“Stall”ing

Last Thursday I was at a business networking event by Corey Perlman of eBoot Camp (www.ebootcamp.com… check it out!) and during a short break I made a visit to the ladies’ room.  From the stall next to me I heard a woman say, “I know what I want for Christmas.”   Curiosity peaked, I waited for a reply.

“What?” her friend responded.

“A belt,” she answered, “mine is falling apart.”

From another stall I heard a woman say, “Christmas is an awfully long time to wait for a belt.”   (I couldn’t agree more.)

To this the young woman replied, “I’m too lazy to get it myself.”

While this little bathroom exchange may have seemed insignificant to the other ladies in the room, it made a bell go off in my head.  It occurred to me that maybe not everyone knows that there is such a thing as a personal stylist, or maybe they think it’s only for the rich and famous.  Not so! 

There are many terms out there that all refer to pretty much the same thing: personal stylist, wardrobe consultant, image consultant, fashion stylist, and more.  However generally speaking a good personal style consultant (see there’s another one!)  offers many different services and can usually tailor those services to meet your needs and budget.  Here is what they can do for you:

• Clean out your closet

“One day I’m gonna wear it!”  No you’re not.  It’s just taking up space in your closet and mocking you every time you look at it.  Your very own wardrobe consultant will help you let go of items that take up space and bring you down.

• Define your style

Variety is the spice of life.  A good personal (emphasis on the “personal”) stylist should help you define a style that lets people get a sense of your personality through your appearance.  I would never want my clients to look like clones; I want each of them to feel their individual best.

• Build a functional wardrobe

By functional I mean that your clothing and accessories should be flattering, versatile and meet the needs of your lifestyle.  If your work environment is business casual do you really need 5 suits?  No.  Your consultant should help you identify the items you need to meet the needs of your life as well as the proper silhouettes and colors to most accentuate your attributes.

• Personal shopping

Some people love shopping, some people would rather pull their toenails out with tweezers.  (At least that’s how one of my clients put it when we first met.)  A personal stylist can either serve as training wheels by going shopping with you and teaching you how to shop for the best items for you.  Or they can be a huge time saver and bring items to you at your convenience.  For example, the young woman in the bathroom really needn’t wait another 6 months for a belt when she can have options, all her size and flattering to her figure, brought right to her.

As far as cost goes, there are different rates out there but most style consultants charge by the hour, which makes it easy to stay to a budget.  Don’t be afraid to tell your consultant that you only want a certain number of hours and ask them to define what can be accomplished in that time frame.  I’ve lost potential clients because the time they needed was longer than what they were willing to spend, but I would rather be honest than have them go over budget or not achieve their goals.  And just for the record, in case you watch the show, some of us are much nicer than Stacy and Clinton on “What Not to Wear”! 

Got questions?  Clothing conundrums?  Style emergencies?  Please comment on my blog or email me at: Jodi@stylesuccess.net

Thanks for reading!

The Color Connection

If you are an avid HGTV viewer or have ever contemplated what color to paint a room, you might be familiar with the theory that color affects mood.  For example, green and blue are colors that soothe and so are often used in spas, bedrooms and medical facilities.  Red and orange encourage appetite and are great for dining rooms (unless you’re on a diet).  But have you ever thought to apply this same color theory to your wardrobe? 

The colors you wear can have an effect on the people you meet physiologically and via association.  For example, what do you think when you see the color neon orange?  For most people it means, “ATTENTION! “ the physiological response,  and  ”road construction”, the association.  (For some of us there is also a secondary 80’s reference, but that’s another story.)  Here are a few tips on how to use color to your advantage to communicate the message you want.

You will respect my authoritah!  To convey authority and strength choose a structured suit in a dark color like navy, black or charcoal grey. 

For a softer, more approachable appeal, choose light grey or tan

Bright and Center  Red, Orange, Yellow and Purple are energetic colors that leave an impression.  To impart a memorable message of positive energy incorporate these colors in your look in small doses… they can be too much of a good thing.

The muted versions of these colors, Pink, Peach, Light Yellow and Lilac respectively, are relaxing and nurturing colors. 

No Affiliation Steer clear of color combinations that have definite associations in people’s minds since this will distract from your desired focus… you. 

Examples:  Green + Red = Christmas;  Orange + Black = Halloween

Use other color associations to your advantage.  For example:

Blue = stable, loyal, trustworthy

Purple = luxurious, wise, creative

Orange = warm, enthusiastic, energetic

You Look a Little Green The color worn closest to your face will reflect onto your skin, so it’s important to choose colors that are complimentary to your skin tone.  Choosing the right color can actually make you look healthier and younger.  The wrong color can have the exact opposite effect.  As a general rule I would recommend staying away from a lot of green next to the face.

Playing it Safe When all else fails and you need a sure thing, go with cornflower blue.  It looks great on just about everyone and has all the stability of blue but the energy of a bright color.

You Can’t Judge a Book by Its Cover

I recently read a blog discussing style advice for career women as given by a personal stylist employed by Nordstrom. I’m not going to comment on my opinion of her advice since for the purpose of this blog I’m more interested in the first blog comment: “what a bunch of fluff…you can’t tell a book by its cover.”
This is one of my all-time favorite cop-out comments. It’s true. You can’t know just from looking at the cover of a book whether or not the book will be good. That’s what the title is for, to entice you to purchase and read the book. When it comes to your career and especially to an interview, your appearance does matter. Whether you wish it to be so or not, your appearance tells people something about you, it speaks before you do. The question is, what do you want it to say? If you show up looking sloppy do you think a potential employer will believe you when you say you’re a very organized person with amazing attention to detail? If you’ve been at a job for years and a higher paying position opens up but it means being in front of potential clients, should your boss consider you for the job if your appearance is not business appropriate?
When you’re selling your house your realtor will tell you that curb appeal can draw a potential buyer in, or turn them away. If you’re building a business a graphic designer will tell you the importance of having a website and business card that properly convey your company’s message. And yes, to sell a book the cover and title must convince the reader to look inside. When it comes to your professional appearance, before you ever utter a word or hand over a resume, your appearance should convey a quiet message of confidence, competence and attention to detail. Here are some quick tips to consider:
- Stand up straight! If your mother isn’t here to tell you then I will. It doesn’t cost a thing and it does wonders for your overall appearance and feeling of confidence.
- Polish your shoes
- Trim any loose threads from your clothing
- To give a suit a quick steam hang it in the bathroom with you when you take a shower
- Keep a travel size lint roller in your bag and do a quick roll over your outfit before you go in to a meeting

I can’t give all my tips away for free! But I’d love to hear your comments or questions, click the comments (or ‘no comments’ if you’re the first) link below. Let me hear from you!!
Also, if you haven’t already, be sure to sign up to my seasonal trend report mailing list. Just drop me a line to: jodi@stylesuccess.net or visit my website www.stylesuccess.net

A Truly Unique Gift

Do you want to spoil your significant other for Valentine’s Day, their birthday or an anniversary but you’re out of fresh ideas?  Give your loved one a day with their very own personal stylist!  What could be better than being treated like a celebrity for a day?  What beats trying on clothes that you’re sure will look great on you and having someone compliment you all day long? 

A lot of men and women hate shopping.  Some hate it because it’s overwhelming to weed through the thousands of garments on the racks while others hate it because they try on a bunch of ill fitting clothes and end up feeling depressed about their body.  There is none of that stress with a personal stylist.  A good personal stylist will do all the work for you.  They will only pick items that flatter you, they’ll do all the holding and lugging of hangers, they’ll track down the illusive salesperson for questions and sizes, and they’ll pull together the outfits so you don’t have to lift a finger.  To top it all off the stylist can be responsible for the payment of the items so the recipient doesn’t even have to look at a single price tag.  I guarantee they will feel like a king or queen for a day!

If you really want to go big and give the whole package, here’s an idea for a full day event:

To start, the stylist arrives in a chauffeured car to pick up your celebrity client.  Since it will probably be morning, you can have coffee and something to nibble on in the car.

Next they will be whisked off to several stores.  If your stylist does their homework they might have already set aside some outfits based off of a picture and description of your loved one that you’ve provided.  They will have spoken to the salesperson and let them know that you have a VIP client coming and they should be treated as such.

Once the outfits have been chosen your loved one is taken to a salon to have their hair and grooming done: nails and makeup for a woman; shave and grooming for a man.

Once they are all clean and groomed they put on one of their new outfits and are driven to a beautiful restaurant, or other spot, where you are waiting for them to enjoy the rest of your evening together.

It will be a day of pampering and spoiling that your significant other will never forget!

Back to Basics: the foundation to a stylish woman’s wardrobe

There are a lot of articles out there about “recession proofing” your wardrobe.  The truth is that the rules to making the most of your wardrobe are no different now than in times of plenty. The best way to make the most out of every item you own is to start with “the basics”: classic, timeless pieces that you can mix and match with accessories  and inexpensive trend-conscious items to leverage into multiple outfits.
*Note: The most important thing to look for when purchasing clothing is fit.  If it doesn’t fit well or you’re not willing to have it altered to fit well, then don’t buy it.  It will either sit in your closet and hardly ever be worn, or you won’t look your best in it.  In both cases, even if it was inexpensive, it is still money wasted.
Here is the short-list of pieces that should form the foundation of your wardrobe:
1. Jeans - well fitting dark solid wash, preferably with at least 2% stretch.  These are a wardrobe staple.  Roll them up and throw them in your bag for the perfect way to go from work to after-hours.
2. Suit – every woman should have at least well-fitting suit in her closet.  Charcoal gray is often a good choice since it can be less severe than black but still serious.  That being said, if you choose to go with a black suit then I recommend having your suit be separate from your black trousers.  Your black pants will most likely be worn more often than the jacket and over time this can cause fabric color and quality differences between the jacket and the pant. 
3. Black trousers - these should be of a material that drapes, for example a wool blend or a polyester/rayon/spandex blend.
4. Black skirt – a straight or a-line silhouette ending at the top or middle of the knee.  For most figures a straight (sometimes referred to as pencil) silhouette is best.  However, if your shoulders are wider than your hips then always opt for an a-line silhouette.
5. Cami / tank – preferably one white, one cream and one black.  Always wear a cami or tank underneath button-down blouses.  By leaving a couple of buttons open and exposing the top of the tank it will add depth and dimension to your outfit (if at work then make sure that your cleavage isn’t showing).  It will also save you from any embarrassment should your button s open or gape. 
6. Classic white blouse – should have darts and seaming to fit a woman’s body. (Don’t forget the tank underneath.)
7. “Little black dress” – look for one in a matte (not shiny) fabric that can suit many occasions.  The wrap dress is a new classic that is incredibly versatile and flatters most figures.  Stay clear of cheap quality jersey. 
8. A classic patterned blazer - Solid colored blazers could present a problem when trying to match with different types of looks.  By having a blazer in tweed, boucle, or other classic pattern, you can pair it with pants or skirts in multiple different colors, creating the opportunity for more outfits than one suit will afford you.
Choosing to spend your money on these timeless pieces creates a functioning foundation for your wardrobe and saves you from wasting money on items you will hardly wear.  You don’t need to have a lot of clothes or spend a lot of money to look great, you just need the basics.

Style Success – Style Q&A

Have you ever stared at your wardrobe and thought, “I wish someone would just tell me what to wear!”? I’m that someone! Want to know what shoes go with that dress? What to wear to impress on an interview? What to do about jeans that gap in the back?  Think of me as your style doctor.  I’m here to answer all your style questions, so let ‘er rip!