I heart a good platform. But, in a city filled with hills and a lifestyle involving a toddler and a substantial amount of walking, comfort is almost as important as style. (Yes. There are limits.)
Therefore, one of my very favorite things, is finding a beautiful, memorable shoe that is also functional. My current obsession, the J Fresh loafer from Steve Madden. Observe it's awesomeness:
Read MoreI do. An old friend of mine always says, "don't take away the joy of giving." Translation: Just say thank you and allow someone to do something nice for you. After all, giving feels good.
In the spirit of the season of giving, I'm going to do a little extra giving of my own.
One glorious reader (that means you!) will win one closet edit just by sharing this post on Facebook. Not on Facebook? Not to worry. Just shoot me an email and I'll enter you in the drawing.
What's a closet edit, you say?
Read MoreWelcome to yet another holiday party season. A good friend recently said to me, "finding a dress for a holiday party is one of the most stressful things you can do." Oh, my. As it turns out, this is a pretty common feeling.
So, last weekend when I was loaning another friend some of my favorite party pieces for her work holiday gathering, I realized that there are some tried and true ways to ensure that you look incredible at the party, in the photos afterward and most importantly, in your own mind.
Read MoreWhenever I work with a client, we focus on four things: body shape, lifestyle, budget and the impression he or she wants make via his/her clothes. Specifically, I ask clients a question: What three words would you like people to use to describe your style? Then, we use those words as a final filter when determining if a piece works for the client.
Read MoreAh, the eternal question: I own it. Now, how do I <insert need here>? Iron, wash, protect, the list goes on. As you may have noticed, Dear Reader, I'm all about the vegan leather/ pleather (let's face it, usually plastic) fabrics that are all the rage right now. After purchasing a few items, I quickly realized that I wasn't exactly sure how to address wrinkles. Hence, this post.
Happy Cyber Monday!
Legend goes that once you are back at the office on the Monday following Thanksgiving, your super online shopping begins. We're pretty sure that started when we all had dial up internet at home and something slightly above dial up at work. So, whether or not Cyber Monday is still relevant is questionable.
Something we can count on? The absolute gloriousness of a good deal.
It's officially here -- the holiday shopping season. For many of us, it may have started a little early since there are only four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. But, for the rest of us, the panic is likely just setting in now.
I find that things are easier when I just dive right in. So, how about an abbreviated gift list for you and yours to get you moving? Over the next few weeks, I'll post more elaborate lists for members of your family. Have requests? Let me know!
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and that means the official crazy town of Black Friday is merely days away. Excited to start shopping for friends and family, but not so enthusiastic about shopping at 6 AM and the general beat down that has become part of this ritual?
Well, I have good news for you. Actually, great news!
Ballard retailers are doing something a little different. They are starting the season of giving with -- giving! Participating businesses will be donating a portion of their Black Friday revenue to local nonprofit organizations. That means when you shop locally, you help local nonprofits. And, you are sure to find some of your very favorite gifts, too.
Read MoreNow this is how you start the week….. Looking good and rocking something that was free. Congrats to the winner of our Hook & Stem Designs luxury infinity scarf contest, Carly Ralston. Here she is modeling the Genesee in navy blue.
Read MoreA HUGE thanks to everyone who started to follow @Poplinstyle on Twitter, shared Poplin and/or "liked" Poplin for the the first time on Facebook.
Here's a special guest to announce our winner:
Read MoreI recently received a request for a blog post about fashion for the hot hip urban man in his later years. Later as in 50's, 60's, 70's and beyond. As you can imagine, retailers aren't using many models in this demographic, so finding the right look can be challenging.*
This got me thinking about the evolution of menswear. Decades ago, men and women "dressed" for the day. Somehow over time, with the decline of the suit, came the decline of the expectation that men put together a thoughtful ensemble each day. By the 90's, a man who put some effort into his look was known as a metrosexual. It was unusual, for sure.
Nowadays, men have become fashion enthusiasts- talking about clothes, grooming products, tailors and retailers with pretty much anyone anywhere. Personally, I'm pretty excited about this transition as someone who loves menswear and is lucky to be married to my very own fashionable fella.
This also means that there are more opportunities for pieces that are functional and fashion forward for men of any age. The key: stay relevant and true to your style. Here's what you need to know now:
Read MoreBaby, it is crazy cold outside. And that means it is chunky scarf season. You know how I love the local Seattle companies, so I've partnered with HookandStem Designs to celebrate the season with some hand-made functional fashion.
And you, Dear Reader could win this chunky infinity scarf. Here's how:
Read MoreThis year is the 150th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. It got me thinking about the impact that black fashion designers and moguls (hello Russell Simmons!) have had on our culture and our clothes. My thought was that it would be fun to share a top 10 list of influential designers with you, Dear Reader. But, who can narrow it down to 10? I cannot.
As an alternative, I'd encourage you to check out this list of the Top 25 Greatest Black Fashion Designers. It's addictive. Anyway, in an effort to avoid writing a PhD thesis on this subject, I've decided to focus on one that is very popular with a number of my clients:
Read MoreWelcome to our first really rainy work day in some time. This is the sort of morning you wake up and have two options: 1. put on something super comfortable that may or may not be super flattering. Or, 2. put on something really put together that may or may not be foiled again by your cozy cardigan half way through the work day.
Cardigans. I love them. I hate them. I am constantly on the hunt for real alternatives. And, I'm happy to report that I have one to share with you.
Read MoreToday's magnificent cold crisp weather got me very excited about coat and boot appropriate weather. I have a personal obsession with coats- colored coats, vintage coats, faux fur coats and the last few years leather and vegan leather. When I moved across the country years ago, I only shipped my electronics and my coats. You can imagine the space that storing these coats takes.
Read MoreWho hasn't been there? You roll over in the morning, look inside your closet and feel utterly uninspired. Worse. You feel overwhelmed. Whether you are overwhelmed or underwhelmed, sometimes we all just want something new. And, sadly, our bank account is not hearing why we MUST have that new pair of boots.
What to do?
Read MoreI'm lucky to work with all different types of clients and I've learned that each of us has our "thing." We may not realize it until we are talking about it. Sometimes it's a certain type of clothing, for example tailored or boho. But, more often than not, it's something a little bit more unexpected: Does the retailer have a fair return policy? I really like fabrics with birds on them. Or, I prefer if the retailer has a generous charitable giving program. It's pretty incredible, as each client's desires offer a new challenge as we embark on updating his or her style.
Read MoreAnd neither does your car or your house or your job. Who you are is defined by your actions, your words, your thoughts.
Your clothes are tools to communicate to others who you are and how you see yourself. For those of us who love clothes and shopping, they can also be a creative expression -- what is more gratifying than finding the exact pair of shoes to go with a dress?
Are you funky and unconventional as a recent client of mine described herself? Or sophisticated, vibrant and inspiring confidence? Do you value yourself enough to invest some time into looking and feeling great each morning? Or are you in a constant battle with the clock to prioritize your needs in the overall balance of your household? It's not always easy, but how we look does impact how we feel and how we behave. It also greatly impacts how others treat us.
So, as we head into rainy weather and the half yearly sale at Nordstrom, I thought it might be nice to pass along a few tips to help you, dear reader, feel good about how you look out in the world, even if you only have a few minutes and even less motivation when getting ready.
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Chicks who wear glasses are hot. True story. Sadly, I've always had incredible eyesight and just sat on the sidelines as other ladies rocked some spectacular frames. I know. Clear lenses exist, but it just didn't seem right.
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