I 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,

5 Days: 5 Fall Trends: Military Influence.

Holy 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.

UncategorizedmelliciaOctober 29, 2017Comment

5 Days: 5 Fall Trends. Day 4: Grow into a Fan of Florals.

Welcome 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.

UncategorizedmelliciaOctober 27, 2017Comment

5 Days: 5 Fall Trends. Day 3: Velvet Town.

Welcome 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.

5 Days: 5 Fall Trends. Day 2: Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Sleeves.

Make 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.

5 Days: 5 Fall Trends. Day 1: Criss Cross.

There'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.

I Dare You Not to Get Sucked In.

Oh 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!

UncategorizedmelliciaOctober 19, 2017Comment

Saks Off 5th in Seattle!

If 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.

Should I Get Rid of Clothes That Don't Fit?

Ah, 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.

The Dress That Keeps You Cozy & Fabulous.

There'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

UncategorizedmelliciaSeptember 26, 2017Comment

What Boots to Own + What to Wear Them With.

Like 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

6 Places to Get the Best Retail Customer Service in the Seattle Area.

As 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.

My Fav Picks Right Now, Status Update and More

If you are on the Poplin email list, you've been receiving your Friday emails. You're not on it?! Sign up! For those of you who prefer to check in on the blog directly, apologies for the lack of posts. Fall is a crazy time in fashion (as you all know), we've had 2 Poplin events in a row (one for clients featuring Naked Truth Beauty and Everling Jewelry an another at Universal Standard) and as it turns out, I got sick. So, there's that.

I'm officially back on track. Being away from the blog hasn't stopped me from discovering new, glorious pieces. You can see a collection of them in this week's newsletter. Here's a link in case you need it. Check them out. I'm obsessed.

In other news, Poplin is almost booked for fall! Woah. If you

UncategorizedmelliciaSeptember 15, 2017Comment

The Poplin Style Community Hits the Universal Standard Showroom First.

This 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

Hey! What are you Wearing?

Hello, 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

7 Ways to Do the 80's Right. Seriously. Trust Me.

Here's the thing, how many times have you said (or heard someone say), "I only do a decade once. I wore X the first time, so I'm not doing it again?"

As a personal stylist for women, I've heard a collection of those fashion "true-isms." Get rid of something that you haven't worn in a year (myth). Plus size women shouldn't wear X (myth). And, of course, you can't do the same decade or piece twice (myth). I say all of this to encourage you to believe that yes, my Dear Reader, whether or not you lived through the 80's, there are ways you can integrate 80's inspired trends into your modern wardrobe and love them. Here are just a few.

7 Ways to Integrate 80's Inspired Trends

into Your Modern Look

UncategorizedmelliciaAugust 17, 2017Comment

Awww, Shux.

UncategorizedmelliciaAugust 16, 2017Chamonix Films, Chamonix Thurston Rattue, Everling Jewelry, Naked Truth Beauty, Poplin Style Client Event, Poplin Style clients, Poplin Style Video TestimonialsComment

A Big Night for Poplin Clients, Everling Jewelry & Naked Truth Beauty

Sometimes you just want to scan a photo gallery. Lucky for you, I just posted two galleries from last night's client event featuring Naked Truth Beauty, Everling Jewelry AND a

A Wishlist for the Reader

accessories, Body Types, Designer Label, My Favorite Things, plus size fashion, Poplin Events, Shoes, shop local, Style Tips, Women's fashionmelliciaAugust 12, 2017Personal Stylist Seattle, Personal stylist women, Seattle Wardrobe ConsultantComment

Naked Truth Beauty is Finally Available in Seattle!

Let us begin with my obsession with Naked Truth Beauty. The founder, Lauren Evashenk, makes luscious makeup for lips, cheeks & eyes that is totally 100% natural. No chemicals. No words you can't pronounce. Only quality ingredients that you feel good about on your body. Plus, they look great!

In fact, I haven't worn makeup all summer (shhh) except