Training with Clinton Kelly from What Not to Wear and The Chew

I took a leap and got an opportunity to train with one of my style idols Clinton Kelly. After a day in New York City, I returned with a new appreciation for how clothes can fit even better with alterations. I recently wrapped up my brief stint as a stylist at his Mall of America store, Perfect Fit by Clinton Kelly, and leave with a wealth of knowledge and huge respect for sewers and tailors.

Head-to-Toe Makeovers & the Fabuliss Style Group

The style and makeover results of this year’s client appointments have been nothing short of outstanding – from moms and professional women to men and business owners. This year, I expanded to include hair and makeup experts Lucille Pew & Connie Schmidt for unbelievable results including Linda (above, right). The Fabuliss Style Group is available for private appointments as well as events.

Karina Dresses – Flattering for Every Body

It was an exciting discovery when Karina Dresses contacted me to try one of their dresses. As soon as I put on the wrinkle-free dress, I knew I had to share. I currently have an inventory of fall/winter dresses in a variety of sizes, styles and prints, available to try via private appointments and/or group events. Get in touch if you are interested >

Meeting & Educating

It has been a memorable year in terms of friends, connections and opportunities to educate via presentations. Groups include the Business Women’s Circle (BWC), Girls in Tech MSP, 612 Java Meet Up, St. Paul Tweet Up, Women in Networking, Social Media Breakfast, Twin Cities Wedding Professionals and Toastmasters.

Life Changing Reads

I will be forever grateful to friend Kelle for telling me about Mika Brzezinski’s book Knowing Your Value.  It is a powerful book full of perspective, ideas and advice for how to ensure you get the compensation and recognition you deserve.  It is a quick read and I would loan you mine but it is full of notes and highlighting.

Blogger for WCCO/CBS Minnesota

With nearly 30 posts under my belt, it’s official. I love blogging for WCCO/CBS Minnesota’s Best of Shopping & Style section. Topics in 2011 included accessories shopping from museum shops to men’s stores, featured a wide range of local jewelry designers and how-tos for consignment store shopping and holiday travel.

If you have not yet heard of Pinterest, it is a new photo-based site where people “pin” things they like from all over the Web or within other people’s Pinterest pages/boards. My boards include style ideas for different dress codes (women and men included), product picks and a miscellaneous board called “Eye Candy.” Learn more about how me and a variety of people use (and obsess over) it at digital consultant Arik Hanson’s blog >

Blog Traffic from Pajama Jeans Review

Clearly, my final recommendation regarding Pajama Jeans has done little to impact sales and marketing by the company. The blog post has averaged nearly 100 hits per week since it went live with the recent spike over Thanksgiving weekend. It was a fun product to review and now I am wishing I worked a deal where I got paid for every click!

{ Fabuliss helps you earn confidence and respect by teaching you how to communicate with style. Closets, shopping, events, presentations, training. I accept credit cards. Fabuliss.com, hello@fabuliss.com or 612-554-4629 }

Clinton Kelly is partnered with Stitch It, an alterations company, to offer a unique combination of expert fit and style advice and quality alterations.  And he is my new boss as of October!

I can tell you, after meeting and working with him, he is genuine, intelligent and very real.  And let’s face it, after nine years doing What Not to Wear, he knows an incredible amount about body shapes, styles and the most common problems people face when it comes to looking good.

Why are you joining this team?

Clinton Kelly is one of the biggest reasons I am where I am today.  When I saw my first episode of What Not to Wear, my life changed for the better.  The training I have and continue to receive from Clinton and the Stitch It team is invaluable in terms of getting a more precise fit via tailoring.

How does it work?

Clients can make an appointment with myself or Denise, our other stylist, to get style advice and alterations suggestions for new or already-owned clothing.  This is an economical way to learn about what will look good on you and an effective way to ensure your clothes are updated to flatter you.  Appointments are in 15 minute increments and are an amazing value at $15 each.

All four Perfect Fit stylists, two located in Orland Park, IL and two located at the Mall of America, trained with Clinton and Stitch It owner Alain Baird in New York October 21, 2011.

What does this mean for Fabuliss?

It means you will have two ways to get style advice – via Perfect Fit and/or Fabuliss.  I will continue to offer closet reviews, personal shopping appointments, makeover packages, private Image Boutiques and presentation services.

Make an Appointment

Learn more about consultations and group events and schedule your appointment by contacting me via phone 612-554-4629 or email.

Clinton Kelly >
Stitch It >
TLC’s What Not to Wear >
ABC’s The Chew >
Orland Square Mall >

Left Right

{ Fabuliss helps you earn confidence and respect by teaching you how to communicate with style. Closets, shopping, events, presentations, training. I accept credit cards. Fabuliss.com, hello@fabuliss.com or 612-554-4629 }

This is hands down one of the most important books I have read regarding how women can close the wage gap.  All thanks to a remarkable friend and client whom I met by being a Best Buy Omega (Chapter 5).

Before you consider this to be way off topic for an image consultant/personal shopper, know that the number one reason I decided to start Fabuliss was to create more diversity at leadership levels. I am so over the status quo having all the power and money.  Got it?  OK, let’s continue.

If you are like me and do not know who Mika Brzezinski is, she is the co-host of MSNBC’s highly successful Morning Joe, a high speed daily talk show that sounds like a TV version of an op-ed column.  And in case you are wondering, no, I am not a regular viewer.

Here are 11 learnings from the book:

1. “If we can’t quantify and communicate our value with confidence, the achievements of the tremendous women before us will have all been for nothing.”

A.K.A. Don’t you dare think about being lazy…and keep reading!

2. “You can’t sit around waiting for people to recognize your work, you have to ask for it” and “Men ask for it all the time. Women never do. Women expect that if you do really well, someone will recognize your performance and will reward you accordingly.”

A.K.A. Your boss and co-workers don’t know what you don’t tell them.

3. “…women must get over feeling lucky” and “…if you think it’s just luck that made you successful, then if you ask for too much, the luck might just run out.”

A.K.A. You’re smarter & better than you give yourself credit for.

4. “If you’re good, you should know it and own it, and always be ready to walk. Always be aware of your ability to walk.”

A.K.A. If you’re not getting the respect you deserve, don’t be a victim.

5. “A woman can only be powerful when she doesn’t need the money, otherwise she can’t be powerful.”

A.K.A. Empower yourself with options.

6. “Anna Quindlen says, women ‘have to be tough as nails AND warm as toast.’”

A.K.A. Be aggressive. Be a bitch. Be persuasive.

7. “You make them totally dependent on you–and then you’ve reversed the power.”

A.K.A. Become irreplaceable.

8. “You are not prepared unless you know the market value of your contributions.”

A.K.A. Do your homework.

9. “Really, what’s the worst that can happen? We are told no and we’re no worse off than we were before…asking for what we want results not in the realization of our worst fears but in getting what we want.”

A.K.A. “No” is just a word.

10. “When men in a position of power decide to clear that path for you–make sure you get the right exposure, make sure you get to the right meetings–that means a great deal. And there are not that many women to do that for you, frankly. A lot of the women at the top reach back, but there’s just not enough of them.”

A.K.A. Men can be an important key to your success, which will enable you to be an important key to other women’s successes. And there is an important distinction between mentors, who show you the ropes, and sponsors, who use “their connections and their influence to advocate for an employee.”

11. “Assuming power is everything. You have to assume it, and I don’t think that women do. I think they wait to be asked…the way to shift the balance is not to try to change existing workplace dynamics but to take matters into your own hands.”

A.K.A. Just do it.

The quotes above–in addition to more insights from Sharyl Sandberg, Nora Ephron, Joy Behar, Nancy Pelosi, Valerie Jarrett, Suze Orman and Mika Brzezinski–are numerous, motivating and exhilarating.  So much so that I highlighted, underlined and starred throughout the book, which I haven’t done since forever.

Learn more about Mika’s book Knowing Your Value on Amazon.com >

{ Fabuliss helps you earn confidence and respect by teaching you how to communicate with style. Closets, shopping, events, presentations, training. Fabuliss.com, hello@fabuliss.com or 612-554-4629 }

She began her blog in 2008 while living in Milwaukee out of a passion for affordable style and wanting others to be able to take advantage of deals that make brand names more affordable.

Now a resident of the Twin Cities, Bridget considers herself a curator of good deals, style and trends and regularly shares her finds and opinions throughout each week, featuring a mix of her own finds along with sponsored posts that come her way through public relations agencies.

One of her best steals?  She scored a Rebecca Minkoff bag for 50% off via locally owned Peppermint Park, which boasts designer names at discounted prices.

One of her favorite causes she likes to feature is Soles4Souls, an organization that provides shoes for people in devastated areas.  The organization started after the 2004 tsunami that hit SE Asia.

If you love discounted designer brands, pay the Steal Fashion blog a regular visit.

See the latest deal at Steal Fashion >

Follow Steal Fashion on Twitter >

{ Fabuliss helps you earn confidence and respect by teaching you how to communicate with style. Closets, shopping, events, presentations, training. Fabuliss.com, hello@fabuliss.com or 612-554-4629 }

What do you see when you look into your closet?  Is it a mish-mash of styles, colors and random pieces?  If your answer is yes, consider this:

A closet that is full of clothes that fit, flatter and flow together will make it easier and more fun to get dressed. Every day.

The holistic closet in any season (fall/winter or summer/spring) includes the following:

• A simplified, yet striking color palette.
• Investment pieces that will last more than one season.
• Classic mixed with contemporary styles.
• Pieces that easily mix and match.
• Basics infused with details to align with one’s personality.

Once you have established a strong foundation, it’s perfectly acceptable (and strongly encouraged) to continue building and evolving.

Any day is the perfect day to get started.

Learn more about Fabuliss packages for individuals >

Meet the Fabuliss Style Group at an upcoming Image Studio™ >

See Fabuliss special offers >

I was thrilled to discover Karina Dresses, a company that designs dresses for women of all ages and body types.  They generously shared the Marisa Dress, pictured above, to try on and share my thoughts with Fabuliss fans.

Since I know you love to see different ways to wear things, here goes!

Casual Summer

The dress, by itself, is perfect for a casual warm-weather look, accompanied by a bold necklace and fun shoe.

• For travel – I could easily wear this and bring a wrap on the plane with me.  Imagine stepping into the warm sun of a tropical locale!
• For weddings – for a daytime wedding outside, this would work great. Dress it up with a colorful wrap.
• For happy hour – of course! Change your shoes and necklace and leave the jacket or sweater in the car.
• For work – I highly recommend pairing the dress with a top layer (see the looks below).

Crisp Summer Look

A lightweight jacket in a lighter color is a great way to say “summer” for a variety of occasions, paired with a bold necklace and solid shoe.

• For travel – step off the plane ready for a meeting. The stylish flat shoes on the right will help you get from point A to point B.
• For weddings – this could be the perfect look to wear to a colleague’s wedding – professional with a touch of elegance.
• For happy hour – if your happy hour is with the boss, the top layer is a must.
• For work – I would wear this for a meeting with clients or colleagues – it’s crisp and professional.

Cooler Weather Look

With fall just around the corner, it’s essential to stretch summer pieces into fall.  A thicker jacket or sweater will work every time. Pair it with a bold necklace and a shoe or boot.

My Final Thoughts

• This is an incredibly comfortable dress and, aside from the hem length, it fit my 5’0″ frame.
• It was a flattering style for my rectangle shape, accentuating me at the waist while keeping my shoulders and hips balanced.
• I was delighted to discover that, after the dress laid crumpled on a bench for at least a week, awaiting hemming, it was wrinkle-free. Yay (and don’t tell my mom)!
• One thing I’d like to see them change is to offer some staple fabric colors/patterns that will always be in stock.

A Few Words About Karina Dresses

• Manufactured in Brooklyn, NY in small batches with limited fabrics.
• Imported microfiber blend fabric with 4-way stretch, machine washable.
• Available in a variety of styles and sizes – from size 4-20 depending on the dress.
• The company is seeking brand ambassadors in all 50 states to participate in its upcoming home-based selling initiative.
• Learn more at KarinaDresses.com and Facebook.com/KarinaDresses.

Need help picking out a Karina dress for our body type?  Learn more about Fabuliss personal shopping.

Introducing three phenomenal women I have gotten to know through Women in Networking (WIN), a networking group for women.

• Beth Rubin-Gabor is the principal of Where It Blooms, a design and marketing company focused on small businesses.
• Teresa Thomas-Carroll is the director of WIN, founder of Connection Concierge and a networking genius.
• Kris Jamieson is the owner of Resourcefully Yours and provides virtual assistance to small business owners and busy people.

Continue reading to see the results of working with each WIN member.

Beth Rubin-Gabor

Beth was looking for looks that enhance her relaxed, creative and fun personality (a.k.a. “wow”).  She has a triangle body shape, which means her shoulders and bust are proportionally smaller than her hips and seat.

For our shopping appointment, we met at LOFT where I pre-shopped pieces and outfits that would work with her body type and colors.  Over the course of about an hour, she tried on a series of outfits that helped to create a visual balance and accentuate her features.

The first look gives her an everyday look, the second look gives her an idea for a flattering dress style and the third look is perfect for meeting with prospects and clients.

Beth’s feedback: Sasha exceeded my expectations. She helped me understand what clothing works well on my body type and encouraged me to select more color flattering items (no black). Sasha’s communication pre and post our appointment was impressive! I loved my hand written thank you note. I would highly recommend Sasha. She was professional, patient and creative.

See more about Beth’s shopping experience on her blog.

Teresa Thomas-Carroll

As an inverted triangle body type, Teresa is the opposite of Beth, with hips that are proportionally narrower than her shoulders.  We shopped at Macy’s with a special focus on Karen Kane, which Teresa has discovered fits her well.

The outfits above are a sampling of what she tried on with the goal of giving her options for networking amongst peers in smart casual outfits.

The first look is a put together casual look, the second look is a professional and tailored look and the third look works for transitioning into cooler weather.

Teresa’s feedback: Sasha selected summer professional styles that were a fantastic fit for my sense of style and budget. She spent time before our appointment learning how she could best provide service and maintained great communication during and after our session. She had outfits pre-selected for me to try on and I was ecstatic to see that she had shopped the clearance racks, too. I appreciated her honest and expert opinion and her help in narrowing down items to those that had the most function and bang for the buck. I left with a stylish and affordable selection of attire to extend and freshen up my wardrobe.

Kris Jamieson

Kris was looking for more sophisticated options in colors other than black.  And that is exactly what we found.  We shopped Herberger’s for the outfits pictured above that show off her body shape, which is a subtle hourglass/not quite a rectangle.

While black is actually a good color on Kris, there are plenty of other colors and patterns she can and should wear more of while keeping her already balanced shoulders/bust and hips/seat in check.

The first two looks are appropriate for meeting with clients and the third look is excellent for a happy hour event this fall.

Kris’ feedback: Thank you for your expertise – you are the best.

It was a privilege and delight to work with each one of these women and help them find outfits that fit, flatter and achieve their unique style goals. I am thankful to each for allowing me to publish their photos and for sharing such wonderful feedback about their experiences.

And don’t forget – if you’re in need of help with your business brand, expanding your network or freeing up time, these women would love to help you.

Learn more about refreshing your style with a Fabuliss appointment.

{ Fabuliss helps you earn confidence and respect by teaching you how to communicate with style. Closets, shopping, events, presentations, training. I accept credit cards. Fabuliss.com, hello@fabuliss.com or 612-554-4629 }

]]> http://fabuliss.com/2011/fabuliss-shops-with-3-win-business-owners/feed/ 0 http://fabuliss.com/2011/fabuliss-helps-marcie-transform-from-i-give-up-to-i-feel-confident/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fabuliss-helps-marcie-transform-from-i-give-up-to-i-feel-confident http://fabuliss.com/2011/fabuliss-helps-marcie-transform-from-i-give-up-to-i-feel-confident/#comments Wed, 22 Jun 2011 05:36:04 +0000 fabuliss http://fabuliss.com/?p=3783

Marcie is a busy mother of two and wife to an executive and was ready to shed the feeling of “I give up” every time she gets dressed.

We spent a couple of hours looking through every item in Marcie’s closet and identified the best of the best, the things that had to find a new home and what was missing.

And then we went shopping!

Marcie was ready for an overhaul.  The bulk of what we found was at Banana Republic including the capris and sweater pictured above.  We also found a couple of items at Ann Taylor and Talbots.

A haircut, makeup and a pair of shoes that were hiding in her closet came together for a cute look perfect for her dinner club, weekends with girlfriends and date night with her husband.

I love my new clothes! I’m washing [them] so I can wear them ASAP!

{ Fabuliss helps you earn confidence and respect by teaching you how to communicate with style. Closets, shopping, events, presentations, training. hello@fabuliss.com or 612-554-4629 }

I just love what client and friend Kelle wore to a recent lunch meeting.

Her well-informed choices accomplished several goals:

• A balanced triangle shape.
• A work-appropriate smart-casual outfit.
• Signature style with a statement sweater and necklace.

{ Fabuliss helps you earn confidence and respect by teaching you how to communicate with style. Closets, shopping, events, presentations, training. hello@fabuliss.com or 612-554-4629 }