Let me begin by thanking you for being part of the Poplin community. I know I say it frequently, but it is a rare gift to have a job that allows me to help women with something that has the power to really transform their lives. Plus, the world is better when it’s filled with beauty. As a personal stylist for women, I’ve been very fortunate to share in this transformation and to have the especially unusual opportunity to receive public notes of gratitude (a.k.a. reviews.) I am grateful to you for making it all happen.
Read MoreHappy New Year, Dear Reader. We are big on New Year's Resolutions around here. Each year we pick a theme and make a plan to embrace it. In years past we've had the year of the car, the year of health and the year of the house. This year we are launching into the year of Self Discipline and Self Care and I can't tell you how happy I am about it. What does this mean? Well, we're each stating 5 reasons we are grateful at dinner each night. Also, we've decided to have TV take a less prominent role in our lives, so we moved it out of the main room and got a fish tank instead. In the words of our seven year old, "it's like the fish tank is the new TV." Yes, my dear, that's exactly what it's like. We moved more of our books into the living room and made cozy spots equipped with magazines for adults and books for kids. I'm especially excited about this because I subscribe to a zillion fashion and culture magazines and this gives me even more time to dive into them.
Where am I going with this?
Read MoreIt's full on holiday party season. Whether you are off to a nice dinner with your team, a formal event hosted by your company, a themed party or a friend get together, determining what to wear is often a source of anxiety. As a personal stylist for women, I've seen it all. Determining the right outfit is a challenge. Have I worn it before with this crowd? Will it photograph well? Will I be comfortable? These are all good questions.
Read MoreRecently, my husband and I were at a party for his team at work. One of our friends arrived looking glamorous, as usual, and carrying a Coach clutch which perfectly completed her outfit. Clearly, the bag was not an afterthought. However, when she arrived, she needed to find just the right place to set it down so that should could eat, drink and enjoy the party.
Tragic. The clutch completed the outfit. But, in order to enjoy herself, she had to put it somewhere else.
Read MoreThursday's client photo shoot was another showstopper. In this case, my client, Aga, was the star. As we navigated our way from spot to spot through Volunteer Park, Aga was on the lookout for her young daughter who coincidentally was on a field trip nearby. What a moment- to have your daughter see you modeling in a photo shoot. #mindblowing.
Aga has lived in several countries and
Read MoreI have conversations all day, everyday about clothes. Seriously. Frequently, I'm just chatting with someone on the street or at the coffee shop before a client consultation and I find myself writing down details of a particular item that I'm wearing so they can go grab one for themselves. No more! I'm all about efficiency, my friend.
So, we now have a section of the website devoted to What I'm Wearing Now.
Read MoreI 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.
What You Need to Know About
Giving Back
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 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 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 MoreLike something on this post? If you click through, Poplin may receive a commission on your purchase with no additional cost to you. Selections are made whether or not a commission is available. Thanks very much for supporting Poplin!
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!
6 Best Places for
Great Customer Service in the Seattle Area.
Read MoreThis has been a jam packed month with not one, but two Poplin events in one month. First, the Poplin Client Party and then a very special gathering for anyone in the Poplin Style community who's interested in pieces starting at size 10.
You can see photos from the Client event in a previous post. Now, you can also see just a sample of the women at Sunday's Universal Standard gathering. Each attendee received a personalized tour of the showroom and selected her desired pieces from the samples available. Then, she tried them on in the comfort of a showroom filled with supportive, enthusiastic Poplin subscribers and clients. As it turns out, it was a sea of women making a huge impact on the world. I heard from several attendees that it turned out to be an incredible networking event, too!
Please enjoy some
Read MoreHello, Dear Reader!
I'm still feeling the glorious effects of the Poplin client party. As you know, Naked Truth Beauty and Everling Jewelry were really the stars of the show. Over the summer I've become completely enamored with NTB and have been wearing the lips, eyes and beam (or just the lips/cheeks) plus moisturizer with SPF everyday. That's it. No foundation. No concealer. NTB really swept me off my feet.
I had become pretty comfortable with
Read More