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Sharing my thoughts on personal style and the importance of breaking free from comparison in this season’s Rochester Women Magazine publication.
A huge thank you to new owner Emily Coates Watkins and writer Grace Menchaca for allowing me the opportunity to share my passion for authentic-self driven personal style.
Find Rochester Women Magazine “in the flesh” at a variety of local businesses!
When Val and I first met, it was easy to fall right into a conversation about fashion, mental health, and all things Rochester, MN. Val Kleinhans runs local lifestyle blog Val In Vogue discussing these topics and more. I just love her warm aesthetic and edgy style so when she mentioned noticing a few similarities between us, I was super flattered and this collaboration was born!!
Three key elements you’ll find on rotation for Val and me; animal print, black hats, and graphic tees. Our mission; share all kinds of ways to style these similar pieces in ways that are uniquely our own:
Val’s no-holds-bar approach to pattern mixing with animal print is my favorite! The secret to mixing any patterns is to pay close attention to the size of each, pairing larger with small as she does here- using patterns that share at least one base color helps keep the look from getting too busy as well!
For me, animal print is one of the few you’ll find in my wardrobe these days, as I prefer to play with textures. My looks here are an approachable way to introduce animal print if you’ve been hesitant to try it out. Whether a clothing item or accessory, make it the focal point of your outfit and keep the rest simple.
After years of sitting on my shelf, the black hat has now become one of my most signature looks. Each time I used to put it on & then it went right back on the shelf because I felt like Indiana Jones— I still do, but now I like it!!
Lots of people are afraid of hats. My advice, keep trying them on until you find one to give a shot. You may feel a little awkward at first because hey, it’s something new! Here’s a helpful guide on hat styles for different face shapes if you’re not sure where to start. Val rocks a plethora of hat styles and is soo good at styling each in such a unique way! I especially loves how she dresses up the knit beanie here.
Soo many options out there, you should probably have at least one in your closet! I love that like textures, it is another fun way to give an outfit depth and interest. Dress it up with a skirt or blazer, or keep it low key with jeans and boots.
Next time you’re getting ready, try swapping out the basic tee in your outfit with a graphic. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how easily it changes the whole vibe of your look.
We had so much fun planning this collaboration and hope that you’ve gotten some inspiration to dig a few key pieces out of your own closet for some fresh styling. Be sure to check of Val’s write up on her blog here. Give yourself some time though, the girl’s got amazing content for your rabbit-hole tendencies.
Happy February! Has post-holiday cabin fever gotten the best of you? Get your girls together for a closet swap party and kill two birds with one stone— hanging out with some of your favorite people and enjoying some (free) “retail” therapy. ..
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Read moreThe greatest part is that this process doesn't end at your closet. Becoming more attuned to your personal style is a great starting point for exploring what makes you happiest in other areas of your life, such as home decor, career decisions, relationships and more. Embracing your authentic self is entirely liberating and empowering! Grab a pen and paper for notes, then read on for my tips on how to get started...
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Read moreA capsule collection is a small group of useful clothing that changes with each season. Using this concept through the holidays saves time, money, and hopefully a bit of your sanity...
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