I hope by now you know that I don’t push content for the sake of pushing content. Rather, I make sure that every post provides value. Recently, I realized that while I mention our Private Facebook Group regularly, I’ve never explained what it is or how to join.
When I was a private stylist, the most fulfilling part of my job was the relationship I developed with my clients. I immediately noticed how vulnerable we as women become when we’re in a dressing room (or standing in our closet), trying on clothes, talking about our bodies, frustrations, and insecurities.
I started calling it “the dressing room experience.” As my business grew and I brought on additional stylists, this experience was the most important to get right because we had the opportunity to make a lasting impact on our clients. The language we used was crucial; the support we gave, the patience we had, all of these things made the experience positive.
I believe that getting dressed and playing with fashion is far from frivolous. Yes, it’s fun, and fun is wonderful!
But it’s so much more. We’re talking about feeling confident. Accepting and loving ourselves for who we are, embracing our bodies, and celebrating them for the miraculous work they do every day.
We all deserve to be confident women, and the world needs more confident women.
I started thinking about how to create “the dressing room experience” with our readers. How could I mimic the support, the fun, and the positivity we worked so hard to create for our clients?
The Well Dressed Life Private Group
So about a year ago, I started The Well Dressed Life Private Facebook Group, intending to create a safe space, away from the threat of internet trolls, where women could talk, ask questions, share concerns, and swap ideas about fashion, style, and personal image.
NEVER in a million years did I think our little group would turn into the lovely sisterhood of women it’s become. And I mean it’s a sisterhood.
Over the last several months, we welcomed over 5,000 women – not a huge number in the online space, but remarkable considering we came together solely through word of mouth.
What’s more remarkable is the quality of women who seem to have magically come together: every age, race, and season of life from quite literally all over the globe. I am sure there are opposing views and political affiliations within our group – but you would never know it.
In a year marked with what feels like nothing but hate, loss, stress, and fear, I say with no hyperbole, our group has been a bright light for me, personally, every single day.
You really have to see it to believe it.
Creating a true community is the number one priority of my business. It’s what creates the heart and soul of this site and the INSIDER.
Join Today
Joining is simple and free. Simply head over to our Private Facebook Group here; you’ll be prompted to answer three membership questions (this is how I keep the trolls out). Please answer all of them. I personally approve every new member and respond to all posts and questions throughout the day.
Our Style Content is Inspired by Our Readers
Our readership inspires all of our posts and is not sponsored or paid for by brands or retailers.
Recommendations are based on my experience as a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant for over a decade. I worked with busy, down-to-earth women who wanted to look chic and feel confident but were often confused by so much of retail.
Some links are affiliate links, which means if you purchase via our site, we receive a small commission.
This month marks the 14th anniversary of the beginning of my life as an entrepreneur and business owner and four years since The Well Dressed Life became my full time job.
I was 26 when I walked out of my corporate job and I started my first business, Kristel Closets. It was, hands down, the best decision I ever made.
Of course, at the time, everyone thought I was insane, rightfully so, since I had no idea what I was doing and was pregnant with our oldest. But sometimes you have to follow your gut, and trust your instincts.
Now, I’m 40, with three kids, and feel confident in my work and convictions. But it’s been a crazy, exhausting, overwhelming, and ultimately wonderful experience to get here.
So many of you have followed along since the beginning. I hear from countless readers who met me when I started the business while expecting my first baby – who is now 13! And nothing makes me happier than getting a note from a past client – it’s like hearing from an old friend.
I’m so grateful you’ve been with me since the early years – and stuck around as I figured out how to do this.
More recently, you may have discovered this site on Instagram or Pinterest and don’t have much context about what it’s all about.
Since we also have so many new readers, I thought I would say, “Hi!” (re)introduce myself and answer some of the most popular questions I regularly receive.
Cheers to 14 Years!
HI! This is me.
The first thing you need to know is that I hate, HATE putting my picture on the internet for all to see. It feels ridiculous and embarrassing.
I know it’s helpful to see the pieces I recommend on a real body. So thank you for being kind and supportive as I stepped WAY outside my comfort zone this past year.
First, Things First …
I live in the suburbs of Philadelphia with my husband, Brian, and our three girls Maddie (13), Ava (10), and Vivian (almost 2). Bri and I met in college, and we’ve been together for 21 years, married for 17. It sounds cliche, but they are my everything.
Life is full, busy, and blessed with two careers and a calendar packed with sports and activities. I’m currently trying to “balance” having a teenager who is slowly gaining more and more independence and a toddler who demands my attention all day long. Needless to say, I hit the pillow really hard at night.
I’ve always loved fashion and style. In and right after college, I worked as a retail buyer, starting at a private, high-end store, and ending up at QVC, where I bought items and created programming for the home-shopping network.
I left to start my first business, Kristel Closets (a personal styling and shopping company), when I was expecting Maddie. I intended to create a career that would allow me to be the kind of mother I wanted to be and have a fulfilling professional life.
After ten years of working with clients up and down the east coast and extensively traveling the country working with our corporate clients, I decided to turn all of my attention to this site. I was burning out, traveling so much I barely saw my kids and felt like I was moving away from my original goal of having a career and personal life I found equally satisfying.
It’s been a tremendous amount of work, with a long list of failures along the way. Even though it hasn’t always been easy, there’s not a day that goes by that I’m not grateful for the opportunities and life I have. I feel really fortunate that I have a career I’m passionate about and one that has brought so much goodness into my life.
Being a working mom is a big part of who I am, which means our content comes from that perspective. That said, our readers are remarkably diverse and range from stay at home moms to recently retired women and grandmothers; I’m always thrilled to hear that our content resonates with women in all seasons of life.
What I want you to know …
I absolutely love the community that has been built around this site. I pour my heart and soul into my work every day and think deeply about how we can create content that helps, inspires, or gives you a little break amid your busy day.
Posts can take anywhere from 4 – 6 hours to produce, and we post content five days a week.
I promise not to fill your inbox with junk and I never create a post as a money grab. On the rare occasion that I miss a day publishing, it’s because I couldn’t get a post together that I found valuable or relevant.
There’s so much that goes into a site like this that you don’t see. Even I’m surprised by it.
I so appreciate it when you comment and share our work. It’s the lifeline of our business.
And here are the questions I regularly receive …
How did you get started?
I studied business at Temple University Fox School of Business and worked in high-end retail while still in school. After graduating, I spent many years as a women’s clothing buyer for a small boutique and a major retailer. Before starting my business, I was a buyer for QVC, procuring products and developing programs in their Home Decor, Candle, and Christmas department.
In 2006 I started my first company, Kristel Closets, Inc. (KCI), a full-service personal shopping and styling firm. I wanted to take my experience and love of style and help women navigate the often overwhelming retail world.
I ran that company for ten years. At our peak, I had an incredible team of personal stylists who worked with our clients in Northern New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., and all their surrounding areas.
This blog was initially designed to be a marketing tool attached to our business website, as a way to connect with potential clients. But quickly, I realized I could expand our audience and work with women all over the country and now the world.
After a decade, I officially closed KCI to focus all of my energy on building The Well Dressed Life.
Do you have a team? (and) Are you hiring?
Lauren, my dearest friend, creates all of our graphics and designs and helps maintain the backend of our site. Which means when I break the backend, she fixes it.
I work with a fantastic local photographer, Ashley Griffin. She’s made all the difference in the look of the site, and my marriage since trying to force my husband to take suitable pictures of me was a losing battle.
At the end of 2019, I was planning on building out a team because other than Lauren and Ashely, I am running this operation solo. Of course, 2020 is a dumpster fire, so hopefully, I’ll feel more confident bringing in more help early next year.
Typos and Spelling Errors
The grammar police are not my biggest fans.
If you see an error, it’s not because I’m an idiot; it’s a typo my tired eyes missed. All posts are run through the premium version of Grammarly multiple times before going live, but sometimes there are errors. Everything gets fixed eventually. So, give a girl some grace; I’m doing my best.
Are your posts sponsored?
No, they are not.
When I worked with personal clients, I refused a commission from retailers and never sold a brand of clothes, make-up, or jewelry because I wanted to be independent.
Today, I take that same philosophy.
While most bloggers’ revenue comes from sponsored posts, I’m not comfortable with it. Over the years, people have said I was crazy for leaving that kind of money on the table, but the longer I stay away from it, the happier I am with the decision. It’s a slippery slope.
It took me years to build a loyal following; I’m not going to chip away at that by filling your news feed and emails with ads disguised as content.
You need to know when I make a recommendation, it’s a sincere one.
How do you make money?
Our blog revenue comes from on site ads, affiliate links, and our Insider program.
Affiliate links mean that when you click one of our product links and make a purchase, we make a very small (very, very small) commission. I’m a part of Shopstyle Collective and rewardStyle networks which helps me connect with retailers.
I am also part of the Mediavine Ad Network. Mediavine works as a liaison and sells space on my site to advertisers. These ads do not influence the content in any way.
Finally, over the summer, I launched our WDL Insider as a way to work with readers more personally at scale. It was a great success, so I’m launching our Fall Insider this Friday.
How do you balance work and kids? Do you have childcare?
Typically, Bri and I feel like we are hanging on by a thread all day, every day.
Thankfully, the big girls are back in school after being home for almost seven months. Like everyone who lived through various lockdown levels and managing schooling at home, we were an absolute mess.
We do have a wonderful babysitter for Vivi, who comes over three days a week from 9 – 3. So I have a chance to work while all the kids are occupied during the school day.
My parents are also a huge help and take care of Viv the other two days.
Weekends are insane because our big girls play sports, including travel softball, so it’s hours and hours of practice and games.
During the week, I usually work between 9 am – 3 pm, then get back online from 7 pm – 11 pm, and try to squeeze in some hours over the weekend, but lately, that hasn’t been possible.
Honestly, given how bad this year is, we’re blessed to have good health and thriving kids.
Any advice for starting a business?
I have two very simple pieces of advice. First, you won’t love every aspect of running a business so you have to love your mission and keep that top of mind.
Second, I really believe a good part of my success is thanks to my pure stubbornness. So just don’t stop moving forward, even and especially when you fail epically. I’m not the smartest, or most skilled, but I will out work everyone.
How tall are you?
I’m 5’10 in bare feet.
What size do you wear?
I’m a solid medium or size 8.
How would you describe your style?
Casual, modern, classic, and feminine. Our style posts are heavily influenced by what I like, but I also appreciate all kinds of styles.
Do you follow a budget when you shop?
Not in the sense that I sit down and figure out a number I can spend each season or year. But that doesn’t mean I have an unlimited budget. I know what I can afford and try my best to be prudent with my purchases; remember, I still have three kids to put through school.
Do you buy what you say you do?
Absolutely. If I say I bought it, I bought it, but I don’t purchase everything we feature. Often, our outfit posts are inspired by either questions you post or my experience dressing clients.
Is that really your skincare routine? (and) Why do you spend so much on skincare products?
Yes, that’s what I use every night. As I said in the post, my skin was a problem for a long time and crushed my confidence, so I will spend time and money to keep it clear and healthy. One of the reasons I didn’t initially post pictures of myself on this site was because I was dealing with terrible skin.
That said, I don’t spend in lots of areas, so it all works out in my book. Many of the products I featured are expensive, but they last a long time. The main point of that post was to talk about applying your products to get the best results.
Can you please feature petite and plus sizes?
I think people skim through the posts and assume we are only featuring “regular” or “missy” sizes. We include petite and plus sizes in almost every single outfit post if there is an option. We also prioritize retailers that are size inclusive and call out their size offerings in the text.
By the time I read your post, items are sold out. Can you check inventory before posting?
Unfortunately, I do not have access to the retailers’ inventory levels. I do make every effort to make sure sizing isn’t limited or already sold out before posting. When something does sell out before a post goes live, we quickly change out the item.
Why don’t you feature more discount retailers?
I’m not a great sale shopper. I don’t make good decisions in discount stores, and what I buy almost always turns into closet clutter. That doesn’t mean I don’t love a good deal, but I don’t go looking for them.
Additionally, inventory levels at discounters are notoriously low. There is usually no inclusive size scale, limiting me in terms of giving plus and petite options.
My focus is to help you build a wardrobe, share inspiration, and, most important, I want you to understand why certain pieces go together so you can dress confidently.
Of course, when something great goes on sale, I’m the first to share it.
Can you feature UK based retailers?
I’m shocked at how international our reach has become, especially since I don’t think my next-door neighbor knows what I do for a living. I wish I knew more UK based retailers but being US based I don’t have much exposure to them. As we grow, I’m trying to figure out how to make recommendations to readers outside the US, so please stay tuned.
Hopefully, by now, you know how deeply I value our community and readership. So, if I may, I’d like to speak frankly to all of you, before I set up for what to expect from The Well Dressed Life this month.
I have stared at a blinking cursor for the last few days, trying to figure out what to say. How on earth are we supposed to “welcome” April when we know the devastation, turmoil, and sadness it’s going to bring?
First and foremost, if you are a member of the medical community, a first responder of any kind, considered essential personnel, or a teacher now trying to teach our kids remotely, thank you from the bottom of my heart.
We have, quiet literally, asked you to save the world. A task so herculean, we can’t even begin to understand what we’ve asked of you. I send you and your families my prayers every night and I hope within each of your communities you are being well taken care of.
For the last three weeks, my family and I have been in lockdown right outside Philadelphia. And like you, I sit and watch the news go from bad to worse to this-cannot-be-happening.
As you know, I’ve been making a concerted effort to remain bright and optimistic. I’m trying to see the positives, being grateful, staying busy… all the stuff they tell you to do.
And it works, about 75% of the time.
But we have all been on a rollercoaster of emotion.
Monday was my darkest day. With the news that this lockdown will be in effect for all of April, and the number of projected deaths, I could taste the sadness in the air.
It felt like someone blew the last remaining candle of hope out and kicked me in the gut all at once.
So I want you to know that my positive appearance isn’t an act, and it also doesn’t mean I’m not profoundly aware of what is happening in the world and in our homes.
We’re the Lucky Ones
I’m also painfully aware of my own good fortune. My house is happy, my parents are safe, I don’t mind being cooped up with my husband, my kids are handling this far better than I am, their teachers are amazing, etc. We have resources and space.
That’s not to say that I’m not up at night worried about everything. From money, health, the future, you name it, I’m worried.
I can’t make heads or tales about why this is happening. All I know is that controlling my outlook is the most important thing I can do for my family and maybe, as a bonus, I can help keep your spirits up too.
Welcome April
So this month I am going to continue to cling to normalcy by focusing on cozy home based outfit ideas, a few fun suggestions for those dreaded video conference calls (good news is you only need to dress from the waist up!), some more self-care tips, beauty ideas and lots of “How To” posts that will include video.
Early next week I’m going to highlight some things you can do in your local community to make an impact, including the fundraiser I just started in my own neighborhood that you can easily replicate.
I am not a resource for news, or social commentary – and I don’t want to be.
I can’t do much, but I can provide a break and a place for community which seems especially necessary since are all lacking some much needed connection.
All we can do is stay home, pray for those affected, support our first responders as much as possible.
I promise I’ll do my best to provide little moments of normalcy, some gentle self care and fun. I truly hope you find this community as uplifting as I do.
We ended February by hitting some incredible milestones in the business. So I wanted to use today’s Editors Note to share some of our successes and let you know what to expect this month.
I have a TON of content planned. From legging-alternative outfit options (sneak peak below) for those of us who work from home, to a round up of the best suits in case you need to add a new one this season.
As usual, all of it is inspired from my conversations with readers here and on our social accounts.
As many of you know, one of my goals for the year was to focus on Instagram and hit the coveted 10,000 follower status.
I assure you none of this is ego-driven. My friends will tell you no one enjoys attention less than I do, but Instagram is an incredible platform to share our tips and to connect with more like-minded women.
Hitting 10,000 followers will unlock many business features and open opportunities to monetize the business.
Yesterday, we hit 4,000 followers, which, simply put, is incredible growth for a non-celebrity. I wanted to hit 10K by the end of the year, but we are currently on track to reach our goal by the end of April.
If you follow along, like and comment on posts, or have shared with your friends, I am forever grateful.
What can you expect on Instagram?
Every day I post my outfit, with lots of tips and specific recommendations for our readers. I also share lots of behind the scenes videos, like how I clean out my closet, and my most recent trip to the mall to show you how I select pieces to feature here on the blog in my Instagram Stories.
Keeping track of all the changing rules in social media is actually a full-time position in many businesses, but around here, it’s just me. Sometimes my head is spinning with information overload.
What I know is that our Private Facebook Group is the gift that keeps on giving. The majority of the content you see here comes directly from what we talk about in the group.
It’s filled with women of all ages, who ask questions, share advice, and offer tons of kindness and support. It’s the ideal place to go if you have a specific question or need extra outfit inspiration.
If you’d like to join, follow this link, and please answer the membership questions for quick approval. If you’ve invited a friend, they have to answer the questions so they know they weren’t added without permission.
It featured a range of mix and match pieces in all sizes. This month will feature one for warm weather travel – just in time for spring break and a super versatile offering that will help build out a more casual focused wardrobe.
To get us ready for the official start of spring our Wardrobe Challenge is set to start on Friday, March 15th.
For four weeks I’ll virtually walk you through the process of figuring out your style, cleaning out and organizing your closet, and pulling together the pieces you need to love your wardrobe.
I won’t offer another challenge until September so be sure to join us this round! Whether it’s your first time or your fifth you’ll walk away with tons of tips and value.
I had this crazy idea a few years ago that I could build a business based on community and integrity. I wanted to recreate the connection I felt when I worked with personal clients, but at scale. And I didn’t want to have to sell out and push products just because it would pay the bills.
Many of you have been reading since the beginning. You stuck around while I tried to find my way. It’s been a ton of work over the last 18 months (and I had a baby in the middle of all of it), but I feel like I’m finding my stride.
The path to what I want this to be is slowly showing itself. And that’s because you have been so generous with your advice, suggestions, and support. So thank you for the kindness and for seeing my intentions from the beginning.
I’ve been working on a project for the last year, and I’m excited to share a glimpse of it with you today. As you know, my mission is to help simplify the process of shopping and getting dressed for women in the hopes that it enables you to save time, money, and gain confidence.
The biggest challenge women face when shopping is where to go and what to buy. It feels like there are too many stores and websites to choose from, and the items these places have to offer are frequently not what you’re looking for. In other words, women today are frustrated by having far too many options and, yet, far too few.
The success of my personal shopping company was based mainly on my understanding of this. Since I closed that portion of the business in 2017, I’ve been asked more times than I can count to work 1:1 again from readers all over the world.
I considered creating some kind of virtual offering, where you could work directly with me but realized I didn’t have the bandwidth, and wouldn’t be able to keep up with the demand.
The WDL Shop
So I created the WDL Shop, where we’ll take the hassle and guesswork out of shopping. Think of it as a curated, handpicked selection of the best merchandise from all retailers, in all sizes, and keeps your budget and lifestyle top of mind.
Instead of having to walk the mall or search a dozen different sites, you can visit our online marketplace and quickly find what you need.
Here, you’ll have access to all of the items featured on the blog, in an easy to navigate interface designed to work just how you shop.
The site is organized in four ways, by Size,Collections, Capsules, and Favorites. First, continuing my commitment to size inclusiveness, you can shop in either missy, plus, or petite.
Next, you can shop by Collections. I’ll use this as a place to highlight options for specific occasions, like “date night,” or “best heels”, much like I do on the blog in our roundup posts.
In early March I’ll begin to post our seasonal Wardrobe Capsules . Once they are live on the blog, you’ll also be able to find everything from business casual to weekend capsules in an easy drop-down menu on the shop.
Finally, if you want to see the top items from the blog, just click Favorites, and you’ll be directed to our most popular recommendations.
More to Come
Nothing changes here on the blog. Our content from now through spring is pretty fantastic (if I do say so) including more real life style inspiration (the coat above will be featured this Friday with other under $200 statement coats).
Posts will largely focus on educating and inspiring, and continuing to build community. January’s Wardrobe Challenge, for example, was our biggest one to date. Stay tuned for the spring edition in March as well.
Beta Test
The marketplace is designed to work with the blog as a resource for you to visit when you’re ready to shop.
Today, I am softly and slowly rolling it out. The completed site will be part of a wider launch when I publish the first of our Spring Capsules on March 3rd.
I’ve learned that taking things slowly is the best approach. So take a peek and keep in mind we’re still populating most of the categories, they’ll be updated within the next two weeks and fully loaded by the end of the month, just when you might start thinking about spring.
I want to see how it works for you. Let me know capsules and collections you want to see, and tell me about the big holes in your wardrobes – especially if you just finished our Wardrobe Challenge.
My goal is for you to have a one stop shop for anything you need and an easy way to quickly find one of my recommendations, without having to scroll through all of our blog posts.
I build this site by hand. It took about a year of research to understand what I wanted to build and then I had to learn how to do it. So what you’re going to see is months of late nights and very tired eyes. But it think this is going to be a wonderful addition to our offerings.
Thank you for always sending comments and emails with your questions! I really do read every single one and use them to continue to create content and resources based on all of our conversations.
As we gear up for the holidays and the New Year, I want to use today’s post to let you know what you can expect from The Well Dressed Life in 2020.
I’ve been thinking a lot over the last few months. I’ve spent days studying our analytics, and privately talking to a select group of readers in an effort to figure out how to continue to grow our site.
Now that I’m in my 40s, I know firsthand how challenging it is to get dressed every day, and look and more importantly feel, chic and modern.
Balancing that with our busy lives, realistic budgets, and a desire to stay youthful, is overwhelming – and I say this as someone who has dressed thousands of women professionally for over ten years.
So I’m excited to share some things to look out for as we head into the New Year.
Looking to 2020
I love this coat. See outfit details below.
First, our daily content will continue through the remainder of December, with the exception of Christmas Day.
On Friday, December 20th I am announcing a brand new Wardrobe Challenge, designed to help make 2020 your most stylish decade ever. It will kick off on January 10th.
The most significant decision I made for 2020, is that I’m going back to my roots. I spent all of my career as either a retail buyer or stylist and eventually owned my own styling firm. My talent is in deciphering what someone needs, and matching their style with what is in stores.
Over the last few weeks, I’ve walked through every store imaginable, scoured all the popular websites, and I can tell you without a doubt, it’s more challenging to shop now than ever before.
There are so many bad options; it’s almost impossible to see the good ones. And I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, but I can’t believe that designers, brands, and retailers are still marketing to a much younger demographic.
No one is focused on the professional woman, who needs a skirt she can sit down in. Or a busy mom who doesn’t want to look frumpy just because she needs to be practical. What if you just want to go out with some friends, or go on a date and would prefer a top not cut down to your belly button?
I don’t know about you, but I feel like now that I can buy what I want and need, there is so little out there for me.
Our Readers
As I focused on our audience I was delighted to learn about the vast age range of our readers are anywhere from 30 to 70 year old. Which just tells me that classic, timeless style is just that – classic and timeless.
Some of us work full time in the home, some outside, some both, some are retired. What we do with our days is different, but our desire to look and feel great in what we are wearing is the same.
Our Content
Going forward, most of our content is going to focus on providing inspiration and advice to help you get dressed for your daily lives. And we are going to organize the site so you can navigate it easier.
I want you to come here first if you need a new pair of jeans, or a great pair of heels for work. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for the first beta test of that functionality.
I want you to think of this site as your very own digital personal shopper. Except this is totally free, there is no membership fee, no subscription, no box service, just daily tips, tricks and insider knowledge.
Starting in January, I’m organizing the content each day of the month as if it were a page in a magazine.
We’ll kick off each month with an Editor (that’s me!) Note. I think it’s essential that you know who I am and my perspective. This post will help provide some context for the month, give updates on what’s happening with the site, and a little insight into who I am.
Outside of that, I’ll share more personal and behind the scenes glimpses on Instagram, along with content specifically for the platform.
Our private Facebook group will remain a space to come and share thoughts, insights, and questions with other like minded women. It’s an exceptional group of women, who are kind and supportive of each other. (This is an women only group, all readers are welcome, please be sure to answer all of the membership questions to get approval.)
After that, each day will focus on how to articles, roundups, size inclusive recommendations, lots more real life photos, wardrobe challenges, workwear inspiration, what to buy where, and more. Each post will all continue to be conversational in tone, but I’m pulling back on a lot of the other content.
Of course, please continue to use the comment section – it’s where I get many of my ideas for articles.
How the Business Makes Money
Which leads to the next question I always get: where does my revenue come from?
First, it’s important to know that I do not post sponsored content. (Sponsored content is when a brand pays you to promote its product.) It’s a business decision I make on a case by case basis. So far, I’ve declined every opportunity presented to me because it wasn’t on brand.
That’s not to say I’ll never do it, but it would have to be a brand I’ve long promoted on my own and makes sense to our audience. It’s taken me too long to build a loyal following, I’m going to compromise that for a quick pay day.
I also do not take goods or services in exchange for a review. Everything I wear I purchase myself, and if I recommend something it’s based on my personal experience and/or from my years as a stylist and personal shopper.
I currently make money two ways: online ads and affiliate links.
This year I was accepted into an ad group called Mediavine. Mediavine sells space on my site to advertisers and I’m compensated on impressions and clicks. It’s been a game changer for me in terms of becoming profitable without having to compromise my content.
I also make a small amount of money if you click and buy from one of our links.
That’s it.
I’m playing the long game with this, so any time you visit, shop or refer us to a friend, you’re helping us grow one person at a time.
Goals
The best use of my talents is in helping you navigate the overwhelming world of retail, which does nothing to make life easy for grown women.
I want this to be a helpful resource for you, the first place you go if you need something.
In 2019, I tripled our readership, which was an enormous accomplishment since I had a newborn and I still don’t feel like I know what I’m doing.
This year, my goal is to tighten our message and continue to expand our reach. I also want to hit 10,000 followers on Instagram so that I can unlock their business features. (Follow along here, I promise I’m not annoying.)
Stay tuned for more updates and new features in the coming weeks.
The scariest thing I did this year was put myself on these pages. I spent years avoiding it, but finally took the plunge.
I had Vivian last December (she turns one next weekend!) and I was not feeling great about my body and was obviously exhausted. But I think it’s important to see what things look like on a normal woman, with a regular life, who is not a model, and riddled with her own insecurities.
Today I’m sharing this pulled together look that’s super easy to create. The coat is the key piece here. It’s more like a topper, or a long blazer than a coat for warmth. If I were going into an office, I would leave it on during the day but keep a long sleeve option underneath if it gets too warm.
The coat is a new purchase, everything else I had in my closet.
I really consider our readership with every new decision I make and I pour so much of myself into every post I put out. I’m feeling pretty good about everything I plan on accomplishing in this new decade and I’m grateful you are part of our growing community.
The summer was great and all, but it’s time for fall. Over the last three months I’ve been working on creating some new, better and fresher content to launch over the next few weeks. I’m excited to share what to look for with you today.
First up, our Wardrobe Challenge!
We host a free (totally free, we don’t even try to upsell you on anything afterward) 4 Week Wardrobe Challenge every season.
Mark you calendars, this year it starts on Friday, September 20th over in our Private Facebook Group. (You have to be on Facebook in order to participate, this is the only way I can manage it given the number of participants.)
Each week you’ll receive a new challenge, from editing your wardrobe, and getting it organized, to creating a shopping list and pulling together outfits. I personally walk you through the entire process I use to use with clients.
Why Facebook?
We use Facebook so I can post live videos and so you can share your thoughts, questions, and post pictures. The community we are building in that group is the best thing to come out of this site. It’s filled with kind and supportive women who all want to look and feel their best.
I respond to every single question, host live Q&As, post sale alerts and great finds I think you’ll love based on the conversations we have on the board.
All of the Challenges and the Pre Challenge Prep Work will be shared over on Facebook.
To make this year even more interesting, we will be offering a series of giveaways and a prize at the end. Stay tuned for more details!
More Depth of Content
This site is a mix of style tips and tricks, beauty finds, motivation and inspiration. If you’re new to the site (welcome!) you can learn more about me here. I do share personal posts because creating connection with our readers is my priority. I also love learning about you so please continue to share comments below and and on our social platforms. I can’t image creating a business that only focuses on consumerism. And, if you don’t like the personal stuff, I’d probably opt out now:)
In addition to more thoughtful content, we have two more style focused series coming your way!
Capsule Wardrobes
Last year we launched our first every seasonal capsule wardrobe picks. In it, we featured items, all moderately priced (some even lower), from mainstream retail in all sizes and you LOVED them. I couldn’t believe it – and you’ve asked for more.
This year we have two capsules launching the first week of October, one for work, and one for casual, with lots of cross over opportunities between the two.
The Style Six
Finally, TOMORROW, we launch a new monthly series called The Style Six. On the first Friday of every month, I’ll curate six pieces that make an outfit AND break apart to help create other outfits. Each collection will feature at least one basic and affordable trend. We’ll then I’ll use them throughout the season in other style posts to inspire you to wear the pieces you already own.
Remember, the idea behind all of our style posts is first to inspire you. Maybe you have a piece in your closet already, perhaps you find something similar while out shopping that works better for your body type and budget, or you buy it directly from our links.
Whatever the case I want you to be excited about getting dressed, feel confident in your choices, and, most of all, feel like your very best self, every day.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments! I’m so excited for the new season, can’t wait to hear from you 🙂
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