What I Learned from a Personal Styling Session

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I was delighted to find out that Kat Depner lived so close to me in Portland. I’ve always wanted a professional opinion on the clothes I choose to wear. Just as I enjoy a professional opinion when I get my hair done, try to navigate early motherhood, or teach a classroom of middle schoolers. The way I dress is important to me, and the choices I make either uphold my own personality and values or they don’t. Kat was the perfect fit in this regard because she truly listened to my wants, needs, tendencies, insecurities, and vulnerabilities. Because, what I really wanted were tips from a personal stylist on how to dress myself.

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My Personal Style Journey

It has taken me most of my life to feel comfortable in my own skin. I would imagine I am not alone in this regard. Perhaps it is because I can now appreciate my body as a vehicle for a baby, a powerful resistance to illness, a brain that directs my actions, and a force in soccer matches.

Insecurities with one’s own body begins young for girls, and I hope in time this will decrease, but the appeal of a woman’s body to media seems to be stronger than ever. Bodies are beautiful, but they are not perfect, which is precisely why they are beautiful. You love your mother for the life she has given you, not the photos she took in her 20’s. You love your own body for the physical feats it has taken you on, the health and vitality you breath every day, and the freedom to move and explore the world. Not the photo you took after you lost 5 pounds.

Why I needed Tips from a Personal Stylist

Although, I believe the body is so much more than feeling good in clothing, or taking a great photo, clothing does have the ability to exude confidence. It does create a feeling of power, and appeal. There is no denying the feeling of putting on red lipstick, your favorite summer dress, and heels.

Balance

The more I learn about fashion and creating your own style, the more I learn it’s all about balance. It’s not about wearing everything name brand. Instead combine that leather jacket, pearls, and ripped blue jeans, or red lipstick, red nail polish, and a gray T-shirt and jeans. It’s pairing something high with something low. It’s putting your own personal spin on classic trends to make it your own.

Dressing in your own unique way is a statement. You can just buy everything name brand and hide behind expensive labels, too afraid to make choices for yourself, or you can create your own. A teacher by nature, I tend towards the creative side. However, I also always come back to the classics. The items that never go out of style. A flattering A-line dress, a classic sneaker, leather jacket, blue jeans, and a gray T-shirt are versatile. These are pieces that I will invest time and money into because I will wear them for 10 years.

Simplicity in My Wardrobe

After I became pregnant I realized that I could fully function with a much smaller wardrobe, because I only had a select number of maternity outfits. Surprisingly, I found it was much easier to get dressed even with my constantly changing body. I vowed to simplify my wardrobe to save time and only invest in pieces that I absolutely loved. A term gaining popularity is a “capsule wardrobe.” Essentially it’s a group of clothes carefully chosen to wear during a season. I loved reading Natalia of Marmag Creation’s ebook on how to start a capsule wardrobe based on your budget and lifestyle. This concept has saved me time and money in creating personal style that is simple.

Price Per Wear

Price per wear just means that if you consider the amount of times you will wear an item you can spend more money on it initially. For example, my running shoes I wear almost every day, so I can spend more money on this piece because the price per wear is relatively low. However, a pair of heels that I wear 4 or 5 times a year would be a high price per wear since I don’t wear them that often. When thinking of pieces that you want to invest in, think of price per wear. How versatile is the piece? Will you be able to dress it up or down? Following this concept, pieces that I can spend a bit more money on would be blazers, a nice leather jacket, flats, sneakers, and blue jeans, since I will wear these pieces often.

Tips from a Personal Stylist

Even after simplifying my wardrobe and researching my own personal style, I still desired the expert opinion of a personal stylist. PSST! You can read Kat’s spin on our session here! First, because I really don’t have time to shop. I try to shop 2^nd hand as much as I can because I try to not participate in the over-consumption of cheap fabrics. Shopping 2^nd hand takes time, and right now I just don’t have that time. Shopping at various consignment shops with a toddler does not sound like a good time for either parties. The 2^nd reason is because my knowledge is limited. I wanted a professional opinion on what pieces could be great investments.

The Process

Kat shopped for me, and then arranged a few pieces for me to try on at my home. Again, even a few years ago I think I would have been very uncomfortable letting a stranger into my closet, see the clothing I had hap haphazardly picked, and then have her tell me what pieces to try on together. Kat was really a joy to hang out with, and her expertise was needed!

Combining with Existing Wardrobe

What’s really cool about the process is that Kat picks pieces you already own to pair with her new selections. After she was gone I had a great combination of outfits based off of my already existing wardrobe. She merely enhanced what I already had begun. She provided an extra opinion, expert advice, and gave me pieces that were versatile and fit my personal style. She gave me all the tools I needed!

After Kat left, I learned a few things. Without further ado, here are the 5 tips from a personal stylist I learned from Kat!

5 Tips from a Personal Stylist

1. The Blazer is Versatile

Kat brought over two blazers. One was a classic black, and the other a color I would not have chosen myself. To me it looked pink and textured. I don’t have an aversion to pink, but it just didn’t look like a blazer I would have picked for myself. Kat convinced me that I should give it a shot, and we paired it with a few existing skirts and pants from my wardrobe. By the end, I saw how versatile the blazer is.

The black one can be worn open for a casual look, and buttoned in a more formal professional setting. Again to bring up the topic of balance, but I love the idea of a black blazer paired with ripped blue jeans. The classic blazer makes it look put together, but the jeans combine for a more casual look. Kat also made the combination of a gray skirt and the pink blazer, and I fell in love. I can’t wait to wear that outfit this spring.

2. The Wrap Dress was Missing

Again, Kat surprised me with picking a wrap dress. It was a classic print, but I never would have chosen a wrap dress for myself. I have no idea why. Perhaps it looked like the neck line was too low, or the length of the skirt was too long. I knew I would not have picked it off the shelf. Immediately after trying it on, I felt the femininity of the cut, print, and flattering way it fell on my body.

I actually love wearing dresses. Who really wants to wear pants? If I could wear a dress every day I would, and this dress I think could be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Not to mention, if pregnancy lies in my future, it could even grow a little to host a bump, while still remaining flattering.

3.A Professional Opinion is Worth It

It became apparent that a professional opinion was worth it, as I tried on different combinations of clothes by Kat’s request. She made combinations I wouldn’t have thought possible, and that downright surprised me. Then, I’d try them on and love it! She has an eye, that I just don’t, even with my own body. Her advice and encouragement were worth the time spent.

4. A Personal Stylist is an Investment

It really is an investment, and it saved me time. In order for me to find the pieces in a store, 2^nd hand I would have had to spend hours searching, and who knows if I would have even had the success of loving all the pieces. I just don’t have time.

Also, when you consider that these pieces will be worn for literally the next 10 years, that initial price continues to go down. I’m confident in these pieces because she matched them with my own existing wardrobe, something that I couldn’t have done in the store anyways. If you’re someone who doesn’t have time to shop, or doesn’t want to shop a personal stylist might be your best investment.

5. A Personal Stylist Supports Sustainability in Fashion

Another one of the tips from a personal stylist was that stylists support sustainability in fashion. Kat isn’t telling you to buy 5 pairs of shoes, 5 handbags, and matching blouses and pants to match. She’s choosing specific pieces based on your own unique style, lifestyle, and priorities. In fact, here’s a list of clothing items I don’t buy anymore.

This is not only economical, but ecofriendly. Our nation consumes “roughly twenty million garments per year” and buying 2^nd hand is a way to not participate in this (Cline 3).

Seriously, there is enough people cleaning out their closets this year that you, my friend, could find the exact and perfect piece to match your style, but it’s sure a lot easier when you have a personal stylist. An expert helps you choose clothing that you will wear for years, not just one summer.

Honorable Mention – It Was Just Fun!

It’s fun to have someone else dress you. It’s fun to be on display, even just for a bit, to find the perfect combination of flatter, style, and uniqueness.

Final Words

I no longer want to try out every new fashion trend. I want simple, feminine pieces that function well with my lifestyle. A professional eye to help you feel your best is worth it. Plus, it’s an investment in time and money. If you haven’t already checked out Kat’s spin on our styling session, you can check it out here. You can also check out her fashion blog Sevenstyling.com for helpful tips from a personal stylist.

If a personal stylist is out of your comfort zone, consider reading this helpful e-book on how to start a capsule wardrobe based on your budget and lifestyle. It kick started my capsule wardrobe journey! Or check out these posts all about simplifying your wardrobe:

6 Clothing Items I Don’t Buy

Why Every Woman Should Create a Uniform

5 Essentials for a Fall Capsule Wardrobe

5 Ways to Be a More Ethical Shopper

Join the Discussion

Are you more likely to spend on quality vs. quantity? What tips from a personal stylist have you utilized?

P.S. I always ask readers to follow me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. I consciously try to document my everyday simple life. Since we happen to be on a debt free journey it can be motivating because most of my activities are intentionally inexpensive. However, if you’re trying to cut out social media, you’ll need to subscribe directly to this blog.  

Sources

Cline, Elizabeth L. Overdressed: the Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion. Penguin Books, 2013.