Ready to step up your fashion game this holiday season? Our recent discussion with personal stylist and wardrobe consultant, Kelley Muzingo might just be the inspiration you need. Kelley's passion for fashion is contagious, as she shares her journey into the industry and how she helps clients feel their best. In this episode, we give you the lowdown on this season's must-haves from sequins and metallics to classic pieces that never go out of style. We also delve into the realm of budgeting and shopping for holiday outfits, providing tips on how to look fabulous without breaking the bank. Kelly shares her favorite stores and we discuss the concept of how to integrate trends with timeless classics. We discuss the art of confidence and dressing to feel empowered, so tune in and join us for this lively exploration into the world of fashion. Thanks for tuning in and here's to a stylish holiday season!
Resources:
Links are being provided for information purposes only. The information herein is general and educational in nature and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Tax laws and regulations are complex and subject to change, which can materially impact investment results. Pearl Planning cannot guarantee that the information herein is accurate, complete, or timely. Pearl Planning makes no warranties with regard to such information or results obtained by its use and disclaims any liability arising out of your use of, or any tax position taken in reliance on, such information. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation. Please note, changes in tax laws or regulations may occur at any time and could substantially impact your situation. Pearl Planning financial advisors do not render advice on tax matters. You should discuss any tax matters with the appropriate professional.
Ready to step up your fashion game this holiday season? Our recent discussion with personal stylist and wardrobe consultant, Kelley Muzingo might just be the inspiration you need. Kelley's passion for fashion is contagious, as she shares her journey into the industry and how she helps clients feel their best. In this episode, we give you the lowdown on this season's must-haves from sequins and metallics to classic pieces that never go out of style. We also delve into the realm of budgeting and shopping for holiday outfits, providing tips on how to look fabulous without breaking the bank. Kelly shares her favorite stores and we discuss the concept of how to integrate trends with timeless classics. We discuss the art of confidence and dressing to feel empowered, so tune in and join us for this lively exploration into the world of fashion. Thanks for tuning in and here's to a stylish holiday season!
Resources:
Links are being provided for information purposes only. The information herein is general and educational in nature and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Tax laws and regulations are complex and subject to change, which can materially impact investment results. Pearl Planning cannot guarantee that the information herein is accurate, complete, or timely. Pearl Planning makes no warranties with regard to such information or results obtained by its use and disclaims any liability arising out of your use of, or any tax position taken in reliance on, such information. Consult an attorney or tax professional regarding your specific situation. Please note, changes in tax laws or regulations may occur at any time and could substantially impact your situation. Pearl Planning financial advisors do not render advice on tax matters. You should discuss any tax matters with the appropriate professional.
Welcome to the Women's Money Wisdom Podcast. I'm Melissa Joy, a certified financial planner and founder of Pearl Planning. I'm Melissa Freidenberg, financial advisor. We dive deep into topics like work-life balance, financial planning, personal growth and the intricacies of the sandwich generation. Tune in for money conversations that every woman needs to have. Hello and welcome to the Women's Money Wisdom Podcast. This is Melissa Freidenberg, and this week our guest is Kelly Nusingo. Kelly, welcome to the podcast. Thank you so much for having me. I am so excited to have Kelly here. She is a personal stylist and wardrobe consultant with over 25 years' experience in the fashion industry, owner of Adorn by Kelly. One of the things I love about her business is when you look at her bio on our website. She talks about the best feeling of having a client walk away feeling like their best self. Here on the Women's Money Wisdom Podcast, we want all of our listeners to feel their best self, because that is true wealth.
Speaker 2:Yes, I love that.
Speaker 1:I love your tagline. I might steal it. Yes, yes.
Speaker 2:Another one of my infamous taglines is Proceed with Confidence. I like that too. It's a good one.
Speaker 1:Okay, Well, I do feel one. Naturally, I don't have a good eye for fashion, but when I have an outfit on that makes me feel confident, it's a game changer. It's empowering, Very empowering. I've been wanting to hack her on this podcast for a while now, just because I know that it's something we, as women one, spend a lot of money on, invest a lot of money in time, and also it's just fun. And I thought, with the holiday season coming up Thanksgiving this week that our listeners might really enjoy some tips on what to wear and how to be stylish. So I'm so happy to chat with you about fashion.
Speaker 2:It's my passion and I'm so happy to be here.
Speaker 1:You can sense that it's your passion. Before we get started on the holiday topic, if you wouldn't mind just sharing with the listeners, kind of how you got into the fashion industry.
Speaker 2:Oh yes, it started at a very young age. I loved shopping. My grandmother and my mom used to take me on shopping trips with them all the time and we'd do lunch, but really, I figured out what I wanted to do at such an early age. When I was in sixth grade, I had to shadow someone at their job, and I shadowed my aunt, who was a cosmetics and fragrance buyer for Higbe's back in the day in Cleveland, and we went to an Estee Lauder product launch, and when I saw the women giving presentations to a large group of people, I knew that that's what I wanted to do in some capacity. I wanted to represent a product, whether it be in fashion, cosmetics, fragrance.
Speaker 2:I just was so mystified by that world. And that was at 12?. That was at 12 years old. I love that, and I just knew. I just knew, and it took me a long time to get to that career path. I went to a liberal arts school in College Charleston and met my husband. I always knew, though, that I really wanted to get to New York City and pursue a career in fashion, and when he got a scholarship to law school at Michigan State, that's when I discovered the merchandising management program and degree and I did some research and I saw that there were some really successful alumni pursuing the same careers that I had hoped to. I transferred schools there, got my degree, networked, networked, networked, and I'm giving a job in fashion in New York City.
Speaker 1:I love that success story for two reasons. One, because you followed the boy and you're married to him now, so that's awesome, it worked out. But also you followed your dream and it got you to New York City, at the heart of the fashion industry.
Speaker 2:Yes, it was, it was so I loved it so much. But so then my husband, he followed me, so I followed him to school.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:And then he followed me to New York City where he then practiced law there. But we ended up getting married and we thought that raising a family would be best and growth point, of course, yes. So we moved back about eight years after I moved to New York City. It was very difficult for me to get pregnant and I loved to work and I fell back into work and, by means of Neiman Marcus, becoming a personal shopper there and I loved it so much I didn't know how much I could love a job and it put me on a totally different path and left. Now to have twins and once they got into kindergarten, that's when I had the courage to finally start my own business. And now I personal shop, I organize closets, I style photo shoots, I do everything under the fashion umbrella and I just could not love it anymore.
Speaker 1:And one of the things I like is you shop for people. Obviously that's your background, but you also work with what they have in their closet.
Speaker 2:That's my favorite. That's where I really like to start with what is in your closet, what's still viable, what do you? I may like something in your closet and you're like, oh, but every time I go to wear it I just can't get beyond this, that or the other, and then I'll say, well, it's not worth it. Even if I change the whole the look of it, it's still going to feel that way to you.
Speaker 1:And everybody has their favorite pieces Like is it comfortable, but also like they just feel good about it with their shape and their body.
Speaker 2:So the fact that you can shop around that and find things to complement Things that are already in your closet, things that you've had for a couple of years or more, tried and true pieces, but rethought, sometimes some of the coolest things. When someone asks you, oh my gosh, that jacket was so great, where did you get it?
Speaker 2:And you say, oh, I've had it for like five years, yeah, that's a good thing, and that's what I strive to get my clients now, while we're shopping for new pieces, are those pieces that we can work with and will be happy to see year after year.
Speaker 1:Now, one of the things on my list of services I'd like to do with you is just organizing my existing classes. Is that a service that you do? Oh gosh, Because I think sometimes, like when it's just all in there in a certain way, you can't find stuff.
Speaker 2:Yes, I am not only a Virgo, so I'm very scenario-driven and I like kill myself trying to think of how things should work best for my clients and how their green works. But I also, in my fashion background, used to merchandise department store floors. I used to have to set up collections and showrooms and when we would travel to trade shows. So I've been taught and now it's just a natural thing for me to organize in a way that works best for my clients, and if I have to change something because it doesn't quite make sense to them, I know how to pivot. I've seen so many trends come and go and I can tell with a piece of yours. If it's like, say, a skinny jean, I can see that it may work for you now because you have tall boots and that's what we really need, a skinny jean, for.
Speaker 1:So are skinny jeans out?
Speaker 2:in general, they don't look right, right now, if you can see the bottom of them. Okay, so hide them in the boots. Hide them in the boots, and so long as they're a good rise, a very flattering rise on you, and they're not a teeny tiny low rise, then they're good to go, although I do have to say, my 15 year old asked me for low rise jeans the other day. They're done in a different way than what they were when we were in Paris.
Speaker 1:I'm having flashbacks to Paris Hilton. That was my first job. Like please she didn't even look good and she's tiny. There's no way that my mom would just go with that. Do we need them to be in a very different way? Thankfully, Okay, so not those low rise.
Speaker 2:No, no, no, they won't look right.
Speaker 1:So if skinny jeans are sort of out, what's in?
Speaker 2:A straight leg. If you want to invest in one jean that's going to be in season after season, year after year. It is a straight leg, jean. And the Parisian women have been doing this for years and they always look so cool and chic and they are really like a Levi's. So they're a really good rise and they're straight leg. They're not flair and they have clean finished hem. They're not.
Speaker 1:It's hard to find. I'll be honest, for looking at jeans, Everything is like cut on the bottom.
Speaker 2:More and more are coming out. I'm seeing more from Madewell A Goldy. A Goldy and Levi's are really the ones that are paving the way. They're like the shining star right now. So I would look up that and try to get a pair like that. They're just classic, clean and chic and still comfortable.
Speaker 1:Comfortable is key. I think the material jeans are made out of these days are much more comfortable than like they were.
Speaker 2:They are I remember when I first got back into jeans. I didn't wear a lot of jeans and maybe it was about 10 years ago and I discovered Madewell jeans. It was like a game changer for me.
Speaker 1:I didn't realize that jeans could be comfortable and I've never felt that yeah, I mean they're not as comfortable as sweatpants, but they are like. No, but they could be.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so that's very important. Comfort is as important as the style, as the silhouette.
Speaker 1:Talk to me about style for holiday, like for jeans have become a little bit dressier or jeans are appropriate for like holiday parties and stuff.
Speaker 2:Yes, I believe so. So I'm moving into Thanksgiving right now and I know that my family and relatives because we're not going to a fancy dinner per side, they air a little bit more on the side of casual but they will be wearing like a nice sweater, nice jeans or like a black jean, something that's more clean denim.
Speaker 1:I'm going to take a controversial Consumer. Green did appreciate it. To summarize, so long A decorated wardrobe and it's like a navy stripe. I feel like that is in style, like it's always in style at gross point, I feel like, but kind of a classic sweater, but it also has like a special detail with it has a little bit fuller of the sleeve.
Speaker 2:I always look for that too, especially with my clients when I'm adding new pieces. It's gonna be I err on the side of classic with a twist, so that year after year it is something that you know a lot of other people aren't going to have and it's gonna stand out just a little bit because there's something just a little bit special about it. I like that, yes, but and then did you want to talk about? Because you might, depending on how classy your Thanksgiving dinner is, might want to wear those brown faux leather pants.
Speaker 1:Yes, so I am actually thinking. I do have an outfit in mind. I've been seeing cute girls wearing them all over the place, so I ordered a pair and they actually fit, which is half the battle. Yes, of these cute brown pleather pants, yes, and I want to wear them, but I'm having a hard time specifically dealing with like shoes and now, or potentially a belt to wear with it. Like wood, not super dressy, but if either going out, I can't decide. I'm gonna wear them If it be a little dressy for my Thanksgiving dinner, but I might wear them out like the night before Thanksgiving, like when we go out.
Speaker 2:If it is casual, then I would do a ballet flats. Actually, I should back it up for footwear. What I'm liking, color-wise, is-.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's the color that's throwing me Snake skin.
Speaker 2:Okay, snake skin is gonna have all the different tones and snake skin is a great neutral print or pattern, with the rest of your outfit most likely. So you've got a little bit of cream. I would look for something that has more of a cream base, as opposed to too white, because that's gonna be too dark. Okay, but it could be a snake skin loafer, a ballet flat, it could be a little snake skin peel they're not the easiest to find.
Speaker 1:I actually do have. I have a pair. I think might work.
Speaker 2:Okay, excellent. So that's what I would suggest. And if you're having a hard time finding snake skin, I do like maybe a brown suede or a brown faux suede. That could be very pretty. Leather with Leather's heart burgundy could also be very pretty. It's like a burgundy pattern leather. Okay, could be really pretty and thoughtful and different.
Speaker 1:This is gonna be hard to match the color.
Speaker 2:Yes, no, but life seemed too much Like you really want to add in some different textures and also, if you get the snake skin, you're gonna wear them with a lot of other things.
Speaker 1:What else do you see trending for the holiday season? Oh, sparkle. Okay, people are. My mother-in-law will be so excited. People are really.
Speaker 2:I feel happy, I feel like this is a happier year and people wanting to see people and they wanted to come out in what they're wearing. So if they're not a big, bold red color person, which you don't need to express your happiness through color per se, but you could do it through sparkle. I've seen a lot of sequins. I'm seeing it done in little jackets, cardigans, metallic blouses, like a really pretty floral blouse that has some metallic thread running through it. Just a little pizzazz. Just a little pizzazz, and I would try to err on the side of something that's classic so that you can bring this piece back out year after year.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and that's probably something that I feel like your services would be really helpful, because we all have that one top that maybe we just wore a few times over a holiday season and then it's like you're done with it. But if you re-style it, yes re-think it, re-think it, re-think it.
Speaker 2:And I'm seeing a lot of matching sets too. So it could be say a matching sequence, top with its matching bottom, and then you can wear them together, but you could also break them apart.
Speaker 1:So it could be like several outfits, Several.
Speaker 2:It's almost like it's your base for your holiday capsule collection the capsule wardrobe. I like that.
Speaker 1:I think we're gonna do another episode just on the capsule wardrobe concept, because I love that, I know, because I'm feeling like that would be something I would be into. I have so many good tips for it. Okay, well, we'll have to have Kelly back for that episode, but let's stay focused. Yes, not my strong suit Staying focused but I wanna focus on let's move from Thanksgiving. Yes, in cozy sheet.
Speaker 2:Cozy sheet for Thanksgiving. You wanna be comfortable, depending whether you're the hostess or a guest.
Speaker 1:You wanna be comfortable and you also still wanna look nice enough, because these are oftentimes family and friend gatherings where you don't get to see everyone so often it's available to be pictures, pictures and the Lifelong pictures, pictures, and then also, just, you want, when you see these people for oh God, yeah, you want them to remember that One time a year when you see them, wow, she looked good, she'll put together even if you're not on the inside, right, right, you can fake it till you make it. So what kind of color schemes are you seeing?
Speaker 2:Oh gosh, so many, so many. I am seeing a lot. Red is a huge color for fall and winter, but I'm seeing it done in all shades. So Bordeaux, brick red not necessarily like a blaring red, although it's out there and maybe blue and world green, sage green, see I love those more like jewel-tone lips.
Speaker 1:I've not, even though I'm wearing like bright red pants. I said I did put these on just for our holiday edition. I wanted to get in the mood and I have red nails right now, so I kind of had to match. But generally I'm not like a red and green Christmas person. I like more muted tones. So that's good to hear they're in.
Speaker 2:Yes you could do a really beautiful dark green pants and a cream blouse those colors are really chic with a black cat mother pointed toe plum or something that has some you know some jewel, like a jewel-crusted heel. That's always a really pretty look, and we already talked about sequins, bows.
Speaker 1:I have to ask it this question yes, okay, hose or no? Hose or tights, I don't know. Wonderful question, because when it starts getting colder, I feel like my legs are just too pale to be seen.
Speaker 2:Hose-ury really took a back seat for a long time, yes, and then you're seeing, you know, like a lighter-weight hose-ury coming back Like sheer St Gats, like a black sheer, thanks to, like, saint Laurent and now Chanel. Now everyone across the board is doing a more sheer black hose Versus tights, versus tights. I'm starting to see a little bit more of tights, maybe not like the thickest you could find, yep, but you could do a little bit more heavy of a tight now, but it's not even a little bit funky or of a way where you're wearing maybe a skirt above the knee and your thicker tights and a sweater and a flatter boot.
Speaker 1:I could do that. That sounds like my kind of outfit, actually Giving me ideas now for it.
Speaker 2:Really depends on the outfit and the occasion. Yep.
Speaker 1:Now, if you're doing dressier, let's talk about that, because I feel like I always have a mix of parties. You kind of have to feel it out which ones are fancier. The fancier ones sometimes get me like If you're looking to invest.
Speaker 2:So I talked about matching sets. A really cool different look that could be broken up and then worn together in different ways is a tuxedo, okay, and you could For women, for women. So you could get a really cute tuxedo jacket with its matching pants, with a tuxedo stripe going down the side, and that can be beautiful together. That fits nicely with like a patent leather pointed toe, even an open toe, or a beaded shoe of some sort. But that could be a really beautiful look with just like a little silk canny underneath.
Speaker 1:I'm liking this. I'm like already thinking of pieces I have that could go with the piece the tuxedo I don't own right now, yes, but the tuxedo jacket can be worn separately, with a great little blouse underneath and with jeans. This might be a dumb question, because in my mind I'm sort of thinking of like, like, the tuxedo cut is basically a blazer, but what makes it tuxedo-ish, like?
Speaker 2:the satin details are in the trims, the buttons. Okay, you'll see it in the, typically the collar, and if you can get one with the satin on the collar, that is what really makes it look more special and fancy, because I do see tuxedo jackets made without or designed without the satin. But I think for this purpose it should really be on the collar and buttons should be covered in satin or it should be like a pearl button, something like the along the lines of that. And they're doing all different cuts of tuxedo jackets. They could be cropped, it could be longer geared, it could be velvet with the satin trims, kind of visualizing like a crushed velvet or something.
Speaker 1:I'm seeing that we could do that and it's at all different price points.
Speaker 2:from H&M up to your high end designers, everyone's doing a version of it. But I do highly recommend, if you can, to get the matching pants so that you always have a put together outfit and that the pants are a little bit higher rise, so they stay a classic silhouette.
Speaker 1:Okay, good to know, and then I know we covered jeans, but what are the bottoms of these tuxedo pants?
Speaker 2:The tuxedo pants are going to be the same fabric, so it might be like a wool blend. And then it has the satin stripe going down, oh no. And then the bottom of them.
Speaker 1:Are they like skinny? Are they like great?
Speaker 2:No, not skinny Straight, I would do a straight leg. They might have a fuller leg if you want to, and do know that's not always going to look timeless, but they are making them in a wide break as well. They are making it in a skinny leg, but if we're adding this and we want classic and timeless, I would do a classic pants silhouette, which would be more of a straight leg.
Speaker 1:I'm loving the straight leg. I feel like that's most flattering on people. Anyway.
Speaker 2:And a little tip if the pockets because most of them will come with pockets on the side, like at your hips, you could always get those sewn up, the pocket lining cut out. So sew up the pockets and it'll be a more trim silhouette.
Speaker 1:They won't bow out. I do love pockets, though, oh sure, but I do see what you're saying.
Speaker 2:Yes, more flattering. They could add some additional width. Yes, that you don't want.
Speaker 1:Thank you. Yeah, I know all about the additional width. I need all the pockets sewn. I can get it right. Oh, that's so fun. Talk to me. I know you mentioned a little bit about H&M and some places. What are some of the places that you can get some of this in style clothing but not totally break the bank?
Speaker 2:OK, I have a few really great resources. I love H&M. It's looking really good right now. Their holiday collection actually came out with a bang and I think it's all the social media and the enforcers. They sent it to you because a lot of the pieces are sold out online but you can find them in stores. Ok, pieces yeah, sara is looking so good too. I would try a Ritia and I love a good TJ Maxx.
Speaker 1:My god, who doesn't love a good TJ Maxx?
Speaker 2:But I would specifically look for the ones that have the runway which has more elevated brands. Oh, I love Nordstrom Rack, Love Nordstrom Rack. You just need to be a really savvy shopper. Express Express probably has.
Speaker 1:I feel like Express is coming back. For a while they were going to stock in the 90s. I'll be honest.
Speaker 2:We live in Michigan, we live in the Detroit area and there's a mall. Summer set, collection and Express just did a revamp of their store last year and they put a lot of, they invested a lot of money into it, as did Ann Taylor. So those brands are doing very well.
Speaker 1:OK, you're making me want to go to summer set. This is not good for my Christmas budget article that I'm writing today, but you know what is good for your budget though.
Speaker 2:Yeah, being able to try on and see things in person, as opposed to ordering a bunch of stuff and hoping and praying it's going to fit. Yes, I like to touch and feel and try on. Yes, and then, if you need a different size, the sales associate is there and sometimes they will make an order for you. And sometimes they will say let me give you expedited shipping and they can help work out things for you. Ok, I like that.
Speaker 1:I am going to give a little plug, because in reality, I am writing an article on budgeting for the holidays.
Speaker 1:One of the best tips that I have for that is to include holiday outfit shopping in your overall budget, because so many people leave that off yes, right, and they think, ok, I have X to spend this holiday season and it's going to be about gifts for family members or for your partner, for your kids. And I always like to say, ok, this is how many holiday parties I have and I, you know, are events coming up, and so I'm going to factor in like two or three outfits, maybe pair of shoes, and in my mind, I will set a budget for myself for those items and it's in the bottom line. Right, and not only I mean that also goes along with my one for you, one for me, kind of shopping method that I haven't been able to break. But by planning it out and knowing that it's going to be in the budget, that really helps so that come January, your credit card bill comes in and you don't have an absolute heart attack.
Speaker 2:Melissa, I love that and but, taking on to that advice, my advice is to go through your wardrobe, pull aside the pieces that you think will work with your holiday outfit a Try them on. If you make outfits, come together with the shoes, the jewelry, then take pictures of it. And save it in a folder on your phone.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, that's genius. But this also allows you to realize what fools you have, like oh, I'm so sick of these earrings, I could use a new statement earring. Or I love this cream blouse but I pitted it out. There's a snag in it. I need to get a new cream blouse because I still love this silk skirt I mean it really. Or I want a new holiday shoe that's going to go with everything which I recommend. That leather, ok, because that's really cute. Back to it just adds a texture, yeah, which I love layering textures, that's one of them. But it also elevates going out to dinner with your friends or going to a holiday party with coworkers, et cetera. It runs the gamut of just elevating a gene, a basic black pant, which is actually something special.
Speaker 1:Talk to me about the toe shape. So this patent leather, is it gonna be pointy around me, pointy toe?
Speaker 2:Okay, pointy toe and not too much toe cleavage, if that makes sense.
Speaker 1:I know exactly what you're talking about, but I've never heard it called toe cleavage before. I like that.
Speaker 2:Not too long of a toe bed, because I was seeing a lot of pointed toes and I see a lot in clients' closets that have stayed over the last I don't know 10 to 15 years and it's the toe bed is very long, which makes you look like you have a very big, long, pointed.
Speaker 1:I do have a very big, long foot and my husband actually calls them flippers, so I would not need to accentuate. So that's a good tip there.
Speaker 2:But the pointed toes, you're saying pointed toe but not like dramatically pointed toe and if you correct and if you struggle with a pointed toe, almond-shaped toes are very flattering as opposed to a full-on round toe.
Speaker 1:Yeah, round toe with a lot of toe cleavage should never come out. Oh yes, that's gross.
Speaker 2:Yes, it could be a Mary Jane silhouette. It's like an ankle strap. It could just be a classic, clean. What we've been investing in with my clients that has really withstood the test of time is a clean way to tell silhouette.
Speaker 1:Now, let's talk about that. You use the term investing in what are some of the pieces that you feel like you shouldn't try and save on or like skimmed Like things that are things that you would spend the extra money for the quality piece, Because I am such a bargain shopper.
Speaker 2:So even if my client is investing in something really nice and beautiful, I wanna make sure that they are maybe waiting for when it's gonna go on sale or they're getting points at their favorite store. Somehow they're benefiting. But I think you'll never go wrong investing in timeless, classic pieces, whether it's cashmere sweaters, which you could always find a good deal on, I feel like these days, a beautiful coat like a camel coat, but clean and classic doesn't always seem to be belted I have a waist belt handbags, and this might come into play also when we circle back to capsule Okay, capsule wardrobes, because there are things, because trends coming, though.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so that more classic line that's not gonna go out of style that would be where you would invest a little bit more.
Speaker 2:But I wish like I'm finding myself wishing that I would have invested in a cute little sequence coat that might look like Chanel but it's not so like a classic Chanel. I've been seeing that. Yes, I wish, because I could have bought something like that five years ago and still had it time and time again and don't get it. So it's so skin tight. Get it so that you could fit something underneath it or it could be worn with just a little clean.
Speaker 1:Now style that cause. I love that look and I'm thinking about that would be on my wish list. Not an well, not a real Chanel coat, but that's not on the budget but, like that style, that look, that look. How do I style that for the holiday season? What color are you thinking? Well, cream or black. Cause, that's how I roll.
Speaker 2:Right, okay, so let's work with a classic black one that has a Chanel looking silhouette and a sequence, and it may be with, like, row grain trim, something of that nature. You could wear that with a really nice pair of jeans, your patent leather, plain to toes, if you have them, or a black leather or black suede on heel and a cream, silky cami underneath. Or you could do a gloss, you could do black underneath. If we're wearing, like, a blue jean, a nice blue jean, you could pair it back to a black pant. Yeah, I wouldn't get too crazy with the colors underneath, like, maybe if you had a multicolored, metallic printed cami underneath. But I wouldn't get too crazy because the shining star is that black sequence. Little jackalt. If you had a nicer plaid pant, that would be so cute, a different color pant on the bottom, so long as, like, say, you had a burgundy or an emerald green pant on the bottom, then I would stick with a black cami, silky cami underneath the jacket.
Speaker 1:This is giving me lots of ideas. And again to your point you buy one jacket and then you can mix them up.
Speaker 2:I could style it so many different ways and we didn't even get to skirts. Should we cover skirts? We can, but it's just gonna be that classic look again where the jacket's gonna be the shining star. And then I don't know if I would do a plaid skirt for, say, I think that a plaid trouser would be a little bit more sophisticated and chic, but maybe you're wearing it over a longer like a midi silk slip dress of some sort.
Speaker 1:Yep, I've seen a lot of the midi skirts and those are in too right. Yes, Okay.
Speaker 2:Which you compare back to if you had a midi length slip dress or skirt back to a cashmere sweater.
Speaker 1:Turtle neck. Okay, one question with this. I see these styled and I see people like tucking in the front of the sweater. Yes, that's a look. Yes, it's a look. I feel ridiculous when I do it, but I love how it looks.
Speaker 2:I see the proportions to be a little bit shorter, that in that case we would fake it. If it's a slip dress and we're just using the bottom portion to get that look of a skirt, then we would fake it with a belt and then tuck it up under the belt. It's all about the proportions.
Speaker 1:Okay, I like that idea. The young girls are like tucking into the bra and folding over. Yes, yes, that's it. That's not a thing for the 40 plus.
Speaker 2:Your sweater is so long could work for you, Okay, but I'm not sure. This is where styling comes into play, where we can really nail it.
Speaker 1:then we take a picture of it and then you have it in your photo archives and this is gonna bring us home here because I wanna get into this. So you're listening to this podcast, you're getting some ideas and you're thinking this is great, but I just need a little help executing. Because that's what I'm thinking. I'm envisioning the sweater tuck and just needing an opinion of somebody that's not my husband. If somebody's listening and says I just need a little help, I love this idea of going through my closet or shopping for pieces to compliment, but how does that work if somebody wants to work with?
Speaker 2:you. You can always DM me on my Instagram, adornedbykelly, or I have a website and you can message me on my website and I'm very thoughtful and conscientious about what would work best for you. I'm going to take into consideration what you need, what your budget is. I have clients who say I can only afford an hour, but I really need outfitting. I need tips and advice. I can do that. That's awesome. I really work with what you need and I know how to make it happen.
Speaker 2:If you don't have time to go to Somerset or shop with me locally which I can do I have partnerships everywhere with the local stores and growth points, I can make something happen wherever you live. Somerset collection I use a styling suite there. I bring in various merchandise from different stores and we have an appointment like that. So you don't have time to do that or the budget to do that. You can let me know what your budget is and then I will do a deep dive, search online and send you links. I love that. All the things that I think that you should consider. Or say you love Dolce Vida shoes and you really need a certain silhouette of a shoe. I'm gonna come through and I'm gonna see what silhouette I think is most fashionable, and then I'm gonna see where it's located.
Speaker 1:This is such a great service that you offered. It's so needed. And back to your whole tagline that I love. I truly think that this is something worth investing in for yourself. Melissa, thank you so much, because it's just gonna make you feel so much better and to put forth your best self and feel put together. Not only are we gonna have you back to talk about a capsule wardrobe, but I think we're gonna actually have to do a vlog of either a closet audit or a shopping excursion, because I am about 10 pounds away from my goal weight and that is on my to-do list with you. You look so beautiful.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much. I really appreciate your time. Thank you, any last thoughts.
Speaker 2:Stay true to who you are. Just because there's a huge big trend or movement out there, you don't need to invest in it. Make sure you could do a piece from it, but don't feel like you have to be a part of that trend movement. Stay true to who you are and what you feel best in.
Speaker 1:I love that. I think that is so true, and so often we see what looks good on other people. Yes, and it may not either look good on you, like this water. Talk to be determined. Also, you may not feel comfortable in it, and what is the sense of that?
Speaker 2:There's so many looks and styles out there. Whatever you're seeing the most of there's something just as cool that's also trending. But it could be like right now, quiet luxury is trending and so you could have like a beautiful cashmere, cashmere looking sweater and no one knows that it came from the cashmere. Yeah, we're at TJ Maxx. Yeah, no one knows, it could be from the row or Laura Piana, for all anyone knows, but it looks beautiful.
Speaker 1:These are such great tips. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you for being our guest.
Speaker 2:Thank you. Happy holidays everyone. Happy shopping and don't stress.
Speaker 1:Yes, don't stress. Enjoy the holiday season. Thank you for listening to the Women's Money Wisdom podcast. If you found value in our conversations, please take a moment to like, follow and subscribe. Wherever you're tuning in from, it helps us continue to bring these valuable insights every week. Head over to women'smoneywisdomcom. There you'll find tools, tips and a supportive community to help you gain financial confidence.