On the home page of my website, you’ll see:
The pillars of my brand are:
- authenticity
- a wise use of resources
- thoughtfulness and
- inclusiveness
Please read on if you’d like to understand what those pillars mean. It may better assist you in making a decision of whether or not I’m the style coach for you.
Authenticity
Great style comes from being yourself. You know the saying, “Be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” It’s true. There’s only one you, and there will never be another. For you to copy what someone else is doing with their style would be a disservice to yourself.
When I begin work with a client, we start with who they are and the story they want to tell through their image. Then it’s my job to guide him/her in ways of expressing that through their clothing and accessories. The better you know yourself, the greater your style can be.
If you put something on and it doesn’t feel right, it’s not. When you put something on, and you feel relaxed and happy, that’s what we are going for. That’s authenticity through your style.
A Wise Use of Resources
I believe in a wardrobe that’s supportive and expressive of you. I don’t believe in a wardrobe that is stuffed to the gills. Don’t get me wrong. I want you to have options. I personally love options. However, when shopping becomes a hobby or a habit, we find ourselves with too many options, unable to put together the outfits we imagined. That’s wasteful.
When you buy what you need and replace worn out items, this is a wise use of your resources. The fashion industry is cranking out many more pieces than we need or could ever wear, and our planet and its people are suffering for it. As I shared in my “Better Quality Pledge” podcast episode last year: Shoppers snap up five times more clothing today than they did in 1980, about 68 garments per year. As the drive to have the greatest profits increased, so did abuses in the industry. Garment workers in Latin America, Asia and other countries including our own are paid less than what they need to support their families, and they are often working in dangerous conditions for long hours.
When we stop buying fast fashion and supporting companies with exploitive practices, we get closer to a reformed fashion industry that considers the consequences of its actions. Put your money in things you want to survive. Buy what you will wear, preferably many times over the course of several years or more. That is a wise use of resources.
Thoughtfulness
Your image does not affect you alone. It affects those around you, as well. Do you ever see someone whose outfit gives you a boost? That’s a great gift they’ve given to the world and to themselves. I believe in thinking about who you are seeing and what you will be doing before you get dressed each day. I stand by what some might consider an old-fashioned notion of dressing as well as possible, showing respect to the occasion and to those you are spending time with. When you consider others, that’s thoughtful. It is very important that you are yourself (see pillar #1); however, an image that considers others is the cream of the crop. You are telling others they are important to you. You are showing them respect. By doing so, you garner respect, also. Everyone wins.
We are living in an age of anything goes. I don’t think it’s appropriate to wear to the same outfit to mow your lawn, to go to your office and to dine at a nice restaurant. When you differentiate between those activities with a different outfit, one that’s increasingly nicer than the previous, you are demonstrating great consideration, and your style will stand out.
Inclusiveness
I believe in keeping an open mind and an open heart to all opportunities and potential clients that come my way. That does not mean I say yes to all of them, but I don’t have a cemented idea of the things I will do and the people I will work with. Every situation is different. For anyone who wants to have a discovery call, I’m open to talking. In this exploration, we generally know if we are a fit for working together. Sometimes we don’t know until we are working together. But I’d rather try than say no and wonder if it might have worked.
Inclusiveness also resonates with me because I would love to break down the segmentation of our culture. I love having friends, associates and clients from all walks of life, various cultures, experiences and backgrounds. We have certain people we naturally gravitate to and want to spend time with, people like us. That’s human. But without realizing it, when we only spend time with people who are easy to spend time with, we are closing the door to enriching relationships that push us to be better, more educated and well-rounded.
In short, I love people, even the difficult ones. I want all of us to be friends! Silly, I know. But a gal can dream.
Thank you for going with me on this journey of exploring the pillars of my brand. The better you know me, the better you’ll know whether I’m a fit for you. If you’d like to schedule a call, message me through my website. I can’t wait to talk to you. Your best style awaits!
