Advice to Bridesmaids (and brides)

In response to all the newly engaged gals I have recently encountered, I would like to write an open letter to those dear ladies whom you will soon ask to precede you down the aisle. My fabulous brides, you are always my top priority, but I believe the saying “a happy bridesmaid makes a happy bride”. So, I am writing this letter to facilitate the peaceful planning of your big day and to give you insights how to create a modern and fashionable wedding party.

Dear Bridesmaid,

The focus is not on you. Your job is support the bride as she prepares for the wedding and continue to support her as she embarks life as a wife. However, you are important too!

You were asked to be a bridesmaid because you are a dear friend to her for very unique reasons. You are not the same as the other ladies in her life, and it is you she wants to stand up with her as she makes this momentous commitment. The idea that every bridesmaid should wear the same dress and colour actually contradicts how the bride views you. If every bridesmaid was the same, there would only need to be one!

Yet, you also need to support the vision of the bride. If she dreams of ladies in green, then green it is. If pretty in pink is the way she wants it, well that sounds good to me. Blue from head to toe, there is no reason to say no. There is a tone and shade of every colour which will make you look stunning. What if the bride wants ruffles? We can make that work. Bows and lace? They have their place. And since it is the current trend to have the wedding party be coordinated—not matchy matchy—you have the added benefit of being a fashion-forward wedding party.

It is an awesome bonding experience for a bridal party to discover how each of them can be lovely on the wedding day (and the bridal shower, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, etc). It is even more fun that you can continue to go shopping for everyday clothes that highlight your unique assets. Knowing your image will impact everyday of your life, not just the wedding day. From my personal story, I had my image analyzed as a bridesmaid for the wedding of my friend, Eloise. I never knew one day would change my life. I am so grateful for what that experience has meant for me and how it helped Eloise and myself complete the wedding decisions from the same perspective.

Before you try on a dress or make a decision, bring the bride to sit down with me for a Complimentary Bridal Consultation where we can design an experience which will enable you to further celebrate your friend’s next chapter in life.

Do we need to exorcise your closet?

A client recently told me her closet needed of an exorcism. Well, I cannot make any promises about the spiritual state of your skirts and shoes, but I am able to bring peace to a chaotic closet. We all start our mornings by choosing an ensemble in which to live our day. Yet, if our clothes are unorganized or unexciting, it impacts how we feel about the whole day. On the other hand, seeing fabulous potential outfits in our closet can help brighten a day that began by getting up on the wrong side of the bed. So, to help any resolutions to get organized and fabulous, I offer you a special price for a Wardrobe Review or Personal Shopping experience. Please call or email to book your time.

Reflection Revolution

As 2010 begins and resolutions are being written, I have enjoyed reflecting on the successes and struggles of the past year. Each year I write statements which are intended to characterize the upcoming year, and I plan to post a blog for those interested in my personal world. However, I am more excited about being part of a positive impact on the women of Kansas City and beyond.

I am passionate for women to experience the revelation of seeing, knowing, honoring, and loving how they have been made. Yet, I have become increasingly distressed how early young girls see “flaws” in the mirror. That sadness is only eclipsed by working with women in their 50s and beyond who have spent decades incorrectly believing they were not lovely. So 2010, for me, marks the beginning of the REFLECTION REVOLUTION.

This year, my goal is to reach 200 women at all ages and stages of life to liberate them from doubts regarding the woman in the mirror and replace false faults with eyes open to a reflection full of assets. I also intend to speak with 12 audiences to further open up discussions regarding the myths and mysteries of image and impressions.

However, I cannot achieve this dream without your support. If you believe this vision has value, I invite you to be a part of making it a reality. A revolution never consists of one person. Who do you know who voices displeasure with any part of her body? Who do you know who spends time and money on clothes but still doesn’t feel beautiful? Who do you know who stands in front of the closet feeling overwhelmed? This year instead of a resolution, be part of a revolution.

As a thank you for your support and to facilitate your own personal journey, I will enter your name into a monthly drawing for every referral I receive.The name drawn receives an hour of Personal Shopping or Wardrobe Review (your choice). For every referral who becomes a client, I will send you a $20 gift card to be used towards any of my services. These rewards are available to current clients and others who wish to be part of the Reflection Revolution.

Thank you so much to all the women who have helped me live out my dream, and I am so excited to be of service to more women. As always, if you have any questions about your journey thus far, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

A Testimony and a Promise

As a new year dawns, I have promised my wonderful clients to fully embrace my blog and update it three times a week. Thank you, ladies, for your patience as I have gotten my head around how to best use this forum. I hope it is a wonderful place for you to gain both insight and a laugh during your week. Suggestions and requests are welcome!

Now, in honor of a dear friend and client who lovingly got on my case for avoiding my blog, I will start this blogging promise with your testimony. Emily came to me outstandingly open and willing to discover her loveliness. As I watch her embrace what she has learned, I am reminded that she and all you other ladies are why I embarked on this career. Thank you, Emily, and thank you, all my colourful Kansas City gals. Here is Emily’s story. (I chose this picture because she was so excited for the new running outfit and visor in which she looks fabulous & she is about to conquer her first 5K. Pretty-in-pink Kelly will be in the studio tomorrow to experience her Image Day!)

I met Stefanie in the Summer of 2008 through a mutual friend and knew immediately I wanted to be a part of what her passion was for women. We became friends right away and I enjoyed getting together with her (and still do!) to hear all she had to say about image. The more I got to know her, the more I realized she was exactly what I was waiting for, without even knowing it! I had been working on several things in taking care of my body and she was my finishing touch. By the Spring of 2009 I was ready for the full package, all in one day! I arrived at 9am and left at 9pm! There was so much to ask and learn and probably could have been there for much longer. Stefanie is such a wealth of knowledge on every single topic important to women! Wow! I learned so much about the language of clothing; how to communicate who I am through how I dress, what is suitable for every occasion in life, but most importantly, to DARE to be noticed! I shed off all my wrong perceptions of what I thought were imperfections in my body and it was so liberating for me! As for colour, wow, I was a black and white girl with a red shirt here or there before meeting Stef, and now I live life in full colour! I feel so alive and confident that what I’m wearing is exactly ME and not because it’s what is trendy or on sale in the stores! I could go on and on. Bottom line, go see Stefanie! She will teach you to dress based on who you are, because it SHOULD be a natural extension of you, not someone else. I’m glad she continues to be in my life so that I can continue gleaning from her expertise. Thank you Stef, words are not enough to express my gratitude for how you’ve helped me take the next step in my journey of womanhood!