Tale of Two Beauties: Client Closet & Shopping Trip

One of the questions I get asked a lot is why all of the models in all of my posts are tall and skinny and young. Really, really, young.

Because, models.

I typically use clothes to illustrate my posts, and the pictures of those clothes come from online retailers, and those retailers use young, tall, thin models.

But I hear you. It feels weird to read about not-dressing-old and the women shown are not-old-enough-to-vote. Super frustrating.

My clients are not models. Yet. Although I’m working on it. (Stay tuned for pics featuring real-life clients and readers. Interested in modeling? Send me an email!).

I feel blessed to work with beautiful women of all ages with full lives who want (and need) style that is effortless, elegant, and works for their lifestyles. And I can’t wait to tell you about two of them.

Tania, 41

Petite Style Dial 2 (curvy lower half)

The Challenge: No clothes. Tania hates to shop and avoids it whenever possible. Her closet is filled with mostly tees and jeans and easy, relaxed pieces she can wear to her job as a massage therapist. She loves ballet flats and flowy pants.

We started with a closet purge, eliminating items that were worn, dated, or no longer fit. What remained was a small wardrobe of mostly basics. Tania felt like her style was all over the place, but after sifting through her closet, we were able to come up with her style words: Relaxed. Natural. Boho-ish.

We also created a shopping list for her casual, laid-back lifestyle:

An easy, capsule wardrobe of mix and match pieces. I think the Vetta Natural Capsule would be a great place for her to start.

The Vetta Natural Capsule features 5 items that can create multiple outfits.

We also identified the following needs in her wardrobe:

1. Shaping cami/bras

We decided to cover our bases with a Ruby Ribbon cami. The camis offer support for her 34D bust, and also offer shaping and control through the tummy area.

Ruby Ribbon Sheer Full Support Cami in Black, $84

2. Chambray Shirt

Chambray shirt, $78, J. Crew

3. Jeans designed to fit curvy hips

Petite Curvy High-Rise Skinny Jeans in Danny Wash: TENCEL™ Denim Edition $135

Barb, 69

Petite Style Dial 3 (straight through the hips, with fullness in the tummy area)

Barb is a regular shopping client of mine, and a good friend. It had been a while since our last shopping trip, and the clothes we had bought were starting to show signs of wear. Like Tania, she does not love to shop and hadn’t bought anything new in a while, so she definitely needed a refresh.

The Challenge: To shop for a versatile, flattering wardrobe for church, casual wear, travel, and date nights in a couple of hours at Dillard’s. We ended up with 9 pairs of pants and about twice as many tops, including sweaters, blouses, and a couple of completer pieces. Most of the pieces are designed to mix and match, giving her plenty of options that suited her lifestyle. Here are a few of the highlights. (Pictures are linked if you’d like to check them out for yourself!)

Peter Nygard Nygard SLIMS Luxe Ponte Velvet Jegging, $47.40

Peter Nygard SLIMS Foil Print Luxe Ponte Suede Jegging, $47.40

Peter Nygard Nygard Slims Luxe Denim Stud Stone Embellished Skinny Ankle Jeggings, $41.40

Vince Camuto Short Sleeve Striped Melange Ombre Asymmetrical Hem Sweater Knit Top Item $79.00

Vince Camuto Tiered Ruffle Volume Long Sleeve Button Front Blouse, $99

Vince Camuto 3/4 Sleeve Mock Neck Button Shoulder Blouse $89.00

Whew! What a whirlwind shopping trip. We bought so much we almost needed help carrying it out, but she is set for the next year or two, at least, with clothes that fit, flatter, and make her feel fabulous.

As always, my goal is to help women of all ages look and feel their best in clothes every single day. That’s why I create posts like this, and the ones you can find here and here and here, all written with you in mind. 

Can you relate to Barb or Tania? Where are you struggling with your style? Let me know in the comments below!