Even though I work in the public relations (PR) field (a pretty popular occupation), when people ask what I do, I still find myself having to explain exactly what PR is all about. Now, you can only imagine, when I say, “I’m also a personal stylist” how people’s minds start to go into overdrive. Leave it to me to select two somewhat ambigious career paths!

If you’re reading this blog, I’m pretty confident that you understand what I do as a personal stylist, but I’m not sure if you know all of the benefits a stylist provides. Our job is to make your life easy-peasy…rather you’re someone that breaks out in a rash when the word shopping is mentioned or you’re on the other end of the spectrum and break out into song and dance when it’s time to take a trip to the mall.

We don’t cure diseases, but we can help build self-esteem. We don’t solve hard math equations, but we can tell you where to invest your shopping dollars and where to save them. We’re not entertainers, but we make the time we spend with our clients fun.

So what else can a stylist do?

1. Save you time

Your time is valuable, so instead of spending a ridiculous amount of it in your closet trying to figure out what to wear, a stylist can revamp your closet so that you can cut that time in half. We can help you purge items that you’ve been holding onto for years, but actually never wear. Closet clutter can definitely slow you down if you’re trying to get dressed pretty quickly. We also save you time when shopping at your favorite retail store, because we typically arrive at the shop before you do. We scope out the merchandise and set aside items that we think would be a good fit for you. That way, when you arrive all you have to do is head to the dressing room and start trying on the clothes. No more fighting through the clothing racks.

2. Save your money

Who doesn’t want to save money? You may not realize this, but you actually waste money when you buy items that just sit in your closet. Even if it was on sale and you got a great deal, if it never sees the light of day, it was a waste of money. My job is to help you avoid making expensive mistakes and talking you off the ledge from buying those lime green snakeskin joggers that you will never wear. During a closet revamp, we also take inventory of what you already own so that when we go on a shopping date, you don’t buy more of what you already have in your closet. We also show you how to make better use of the clothes you already own and how to wear them in different ways, which helps cut down on unnecessary shopping trips.

3. Save you from shopping indecision

Have you ever brought something and then days later regretted making the purchase because you either paid too much money, can’t find anthing else to wear with it or can’t decide if it’s the best look for you? It’s our job to be that sounding board you wish was with you in the closet every morning as you’re getting dressed or in the dressing room with you while you’re out shopping. A stylist is an expert in identifying current and future fashion trends and understanding what clothing pieces look best on our clients. It’s our job to be honest and make decisions that you sometimes don’t want to make.

So there you have it. Just a few benefits that come with hiring a personal stylist. Hopefully you’ll consider working with one, one day. Give us a try. We don’t bite!

XOXO,
shannon b. 

If you’ve ever read any of my #WorkWearWednesday posts, you already know of my serious disdain for black, grey, blue power suits or corporate attire in general. DISCLAIMER: In the next few lines I’m going to go into excrutiating detail about my contempt of corporate wear. Please feel free to skip to the third paragraph if you absolutely love suits. 

As I was saying, corporate attire makes my skin crawl. Okay, that was a bit extreme, but I’m just trying to paint the picture of how much it really irritates me. I feel like my creativity is stifled when pulling out a suit. I would even go as far to say that I feel like a caged bird (and I don’t even know why they sing), but you probably already think I’m crazy.

RANT OVER

Anywho, so what do you do when you work in a corporate environment and “conservative” wear is required? Welcome to my world!! Even though I’ve introduced myself to you as a women’s style consultant and blithering blogger, by day I am a public relations professional working in a very buttoned up industry and have for most of my career. As you can imagine, I have a lot of experience stretching the boundaries with my fashion choices. Below are a few wardrobe and accessory alternatives to incorporate into your ho-hum office look.

1. Colorful pencil skirts

Pencil skirts have quite the presence in my closet because of their versatility. For example, you can pair them with a sweater, silk blouse, t-shirt and blazer. Pencil skirts are still structured enough that you look professional, but in bright colors (think pink, green or cobalt blue) they add an element of fun to the entire look. Check out my barrage of bright pencil skirts below. Yes, that’s a yellow one. It’s one of my faves!  

2. Statement jewelry

Sometimes your jewelry is the star of the show. I’ve invested in several bright and beautiful pieces that add an additional umph to my work looks. I love pairing a chunky bright orange necklace with a navy blue shift dress. Check out some of my statement making pieces (and additional accessories) below. Could you see yourself adding something similar to your office look?

 
  

3. Anything but basic black pumps

I have to admit that sometimes the only shoe that will work is a black pump, BUT that’s not the case for every work outfit in your wardrobe. Experiment with different colors, textures and heel sizes. Try pairing oxfords with a jumper dress and white collar shirt or wear leopard print pumps with a black skirt and green silky top, like the picture below. What do you think? Are you brave enough?  

 

Hopefully these tips won’t make you feel that you’ve stepped too far out of the box. These are just baby steps to help you bring the boring suit quotient down to at least a two or three. 

Try incorporating these suggestions into your workwear over the next week and let me know how it goes. 

XOXO,

shannon b. 

P.S. I was seriously considering calling this blog Confessions of a Corporate Style Rebel. Maybe it’s not too late? 

So, if you remember from last week, I told you to make a list of all of the adjectives that describe that one item in your closet that you have multiples of. Unless you wrote that list on the back of a napkin that you eventually ended up throwing away (thanks a lot), then it’s time to pull it back out for our next step in the style discovery journey.

1. What is my style personality?

I almost liken discovering your style personality to figuring out your zodiac sign. Each sign has it’s own characteristics that are “supposed” to describe you. I think the same can be true for your style personality.

When I first meet with my clients for the Personal Style Consultation, I usually give them a Style Personality test. I know that sounds agressive, but it’s a no-fail test. In fact, I don’t even call it a test. They don’t even know I consider it a test, well until they read this post! Through some research and my own experience, I think there are about five different style personalities. They are listed below along with a few adjectives that describe each personality.

Natural – Relaxed, effortless casual, functional, no-fuss, minimalist or bohemian; Think long flowy dresses, soft tees, boyfriend jeans and dusters. Famous naturalistas: Solange Knowles, Sienna Miller or Joy Bryant

Classic – Structured, clean lines, timeless, tailored, sophisticated, traditional or elegant; Think structured blazers, shift dresses, neutral colors, pearl accessories or tailored jeans. Famous classicistas (okay, I made that up): Kerry Washington, Jackie Kennedy Onassis or House of Cards’ Claire Underwood (played by actress Robin Wright)

Trendy – Electic, spontaneous, risky or sassy; Think fringe, joggers, leather, jumpsuits, midi skirts or looks inspired by celebrities or fashion magazines. Famous trendsetters: Rihanna, Miley Cyrus or Kelly Osbourne

Dramatic – Bold, statement maker, head turner, intriguing or confident; Think statement jewelry, leopard print, bright colors, feather boas or sequin gowns. Famous drama queens: Madonna, Diana Ross or Lady Gaga

Romantic – Feminine, whimsical, flirty, soft or flowy; Think maxi dresses, floral print, lace, tulle skirts or pastel colors. Famous romantic ladies: Emma Stone, Jennifer Lopez (red carpet) or The Notebooks’ Allie Hamilton (played by actress Rachel McAdams)

Now, compare your list from last week to the section above and see if there are any matches. This will help you determine your style. 

Disclaimer: This isn’t the complete list of style personalities.

There are several; however, in MY experience, these are the most common. If you don’t fall into any of these categories, it is okay. That just means that we have to do a little more digging.

I look forward to hearing your feedback and which personality best describes you. Take my short quiz below, so I can see where you land. Oh, and in case you’re curious about little old me, I fluctuate between classic, dramatic and romantic on any given day. Did I also mention that in general I’m extremely indecisive? I think my various style personalities are validation of my vacillating thought-process!

xoxo,
shannon b.

So…I never thought that I would start a blog. There are so many really awesome and entertaining sites out there and I never thought anyone would really care about what I have to say.

Well, I’m pushing my apprehension aside and publishing my first post (insert Kanye Shrug).

So if you choose to subscribe, what will you find on my page? Good question! I’m still figuring that out. But since I just launched my independent Personal Style Consultation business, shannon b. styles, at the beginning of 2015, most of my posts will focus around fashion, styling, beautiful dresses, Lupita Nyong’o wonderment, pretty flowers and anything else that fascinates me.

I hope you’ll stay for the ride. I can’t promise that it will be life-changing, but I definitely think you’ll learn something new and hopefully be inspired to look at fashion as another effective way to express yourself.

XOXO,
shannon b.

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