Breaking the Mold

Dear Reader,

I come to you with a game changing announcement, as well as a different kind of post from me. A few weeks ago Milk Model management announced their newest addition: Tess Holliday. This is exceptional news since Tess is the first size 22, five foot five model signed to any mainstream modeling agency...EVER!

Now, this is some seriously great news on several levels. First of all is that Tess, who started the #effyourbeautystandards campaign will get some further recognition on some of the great body positivity work she has been doing. Also with hopefully more modeling jobs coming her way this compelling, strong and beautiful woman will be able to carve even more paths to diversifying fashion media.

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Date Night for the Authentic You.

As a personal stylist, I identify each client's body type and help her learn how to dress to flatter her figure. Equally important, I ask her a zillion questions to get to know who she is and how she sees herself in the world. The apex of this process is the identification of style key words. I ask each client to identify key words that she'd like people to use to describe her personal style. Then, we use those words as filters when determining what works best in her closet. You can see examples of these three words on the client page. 

These next few weeks are all about romance. Whether or not you are planning an outing on February 14th, the holiday's existence has likely inspired you to up your game for a night out. With that in mind, you, dear Reader, inspired me. Below you'll find ten pieces I adore that convey specific key words. Perhaps integrating them into your current collection will help you find your personal style. Need a little more guidance? That's what I'm here for.

The Authentic You on Date Night

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The Dapper Man and Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is designed to take some time to enjoy the ones we love, or at least that's what they tell us. I like to think of it as a nice opportunity to put in a little extra effort to look and feel smashing and ensure that if there is a fella in your life, he has the opportunity, rather than the obligation, to do the same.

Sometimes, that can be effortless. Frequently, it is not. So, if you or the gentleman in your life is struggling with February 14th, let me offer some guidance. 

The Dapper Man and Valentine's Day: From the Perfect Gift to Creating the Ideal Look

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Hair care, Menswear, Style TipsmelliciaCombat Flip Flops, Freeman Seattle, Hammer + Awl, made in America, Personal Stylist Seattle, Recycled fashion, Recycled jewelry, shop local, Slim fitting suit, Suits Seattle, Waxed Apron Comment
No Jersey? No Problem. The Stylish Woman on Game Day

Happy Super Bowl Sunday, Dear Reader. Whether you are a hard core fan or just excited to celebrate the day with friends, you are likely going to be seeing the Super Bowl in some way, shape or form today. If you've got a jersey, you'll certainly be rocking it. Try it with white skinnies or a navy striped maxi skirt as alternatives to a pair of jeans. 

If you don't have a jersey, don't worry. You likely have a collection of green and blue in your closet somewhere. Be bold. Now's the time! Mix and match prints (hello polka dots and stripes). Wear that crazy Seahawks green (after all it will be useful for Sounders season, too). Above all, feel good about your look and you will absolutely bring good luck to the team. 

Here's a small sample of a few of my favorite pieces right now to inspire you. And for the items in local brick and mortar stores, here's something to pick up before kick off.

Enjoy!

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Seattle Sunday: Don't Call Me Ma'am Offers Beauty at Every Age

Happy Sunday, Dear Reader. If you've been missing these Seattle Sundays, let me know. In 2014, I had a goal of a Seattle Sunday post every week. For 2015, you'll be seeing a local brand, boutique or maker every other week. Of course, when I discover something glorious, you'll be seeing that immediately on Instagram. (In fact, for those of you who follow Poplin on Instagram, you likely saw photos from the Don't Call Me Ma'am launch party.) Enough chit chat, let's get to the Redmond based brand.

 

The skincare bar at the Don't Call Me Ma'am Launch Party. Also the only people in the place authorized to wear makeup. 

When a skincare line is bold enough to throw a, "Naked Party," you know you can trust their equally bold point of view: natural beauty at every age. Oh, yes. I said a naked party. What's that, you say?

Invite local fashionistas to journey to a launch party sans makeup. Believe it. A room (mostly) filled with women who followed the directive. Lucky for those of us who did, skincare professionals from the company were waiting to give us a sample of the brand spanking new skincare line. I met another guest who became my BFF for the evening and had the opportunity to interview one of the company founders. As your very own personal stylist, it's only right that I share all my learnings with you. Here we go!

 

Don't Call Me Ma'am: Because You Value Your Skin and Your Time.

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Winterizing Part 2: Chantelle Riley Saves Your Hair

You've heard from the Queen of Brows, now you get to hear from the Hair Queen, Chantelle Riley.

Who is this Chantelle Riley, you ask? She's been Katrina's hair stylist for years (good things come in twos) and I've quickly become a huge fan.

Oh, Dear Reader, you know I'm always looking out for you. And, the best way to illustrate Chantelle's infinite knowledge of haircare and her generous demeanor is to share a few of her tips. I've asked her to give us the 411 on how to care for your hair in the winter. With any luck we'll be hearing more tips and tricks from her throughout the year. 

Chantelle's Essentials for Winter Hair

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Style Tips, Women's fashionmelliciaChantelle Riley, Personal stylist, Seattle, Stylus, Winter Hair Care, womenComment
Azede Jean-Pierre's Clothes are Just as Beautiful as her Name.

It's Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. That means a whole lot of people get the day off. (Not everyone, I know.) Between that unbelievable Seahawks win yesterday and the opportunity to sleep in today, it's easy to forget why we have this holiday in the first place.

So, I thought I'd encourage you, Dear Reader, to think about Dr. King's legacy today. And why not do that through fashion? Without him, who knows if we'd have the opportunity to hear these voices? 

It's challenging to choose just one African American fashion designer to spotlight. But, not to worry, every February I offer up some others to commemorate Black History Month. 

Azede Jean-Pierre was born in Haiti and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. In the words of the good people of Not Just a Label, 

"The namesake label is in its third year and has been committed to celebrating the sensual femininity of its customer since the company’s inception. It is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of functionality and innovation through exploring technique and achieving balance in wearability and design."

In short, it is incredible. 

Enough talk. Here are some of my favorite pieces from the Fall 2014 and the Spring 2015 Collections. After all, we're still living in the Fall pieces, but there are few things as energizing as seeing Spring looks in the dead of winter. Enjoy and Happy MLK Day!

 

Azede Jean-Pierre: A Picture is Worth a 

Thousand Words

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Winterizing Part 1: First Up- Your Skin Courtesy of Katrina Rising

For those of you who read this blog with any regularity, thank you! And, you are likely familiar with my immense adoration for Cake Skincare Owner, Katrina Rising. Not only is she the brown queen (mine are more glorious everyday thanks to her magic), she's also a scientific genius when it comes to skincare. 

You may have also heard me go on and on about how difficult it is to get in to see Katrina. Not to worry, if you are on a wait list, I have some comfort for you. I've asked a few of my local favorite gurus to offer their best advice on taking care of yourself during the winter. While we know we need to amp things up, it's only a few dedicated souls who do. Over the next week, you'll hear from them as well as some tips from me on taking care of your clothes this time of year. 

Fortunately, we're kicking things off with Katrina's advice on keeping your skin beautiful. And, my skin is proof that she knows what she's talking about. Enjoy!

 

3 Winterizing Essentials Courtesy of Local Favorite Cake Skincare 

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Style TipsmelliciaCake Skincare, Humidifier, Katrina Rising, Personal Stylist Seattle, Seasonal Skincare, Skincare in WinterComment
My Favorite Things Right Now.

Hello! 

It's been too long. As you may have noticed, I took a bit of a break from the blog to focus on clients and family. But now I'm back full force. As it is Sunday, I'd normally kick things off with a Seattle Sunday post featuring a local brand, boutique or stylish person. However, I feel a bit of separation anxiety from you, Dear Reader, so instead I'm going to share all the things I've been obsessing over for the past few weeks.

Before I begin, let me say that I'm also in the throes of planning for the year. So, if you have a special love for a type of blog post (Seattle Sunday, plus size, kids fashion, menswear, style tips, pick me ups, etc.) please feel free to reach out. I'd love to incorporate your feedback into my planning. With that, off we go!

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Body Types, Giving Back, My Favorite Things, Style TipsmelliciaFlared jeans, Hip clogs, hip comfortable shoes, Personal Stylist Seattle, Women's fashionComment
Expert POV: The Perfect Gift Card for the Teen or Tween in your Life.

Christmas is getting closer. If you still haven't wrapped up your holiday shopping, it might time to go for gift cards. With this in mind, I asked Zoya, a local Seattleite, to weigh in on her favorite sources for stylish gifts for teens and tweens. After all, she's in 8th grade and is VERY interested in fashion. 

Zoya's take on buying the perfect piece for the girl in your life is not to buy her a gift at all, but rather a gift certificate. And of course, regardless of your age, everybody has a personal style. So Zoya generously put together for you, Dear Reader, a visual guide to buying gift certificates. Just find your teen/tween's personal style keyword and you're off. And if a description isn't enough, don't worry: Zoya enlisted more local stylish teens to model the looks, making your shopping even easier. Enjoy!

Four Steps to Tween Style Gifting (from a Knowledgeable Source)

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Seattle Sunday: Essensuals London Comes to Town and Man, Am I Happy.

Let's talk about my hair. 

I'd like to pretend that I have as much knowledge and passion for hair as I do for clothing. But, I do not. That's why I surround myself with people who do. Or, at least I try to. The challenge is that I'd LOVE someone to guide me about all things hair. As in, all things pertaining to MY hair. 

In short, I'm looking for the Poplin Style Direction of hair. And I think I've come close to finding it. If you are a hair aficionado, you've likely heard of TONI & GUY, the highly acclaimed London hair brand known for "setting the fashion agenda" in the UK and beyond. Identical twin brothers Jason and Robert Townsend are part of the brand and have just opened up Essensuals London in Capitol Hill. They made me prettier, smarter and happier. And I'm confident, Dear Reader, that they can do the same for you.

Why a Visit to Essensuals London Will Change the Way You Think About Your Hair Forever

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Gonna Have a Good Day.

I am all about the music. If you put on just the right track, it inspires just the right outfit and inevitably just the right day. 

So, today, my Dear Reader, I am going to give you a little window into the life of this personal stylist. When I'm styling someone, I try to get into her head, to figure out what she REALLY wants to look like. Then, match that up with her body type and get her there. When I'm creating wish lists, I find it especially helpful to put on music that reminds me of that client. When I'm getting ready in the morning, if I can tear myself away from NPR, I gravitate toward something that is going to set me up for a successful day. 

So, let us begin.

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Of the Moment Party Looks that Are Hiding In Your Closet

Tis the season to hit multiple holiday parties. That means, you need more than one LRD (little red dress) to get you through. And, of course, if you are feeling especially generous this year, that also likely means that you don’t have a lot of extra cash to spend on a little something for yourself. Not to worry! Here are a few of the moment trends that you can rock that you might just have hiding in the back of your closet. 

 

The best part about shopping your closet? It's always open and it's free. Here's what you are looking for:

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Holiday Happenings- Dressing Decoded

Below you'll find another blog post from Poplin contributor and plus size fashion guru, Jordan Richardson. Like what you read? Jordan's research on Sizeism was recently featured in an article in the Everett Herald? Check it out! Love her and you will, too.

 

Dear Readers,

As we say goodbye to Thanksgiving feasts and cranberries, and move into peppermint and ham season, you may find your calender filling up with holiday parties. Your cousins fancy take on a fondue party, the co-workers bar hop, Janie's cocktail party, family dinner party, and best friends ugly sweater party; all occasions that you want to be festive and appropriately dressed.

Appropriate may be the type of festivity, I don't recommend a ball gown for a Christmas Tree hunt, but you could I suppose. Appropriate can also be making sure that you are warm enough during these chilly month, so find ways to stay warm without feeling like you have compromised. Take a look at my previous coat post for ideas on how to keep your topper chic, but don't forget the under bits as well. A great pair of tights I feel is an essential; but have fun with them. If you are wearing a plain shift, go for a patterned tight. Monochromatic pattern, say hello to this great pair of emerald tights. One of the wonderful things about this season is that you can punch up the sparkle and texture factors.

As follows are some holiday party outfits for all sorts of occasions.

Minimalist Masculine Chic goes to a Cocktail Party

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Seattle Sunday: Ooo La La Lashes from the Lash Factory

Remember that day, so long ago, when you discovered what having your eyebrows waxed could do for your face? Or how about when you tried a shaper for the very first time? Or a push up bra? How much do you wish someone had told you years ago about the importance of sunscreen on your face?  

It's these unspoken truths that transform how we look and feel. And let me tell you, Dear Reader: lash extensions are your next addiction. 

What lash extensions from the Lash Factory did for me and what they can do for YOU.

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Seattle Sunday, Style Tips, Women's fashionmelliciaEye lash extension discount, Lash Extensions, Lash-Factory, Personal Stylist SeattleComment