A Diva State of Mind

Celebrity stylist June Ambrose (clients include Jay-Z, Alicia Keys and Mary J. Blige) may not be returning to VH1 but we still get to see her in action on Jay-Z’s Life + Times website. Ambrose signed on for an original video series titled “Style Boost with June Ambrose.” The first episode features Ambrose giving Life +Times internship winner Joyce Wright a makeover.

Her “Styled by June” show on VH1 was about giving celebrities, who hadn’t been in the public eye for a while, a new look. She worked with Jaleel White (aka Steve Urkel), Da Brat and Audrey O’Day (of Danity Kane) just to name a few. I’m interested to see the direction of this new series on Life + Times; will she be giving makeovers to non-celebrities only? Will she be helping to revamp someone’s image like she did on the old show? We will see!

Over the past couple months, my friend Renee has been revamping her wardrobe; she recently lost weight so it was time to get rid of clothes that were too big and replace them with pieces that fit. However, like many women, she got stuck wearing pieces the same way. So last Saturday, I went over to her house and we spent 3 hours going through her closet creating new outfits; 2 casual looks and 22 outfits that she could wear to work.

Renee has a lot of color in her closet so I really wanted to focus on showing her how different color combinations worked together. Every time she tried on an outfit and stepped in front of the mirror she would say “I love this” or “I would’ve never put this together!” When I got home, she texted me and said “You changed my life!” That statement definitely moved me.  Being a personal stylist is about more than putting outfits together. It’s really about helping women feel good about the way the look. Loving the way you look definitely plays a roll in how you feel about yourself. It takes some time, but once a woman learns how to dress her body and put looks together, she becomes more confident and proud of her body.

Here are a few of the outfits created from her wardrobe.  She purchased items from Target, H&M, Old Navy and EXPRESS. If you’ve been in a style rut, hopefully these looks will provide some inspiration. Please excuse the quality of the photos.

Great look for a casual afternoon or evening out.

Add some interest to a black sheath dress with a colorful blazer and color block pumps.

This cap sleeve peplum is great for slimming the waist and creating balance between your top and bottom half.

One of our favorite looks. Love the color combination!

The color of the top doesn’t have to match the purple in the skirt exactly! As long as they are in the same family, it works!

Use statement jewerly and heels to make a jersey dress appropriate for work.

Dress up a jersey dress with a blazer and bad heels!

This skirt is navy and black. Yes you can wear those color together!

If you’re like Renee and feel like you need help putting outfits together, please contact me! I’m here to help you get full use out of your wardrobe. Believe me, you have more outfits in your closet than you think! Contact me at keri@adivastateofmind.com or 301-836-1451 to schedule a free consultation.

Last month my client Yanique contacted me because she was going to be featured in Bethesda Magazine for “The Up and Comers” feature. This article features movers and shakers in the Bethesda area who are making their mark before they’re 40.

The photo for the feature took place at her job so she needed help selecting an outfit from her wardrobe that said she was a CEO but also stylish.

After going through her closet and trying on a few looks, we opted for a purple sheath dress. A pop of color is more fun than black! I really wish the photo was full length so you could see her shoes! We paired the dress with a black skinny belt to help define her wait and a pair of black cap toe animal print pumps.  We completed the look with a black blazer.

Ladies, if you are the CEO of a company or a senior executive, you can wear color and print!  The key is to find balance. If you wear a dress in a bright color like purple or blue, pair it with a neutral blazer. Uplift a neutral dress with a patterned belt or pump. A good tailor is a must if you want to look sharp in the office!!

Yanique is the Presidet & CEO of the Consumer Health Foundation. Please check out her feature in Bethesda Magazine HERE.

Yodit of Favored by Yodit contacted me and Shakirah of Style Atelier on Twitter yesterday inquiring about cost saving ideas to update one’s closet for spring. I thought to myself “this would be a great blog post!”

Many are on a tight budget, but that doesn’t’ mean you have to forfeit your style and /or the opportunity to update your wardrobe.  You can do both on a budget!  If you’ve been wondering “what can I do to spruce up my wardrobe without spending a lot of money” check out these tips below:

Source: www.sheknows.com

1. Change the way items are worn - Do you always wear your favorite coral top with tan pants? If so, switch things up!!! If you wear the same shirts and pants together, break up the combination. Pair that coral top with the navy skirt in your closet and animal print pumps. Pair those tan pants with the printed top you’ve been scared to wear because you weren’t sure if it was “too much.” Step outside your comfort zone! Changing how items are worn will make you feel like you have a lot more options.

2. Pair blazers with shorts and linen pants - Shakirah provided this great tip on Twitter. Blazers can be worn all season long. I paired my bright orange one with navy blue shorts last summer just to try something different. It became one of my favorite outfits! Have fun with your blazers. By the way, if you don’t have a blazer, it’s a Diva Must Have. Get one ASAP!

3. Cut old jeans to create shorts  – If you don’t have old jeans to cut up, you can purchase jeans at a thrift store (they cost no more than $5 per pair) and cut them to create shorts.  Cut-off shorts and destroyed denim have become a summer staple. Instead of paying $30+ for a pair at stores like Urban Outfitters or American Eagle, create your own for less than $10?! I plan on taking a trip to the thrift store this summer. For instructions on how to create shorts like the ones pictured below, click HERE.

Source: www.edgemagazinesite.com

4. Change the hemline & details on dresses - Changing the hemline on dresses will change the way a dress looks. If you have dresses that you are tired of wearing but don’t have the means to purchase new ones, shorten the hemline and change the day dress to one you’d wear at night.  If you’ve worn the same black belt with a dress, change the belt for a different color or pattern. If the dress has buttons, change them! Small changes can make a huge difference.

5. Change buttons on jackets and cardigans - That jacket you’ve had in your closet for YEARS can probably use an upgrade. Have fun with details like buttons. Ask a seamstress to change the button or you can do it yourself; head to your local fabric store like Michaels and search for buttons that represent your style. Same goes for cardigans.

6. Shoes polished & heel taps changed - Do your pumps look run down? They probably don’t need to be replaced just yet.  Instead, they can be polished and shine like new. Also, change the heel taps if the metal of the heel is sticking out (this is one of my pet peeves). A little shoe maintenance will keep your favorite heels in great condition for years to come.

Source: www.living.msn.com

7. Shop trend accessories - Instead of purchasing new clothing, purchase fun statement jewelry. Wear a bold necklace with your favorite sheath dress. Brighten up an outfit with a bold color shoe. Use accessories to take an outfit to the next level.

8. Shop Consignment Shops and Thrift Stores - There’s nothing wrong with shopping while on a budget. You can use coupons, shop sales and also check out consignment shops and thrift stores for some serious savings.

What are some other ways fashionistas can update their wardrobe for less?

The spring season is upon us (although the winter weather is trying to stick around)! A change in season warrants a closet clean-out. It’s a great time to evaluate your current wardrobe: are there pieces that no longer fit? Are there items that are outdated? Do you feel like you’re missing some key wardrobe pieces? Have you lost weight and now need new clothes?

While most people can clean out there closet on their own, others prefer some guidance. If you need help getting your wardrobe in order, contact me! I met with a new client last month and we went through her closet to create a shopping list of items she needed.  I’m meeting with a new client this weekend to do a closet clean-out and create a new shopping list. She recently lost weight, so over the next few weeks we’ll use the list to go shopping for a new wardrobe.

If your wardrobe is full of clothes, but you need new ideas on how to put looks together, closet shopping appointments are also available. No time like the present to get your wardrobe in order!

For more information about personal styling services and rates, please contact me at keri@adivastateofmind.com or 301-836-1451. If you have any style questions, send me an email!!

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen some behind the scene photos from a Façon Magazine photo shoot. Façon Magazine is the voice of emerging fashion.  For the cover, the editor wanted to highlight a vintage boutique, so she tasked me with styling a photo spread featuring pieces from Zoubeck boutique in Old Town Alexandria. Talk about pressure!

The photo shoot was on Sunday, March 17th bright and early at 7am.  We wanted to capture the great offerings at Zoubeck against the beautiful backdrop of Old Town.  Shoutout to the model Jessica! I think the high that day was 42 degrees; she was cold but she rocked it!  The fabulous ladies of Flawless U were responsible for hair and makeup.

Below are photos from the shoot. Some are featured in the magazine and others are some of my favorites that aren’t included in the publication:

Please check out the Spring 2013 issue of Façon Magazine available online at www.faconmagazine.com to see the full photo spread and other great features! For more information about Zoubeck visit www.zoubeck.com. They have some really nice pieces. Every time I’ve stepped foot in that store, I have walked away with something

Last Friday, my line sister called me and asked me to style her for an interview with a Turkish American news station. She could’ve used what she had in her closet but she preferred shopping for a new dress.  We met Monday evening at Columbia Mall in Maryland to search for the perfect dress and accessories.

Ebony-Nicole was told by the show’s producer that she couldn’t wear black, red, green or patterns. Talk about restrictions!

Our first stop was The Limited. They have some really nice pieces for spring, however they just didn’t work so we made our way to JC Penny. I had shopped at JC Penny last year for a client and had much success so I was hoping I could find a dress this time around.  By the way, the JC Penny of the past is now gone. Please believe I’ll be stopping back in the store to do a little shopping for myself!  But I digress….

We checked out the dress section (dresses were less than $50, most ranging between $25 & $30) and I pulled at least 10 dresses for Ebony-Nicole. After trying them on and narrowing down the options, we decided on a coral peplum dress with cap sleeves.  This dress was great for her body type. The cap sleeves help balance out her bottom half (since she’s bigger on bottom)  and adding a belt really helps define her waist, creating the desired hourglass shape.

The dress came with a black belt but we wanted to create a look that was polished but spoke to her fun, bubbly personality so we used a leopard print belt she had in her closet. With 15 minutes to spare, we headed back to The Limited to purchase a necklace, gold earrings and ring.  Shout out to The Limited for having a “get up to 3 items for 50% off” sale! The dress + jewelry = less than $60!!

Ebony-Nicole looked great on Wednesday and her interview went very well. She owned her look! I look forward to working with her again.

For information about personal styling services, visit the Personal Styling page and contact me at keri@adivastateofmind.com or 301-836-1451. 

I’m in the running to become the next Simon Style Setter for the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. Please vote for me!! Voting is open until Friday, March 29th HERE. You can vote as often as you like!

Last month my friend Krystin of Be Loud Be You sent me an email about the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City seeking a Simon Style Setter.

The fashion blogger will join a team this summer to share tips, trends and the latest looks from the mall.  The blogger will divulge their diary to Washington, DC area fashion admirers and illustrate how to wear the season’s hottest trends.

Tailored for style-loving shoppers on any budget, the Simon Style Setter will receive insider access to beauty and fashion events, exclusive sneak peeks and more in exchange for doing what they do best – shopping and sharing all about it.

Talk about a great opportunity! Given that there are so many DC area fashion bloggers, I knew a lot of people would apply and thought my chances would be slim. But I decided to apply anyway; the worst that could happen was that I didn’t get selected.  You never know unless you try!

This past Saturday, I found out that I was one of the finalist!! While this is a lifestyle blog, I focus a lot on fashion. I enjoy sharing the latest trends and how to put outfits together. It’s one of the reasons I love being a personal stylist!

So I am reaching out to all of you for your help in becoming the next Simon Style Setter! Please click on the link below to vote from your computer or tablet. For some reason, the link doesn’t appear to work on smartphones. 

http://Facebook.com/FashionCtrAtPentagon/app_513962835311581

Don’t be shy: you can share the link with friends, family and co-workers via email, Facebook, etc I really appreciate your support!

Style for Hire likes to feature what stylists in the network are wearing on Pinterest. Last month, Style for Hire featured the outfit I wore for a New Year’s Eve house party. I wore sequin leggings from The Limited, paired with a white blouse and one of my favorite clutches, the Love, Cortnie leopard print Ashleigh clutch.

New Year’s Eve House Party Outfit

After posting the picture, Jenn R. asked:

“I have an all black party to attend. Can I do a leather peplum top with sequin leggings?”

Absolutely Jenn! As much fun as it is to mix prints, you should also have fun mixing textures.  Sequin and leather is a great mix to create a sophisticated and edgy look.  What’s also great about an all black silhouette like a peplum top and sequin leggings is that you can still have fun with accessories by adding statement jewelry, a fabulous leather heel like the Jessica Simpson pair featured below and red lipstick and nail polish to pull the look together.

By the way, you can wear sequin any time you want! Don’t feel restricted to wearing sequin only during the holiday season.

For leather peplum tops for less check out Piperlime, Urban Outfitters, Dillards, EXPRESS and Macy’s.

Another way to mix leather and sequin is to wear leather (faux leather) pants and a sequin top or one with sequin details. Leather pants are a  major trend this season. I love the idea of mixing sporty tops like sweatshirts and graphic tees with more sophisticated pieces like leather skirts and pants.  Add color to the look by wearing a bold plum lipstick and cobalt blue clutch. Yes you can wear purple and blue together!  These colors form a 90 degree angle on the color wheel, therefore they complement each other and can be worn together.

For suede booties for less check out Victoria’s Secret, Amazon, Nordstrom, Macy’s and Aldo.

*Click on the pictures for more information about items featured in each look. All pieces except the peplum top and booties are under $100. Great looks for less!

Have a style question? Submit it to keri@adivastateofmind.com. If you are interested in personal styling services, please check out the personal styling page.