Style Harmony

The end of the year is always such a busy time. There are so many things to do and I am going to suggest that you add just one more to your list.  I believe it's important to take time for reflection. Let's face it, the years seem to go faster and faster with each passing one and it's easy to forget or "misplace" all that you have accomplished in the past year. Many times when people talk about reflecting back on the past year, they think of it from a place of negativity.  They think that reflection is about what DIDN'T get done, but I encourage you to reflect from a place of positivity. By reflecting on both the things that you did AND did not get done, it will allow you to evaluate what that means.  Is it really something that is important to you?  Do you need to remove that thing from your list or make a new commitment because upon reflection you realize just how important it is? By reflecting on the past year, it allows you to tap into personal growth. Thi...

  Winter is upon us, and with it comes the promise of cozy nights by the fire, snow-covered landscapes, and festive gatherings. But winter can also be a fashion challenge. How do you stay warm and comfortable without sacrificing style? Introducing the Cozy Chic Winter Challenge! This fun challenge is designed to help you embrace the beauty of winter while expressing your personal style through stylish and comfortable looks. Each day, for the next week, step into your closet with one goal in mind: to create the cutest cozy looks imaginable! Ditch the sweatpants and sweatshirts and let's have some fun with winter colors and textures. This is a completely go-on-your-own, DIY Challenge, so read on to hear some tips for upleveling your style this winter! When you think of winter, what images come to mind? Most likely you think of crisp and cool settings such as snow-topped trees, the red and green that appear around Christmas, or the icy blues you see in the daytime sky. Take these ...

 Imagine holding onto a beautiful, vintage style key and sitting in front of you is a door with a world of possibilities behind it.  Now, imagine the feeling of putting that key in the lock and not turning the key to walk through the door.  There is so much amazing potential behind the door and someone has given you the key, but you say to yourself "I am not going to turn the key and open the door.  I can't possibly be ready for what's on the other side.  I will never open the door because I'm comfortable with my life now and I don't want it to get better." Can you imagine??? How much are you missing out on because you are stuck in a loop of closed-minded thinking?  What could be possible for you if you saw the key as a gift to explore new places you have never been and to experience things you have never experienced? I find that as we get older, many times, we become more set in our ways and tell ourselves and others that "I have been doing it this way f...

So, I am guessing that, like me, you have received about 145 million emails since the day before Thanksgiving with the BEST SALE OF THE YEAR in the subject! On Black Friday, I opened my email and bulk deleted about 50 emails thinking I was through...then in popped another 50 brand new, unread emails. The hardest part is that is is all so tempting.  And before you know it, your credit card is smoking from all the sales.  It is a really great time to buy things you have been wanting, but that is the key:  buying things you have been wanting. Because the sales are just SO good, it's easy to see something on sale that you don't really need and think it's just makes sense to buy it because it's such a "good deal".  The problem with that thinking is that buying things you don't need is NEVER a good deal! Since retailers are going to continue to offer up sales through the rest of the year to entice you to buy, I wanted to offer up some suggestions that will hop...

 No one regulates sizing when it comes to fashion.  Unlike the drug industry, which for obvious reasons, has a system to regulate medicines you ingest, that is not available in the fashion industry.  You may be saying, "Yes, Michelle, but drugs and clothes are different."  While this is VERY true, one of the things that clothing impacts more than anything for women is their self-confidence.  I see it in my job every time I work with a Client.  It's no WONDER shopping for clothes is an experience many women dread and try to avoid! Did you know that the average clothing size for an American woman is between a size 16 and a size 18.  Per a Time article, 67% of women wear a size 14 or higher. Yet, once you have reached a 16, you are considered "Plus size" and it's more difficult to find clothes that fit well.  In a study done by a company called Quartz, they found that a woman with a size 31 inch waist can go home with a pair of pants ranging anywhere...

 One of the biggest trends of the season is a really seemingly simple one.  It's called Quiet Luxury, aka "Stealth Wealth".  Back in the day, showing off the brands you were wearing and highlighting when you had on something luxury was the thing to do.  Today, that is very passe. Wearing logos and showing brands is very dated. The idea of Quiet Luxury is to dress in a very understated way.  It's a quiet elegance and a focus on quality rather than showing off a logo.  It's a quite refined minimalistic take on fashion where crisp, sharp, clean pieces are at the forefront. I am OBSESSED with the Television show "Succession" on Max.  Have you seen it?  The style on this show is the epitome of Quiet Luxury. The style on this show doesn't scream, but instead simply oozes subtle and luxurious.  You can tell that the fabrics are refined, the styling is very classic. And if you know anything about the Roy family, they would sneer down their noses at y...

Imagine effortlessly turning heads, making a statement, and radiating confidence wherever you go. It's all within your reach, and it begins with one simple concept: You MUST stay engaged. Let's talk about style for a minute. Style is a constantly evolving, living, ever-changing thing. Style is also language. It is instant communication. Before you open your mouth, as you approach someone, what do they notice when you do this? They see your body language, how you hold yourself. They see your face, your hair, and they see what you are wearing. From these simple things, an initial impression is made about you. Like it or not, it is FACT. Every single time you walk out the door and are seen by a person, you are communicating SOMETHING. Are you communicating who you are in a way that you are comfortable and happy with? Let's explore for a moment style as a language . We all bring our own personality, life experiences, and unique views into our style. You and I could ...

 What do you wear when you wake up and go to work these days?  For many women,  at least half of the days each week are spent inside of a home office (or kitchen table, kitchen counter, bed, etc.).  It makes it REALLY easy to just roll out of bed, get kids out the door, and sit down in front of the computer.   If this is you, I'm pretty sure you haven't considered the very real impact that this has on your mindset, your energy, the voice you are speaking, and even the way in which you think.  I will go so far as to say that if you are trying to get a promotion at work and you aren't considering the clothes you put on your body even when you are working from home, you will be less likely to be considered for the promotion. Dress for Success:  How Your Outfit Sets the Tone for Your Day The way we dress affects the way we think, the way we feel, the way we act, and the way others react to us. ~  Judith Rasband It's important to start your day wi...

 I am starting right off by letting you know that I am now offering a program called the  5-Day Style Challenge:  Discover Your Closet's Potential .  At the time I am writing this blog, this is a free style challenge.  Once this challenge closes down on October 21st, 2023, it will be available for purchase . What is the 5-Day Style Challenge?  If you struggle inside of your closet and wear the same outfits over and over, this challenge is for you!  Did you know that studies show that most women wear only 20% of what is in their closet 80% of the time?!  That's a lot of wasted real estate!  Inside of this challenge, I am encouraging you with simple ideas that will help you create BRAND NEW Outfits with the clothes you already own!  Yes, please! This challenge is going to give you ideas and fresh eyes when you look at your closet.  Training your eye is a key to getting dressed in a creative way and this challenge does just that....

How many times have you walked in your closet and looked at all of the clothes and thought, "Today I am going to wear something new" but after about 10 minutes of trying to put together a new outfit, you just gave up and put on one of your "tried and true" outfits? This is a common problem.  Between living a busy life, not allowing ourselves enough time to be creative in our closet each morning, and not understanding the rules of style, the closet becomes a place of frustration for women.   Many times there is also a lot of guilt women have inside their closet because they see that their closets are full of clothes, but they only wear a fraction of them.  In fact, studies have shown that women wear only 20% of their closet 80% of the time.  This leads to feeling very stale in their style.  As a Style Coach™, I help guide women to create a wardrobe that they love by working with them to strategically identify their vision and to learn what to look for and ho...