Being a mom is one of the best things that ever happened to me, even with the food stains on the shirt and the “go to” ponytail, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The challenge is that style and fashion seem to take a back seat at times.
Now, jump ahead a few years and I am the proud mom of an 8 and 12-year-old. I lecture on health at corporate events and promote my book in the media whenever I have a chance. For this, and although I have gotten away with it, my style is a bit out of date. I have mended a few shirts way too many times and I am not quite sure if my pant length is appropriate or not.
One of the amazing perks of writing for Miami Moms Blog is the incredible women we meet. So when Personal Stylist Kim Rodriguez offered to take me around the mall and show me what she does… I was all over it! I always considered that a stylist was for the rich and famous, never imagining that I would qualify as a client as well.
This was one of the coolest days ever!
We met at Dadeland Mall, discussed my needs, budget, and style preferences. She has all the inside scoop on sales, trends, and true closet staples. Then, she patiently took me to just the right stores and helped me combine a handful of items to create many different outfits. I was amazed. Not to mention the small things about attire and style that I had no idea about.
Many of you fashionistas probably already know these things. But for this mom who usually lives in the leggings and t-shirt uniform, I needed more than a pep talk.
For example, did you know that it’s actually OK to cut out those extra loops they sew into a shirt for hanging? Sounds silly, but for sheer laziness, I leave them in and then get frustrated shoving them back into my shirt so that no one sees them.
One of my new favorite items are my pencil pants–perfectly fitted, straight legs. The challenge is that I am “vertically challenged,” you know, just a bit short. So I traditionally let the pants bunch up a bit at the ankles–this is a major no-no. For me, hemming is a must. It looks cleaner, neater, and so much nicer if I do say so myself.
Then, there’s the fit. I am a PETITE. Who knew?! I thought medium and small were just fine. Come to find out that the waistline fits me perfectly with the petite size, I just thought that they positioned the waistline for everyone else and I would have to make due. So ladies, make sure your clothes fit just right, there’s always a different brand, size, or fit that will work for you.
One last thing: shoes. You can’t forget the shoes. They have to look right. Many times we settle for a mediocre pair because we think no one will look. Guess what, they do and the right shoes can make or break an outfit. For all you moms out there, we carry our fair share of kids, bags, and even boxes, so for this make sure your shoes are comfortable, yet look amazing.
By the time we parted ways, she had me ready to go home to do a major closet clean out. From now on…
- If it doesn’t fit, it’s time to fix it or toss it away
- NO MORE STAINED CLOTHES
- If “it doesn’t bring me joy,” it’s out of here, hee hee
- No piles of clothes on the floor
- My closet is now sacred–no toys, laundry, or storage goes in there
I totally reverse engineered my closet. I first emptied it out and then started to put things back to create the princess closet I deserve. Everything has a place, and my closet is truly my happy place. Thank you, Kim. I have such a new appreciation for my clothes!!
If you want to know more about Kim, check out her website at www.KRPersonalstyle.com.
With love and light,
Adita
