Style Harmony

There is something very fun and freeing about fashion.  It is such a fantastic way to self-express.  Yet, in my business, I find that many women are scared to try something new or scared to "stand out" by having fun with getting dressed.  I think that this is one of the reasons that women gravitate more towards Fall clothing than Spring clothing.  Fall clothes are cozy, BUT, typically are more muted in color and allow for women to "hide" from being seen a bit more.  I really want women to WANT to be seen, to have FUN getting dressed, and to love showing off who they are through what they wear. Today, I want to share about the fun you can have with Print Mixing, especially during the Spring and Summer where you where bright colors.  Mixing prints is a way to add uniqueness and dimension to your outfits.  This is where your true style can really show through. So, what IS print mixing?  Quite simply, it is mixing different patterns and prints in one ...

We are full-on in summer mode right now and for many, this means you will be planning to take a trip to the beach!  I just went to my favorite summer location with my family which is Hilton Head Island.  For us, it's a short 4-hour drive to paradise!  Whether your beach vacation is traveling to a tropical location or an adults-only resort or a trip with the kiddos to the beach, there are a few things you want to plan to pack.  I also have a few style tips for you to make sure you are beaching in-style. When it comes to packing for a beach vacation, you want to keep things light.  Most of the time beach vacations are meant for lazy days.  You want to try to make the most of what you bring and keep your bags as light as possible.  However, you also don't want to leave your vacation in pain from sunburns, so it's all about packing smart.  The key is going to be versatility. Here are some key items you will want to pack: Sunscreen for both your body a...

Life isn't always easy.  And there is one thing that is constant in life and that is change.  Think about your life.  Did you used to think you were "so fat" when you were younger and now look back on those days and WISH to be at the weight you were at?  Do you look at your face when you wake up in the morning and see sleep lines and then....they are still there 2 hours later?  When you look in the mirror, do you notice lines that you don't remember being there before?  Or see a gray hair and wonder when THAT started happening (and subsequently dig through your roots trying to find how many you have!)?  You may be thinking "Gee, Michelle, thanks for the uplifting talk", but the truth is it's easy to see our changing appearance as we age and wonder what happened to our youth and wonder where the years have gone. The same goes for style, fashion, and even makeup.  Remember blue eyeshadow?  Have you ever seen someone walking around with makeup t...

 Long summer days, sun-filled vacations, and relaxing pool days.  Ah, Summer, here you are! I don't know about you, but the phrase "Lazy days of summer" does not really apply in my life.  Yes, we do not have to get up to get kids off to school, but many times they are still going to camps and we are still working.  The kids don't want to go to bed early anymore because they don't have to get up quite as early and "It's still light out, Mom! I am not ready to go to bed.".  Planning and packing for vacations and making sure no one gets burnt on vacation are all code for:  Life is even busier than usual. Here in the Carolinas, the sun is hot and the humidity is unreal.  Does anyone else straighten their hair only to find it frizzy 10 minutes after you step outside of the door?  Just me?  I doubt it. Yet, during summer, people's first impression of us does not take any longer and does not disappear...it still only takes 5 seconds for a first impr...

In last week's blog, I shared a lot of information about Fast Fashion; what it is, how to recognize it, and why it's so dangerous.  Today, I'm going to share about Sustainable Fashion. Sustainable Fashion:  also known as ethical or eco-fashion, refers to clothing and accessories produced in an environmentally and socially responsible manner, with a focus on minimizing the negative impacts on the planet and people throughout the supply chain. One thing that is important to understand and value when you start thinking about shopping in a sustainable way is that you begin thinking about your fashion purchases and their cost-per-wear.  If you plan to shop in a sustainable way, this is a mindset shift that must occur.  So, what is cost-per-wear?  Quite simply, when you purchase a piece for your closet, the price of that item goes down if you are purchasing quality pieces that you know you will wear for a long period of time and consistently.  This can be achieve...

Many times as consumers, we look at our shopping habits when it comes to clothing in terms of how much we are spending, where we are spending our money and the comfort and wearability of our clothes.   These things are all relevant.   However, one area that is becoming increasingly important to consider for value-driven shoppers and for those who are concerned about the environment is the true impacts that our clothing purchases have on the future of Earth and the lives of humans living on it right now. Today is the first of a 2-part blog series about Fast Fashion versus Sustainable Fashion.  Whether you care about the environment or not, I heartily believe it is important for all of us to take a look at our decisions as consumers and understand these topics so we can make our decisions coming from a place of knowledge.  The decisions we make today will impact not just our own lives, but the lives of our children and grandchildren and cannot be ignored. Clothes cou...

 Imagine living in a world of black and white.  Back when I was a little girl, some of my favorite shows to watch on television were the old black-and-white shows.  I was a "Bewitched"  and "I Dream of Jeannie" girl.  I loved all of those old shows on Nickelodeon.  "Dennis the Menace", "Mr. Ed", "The Donna Reed Show", "The Patty Duke Show".  Maybe it was how different the times were from when I was a kid, but those were some of my absolute favorites to watch.  All of these shows started being filmed in black and white because that was what was available.  When several of those shows ran long enough that they were able to be filmed in color, I was so excited!  You could really start to see the personality of the characters come out because you could see how they decorated their house, and what colors they chose to wear.  It really enhanced their personality. The same is true today.  Color gives us an insight into so many things...

About 7 months ago, I made a BIG decision.  I decided to start my own business.  I felt a calling, felt drawn, felt meant for more.  Have you ever had that feeling?  Have you ever been so passionate about something that it pulled you outside of your comfort zone and made you take the leap? Buckle up, buttercup...this is a long post, but I'm so excited to share my journey with you.   Now, I'm not a risk-taker at all and so making this decision was not easy, but yet on the other side of the coin, it was the easiest decision I ever made because I knew I was going to be doing something I love and that I would have the opportunity to inspire change and make a real difference in women's lives. My new business is a concierge Personal Styling business.  I have been in fashion for years.  Most recently, I have been a brand Ambassador for a company called cabi.  This is where I truly found my reason for branching out and expanding my services into a ne...

If you are reading this blog, the chances are pretty good that you have picked up a fashion magazine once or twice in your life.😉  And if you have picked up a fashion magazine, you are going to COMPLETELY relate to what I am sharing today. As you flip through the magazine, you are likely to see photos from Runway Shows and you have the thought, "Ummm, yeah, no one would EVER walk down the street in that!" For the most part,  you would be right.  I mean there will ALWAYS be someone that will push the boundaries, right?! Here's the thing...trends in Fashion are born from a couple of places:  1. Haute Couture, and 2. Street Style.  Today, specifically, we are going to talk about Haute Couture.  Per Merriam Webster dictionary, the meaning of Haute Couture is the houses or designers that create exclusive and often trendsetting fashion for women. That, it does. But how is the average consumer supposed to figure all of this out?  You want to wear some trends...

When you head out shopping, wherever it is that you like to shop for clothes, do you typically have a purpose for the trip?  Or are you just going to browse and see what catches your eye?   If your shopping trip is purposeful, it is easy, right?  You have a goal and a mission.  You are shopping for a specific event.  However, I personally find that many times with purpose-driven trips, it's easy to get distracted by the shiny, pretty things when you shop, amiright?  Same as when you go shopping without a purpose:  you want to see what draws our attention in. This kind of shopping can be fun, if not a bit expensive, but you know how it goes...sometimes you shop and find nothing and other times you see ALL OF THE THINGS!  🤣🤣🤣 You look away as the cashier asks you to insert your credit card because you KNOW that is not a number you want to see!  We have all been there! When your Retail Therapy Session complete and you get home with your ...