First, the apology. It has been too long since I have posted a blog and I apologize! I’ve put systems in place so this delay doesn’t happen again. This has been a crazy busy fall and the time literally got away from me. I’ve been working away with new clients and some big company changes. BUT, most of my time has been spent working on my new book , Simply Effortless Style: A Real Woman’s Guide to Easy and Fun Style. It is coming very soon and I can’t wait to share it with you!
Now for the confession… yesterday I literally changed outfits before leaving the house THREE times! I did the very thing I teach woman how to eliminate from their lives! I share this with you as a reminder that we are all human, but most importantly there is always a reason for discord in the closet. When you find the reason, the solution will follow. I realized that since last fall I have personally evolved, as a mother, as an entrepreneur, and as a woman. Therefore my tastes and style have slightly changed—and my fall wardrobe hasn’t kept up. This doesn’t mean I need an entire new wardrobe, but I have scheduled some time to head into the closet and come up with new creative outfits I haven’t worn. I will also create a list of items that will help maximize my current wardrobe while complimenting the “new” me.
If you’re not able to dress quickly and easily give some thought to why. Often it’s solved by a quick and easy solution. Be sure to read on for items that can maximize your fall wardrobe.
Key Pieces to Maximize Your Fall/Winter Wardrobe
1. Leather Jacket
Leather is always a style statement and can be used as outerwear during the transition season or as a way to complete an outfit.
2. Neutral ¾ Length Coat
Be sure it fits comfortably over a typical winter outfit but is fitted enough to show off your shape.
3. Interesting Sweaters
Add pizzazz to a dreary winter day with a fun sweater. Look for sweaters with unique details, embellishment, great color, and pattern.
4. White or Black Turtleneck or Crewneck Tee for Layering
Try layering a turtleneck or long sleeve tee under your favorite dress to make it more versatile for the colder months. They are also good thin layering pieces that add warmth without bulk.
5. Fun Lightweight Scarf
A fun scarf can jazz up a plain Jane sweater, a solid dress, or help you feel like it’s fall when it’s not cold enough yet for fall clothes.
6. Boots
Boots are a chic way to look great while keeping your feet warm. Choose a knee high boot for maximum versatility. Wear them under trousers, jeans, or with skirts and dresses.
I say all the time that clothes have two purposes. The first, is to keep you from getting arrested because in most places you can’t leave the house naked. The second, and most important purpose, is to make you feel confident. Feeling confident is never more important than when you have to stand up and speak or walk into a room filled with people you don’t know. Wearing clothes you love that make you feel great, is like a shot of courage. Amazingly, you stop worrying about what others are thinking and you can simply be yourself.
Whether you’re speaking to a large group or walking into a room of people you don’t know, you want to feel cool and confident. Sometimes that feels easier said than done. Keep in mind that you are always armed with your very own shot of courage—your clothing! When you’re getting dressed for something that has you a bit unnerved keep these tips in mind.
Find Your Power Piece
Build your outfit around a piece of clothing that makes you feel powerful. It could be a suit, a great fitting dress, or a fabulous pair of shoes. Find a power piece that resonates with you. Wearing something you love makes you stand up taller, feel more confident, and will ultimately help you come across as someone others want to listen to.
Know It Fits
Wearing clothing that fit is the key to having fabulous style. There’s nothing worse than walking into a room and immediately feeling like you need to fidget with your skirt, smooth down your top, or run to the closest mirror to check yourself out. Before leaving the house you should feel confident your outfit is both comfortable and the right fit. If you are attending a big event, plan ahead. Try on your outfit ahead of time so that if any alterations need to be made, or undergarments need to be bought, you will have plenty of time.
Make It Personal
In order to feel confident in what you wear, your clothes must speak to who you are. Get personal with your clothes. Choose something that has an interesting detail that provides insight to your personality. For example, if you embrace an inner rocker chic but work in a conservative office, consider wearing a polished leather blazer. The leather honors your personal style but the jacket styling also works to portray you as a successful professional.
The next time you need a shot of courage to do something; don’t forget to check out what you’re wearing!
Are you ready to have a fool proof plan that makes style simple and easy to create?
If you’re ready to have style you love I’m excited to give you the exact plan you need to create style that makes you look and feel great. Having great style is never about being egotistical—it’s about wearing clothes that make you feel confident and happy. Style can be easy, you just have to know where to start.
Join me for my free teleclass “Step into Your Style Potential,” happening Wednesday, July 20th at 12:30 pm ET. I’ll show you how to make getting dressed fun instead of a chore!
Ready to join me? Click here.
During this extraordinary, 100% free teleclass, you’ll discover:
During this teleclass, two lucky women will have the opportunity to have a complimentary style strategy session with me.
I’ll personally walk you through each step to take in order to achieve style you love. Just click here and sign up for this free teleclass and you’ll receive information about how to take advantage of this exciting opportunity.
This is a call you don’t want to miss. I can’t wait to help you discover your style potential and I’ll see you on the call!
Be sure to share this with a friend who wants style they love but reserve your spot first!
This weekend while shopping with my Mom, I chatted with a few other customers about what I do. When I told them I am a style coach I got very similar responses, “I wish I could have a personal stylist. I would love to always know what to wear and be able to double check with someone I trust about outfits I’m unsure of.” Sound familiar?
The truth is that any woman can have a personal stylist….it’s just a decision you make. This weekend I was inspired to create a service that made having your own stylist a no brainer. I’m excited to introduce, Love Your Style.
No matter where you live or what your style needs…I can help!
Love Your Style is for you if you’re ready to…
Finally, get the style direction you need with Love Your Style. During three coaching calls with me (via phone or Skype), I’ll help you put your style on track. That means you’ll no longer have to stand in your closet frustrated over what to wear. I’ll show you exactly how to create a style that is easy, fun, and effortless to achieve.
Summer is around the corner. Together let’s make this the summer you feel awesome every time you walk out the door. All you need is the right action plan.
Click here to put your style on the fast track to fabulous!
Here’s to your style,
As many of you know I had my first child nine months ago—a little girl. Recently, when I’ve dressed her in clothing that doesn’t scream “I’m a girl” I’ve had a few people tell me what a cute little boy I have. Luckily my daughter doesn’t mind the misperception and it’s reminded me how powerful perception is.
Have you ever watched a great makeover on tv? They show the “after” picture and you just can’t believe that is the same woman. In a split second, or split screen, your perception of her has completely changed. She now looks younger, more fun and more professional.
Simply by changing what you wear you can make people perceive you in any way, both good and bad. It’s all in how you package yourself.
You’ve got to get dressed every day so you might as well create a package that makes you look and feel great! Check out this video and find out how to inspire your style from packaging found in your pantry.
The thing I find most fascinating about style is that most people are simply winging it! Think about it. Have you ever really had a formal education on how to get dressed? The way we dress comes from a multitude of influences. You might put together an outfit because of something your mother told you, advice from a friend, something you saw in the media, or simply a gut intuition. Take note in what’s around you. If you see someone wearing style you like—take note because you can do it too. It might not look exactly the same but it can be a great interpretation.
Does your entire wardrobe easily mix and match together?
Are you ready to know how to make that possible?
Take a look at these six bottoms below. All six of these items are nuetral in color. This means that they can be paired with many many colors to create fabulous outfits. Yes, even the black and white skirt is a neutral bottom. Both the color black and white are neutral, therefore mixed together it remains a neutral and can be paired with any color in the rainbow.
Which of the tops below would you pair with which bottom?
This is a bit of a trick because every top below could be worn with any of the bottoms above. The exception to this is the black and white skirt. That particular skirt would not be paired with any of the patterned tops below but will look great with the 3 solid ones.
Remember that creating a great outfit isn’t about matching colors together. It is the result of pairing pieces together that “go together.” How many outfits can you make go together from your own closet? If you get stuck, let nature be your guide. Think about all the colors that look beautiful all together in nature. They are not purposefully matched but put together to create a beautiful palette.
*All items are from Banana Republic
Let us know what would be your favorite outfit by commenting below.
Are you ready for wedding season?
Did you know that figuring out what to wear to a wedding doesn’t have to be a pain?
Yes, really. Stop stressing over what is or isn’t appropriate and let me show you what to wear to a wedding.
Join me on Wednesday, May 25th, at 6:30 pm for the Fashion Feminar: What to Wear to a Wedding.
This Feminar will take place at Mary Mojo Boutique and costs $20 to attend. Proceeds from this event will benefit Warriors Wear Pink, an organization that lends both financial and mental assistance to families fighting breast cancer.
During this fun evening I’ll show you how to know what to wear, what accessories pull together the perfect outfit, and easy ways to have fun with your wedding style. In addition, Moore Make Up will demonstrate how to finish your wedding look with flawless make up.
Are you ready to know what to wear to a wedding?
Get on the guest list. Register today!
I am girl who loves a good deal—after all one of my favorite stores is TJMaxx. However, when it comes to grocery shopping not only do I hate to shop but I’m not very good at it. With couponing becoming all the rage I recently sat down with co-founder of Lowcountry Couponers, Leigh Ann Garrett, to find out whether or not couponing really saves you money.
Style Concierge: I’m busy, how can I save money without spending hours every week searching for coupons?
Leigh Ann Garrett: Searching is a key word. Many times there’s not much of a search–coupons are everywhere! In your Sunday newspapers, online sites such as coupons.com, manufacturer brand sites, grocery store and even mobile coupons that you can download on your smartphone! An ideal situation is to match a coupon with a sale–with that said, sometimes sales alone can be great! I like to tell people to identify their weekly or monthly goal and aim for that, whether that be a little or a lot. If we put the time into it, we’ll get more out of it and vice versa. If you want to just save $5 each grocery visit, then great! If you want to save $55, that’s great too! Both can be done with some organization and focus. Time is money, so we like encourage keeping it simple & finding a system that works for YOU!
SC: Do coupons really save you money or just encourage you to “save” on items you don’t really need?
LA: I believe the individual has to make that choice. I’m always tempted by a sale, I won’t lie. BUT, I also choose to spend my money wisely. If I don’t need or use something, then I’m not going to pay for it. *The only exception to that would be if something was on super sale AND I had a coupon, making it very cheap or free. I wouldn’t hesitate to get that item then donate to a family or organization in need.
SC: What is your favorite story about how much money you’ve saved?
LA: I like to think that each of my grocery trips are memorable for one reason or another! I try to learn something from each visit. I will say, that one of my favorite stories was when I made a morning stop-off at Harris Teeter on my way to work one Friday, which I usually do in the afternoons once I’m off. I went through my list and when I got to the meat section I came upon whole chickens for just $1.14–no, not per lb, but the entire thing! Bingo. I bought all they had, which was 4! *A good reason to shop in the mornings for meat & produce markdowns AND to own a deep freezer:)
SC: Why did you start Lowcountry Couponers & how can someone get involved?
LA: My friend Pam approached me & encouraged me to share my tips & techniques with her–which then became she & the whole Lowcountry! Hopefully our experiences and tips allow others to have some financial flexibility with the savings they incur– saving money at the grocery store and drug store can be EASY and FUN! Head to our website & Facebook page at www.lowcountrycouponers.com. Sign up to join our mailing list & we’ll keep you in the loop as to savings, as well as our calendar of happenings. We offer free coffee chats and also ‘Couponing 101’ classes for the newbies or those who want to learn specifics about saving in the Lowcountry.
About Leigh Ann Garrett
Leigh Ann Garrett is co-founder of Lowcountry Couponers, a social group of like-minded, money-saving minds. Her full-time career is Events Coordinator with the Center for Women in Charleston, SC. Her family includes husband Matt and 9 month-old daughter, Mollie. Leigh Ann’s focus is to help people save money & help women succeed!
Have you ever come home from a shopping trip not totally confident that you bought the right thing? No matter how smart you shop, occasionally you’ll purchase something that gives you a twinge of buyer’s remorse. Stop feeling guilty and use these easy steps to determine if your item needs to stay or go.
Set up a NEW section of your closet. For two weeks, keep your new purchases together in a section of your closet before hanging them with the rest of your wardrobe. By doing so you can easily monitor if an item has been worn or needs to be reevaluated and possibly returned to the store. This keeps new items from getting lost in the closet shuffle only to be found months later with the tags still on.
Create the outfit(s) you planned. If you plan to wear a new purchase with specific items from your closet try them on immediately when you get home. Does the outfit work as you had planned? If not, search your closet for other options. If you come up empty handed either add the missing piece to your shopping need list or return the new item to the store.
Calculate the items cost per wear. Divide the cost of the item by the number of times you think it can be worn to determine the cost per wear. An items cost per wear will help you determine whether or not something is a good wardrobe investment for you.
More often than not, each piece of your brand image was created when you needed it, but not altogether in a strategic fashion. Your image may look fine, but does fine help you grow?
Eventually as you scale, your image foundation cracks, and the way your business presents itself no longer helps propel growth – costing you time and money to fix.
When you unlock your brand power, you get to pick and choose how people perceive you and your brand.
Our Image Mastery System™ takes the 5 key brand components that you already have and ties them together in a way that amplifies your results and achieves your vision.
