Posts in Shoes
What Boots to Own + What to Wear Them With.

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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

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accessories, Designer Label, My Favorite Things, Shoes, shop local, Style Tips, Women's fashionmellicia80's inspired boot, ankle boot, contrast heel boot, embroidered boots, embroidered knee high boots, Free People boots, green ankle boots, green over the knee boot, Jeffrey Campbell boots, mid calf boot, mid heel boot, navy mid calf boots, orange suede ankle boots, over the knee boots, over the knee suede boot, Personal Shopper Seattle, Personal Stylist Seattle, Poplin, Poplin Style, Poplin Style Direction, Rachel Comey boots, red boots, red mid heel boots, Seattle Personal Stylist Women, slouch boot, sock boot, suede slouch boot, Wardrobe Stylist Seattle, weatherproof over the knee boots, yellow mid calf bootsComment
Must Know Now.

Man, my life is filled with hot tips. As a personal stylist for women, I'm fortunate to learn about all sorts of innovative, surprising and delightful things. Thanks very much to those of you who send info my way and to all of you for listening when I offer up ideas. My list of cool things is getting too long to manage, so I'm going to share it with you here and recycle the piece of paper. Let's hear it for efficiency. 

Super Cool Things That are Top of Mind Right Now.

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accessories, My Favorite Things, Shoes, Style Tips, Women's fashionmelliciaAffordable lash extensions Seattle, Claudie Pierlot, F-Bomb Breakfast Club, Lash Parlour, Learn to make shoes, Personal Stylist Seattle Women, Personal stylist women, Portland makers, Rachel Sees Snails Shoes, Seattle Female Entrepreneur, The Riveter Seattle, Upstairs on 7th Comment
Styling Up Your FREE Geneva Dress from Universal Standard

Let's begin with the reason I'm such an evangelist for Universal Standard . (In case you are wondering, these aren't sponsored posts. Poplin just gets a dress to give away.) I really just love this brand. As you likely know, we're giving away one Geneva dress to a lucky Poplin email list subscriber. You can increase your chances of winning by sharing the giveaway and can have an even greater shot by entering multiple times. So, why are we doing this?

Well, US starts at size 10 and let me tell you, as a personal stylist for women, that space between size 10 and 16 is a tricky area. It's pretty common for our weight to fluctuate (mine certainly does) and when your fluctuation causes you to go from "straight sizes" to plus sizes, that often adds a layer of judgement, defeat and frankly, fewer fashionable choices. I'm not a trainer or a nutritionist, etc. Therefore, my general feeling is you don't need to change your body, you just need to change your clothes. Should you choose to tackle weight loss, you are more likely to succeed when you feel beautiful everyday in  your clothes. Should you choose not to go down that path, you'll still be happier looking beautiful everyday. In short, it's a win win. 

Universal Standard allows women to stick with the same great brand they love even if/when their weight fluctuates past 14. Even better? If your size changes within a year of purchase, you can exchange your piece for your current size. Seriously. Yes, US is everything.

We're looking forward to the brick and mortar store opening in the coming months. At that point, keep your eyes peeled for a Poplin event at the shop. For now, it's all about winning this Geneva dress! So take a look below at my suggestions for styling, just to get you started. Have thoughts, feelings, or questions? Please share! And remember to enter and/or share with a woman in your life who'd love to win!

How to Style the Geneva Dress from Universal Standard

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accessories, body image, Body Types, Designer Label, plus size fashion, Poplin Giveaways, Seattle makers, Shoes, shop local, Style Tips, Women's fashionmelliciaImage Consultant Seattle, Personal Shopper Seattle, Personal Stylist Seattle, Personal stylist women, Poplin Style Universal Standard Contest, Universal Standard, Universal Standard Geneva Dress, Universal Standard giveawayComment
Last Minute Father's Day Gifts/ Glorious Gifts for the Fellas. Go!

As you know, Dear Reader, I'm a personal stylist for women primarily in the Seattle area. But, that certainly doesn't keep me from diving into all sorts of super cool menswear options. I'm always keeping a list of noteworthy options for the men and at some point is just gets too long to keep to  myself any longer. Lucky for us, Father's Day is a nice excuse to share a sea of awesomeness that will be helpful to you now and in the future. Let me know what you think!

10 Places to Shop and Things to Buy for

the Fella in Your Life.

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accessories, Menswear, My Favorite Things, Poplin Giveaways, Seattle makers, Seattle Sunday, Shoes, shop local, Style TipsmelliciaDads and Daughters Hair Workshop Seattle, Division Road Seattle, Elliott Bay Book Company, Father's Day Gifts 2017, Freeman Seattle, Gary Manuel Seattle, Hammer + Awl, Heritage fashion, Menswear Accessories Seattle, Menswear Seattle, Menswear shops Seattle, Personal Stylist Women Seattle, Portal Virtual Reality Arcade, Puzzle Break, re-soul Seattle, Seattle Activities for Dad, Seattle Father's Day Gifts 2017, Seattle Image Consultant Women, Seattle Personal Stylist, Seattle tailor + stylist, Seattle Virtual Reality Arcade, Town Hall SeattleComment
Win a FREE Pair of Shoes from the re-souL Collection!

If you read this blog with any regularity, thank you. AND, you must know how much I adore Ballard's own re-souL. My first big post focusing on the brand went live in November, 2013. Wow. How time flies. Now, I'm a dedicated re-souL enthusiast. The extremely well made shoes are designed in Ballard and made with supple Italian leather. Plus, each pair is equal parts fashion and function with special care given to ensure every pair is crazy comfortable.

Since that initial post, I've been fortunate to become friends with the brains behind the brand (Legh and Maggie) and partner up with Maggie on the YouthCare Styling Sessions. In short, I couldn't be happier to introduce the shop and this crew to the world. If you are already a re-souL fan, you'll be especially excited about our giveaway. 

Here's how it works. Simply sign up for the Poplin newsletter to be entered. If you are already on the Poplin email list, yes, you are entered. But, wouldn't you like to increase your chances? Simply enter again and be given all sorts of options to increase your likelihood of winning. Tweet, share, post. Whatever you do. It will get you closer to a pair of shoes of YOUR CHOICE from the re-souL collection. 

The winner will be announced this Friday. So, don't delay. Enter now! Until then, how about some suggestions for styling these gorgeous shoes?! 

Off we go!

The Perfect Mule is a Part Timer

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accessories, Designer Label, plus size fashion, Poplin Giveaways, Shoes, shop local, Style Tips, Women's fashionmellicia#shoplocal, Poplin re-souL giveaway, re-souL giveaway, re-soul Seattle, Seattle Image Consultant Women, Seattle Personal Stylist Women, Seattle Stylist, shopballardComment
Look Your Best as You Pink Out for Planned Parenthood

Today's the day! Pink Out for Planned Parenthood. There are all sorts of ways to take action. As a personal stylist, my job is to ensure that you look great while supporting your favorite causes. So, here are a few of my favorite suggestions right now. 

Pink Out in Style

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accessories, Giving Back, My Favorite Things, Shoesmellicia#istandwithpp, #pinkout, #pinkoutforpp, Image Consultant Women Seattle, Personal Stylist for Women Seattle, Pink out Seattle, Retailers donating to Planned Parenthood, Seattle Personal Stylist WomenComment
Must Know Now: 15 Fashion Forward Shoe Brands You've Never Heard of.

Are they weird? Are they cool? Are they both? As a personal stylist I'm all about channeling inspiration into reality. It's common for my clients to ask for comfortable shoes that make a statement. Here's a list of 11 brands that are worth your time, and it's highly likely you haven't heard of most of them. Yes! They are unconventional. Yes! They are works of art. And yes, you can just choose to admire them from afar. But, if you are feeling bold and are interested in something unexpected and perhaps avant garde, this list is gold. Enjoy!

 

15 Shoe Brands for the Bold Fashionista

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My Favorite Things, Shoes, shop local, Style TipsmelliciaAlexander Wang shoes, Bryr clogs, Chelsea Paris, Chelsea Paris shoes, Chie Mihara shoes, Jacquemus shoes, Kat Maconie shoes, Loffler Randall shoes, Loq shoes, M-Gemi shoes, Marni shoes, Marsell shoes, Mercedes Castillo shoes, Neous shoes, Rachel Comey shoes, United Nude ShoesComment
5 Comfy Trends that Could be Sloppy or Chic, Depending on Your Pairing.

It's true. Sometimes you just want to wear something soft and cozy. The danger is that once you know the bliss of old sweat pants, you'll have a hard time convincing yourself to change out of them to head to the market. Thanks to fashion trends, there's some great news for those of us who would like to be comfortable and still fashionable. 

5 Comfortable Trends that you can Elevate.

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Designer Label, My Favorite Things, plus size fashion, Shoes, shop local, Style Tips, Weatherproof, Women's fashionmelliciacamo, camo heeled boots, camo sneakers, distressed jeans, Hip down coat, hip sweatshirt, joggers, Personal Stylist for Women Seattle, plus size down coat, print joggers, red down coatComment
My Favorite U Village Shops Including Joie!

Let's face it, Nordstrom plays a key role in Seattle style. As a personal stylist, I find that the vast majority of my new clients use the retailer as an easy way to learn about new brands. As a result, Vince & Joie are two of the most popular brands that come up in conversation. 

So when I discovered the new JOIE store at U Village, I had to share! The ladies are lovely and the selection is much larger than you'll find at a larger retailer. This got me thinking, there's some pretty stellar shopping at U Village. Let's make sure you know some of my favorite places to go.

15+ Shops Worth (re)Visiting at University Village (in no particular order)

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Designer Label, My Favorite Things, Seattle makers, Shoes, Skincare, Women's fashionmelliciaBluemercury Seattle, Image Consultant Women Seattle, Joie Seattle, Mercer Seattle, Personal Shopper Seattle, Personal Shopper Women Seattle, Personal Stylist for Women Seattle, Seattle Image Consultant, Seattle Personal Stylist, University Village Stores, Warby Parker SeattleComment
Must Have Now: Metallic Ankle Boots

I've been searching for the perfect pair of metallic ankle boots for over a year. If that seems excessive, I think so, too. But, first, I imagined metallic ankle boots without having actually seen a pair. This is a common approach of mine. Dream it. Then find it. As a personal stylist for women, I do this for my clients, too. That's part of the fun of the job. 

My theory was that metallic ankle boots would be an amazing neutral. After all, you've likely heard me champion mixed metals for a couple of years now. Metallic ankle boots seemed like the ideal completion of an outfit with metal accessories. To be true to my personal style, I have been looking for a pair that are show stoppers, but not too over the top, reasonably priced (because this is an experiment) AND had a heel height lower than 3 1/2 inches. That's a tall order.

I finally found a pair

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accessories, Designer Label, Shoes, Style Tips, Women's fashionmelliciagold ankle boots, metallic ankle boots, Personal Stylist Seattle Women, pewter ankle boots, Seattle Image Consultant, Seattle Persona Shopper Women, silver ankle bootsComment
I Heart (Band of) Horses.

Last night my husband surprised me with tickets to the Band of Horses show at the Paramount. Our musical tastes are like a venn diagram and Band of Horses is one of the artists in the section that represents our overlap. I had no idea they were in town and was recently disappointed by our inability to pick up Chance the Rapper tickets. (Also in the overlap section.) We saw them together over 8 years ago, so we were past due for another show.

It was extraordinary. Seriously. Maybe one of the best shows I've been to, certainly in Seattle. Still playing the record repeatedly on our turntable while I work, I have opted to postpone today's scheduled post in favor of something a little unconventional. (Yes, they sold records at the show.) Today, Dear Reader, I'll bring you a personal stylist's interpretation of Band of Horses. Translation: Here are some cool pieces related to horses. Go! 

 

5 Ways to Integrate Horses into Your Look

(Thank you, Band of Horses.)

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Designer Label, Seattle makers, Shoes, Style Tips, Women's fashionmelliciaBand of Horses, Band of Horses Clothing, Horse Print Umbrella, Horse skirt, Horse T-shirt, Paramount Theater Seattle, Personal Stylist Seattle, Personal stylist women, Pony hair heels Comments
The Modern Sexy Librarian.

As a personal stylist, I've discovered that there are several archetypes that come up over and over. Clients reference a look they've always loved, whether or not they channel that when getting dressed. Sometimes, the goal is to get there. That's what I'm here for. Other times, they just like elements of the aesthetic and wonder how to integrate those in small parts into their daily looks. Well, Dear Reader. I live for this stuff. 

So, today, it's all about the sexy librarian. Yes, this can go so many ways. But today, I'm heading toward a feminine woman who isn't afraid to be feminine. She's confident. She knows her stuff. And, she's a little bit unconventional. Enjoy!

 

Channeling the Sexy Librarian in Your Look

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accessories, Body Types, Designer Label, Shoes, Style Tips, Women's fashionmelliciaAnkle boots with metallic heel, Backpack that fits a laptop, blazer with elbow patches, dinosaur earrings, Hip backpack, hip frames for glasses, Minimalist backpack, Pendleton towel, pink glasses, post-mastectomy swimsuit, sleeveless turtleneckComment
Some of my Favs from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

We wait all year for it, and now it's finally here. In a word, Anniversary. If you have a Nordstrom card, you can pre-shop the sale until July 21st. Why would you do this? Because you can shop fall pieces now. And, I know from experience that sizes go fast. On July 21st, sale prices are available to the masses. When Anniversary ends, pieces go from their sale prices up to full price. It's wacky. It's fun. It's Anniversary. 

The benefit of having your very own personal stylist, Dear Reader, is that I've gone through every piece on sale to call out my very favorites.

One more thing. If you don't have a Nordstrom card (credit or debit), you might think about signing up for one. There's a wide range of benefits that include $20 Nordstrom notes (same as cash at Nordstrom or the Rack) showing up in the mail. If you are a serious Nordstrom shopper, you might also consider a credit card that earns you more Nordstrom notes anytime you use it (not just at Nordstrom).

No, the company didn't pay me to say this. But, it's my job as a personal stylist to make my clients aware of ways to maximize every dollar. 

So there you have it. And now onto some of my very favorite pieces on sale. The selection is pretty great this year, so you'll see a series of posts with more of my favs. Keep checking back. 

 

Round ONE: Edgy, Urban, Sexy

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accessories, Designer Label, My Favorite Things, plus size fashion, Shoes, Style Tips, Women's fashionmelliciabooties, faux leather leggings, Green leather jacket, Military vest, Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2016, Nordstrom Sale, over the knee boots, Personal stylist, Plus size leather dress, romper, Seattle Personal Stylist, Suede jacket, Women personal stylistComment
A Fresh Approach to the Closet Edit.

The first step in any style transformation is the Closet Edit. You need to know what you have, what you need and what you don't before you can move forward successfully. Otherwise, things just become overwhelming. I know I shouldn't be, but I'm always amazed at how transformational a Closet Edit can be for a client. Despite having fewer pieces (and sometimes, significantly fewer pieces), she should feel like she actually has more outfits. 

I recently learned that Amazon declared the second most popular book in 2015 as Marie Kondo's, "The Art of Tidying Up." No surprise there. I can't tell you how many women have hired me after reading the book and attempting to tackle their closets on their own. The book is motivating, to be sure. It focuses on simplifying your life rather than ensuring you are authentic to your personal style. Two different goals mean two different approaches. 

The Poplin approach focuses on your authentic personal style. This approach uses a client's body type, personal style and goals to determine what should and should not be in her collection. We also organize her closet by type, then by color to make creating outfits easier. I often tell clients that your closet should feel like a boutique curated just for you. Everything should fit, it should make you look and feel beautiful and communicate your personal style. I also organize my closet in this way.

However, I'm experimenting with my own closet and I'm confident that my new approach will be a helpful next step for some readers who are at the edit 2.0 level. Therefore, as we head into a long holiday weekend. This post is all about sharing. 

Re-engaging with Your Closet. You've Already Done the Edit, Now It's Time to Organize.

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Caring for your pieces, Shoes, Women's fashionmelliciaCloset edit, Closet edit process, Closet organizing, shop your closetComment
My 10 Favorite Things Right Now

It's been a while since I've sent out a list of my very favorite things. Let's be clear. I am absolutely addicted to a laundry list of items. As a personal stylist for women, my goal is to write blog posts that help you maintain a personal style that is authentic to you. Your look should communicate who you are and be functional for your life. My favorite things are a collection of items that encompass who I am. Ideally, you'll find that some of them speak to you, as well. As always, I love to know what you think and hear about some of your favorite things. Off we go!

 

My 10 Favorite Things Right Now

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accessories, Designer Label, Hair care, My Favorite Things, Poplin Giveaways, Shoes, Skincare, Style Tips, Women's fashionmelliciaAdjustable maternity dress, Breastfeeding dress, gingham flats, Honey Google Chrome Extension, Karen Reichert The Collage Salon, Kinwolfe, Marimekko dress, Marimekko for Target, Midcentury outdoor furniture, NPR one, Oribe Beautiful Color, Personal Stylist Seattle Women, Personal stylist women, Straw clutch, Straw tote, Stylish maternity clothes, The Collage Salon, The Longest Shortest Time, Wide leg pantsComment
Celebrate Earth Day with Sustainable Shopping and Sales!

What to do? It's Earth Day AND the day after we lost Prince. I'm wearing purple as I write this and will be following up this post with a Prince inspired piece to go live this weekend. So, for now, I'll focus on Earth Day. Why? Well, a sale at Coclico is a good reason. 

I love the idea of slow shopping: Creating more meaningful experiences and buying fewer pieces, shopping that is better for the world. This is why shops like Velouria hold a special place in my heart. That being said, it's a real commitment. And for me, and most of my clients, sustainable pieces are a, "nice to have" versus a "must have." When price, size and style come into play, sustainability often comes in last.

So, for today's Earth Day post, I wanted to offer up some realistic options to integrate some slow shopping into our lives. Off we go!

 

Baby Steps for Slow Shopping

Including Some of My Favorite Brands

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Shoes, shop local, Style Tips, Women's fashionmelliciaCoclico sale, Cork shoes, Ethica, Ethical Shopping, Personal Stylist Seattle, Personal stylist women, Recycling clothing, recycling textiles, Seattle Style, SkunkFunk, sustainable fashion, Sustainable shopping, Velouria SeattleComment
It's All About the Block Heel.

There's nothing like a great spring trend. As a personal stylist, I am always on the lookout for what is current and how that translates for each of my clients. As a fashion enthusiast, I'm pretty much obsessed with this sort of thing. This is one of those situations where I just sit and count the minutes, waiting for the weather to change so that I can finally rock those open toed shoes with reckless abandon. This year, those shoes simply must either have laces or have a block heel. If you missed Poplin contributor Jordan Richardson's post on the Case for Laces, take a look. For now, let's focus on the uber functional and stylish block heel. 

20 Glorious Block Heels.

Find the One that is Right for YOU.

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accessories, Seattle makers, Shoes, shop local, Style Tips, Women's fashionmelliciaMetallic Block Heel, Personal stylist women, re-soul Seattle, SoleStruck, Unusual block heel, Wood block heelComment