Situation:

This successful entrepreneur has an incredibly casual work environment so jeans and sports garb were common office attire. As he began serving on numerous city boards and running for council, he wanted to step up his image for the increased community visibility.

Challenge:

Helping this client realize that ‘stepping up his image’ would not mean wearing uncomfortable clothes. Getting him out of his day-to-day tennis shoe routine. After all, tennis shoes should only be seen when going to and from the gym or a sporting event!

Solution:

Finding separate pieces that were casual and comfortable but were a tad dressier than the clothes he normally selected. I found dark washed jeans that he could pair with a nice shirt and even a sport coat, if necessary, for board meetings. Also, dark green and brown jeans that had a bit more edge than blue jeans when paired with a sport coat.

I found incredibly stylish shoes that had tennis shoe soles and similar fit and feel but were constructed in dark brown leather.

*Please note: This photo was taken during shop phase and before tailoring and alterations.

Situation:

This balcony was used as a catch-all for items that needed to be moved to other places within the house. It all began with the laundry. The family needed a central location to gather laundry and the ideal spot was on the balcony outside two of the bedrooms. This was a OK idea but, as we know, when items outgrow their space, clutter grows into more clutter!

Challenge:

The baskets being used did not provide enough space for all of the laundry as it landed there. Once the laundry began to overflow, other totally unrelated items began to gather there as well. Surprise! OK, not really…

Solution:

We cleared away everything that was not laundry related and either donated it or moved it to other parts of the house. The kids were old enough to safely remove the mesh barrier. We purchased a set of nice wood cabinets that held three large laundry bins. Now the landing area is clean and clear and the laundry is behind closed doors! The view from the front door looking up is fantastic and even the dog loves the new perspective.

*Please note: the picture does not show the new three drawer laundry system.  It was taken after we had cleared the landing and before the new cabinet was installed The photo above is representative of what we used for the cabinet solution.

This is an excerpt from my new book~ How to Master Your Muck. If you are in the process of setting goals for your life, this chapter might help make the process a bit easier.

Think and Speak Specifics

Create a mission statement for your goal. Effective mission statements should include components such as values, vision and purpose. One of my clients created this mission, ”My mission is to help others to grow personally, professionally, emotionally, and Read the rest of this entry »

Situation:

An upper level manager who travels frequently and needs to look professional. She is required to dress up for formal meetings but at other times does not want to appear too formal or intimidating to her staff.

Challenge:

The biggest challenge for most women is finding suits that are not black! Most women beyond their 20’s, and unless they are true winter complexions, are best served to keep black away from their faces. Unfortunately, when it comes to suits, it is very difficult to find very many choices besides black.

Solution:

This client looked good in almost every color except black and especially great in lime green and navy. After much searching, I was able to find a navy suit and a lime/brown suit that we could dress up or down based on her schedule for the day. Two suits can turn into at least 6 outfits when paired perfectly together.

You can see that this suit looks just as nice during “Jeans Friday” when dressed down with jeans, as well as during formal client meetings.

Check out the incredibly fun and sexy shoes that she is wearing with her jeans outfit above!

The outfit below shows how to combine a suit coat with a jersey knit dress to create another style.

Situation:

Everyone needs one perfect little black dress. It is one of my 18 Essential Wardrobe Elements. This client wanted to reinvent her style. Many of my clients request the same shift after they have been out of school and in the work force for a few years.

Challenge:

Amazingly, this job was not a challenge at all! I was searching specifically for 40’s inspired pieces and was lucky enough to find several with little effort. That will probably never so easily again, but sometimes the stars align perfectly with my desires!

Solution:

This client looks and feels great in classic vintage inspired clothes. The lines are a perfect fit for her body and her personality. As you can see with this dress, it is ultra feminine and very flattering. It is so unique and form-fitting, it should be couture! We also found beautiful cardigans with interesting beadwork, lacy camisoles and peep-toe pumps to reinforce her new style throughout her entire wardrobe.

We even found this simple and stunning ivory satin dress below which later became her wedding gown!