Fashion Stylist – BASICS

BASICS – If you are challenged by building outfits and can’t find anything to wear in a full wardrobe, you’re probably missing the basics! I can’t stress enough how important it is to have quality basics within your wardrobe.

As a personal stylist I schedule to meet clients twice a year. (Spring/Summer & Fall/Winter) The first shop, regardless of the season is almost always focused on building basics into their wardrobe. Why? If you’re trying to create a capsule wardrobe or put together outfits and you don’t have that perfect T to layer, a great fitting jean, a classic blazer for day-to-night, then you probably will be unable to pair any of your non-basics pieces with. This happens because of impulse buys or discount and sale items, clothing that you may think you love but never know how to wear it. Check out my must-have basics for your wardrobe below…. for both the men and the ladies!

Style Tip 1: I’m a firm believer in quality over quantity, especially for basics. These are items that you will be wearing most often! You don’t need to break-the-bank account, just be mindful to invest a bit more in quality to ensure they last. Think ‘price-per-wear’

Style Tip 2: Stick to neutral colours for basics, white, navy, black, gray, beige etc.

FOR THE MEN

Sports Coat
T-shirts
Denim
Woven
Boot
Matching Belt
Light Weight Sweater
Leather Jacket
Henley
Polo
Sneaker

FOR THE WOMEN

Blazer
Denim
T-shirts
Booties
Statement Coat
Blouse
Leather
Cashmere Sweater
Sneaker
Printed T-shirt
Classic Handbag

Fashion Stylist – Capsule Wardrobe

What does it mean to have a capsule collection for your wardrobe? As we become more progressive with the way we shop, focusing on sustainability, needs vs wants & ‘Maria Kondoing’ are closets. I hear a common question that ties back to these changes with fashion & style. ‘I want a capsule collection’ with-in my wardrobe. I think that could mean many different things for different people depending on what their personal goals are. I want to share 3 style tips on what a capsule collection means to me as a fashion stylist and how I tie it back to my clients wardrobes.

Tip 1: Minimalist, owning fewer pieces in your wardrobe. Quality over quantity and most importantly you need the basics. Once you’ve got those you can then layer a few needs/wants each season to keep your wardrobe fresh & updated but still staying with-in the minimalist boundaries. You want to be able to see and love what’s in your closet. A future post will be solely talking ‘the basics’ as that is a huge component to having a manageable wardrobe.

Tip 2: Multi-functional outfits, paring down your wardrobe and creating outfits vs random items can streamline your closet. I’ve had clients that have asked for a two week rotation of outfits for work, which is great example of a capsule collection wardrobe. Once you have simplified your outfits and can learn (from a stylist!) numerous ways to wear individual items you will begin to avoid & understand impulse buys. Check out how many looks I’ve put together with this one piece (not a basic I might add) below – The snake print skirt!

Tip 3: Time to declutter, downsize and remove the items you don’t wear. You can either donate or consign, we have some great spots in Vancouver! Once you start with that step you can then edit your wardrobe by learning to shop for items you need & love.

Capsule Wardrobe = Organized & Stylish Living

Personal Shopper – Staying Cozy In Sweater Dresses

Whether shopping in stores or shopping online I’ve noticed a consistent trend from multiple brands, the sweater dress. It has been styled as either a two piece (like the one I’m wearing in this post) or a one piece item. What I love about this particular look is that it keeps us cozy during the winter days with some high boots and a puffer coat or you could also carry it forward to those transitional months (March & April) where it isn’t quite warm enough for spring / summer fashions.

Style Tip: replace the boots with a cute sneaker; replace your winter coat with a leather jacket; and now you have a few more months to wear this winter look!

Check out some of my favorite sweater dresses of the season!

Personal Stylist – New Year | New You 2020

Walking into 2020 wanting to create a new you? Well, January 1st is coming, the day everyone begins new year resolutions and new goals. Most commonly we hear the ‘I’m going to lose weight with my new gym membership’ this year.

I have a few (maybe new?) Ideas that don’t have to solely rely on weight loss to create change in your body! How about make a New Year’s goal to look and feel more confident in a proper fitting wardrobe for your current size! One of my favorite parts about being a personal stylist is teaching my clients about the fits, brands and little style tips that enhance the best parts of their body.

Taking on a goal like this for 2020 can start with a wardrobe consult to declutter your current wardrobe and only keep what fits! And/Or do a personal shopping day and get the added pieces or a total overhaul of a fresh new wardrobe that fits! #newyou for 2020!!

Fashion Stylist – Personal Style For New Year’s Eve

With New Years coming upon us, only two weeks away, we tend to get in a frenzie trying to find the perfect New Years party outfit. If you’re having this struggle, try a personal stylist to find you that perfect look!

My personal style has always been clean, minimalistic with a pop of colour, glitz or trend, nothing over the top! I relegated some pieces from the wardrobe and mix-matched with some newness to create a couple of New Years outfits. See these style tips below that I’ve used to create my own New Years look.

The first outfit is a new black one piece romper from Club Monaco with an open back. The fabric has some great movement to create a fancier vibe. I found in the closet a light flowy black over piece (because I’m always cold!) and a spectacular vintage clutch from an aunt that dates back many years. As well, a pair of nude pumps (a must in every ladies wardrobe) that is the exact colour of my skin.

The second outfit I created, keeping inline with my overall personal style, is more casual but most importantly, very comfortable. The animal print chiffon blouse was a black friday find from a favorite brand of mine, Ganni It’s very feminine with the bell sleeve made from accordian fabric. I added a pair of my most comfortable black jeans and a black satin ankle boot that I’ve had for years. To complete the look, I added a strong shade of red lipstick and a red bag ($29!). I felt super comfortable & dressy enough for any holiday party.

Gifting A Personal Stylist

With 20 days left till Christmas you might start feeling the crunch to find a perfect gift. Mabelle Style does offer Gift Certificates for the holiday season. How would you know if someone special in your life would want to be gifted a personal stylist? Here is a few common statements current clients have mentioned before hiring a stylists. If you have heard some of the below points then you might be on the right track for a perfect gift idea.

I have nothing to wear (says this every morning!)
I hate to go shopping.
Nothing fits!
I have a closet full of clothes but no outfits.
I don’t have time to go shopping and don’t want to deal with all the sales people in the stores.

Services offered for gift cards have been listed below. Email for more details mabellestyleconsultant@gmail.com

Personal Shopper Shares Gift Ideas For The Ladies

Do you get overwhelmed when you head into the stores to look for holiday gifts? Since I spend the majority of my time in the malls and shopping for the latest fashion styles I thought I should share some of the most common items loved by my clients (falling under a reasonable price point.) Click the images to shop away!

This first option, created in partnership with Jillian Harris continues to be a favorite with women, The Melanie Auld (local designer) Adorned Necklace. You can choose any letter in either sterling silver, gold vermeil, 14k gold and add on pave diamonds!

The second gift giving option is the perfect black jean. Who doesn’t love a jean that feels like a legging, but is actually a jean! This Citizen of Humanity Style Rocket comes in mid rise or high rise and you want the colour plush black. They can be found at Nordstroms, The Bay or Aritzia. The ‘plush’ is what makes them so soft with lots of stretch!

The third option, cashmere at the right price! I find cashmere can be overpriced at times, I finally found a perfect fit cashmere sweater at Nordstroms under their house line Halogen for $118. The fit is a bit looser but not to lose and they offer a ton of fabulous colour options and most importantly its sooo soft. <link not available need to shop in your local Nordstrom>

Most clients of mine end up with at least a couple of options from the Vancouver based brand Aritzia. It doesn’t matter the age or size, they always seem to have something. Could be a basic knit or a full workwear wardrobe. You can’t go wrong with a gift certificate to this store but if you really want to pick-up an item vs giving a gift card I would suggest the Botanie Puffer in short or long. It’s a flat puffer so it doesn’t feel overly thick but it keeps you warm with it’s goose down. They come in a bunch of colour options!

Knowing a shoe is going to be comfortable, especially when giving it as a gift can be tricky. I have yet to hear anything but positive feedback on how comfortable these Vince sneakers are from clients. They have a classic style that can be paired with casual looks or dress them up with a fun dress or even a blazer! They come in neutral colours perfect for year round.

Wallet on a chain can be a great option for use from day to evening. It will be a smaller size handbag with a crossbody strap and have all the wallet inserts so you don’t need to carry both a handbag and a wallet in one. I’ve linked a style from Coach, it will be quality leather! They have many different styles and price ranges as well.

Lastly, if you’re looking for a splurge item for the holidays Louis Vuitton seems to be the one! Whenever I have a client wanting to make a splurge or get that first designer piece they usually ask for the Neverful handbag. I’m not sure if it’s the heritage (being a staple bag for years!) or what exactly it is but this bag has definitely been a fan favorite. I recommend the MM size (middle size) for everyday use.

Personal Stylist For Holiday Looks

It’s that ‘special season’ time of year again! Whether a holiday office party, a big Christmas dinner or a glamorous New Years Eve event, it’s time to begin the search … look through your wardrobe or trek through the stores to find that perfect look. I personally have styled two holiday looks using my favorite satin pant from Aritzia. It is not necessary to wear your best dress to feel holiday ready!

Tip 1 – Save time on finding that perfect item – reach out to a local personal stylist to do the hunting for you! For a few tips and some of my personal fave holiday looks of the season, see below.

Tip 2 – Review and take a closer look at your own wardrobe. I have noticed during my wardrobe consults that a number of clients have one or ten dresses (or special pieces) that have only been worn once. They feel uncomfortable wearing it a second time because they tend to be with some of the same people at different gatherings. My recommendations for this dilema are two things; first, consider accessorizing by giving each outfit a new look. This could be achieved by adding a belt or velvet blazer, head piece or jewelry. The second option is to take the dresses to consignment and then use those earnings towards a store credit within the same store and find a vintage piece or put the extra $ towards something new.

Tip 3 – Search online for special brands and styles that you prefer before you start the hunt. This will save you time and costly mistakes as you can narrow down your shopping by going to the specific stores that have that item or a favorite brand you love. Remember, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. There are stores like H&M and Aritzia that carry several great options that are cost efficient and can easily be styled to wear on future occasions after the holidays.

Tip 4 – The number one option is to accessorize!
There are times you can find a low price item or a simple style which you love, but need to spice it up for the holidays. Search for that perfect accessory. Could be a headband, statement earrings, necklace, clutch, fabulous shoes etc. So many options in the accessory area when you keep it simple!!

Personal Stylist For Online Shopping

A large amount of online shoppers have been very satisfied with Mabelle Style services, but there are others who may wonder how it would work to have their own personal stylist for online shopping! Do you find yourself searching and searching online for the right pieces and latest trends to order? Do you dislike heading off to a mall in search of new items, but still don’t know where to start when looking online? Then it is time to consider having your own personal stylist for online shopping.

With this type of service… working with a personal stylist for online shopping will save you hours of time and costly mistakes. The stylist will create a profile and shopping list with you beforehand, and then I (the stylist) would begin searching your requests… different sites, different brands where there are so many options that fall into your shopping list & budget!

What would you receive from Mabelle Style?
A moodboard with images (for a visual idea) and links to more than enough options for you to just do a quick click – all on your own time. You get to make the official decision on your orders and click the purchase button. If an item or two happen to not be the perfect fit all you have to do is slap on the return label and send it right back (still avoiding the malls.)

If you like the idea of having your own personal stylist for online, another quick note about how this service can be beneficial is if you’re needing gift ideas. Not sure what to purchase for upcoming holidays? (which are just around the corner) Have your personal stylist search and source gift ideas and then send you a simple easy-to-understand mood board with links to lots of options. You will then be able to click and view numerous links and make the final decision on that perfect gift!

Personal Stylist For All Ages

Mabelle Style is known for its flexibility. This service follows the motto: Age is just a number, size is just a number, personal stylists work with everyone.

There is a need for everyone, at some time or other, to look put-together, polished and have a little style in your outfits. A great stylist will find the perfect pieces, fit and age appropriate items for each individual, no matter the age.

I recently styled a client who falls into the 65+ category… from the baby boomer generation, fitting into the definition of ‘retired senior’. I asked if she would let me style her in a couple of outfits to share, so you could see a visual on what a ‘senior’ looks like when working with a local personal shopper. Brands range from Aritzia to H&M, stores that several 65+ believe are too youthful and are past-the-age of checking them out. But, that is not the case! It’s about the search, discovering the right items with-in the brands & stores.

First Look: Can’t go wrong with a blazer. This cream double breasted corduroy blazer was $60 from H&M layered with a cream turtleneck from Dynamite. Jeans from Nordstrom (Mother brand) and boots we recycled from the closet, from Browns circa 2010.

Second Look: Fun plaid pants on trend this fall from Aritzia with a mustard yellow knit top. Who doesn’t love an oxford lace-up which we discovered at Aldo and I happened to fall upon the perfect mustard yellow shades to wear on a sunny day.

Casual wear, age appropriate, comfort fit… it’s a great look for any senior wanting a little trend in their wardrobe. Mabelle Style can do this for all ages.