A picture of my client’s closet. This is what your wardrobe can look like when it’s filled with 80% of your favorite pieces. Talk about a “closet of work” several years in the making.
Throwback Shopping with Mara
One thing I love about shopping with clients are finding items that allow them to see themselves in a new way. I feel so blessed to be part of a client’s journey of transformation. Here’s a throwback of a Shopping Appointment with my client Mara and what we found along the way. 
Elevating Neutrals with Brooke
Sometimes I have new clients who say they wear mostly black and white but would like to try color. I encourage them to take a baby step outside their comfort zone and elevate their neutral palette by considering navy, cream and even army green. A small difference can really brighten your look!
Shopping for Suits with Mona
Here’s another collage of pics from shopping for suits with my client Mona. When in doubt, Calvin Klein & JCrew has great suit separates that work well together. 
Luzia’s Brother’s Wedding in Brazil
I’m back blogging!! This post has taken forever for me to finish. Lol! Here are pics from my client Luzia’s brother’s wedding in Brazil last summer. I was tasked with helping her find the perfect gown, one that wouldn’t outshine the bride’s but enough to make a statement. Luzia is the big sister of the groom (Edimar at left) and was responsible for walking him down the aisle. We decided to go with this beautiful sequined gown by Adrianna Papell (found at Nordstrom.com). Luzia then accessorized with Banana Republic jewelry from her own wedding.
I usually don’t style men, but Luzia asked me what Edimar should wear. It wasn’t a traditional American wedding so everyone’s formalwear didn’t have to match a chosen color palette. I suggested what I think every man looks great in – a dark gray or charcoal suit. Paired with a white shirt, black tie, silver tie clip, and white handkerchief, this tailored outfit makes almost every man look put together.
I really enjoyed styling Luzia for Edimar’s wedding. She looked gorgeous and more importantly looks like she felt that way too.
Shopping for Curves with Rocio
My client Luzia treated her friend Rocio to a Shopping Appointment with me for her birthday. Rocio never buys clothes for herself and when she does, she tends to buy items in black or neutrals. Instantly I knew that this was going to be a trip where we would look for prints and colorful items that would pair nicely with her existing neutral pieces.
After introductions and a few questions about her current lifestyle, we started shopping at Lane Bryant. Rocio has plus-sized curves so I wanted to shop in a store that had a variety of styles made just for her. While trying on the clothes we selected, I encouraged her to be fitted for a bra that would help create a structured foundation to her figure. Wearing the right-sized bra makes such a difference in how your clothes fit! While at Lane Bryant, Rocio purchased an airy white dress with a spring floral print and coordinating black belt.
We then went to New York & Company to look for blouses and pants. I find that NY&CO has a great selection of pants that are in a large range of sizes (0-20) and hem lengths (petite, regular and tall). Their ankle pants fit great but the pair Rocio tried on had pockets that tended to gape open. I recommended that Rocio have the pockets of the pants sewn closed so that the pockets won’t gape and interrupt her streamlined silhouette. We settled on a bright turquoise pair of ankle pants and 3 blouses, and a long statement pendant necklace.
Rocio left very excited about her purchases and I hope her enthusiasm for her new clothes continues to grow. It is a great feeling leaving a client satisfied with pieces that will help her have more of a starring role in her own life.
Anatomy of an Outfit
Once again I was excited to have another opportunity to style Meredith – this time for the UGA Alumni Awards luncheon. My inspiration was wanting Meredith’s outfit to be professional but still evoke a spring vibe.
(Blazer, JCrew Factory; Dress, Jcrew; Belt, Target; Calvin Klein Pumps, Nordstrom)
I fell in love with a V-neck fit and flare dress from JCREW and thought it would be the perfect focal point for Meredith’s outfit. The dress had a geometric lace overlay in black and white and looked like something Meredith could continue to wear year round. I was pleased that the fit-and-flare dress had a V-neck because they’re not as common as their crew-neck counterparts. For a woman with curves and a larger bust, a V-neck balances the upper body so that the bust doesn’t become the focal point. Because Meredith had to wear red and black, we bought a white linen blazer to lighten the dress and accessorized with a skinny black belt and red patent leather pumps. Meredith was a little unsure of red shoes but I recommended a darker red that wouldn’t be so bold at a business event.
Because I’m a UGA alumna and bleed red and black, I really enjoy styling a client in one of my favorite color palettes. I look forward to creating more looks for Meredith in the future!
(Photo Credit: Meredith)
Shopping for Blouses with Luzia
During my shopping appointment with my client Luzia, we shopped for new wardrobe pieces for spring at Gap and LOFT. Luzia tried on a few blouses at Gap but was a little discouraged because the buttoned-down blouses tended to gape at the bust.
I suggested to Luzia that she should have the placket (where the row of buttons and holes are located) sewn closed around the area where the fabric pulls at the bust. You can easily take your garment to your tailor or local cleaners and have this done at a low cost. However, this alteration works best for blouses that only slightly gape. That way, when the placket is sewn closed the fabric doesn’t pull to the point of tearing when worn.
Luzia bought some cute ankle pants and a boyfriend cardigan from Gap and then headed to LOFT. From LOFT, Luzia purchased a pretty turquoise blouse.
It’s always a pleasure to shop with Luzia. We’ve had fun transitioning her style to the next level!
Anatomy of an Outfit
I was so excited to see my client Luzia at her daughter’s birthday dinner dressed in clothes I bought for her. She looked beautiful and I hope she felt that way in her outfit.
(blazer, JCrew; blouse, Banana Republic; pants, Gap; satchel, JCrew; necklace, Banana Republic; shoes, Luzia’s own)
Why does this outfit work? As mentioned in an earlier post, Luzia has curves around her torso and slim legs. I wanted to balance that look by finding blouses with a longer hem that mimic tunic dresses that she can pair with slim ankle pants. Luzia paired her cream blouse (and a cute pleated ruffle) with black and cream printed ankle pants. To add some structure to the look, she wore a black blazer and pointed toe flats (which elongated her legs). She finished the look with a gold statement necklace and a tan satchel.
When I saw Luzia she was beaming as if she was showing everyone her best self. Luzia even told me that one of her daughter’s friends said she wanted to dress like her. What a compliment!
A Lesson in Packing with Style
If you’re planning a business trip or vacation and want to pack with great style, read these tips on how to do just that. The first step is to choose a color palette, or range of colors, for your trip wardrobe. My suggestion is to go with neutrals (navy, black, cream, etc.) that can be accented with a pop of color. Use what you currently have in your closet as inspiration for your color palette. Do you have a few items that are the same color? If so, use that common color to pop against other neutral pieces.
When you are on vacation, having your clothes in the same color palette makes getting dressed easier and allows different pieces to work together. For security reasons, only carry a few pieces of jewelry, preferably what you can wear everyday with the exception of a couple of fancy pieces for a special occasion.
If you have a trip coming up, I’d love to know what colors you’ve chosen for your color palette. Safe travels!
frankiestyle101 