Redress Style Consulting is Open for Business!

Hey, remember how I was considering going into the styling business? Well, it’s actually happening. It is my honor to present my new business, Redress.

Redress Style Consulting operates in the Atlanta area (but will soon be open to clients outside ATL) offering guidance and advice on all things style. It is my goal to help my clients build fabulous and functional wardrobes that fits their lifestyle, body type, budget, and personal aesthetics. Whether you’re looking for a little pep in your wardrobe, buying clothes for work or a special event, or a total style overhaul, I can help. I believe developing personal style has a huge impact on one’s life, self-esteem, and opportunities. My services right now include the following:

Style Assessment and Consultation: An in-depth discussion to assess your current style and where you would like to go with it. A good choice for someone looking for a style update or total change, but not sure what they want specifically. We’ll also discuss how to flatter your body with silhouettes and color.

Shop Your Closet: I take a look at your current wardrobe and create new outfits from pieces you already own.

Wardrobe Cleanup: I come to your home and we go through your wardrobe piece by piece to assess what works, what needs alteration and what needs to go. Clients will try on all clothes to check for fit and flattery. We’ll also develop a shopping list to help fill gaps in your closet. I’ll take all unwanted clothes to local charities.

Personal Shopping with Client: We go out shopping for about 3 hours together to build up your wardrobe.

Personal Shopping for Client: I do the shopping for you and bring all selected items to your home. From there you try things on and make the decision what to keep. I’ll handle all returns.

Group Style Workshops: Available for your party, conference, business, or seminar. I can teach small or large groups on a wide variety of style topics.

I plan to add more services and a packages as my business grows. For more updates and info on Redress, please like the Facebook page and share it with everyone you know. I’m very excited to start on this new career path. Thank you to all the people who have supported this move.

Small Steps to Style: Discover the Right Basics for You

There’s all sorts of lists floating around the internet about the essential basics for every wardrobe. While I do believe everyone should have a set of workhorse pieces in their closet, I don’t think there’s a prescription that fits everyone’s life and style. For instance, most basics lists include a white button up shirt, black and khaki pants, and a pant suit. I never ever wear any of those things. I prefer dresses to pants and I don’t work in an environment that requires much dressing up. So much for the prescribed essentials.

Before wasting money on “vital” pieces you might not really need, take a minute to assess your needs.

• Recognize that basics don’t mean boring: Depending on your personal preferences and lifestyle, your basic pieces could be classic and conservative (jeans, blazer, cardigan) or wild and fun (mini skirt, high heels, sparkly throw). A basic piece is whatever you reach for time and time again when putting outfits together. My basics include skinny jeans, striped boatneck shirt, white maxi skirt, neutral cardigans, colorful dresses and skirts, and fun earrings. Forget what the magazines tell you and go with what works.
• Look at the dress codes in your life: If you work in a corporate office, it’s important for you to be professional and conservative (depending on the company). If you’re a stay-at-home mom, comfort and washable fabrics are your priority. List all the different dressing situations in your life (work, weekend, date night, client meetings, etc.) Figure out what functions your clothes must serve to fit all aspects of your lifestyle. What qualities are most important in each situation? Do you need to have very separate and distinct wardrobes for work and play? Or do most of your situations mesh well together?  Depending on how many unique dressing situations you have, you might find some basics that overlap in many areas of your life.
• Check for gaps in your wardrobe: Do you frequently feel like you’re missing the right piece for an outfit? You might have a wardrobe gap. Often finding a good workhorse basic can fix the problem. I love mixing prints and bold colors, but was unable to create the kind of looks I wanted to because I lacked essential pieces. After buying a black and white striped shirt, I was suddenly able to make all the quirky outfits I wanted. I could combine it with bright colored and floral skirts, scarves, as well as neutral bottoms and jeans. Keep a notepad in your closet to track any time you feel like you’re missing a piece. Look for trends and brainstorm what pieces might fill multiple gaps and work in lots of outfits.
• Get inspired: Take cues from people with similar style or who are dressing for similar contexts. Look at coworkers, friends, style bloggers, people on the street, etc. By watching what other people are wearing, you might realize that a specific piece would work really well in your closet.

Take My Style Class at ATLOSCon!

Did I mention I’m giving a talk on the importance and value of cultivating personal style at ATLOSCon 2012? It will be the first in several classes and workshops I plan to give over the next year. My class is on Saturday, May 16 at 10:15 am at the Cherokee Recreation Center in Woodstock. Here’s the class description:

Developing your appearance can have an incredible impact on your life. With good personal style comes higher self-esteem, better rapport with coworkers/friends/family, and a zap of positive energy that comes from knowing your outside reflects your inside. However, many of us don’t look our best,  either from holding bad premises about our bodies and the validity of appearance, or a lack of technical knowledge about how to dress well. In this interactive talk, we’ll examine the philosophical reasons for looking good and the mental, emotional, and practical benefits that follow. We’ll also dissect some of the psychological hurdles that keep us from dressing our best. We’ll end with some technical advice for how to build a stylish wardrobe to fit your body, lifestyle, and personality. There will be a Q&A afterwards. This class is open to both men and women.

Registration for ATLOSCon is $15 for kids under 16, $50 for adults 16-25, and $75 for adults 26+. It’s a super fun conference with lots of fun and interesting people. We also have some fun surprises planned for this year. Hope to see you there!

Small Steps to Style: Subscribe to Style Blogs for Inspiration

Celebrities can be great fashion inspirations, but more often than not their looks are not practical for everyday life. However, style bloggers are normal everyday people with a passion for clothing. Style bloggers are students, mothers, teachers, and professionals with a range of personal styles. Whatever your particular dressing situations, there’s a blogger out there going through the same challenges. They can serve as great examples for how to dress for all occasions, remix pieces, and flatter your figure. Best of all, these are normal women with normal budgets dressing fabulously. My favorite style blogs are Keiko Lynn, Academichic, Girl with Curves, Kendi Everyday, Bleubird Vintage, College Fashion, and The Girls with Glasses Show. Here are some ways to find style blogs that inspire you and take advantage of them:

• Google your style type and click on the blogs filter on the lefthand side to look exclusively for blogs.
• When you find a blog you like, check out their blogroll for more bloggers with similar taste. Repeat as you find more blogs.
• Google style bloggers in your city. They can have invaluable insights into the sales and boutiques near you. Some even offer wardrobe consultations!
• Check if your blogger has a shop. Often style bloggers design or resell their clothes. If there’s a piece you’ve been drooling over, it might just be for sale!
• Check for giveaways or special offers to readers. Established bloggers often have promo codes for discounts at various online boutiques.
• Save photos of your favorite outfits for inspiration.
• Take note of where the blogger got her pieces. Occasionally a blogger might have custom or designer pieces, but more often than not they shop at the same places you do.

Small Steps to Style: Prep for your Next Haircut

You should never walk into the salon without some idea of what you want. You’re likely to leave feeling unsatisfied and with a cut that doesn’t work for you. Take some time before going to the stylist to develop a game plan.

• Get some inspiration. Look through magazines or Pinterest to get some ideas for a cut or color you like. Save them and show them to your stylist. Try to look for side and back photos as well to give your stylist the full picture of what you want. Look for people with the same face shape and hair texture as you. You’re more likely to find a good fit.
• Think about your lifestyle. So you love the elaborate updos and layers of curls seen on the red carpet, but you’re not willing to spend more than 5 minutes on your hair in the morning. Or maybe edgy cuts and wild colors are your thing, but you work in a conservative environment. Make sure that whatever you ask your stylist for is going to be appropriate in all areas of your life. Talk about your inspiration, but also talk about the kind of life you have and your hair care routine. In many cases you can find a happy medium between your dream hair and reality. Maybe you can save the elaborate or wild styles for the weekend. Or maybe you can have a toned down version of your dream cut. Really talk to your stylist and ask for their suggestions.
• Write down current hair issues. Keep a pen and paper wherever you get ready in the morning. Take note of things that you love or hate about your hair cut now. Do you have any weird cowlicks? Does your cut work with the texture of your hair? What do you like about your current look? Is your cut too high maintenance? Does your color wash you out or make you pop? Bring the list to your next cut. Your stylist can help you work around any issues you might have and keep the things you love.

The Many Varieties of Bohemian Style

While putting together an bohemian style inspiration board on Pinterest, I realized that boho can be interpreted in a lot of different ways. It was fascinating to discover the various directions you could take a bohemian look, which makes it a great and versatile dressing style. What style do you gravitate toward? (I’m mostly admire hippie boho, but I’m loving the gypsy style. I must get some bohemian pieces in the summer and try the layering them next winter with warm pieces and boots.)

Rockstar Bohemian

This look is laid back, but with some edge. Mix in some bolder and more glamourous elements such as leather, glitter, or animal print to get that rock star appeal. Black always adds a touch of edge as well. Think Penny Lane from Almost Famous, Zoe Kravitz, and Ke$ha.

Gypsy Bohemian

This style has a European influence. It’s characterized by full skirts, scarves, layered jewelry, and mixing menswear pieces like boots, hats, and vests. This style also works well in winter with heavier fabrics like fur, corduroy, and velvet. Think traveling caravan and Simza from Sherlock Holmes 2.

Chic Bohemian

A more polished bohemian, this look is grown up and sharp, but still retains the laid back and natural boho aesthetics. Good for those who love the bohemian look, but need to look more professional. Mix relaxed pieces with more fitted ones, look for boho prints, and make use of accessories to keep your boho flair. Think Kate Hudson and Anthropologie.

Ethnic Bohemian

Ethnic bohemian is inspired by the aesthetics of foreign cultures. Look for handmade jewelry, ethnic prints, and natural fabrics. Even better if it’s the real deal. Think World Market and Erykah Badu.

Hippie Bohemian

This look is inspired by the hippies in the 60s and 70s. Lots of loose natural fabrics in mixed prints, floppy hats, brightly colored crochet/knit pieces, worn in denim, and hair accessories such as feathers, headbands, and flower crowns. And don’t forget the tie dye! Think Woodstock/Bonnaroo and Across the Universe.