Style Harmony

 Working with a Personal Stylist is one of those things that many times gets filed into women's brains that it is only for the rich and famous.  When many people think of a Stylist, they think of the Red Carpet and the Awards Shows when the stars and starlets are getting dressed to-the-nines and posing for photographers. The exciting truth is that Personal Stylists are not only reserved for millionaires.  Woot Woot!  So, most everyday women are not getting glammed up and walking Red Carpets, so is a Stylist only for women who have special events coming up?  Again, the answer is NO! At this point, you may be thinking, "Alright, Michelle, just give it to me.  How can a normal, non-famous, non-millionaire person work with a Personal Stylist?" The options that are available can vary depending on who you choose to work with as a Personal Stylist and what he or she offers.  For the purposes of this post, I'm going to share the ways in which I help my Clients...

 In a post-pandemic world, comfort has become king.  The fashion world has recognized this and has adjusted accordingly.  Here's the thing, when you dress casually, you still want for it to be in an "elevated casual" way.  So, what does that mean and how do you perfect that way of dressing?  I'm here to share just that in this week's post! I actually consider myself a pretty casual dresser on the day-to-day.  I work from home and I have a young son, so I switch between getting more "dressed" for appointments to just being casual on days I don't have video calls and I'm sitting in front of the computer.  So, I truly understand elevated casual! The first tip I have is to embrace quality basics.  This is not a cheap t-shirt and leggings.  I'm talking about buying good quality pieces that can handle a good deal of wear.   Next, you want to think about color schemes.  You should really make sure you stick to one base neutral to make...

 Does your style ever feel like Groundhog's Day?   You wake up over and over again and wear the same clothes, feel "blah" about what you are wearing, and maybe have even stopped even trying?  Maybe you just feel that your clothes are "easy" and you don't want to have to think about getting dressed?  Potentially, you felt great in a style when you were younger or maybe had less weight on your body and you keep holding onto those clothes because they made you feel good?   Maybe you are unsure about how to wear the current styles for your body that just feels like an awkward stranger to you? If you are like many of us (me included), you may have been nodding as you were reading some of those questions.  That means, you may be in a "style rut". First of all, let me tell you, style ruts are quite common throughout life.  When you understand why someone might find themselves in a style rut, you will realize why they are so completely common.  ...

 The topic of this blog post is perhaps one of the most stressful topics when going into the warm season:  swimwear.  While most of us already feel body conscious in full clothes that cover our bodies completely, the thought of wearing nearly nothing more than underwear out in public leads to panic! via GIPHY For many of us, completely staying out of a swimsuit all summer long is not an option, so I am going to share some tips with you to stay stylish, feel confident, and to be ready to take on the sun's rays! Find the right swimsuit for your body type.  There are so many suit options out there.  From bikinis to tankinis, to one-shoulder styles, full body coverage, bandeau, cutouts....the possibilities are endless.  The first key to finding the right suit for you is to understand your body type and what areas you prefer to draw attention to.  As an example, if you have larger hips, you will want to select a suit that draws the eye upwards towards your ...

Living busy lives as we all do these days, something that can come up on your social calendar rather commonly is an event "after hours".  Whether this is after hours with co-workers, friends, a significant other, or whomever, it can lead to thoughts of "What can I wear to work that will transition well to my evening social gathering?" No one wants to add more laundry to the mix (it's the one thing that NEVER leaves us, after all), so why not make use of what you have already put on your body? I love the idea of day-to-night style because as a Stylist, I want my Clients to own pieces that are versatile enough in their closets that they work for different occasions. Daytime style and nighttime style are very different.  During the day, you want to be more modest when you are in the office or going to appointments and you want your outfit to be elevated and more chic when you head out for dinner or drinks. Today, I'm going to explore some options for transition...

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...