My friend Kendra over at The Blonde Mom is a professional stylist, personal shopper and all around fashion maven. She has such a fun style and loves to bring out the best in her clients (including me!) too.
She recently did a closet audit for me and put together new-to-me outfit options from old-to-me clothes. What a fun, eco-friendly idea to reuse what you already have right? Check out some of her Pinterest-worthy flat lays that I would have never thought to do on my own. And to think I had these hiding in my closet for years:
I recently sat down with her to get her take on fast fashion, finding what works for your body type and much more:
Have you ever had to have a style intervention?
Does my mom count?! Ha ha- In all seriousness, no, however I have provided a few complete closet overhauls. All of my clients whose closet audits have leaned into personal shopping know that they need an “intervention,” and that’s why they’ve contacted me!
What is the most common problem or concern women have when it comes to their wardrobes?
On the whole, women tend to purchase items that either 1) look great in the fitting room, or 2) are on sale. This poses two problems- 1) While something may look good at the store, it can be challenging to figure out what to wear “x” piece with al home. And, 2) impulse purchases from flash sales are almost always wasteful. Don’t buy it because the price is low, buy it because it fills a need in your closet.
What’s the best way to organize a closet? Which pieces should be hung and which pieces can be folded?
We are all working with varying amounts of closet space, so there is no science to it. My personal preference is to hang dresses, skirts, and blouses by color; denim, leggings, sweaters, and tees folded. That said, if I had more space, I’d likely hang everything!
How can we make our clothes last longer?
Don’t wash frequently. Try to stretch pieces 2-3 wears. When washing, use cold water and always line-dry. Spot treat stains with equal parts hydrogen peroxide and *blue* Dawn dish soap.
How do we know whether to replace or hang onto something when styles come and go?
I firmly believe that if you love something that may not be currently “on trend,” you should still keep it and wear it! Granted, there may be a few outlandish exceptions, but by and large, most pieces should get your love if it makes your feel beautiful and confident!
What are your thoughts on capsule wardrobes? What pieces should be included in a capsule wardrobe, in your opinion?
The concept is fantastic. It is great for people that embrace the minimalist lifestyle, or those who think fashion requires too much effort/money. A misconception I had about Capsuling is that capsules must adhere to a list of rules: X amount of pieces, specific items, etc. In general, capsules are 30-40 pieces and encourage the purchase of five or so accent items seasonally to enhance the capsule. If I were to have one of my own, I’d absolutely need the following items: 1) Leopard Flats; 2) Chambray Top; 3) A great-fitting pair of jeans; 4) Cognac leather purse; 5) Blazer.
What are your thoughts on sentimental pieces of clothes that we keep in our closets, but will honestly never wear again?
Keep them! There are so many ways to repurpose those special items to breathe new life into them. I love the idea of memory quilts and bears. Can’t bear the thought of taking scissors to them? Purchase a keepsake trunk for safe storage. Whatever you decide, at the very least remove them from your closet! Those things are taking up prime real estate.
What tips do you have for postpartum and/or nursing moms?
For nursing moms, get measured for and invest in good nursing bras. Ill-fitting bras can cause leaks, or worse, blocked ducts and a whole lot of discomfort. If you’ve recently had a baby, regardless if you’re nursing or not, you may feel like you’ve temporarily lost your sexy. I want you to pick your favorite physical feature and wear pieces that accentuate it. For me, it was my legs, so I wore a lot of dresses. Also, if you’re in the throws of nursing tops, pick out a few cool blazers and statement necklaces to wear with them.
What’s your advice for/thoughts on adding ethically made clothing to our wardrobes? What are your favorite ethical brands/companies?
Ethically produced clothing has the reputation of being pricey, but that is simply untrue. A quick online search will reveal that many of the brands offering sustainably manufactured clothing are fair to moderately priced. Read: your trip to Nordstrom could set you further back than ordering from Everlane. A few of my favorite brands are Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, and SiiZU.
What suggestions do you have for women who are trying to avoid “fast fashion,” but still have to stick to a budget?
With the growing popularity of consignment/resale sites like ThredUp and The Real Real, it’s no secret that second hand pieces will be more coveted than fast fashion- and soon! There are some amazing deals to be had on Facebook Buy Sell Trade (BST) sites, as well as Poshmark. Locally, it’s impossible for me to choose a favorite secondhand retailer because they all offer something unique. Budget-minded shoppers should consider these options in lieu of fast fashion.
You can check out Kendra on Instagram or Facebook and she even does virtual closet consultations for those who aren’t local.
Do you have any style questions for Kendra?
Carolyn Watson says
Very smart Lady Kendra! You give us so many good ideas.