! Rain! I always feel like I'd like the sunshine to last all year long; but when the first signs of boot season really kick in, I can't help but be elated. This is also the time of year that I hear a sea of questions from clients and readers about what boots to wear and how to pair them. Wonder no more. Here's a jam packed post with the answers you need for Fall 2017 thanks to your very own personal stylist for women. Go!
11 Options for Your Fall 2017 Boot Collection
Read MoreAs a personal stylist for women, I spend a LOT of time in stores, on websites, talking with folks about clothes and so much more. It's a whole lot of fun and it also makes me feel like I'm bursting with information to share on any given day. My work goes in waves. Sometimes more clients will choose Uber Wishlists and I'll be online quite a bit. Other times, shopping is the preferred way to go and I'll be in retailers all over the area for hours on end. After all, I pre-shop before the client arrives so the pieces are waiting for her to try on with me there to offer guidance and feedback.
In recent months, I've had several questions about my favorite places to shop. Really, that question is complicated. Am I shopping for myself, for a client, just for inspiration? I can find great pieces at some locations but less than desirable service. So, while I'd go there to support a client's goals, I wouldn't send her there on her own knowing that she won't get the best service to help her meet her needs. This brings me to today's blog post. It's hard to find great service. And, while many of us may enjoy online shopping, there are always times when we just want to run out and pick something up for an upcoming occasion. As a client, I can be there to help. If you are a member of the Poplin community, I'd like to offer my assistance, as well. So, here, my Dear Reader, is the list of my very favorite places in the area for stellar service. And if you want it to be even better, tell them I sent you. Wondering if this is paid for by someone or secret product placement? Nope. These are 100% my favorites with no outside influence or payment. I hope you enjoy them!