I am excited to announce that my friend and client, Michelle Salater, has been chosen as a Charleston Regional Business Journal 40 Under 40 winner. Congratulations Michelle! Check out the article taken from the Business Journal below.
Age: 32
President and owner, Sumer LLC
Professional goal: To help heal the world, and capitalism, by being a conscious entrepreneur. Salater’s dream is for her company to work with countries devastated by conflict, famine or natural disasters and help rebuild communities through marketing copy that drives tourism and business back into the local economy. Salater wants to empower local communities to do for themselves and take pride in their past, present and future.
Best career advice you’ve ever been given: “Chase the dream, not the money.”
Favorite music artist or musical genre: Wayne Newton.
Favorite restaurant: Charleston Cafe in Mount Pleasant. I live for their four-cheese omelets and grits.
Posted from Charleston Regional Business Journal: http://charlestonbusiness.com/news/27346-michelle-salater-forty-under-40-winner-2009
Psssst .. are you ready to learn how to ‘bribe’ your closet to be your friend? Maybe ‘bribe’ is a strong word for when you want to be ‘friends’, since what we really want to do is ‘treat’ your closet great so it can give you love and comfort in return. Hmmm, comfort from a closet? Yes!
After following these tips your “new found friend” (your closet!) will always be there for you when you need an item from it.
When closets are cluttered people tend to just drop items anywhere & everywhere; therefore THE SECRET KEY to your closet happiness is:
having a designated area for items so that every time you open your closet you will (by habit) know where to drop, pick, pull, place, look in, or reach for your item. And it will almost feel as if your “friend” hands an item to you when you open your closet door. Here are some bribe ideas, oh .. I mean treats for your closet and YOU:
Again, the key to having an organized closet is to have designated areas for all your items within your closet. Now many people may ‘know’ this, but do not implement it thereby missing out in the comforts that organization brings, so be different and treat yourself great. And, if you treat your closet with a few economical commodities and organization, it will return the favor by staying de-cluttered and organized. If you want me to take a peek into your closet or rooms to give you my suggestions go to: Analyze My Room.
About the Author: Ada Gonzalez is a professional interior decorator nationally known as the ‘Decorator for the Star in You’ because her designs focus on empowering her clients to feel better at home with economical solutions that highlight their style and comfort. She provides full interior decorating services; as well as, do-it-yourself services. Subscribe to her eZine called ‘Smart Decorating Solutions’ to receive FREE bi-weekly decorating tips at: www.adasdecoratingsolutions.com.
1. Give your Mom the gift of time. Let her invest in herself by creating a block of time to spend editing her closet. A closet edit is therapeutic and will help your Mom feel more confident and less stressed. Start by eliminating your Mom’s distractions for at least three hours. Next, give her the tools she needs to enjoy her closet edit such as candles, a glass (or bottle depending on the size of the closet) of wine, pad to take notes about the wardrobe pieces she needs, and a full length mirror. Your Mom will emerge from the closet a new woman with an organized and true sense of personal style.
2. Help your Mom create a look book. After her closet edit, she will have a renewed sense of new and different outfits to choose from. Take a picture of each outfit (don’t forget to add accessories) to help your Mom get dressed quickly and easily each morning. Create a book for her to keep in her closet that has pictures of at least twenty outfits she can easily throw on each morning. The next time she is running late she can reference the look book for an outfit she knows looks great and makes her feel confident.
3. Create a relaxation day for your Mom. Purchase her favorite style magazines and create a style library she can read while relaxing on the beach or at the spa. She can jump start her style simply by getting inspiration from magazines. It doesn’t take a lot of money to invest in your personal style, just good information so you can tweak what you already have.
4. Show your Mom how she has inspired you to become a confident and successful woman. Make a list of all the ways her actions have influenced who you are and the impact you make on the world. Include this list in the card you give her. It will have more meaning than the saying Hallmark thought of.
5. Purchase a gift certificate to her favorite boutique and schedule a time for her to have some fun shopping. Encourage your Mom to bring the notes she made during her closet edit with her. Her notes will direct her to wardrobe pieces or accessories that will help her develop a versatile wardrobe that works lifestyle.
Let Charleston Style Concierge create the perfect gift for your Mom with one of our style services. Contact us at 843.323.2466 for great ideas of how to personalize a style experience for your Mom. Gift Certificates are available.
Don’t shy away from the word shorts just yet. They aren’t simply for the young and the skinny. There are thousands of styles and cuts to choose from to flatter your individual body type.
Similar to our previous blog post, Find the Perfect Bathing Suit to Flatter Your Body Type, finding great shorts can be just as simple with the right tips and strategies.
Look fantastic this spring in the perfect pair of figure friendly shorts by following these effective personal style tips:
· Plus Size: If you have a larger bottom, wider hips, and larger thighs, find a pair of shorts that fits appropriate to your hip and bottom size. The waist should fit the same way as pants—snug, yet not too tight. Look for shorts with a tailored leg, not a tight fitting or baggy leg. Shorts with a leg that goes halfway down the thigh are perfect for all body types, especially those with shorter legs because this style makes legs appear longer. Knee-length shorts or Bermuda shorts are also excellent for plus size figures because they hide the upper thighs. Since tailored knee-length shorts tend to make legs appear shorter, match them with a heel or wedge to make your legs look longer.
· Short Legs: Try shorts with a three to five inch inseam (depending on how much thigh you’re trying to cover) to make short legs appear longer. Match with wedges or sandals. These shorts pair well with a tucked-in button down top, and a scarf belt. Visit jcrew.com for a selection of fantastic shorts, scarf belts, and tops.
· Petite: Shorts with a waistband that sits right above or below the naval are excellent for petit body sizes. A fitted, tucked-in shirt goes extremely well with these shorts. This style is perfect for a warm night out with a pair of pumps or a casual stroll through downtown Charleston during the day with a pair of flats or sandals.
Many shorts can be dressed down or up depending on the pair of shoes, jewelry, and top you pair with them. I suggest finding styles and cuts that can be worn on both a formal and casual occasion. This way you can get the maximum usage out of one pair of shorts and its versatility can match all aspects of your personal lifestyle.
Let Charleston Style Concierge be your personal shopper in Charleston, SC and help you find the perfect pair of shorts to flatter your body type. Contact us at 843.323.2466 to learn more about our amazing services. Isn’t it time you mastered the art of effortless style?
Lee Heyward, style expert and owner of Charleston Style Concierge, weighs in on the importance of dressing for success in the workplace.
Watch the segment that aired on the 7 o’clock news.
It happens to all of us. We stuff our suitcase so we have to sit on it while huffing and puffing to move the zipper inch by inch just to get it to close. And the sad part is, it’s not for a month long trip, it’s for a four day weekend!
Save time, frustration, sweat, and maybe even some tears when packing for your next four day weekend trip with these five effective packing tips:
1. Check the weather. It’s important to pack according to the weather forecast. This ensures the items you bring will help you look and feel great during your trip. If there is a possibility of rain, pack your favorite trench and umbrella. Your trench can also act as a versatile layering piece at night or on the plane.
2. Bring just the right amount of underwear . . . plus one more. If you’re going on a four day vacation bring five pairs of underwear. And not just any five pairs. Go over the outfits you’ve chosen to bring and pay attention to what style and color panties you need so that you don’t see lines or colors peaking through. For example, if you only have two nude thongs and one outfit that absolutely requires one, make sure you put one aside for that outfit. When deciding on what bras to bring, review the fronts and backs of each outfit to see what style and color bras you need. I suggest purchasing the 100 ways bra from Victoria’s Secret. It’s so versatile—you can literally wear it with anything.
3. Don’t go shoe happy. Pack footwear based on the weather, types of activities you’ll be participating in during your short vacation, and color scheme of the vacation wardrobe you packed. If you’re going on a sailboat, yacht, or cruise, do you really need your favorite heels? Also, if you plan on walking long distances on your trip, make sure you bring comfortable. Comfort and fashion can go together.
4. Pack a light cardigan. A neutral colored cardigan can be paired with any outfit. On a chilly night, belt your cardigan over your dress. It can also be a stylish cover up for a windy day at the beach or the perfect cover for your shoulders and arms in a cold restaurant. It’s better to be prepared than suffer through the cold while trying to enjoy a delicious meal.
5. Don’t go overboard with tons of accessories. Bring a hat to protect your delicate skin from the sun, one pair of sunglasses, two necklaces, two sets of earrings, and two bracelets. Bring pieces of jewelry that can be easily mixed and matched. Jewelry can get heavy, so it’s important to be smart about how much jewelry you bring. Only bring what you know you’re going to wear.
Vacations are meant to be enjoyed to the fullest. Packing efficiently gets your vacation off to a wonderful start. Now that you have the tips to pack accordingly, it’s time to find the perfect outfits and shoes. Let Charleston Style Concierge be your personal shopper in Charleston, SC, and help you find the best clothes to fit your individual lifestyle. We are dedicated to helping men and women feel more confident by developing a unique personal style. Contact us today at 843.323.2466.
From the time we are children we hear about how image matters. We whine as kids because our mother wants us to tuck our shirts in. Remember your mom saying, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”
Well, your mother was right, and your image is the key to your life success. What’s inside should count a lot more, and it usually does, but not when it comes to first impressions.
Social psychologists have determined it only takes 30 seconds for someone to form a first impression about you. That is fast. It doesn’t allow much time to tell people who you are, what you stand for, or how great you are on the inside. Thirty seconds only allows enough time for people to judge you based on what they see. Bottom line: your appearance matters.
Not only does your appearance matter, it also has a lasting effect. This is what psychologists call the halo effect. When the visual message you put out into the world is positive, the people you meet will assume that other aspects about you are also positive. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true—if you make a negative impression, you don’t always get a second chance to undo a poor first impression. Remember, not everyone gets a chance to speak to you so your appearance and your body language must do the communicating for you.
The good news is that you can control your image. There are many things in life that you cannot control. But how you portray yourself is something you cannot only control, but change.
Let Charleston Style Concierge help you control the image you portray. Learn how to put your best foot forward in an easy and effortless way.
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.
