A Diva State of Mind

It’s great to help clients get their wardrobes ready for a new season, but it’s even more fun helping them put together a look for a special occasion. My clients James and Celia attended a surprise birthday party this past Saturday. The dress code called for no jeans. Here are the looks we created.

James wanted to channel his inner GQ for the birthday party. Although we could have tailored pants he currently had in his closet and found a vest, James wanted a new outfit from head to toe and I completely understood. Sometimes when you know you have an event to go to, you just want a new outfit.  We spent a couple hours shopping earlier this month which resulted in a nice Tommy Hilfiger navy pinstriped three-piece suit (the jacket wasn’t necessary for the party), grey shirt and grey pinstriped tie. The look was completed with brown shoes and belt.

One great thing about having James as a client is that I am consistently challenged. I’m well versed in woman’s wear, but certain things like men’s suiting was a new avenue for me. It was also new territory for James since he’s lost weight last year and is working on dressing a new body.

When Celia first heard about the party, she was ready to go shopping for a gown!! But after seeking some clarification on the wardrobe, it was determined that she did not in fact need a gown; she just needed to dress up.

Last year, I found a black Urban Outfitters jumpsuit on sale for Celia which served as the perfect option for her to wear to the party. We went shopping earlier this month to find heels & accessories. After trying shoes on for what seemed like hours, we found a pair of black pumps from Nine West that had a black/white chevron design on the heels. Since she LOVES mixing prints, I recommended she purchase the Love, Cortie “Ashleigh” clutch.  Celia is in need of more clutches to her wardrobe arsenal anyway and since animal print is a neutral, she will get a lot of use out of the clutch.  The look was completed with black earrings from ASOS and a gold ring and cuff from Macy’s.

Celia really does become another person when she gets dressed up and shows off her new figure! I love the confidence she exudes every time she takes a photo.  It’s very different from the woman I met a year ago. Such a transformation!

Both James and Celia looked great at Saturday’s party if I do say so myself! ;) Their enthusiasm and upbeat personalities makes styling them so much fun! They own every look they wear. I am looking forward to more GQ moments and fabulousness with these two this year!

Special offer: schedule a styling appointment now through April 26th and save 20% off! For more info on styling services, visit www.styledbykeri.com.

Last week I mentioned I’ll be one of the guest speakers for the Love Your Life Tour DC. Hosted by Fem-Pow!er Movement CEO Kenesha Williams, this event will help you tap into your personal power through relationships, personal style and finances. You’ll also enjoy a continental breakfast and have the opportunity to network with other awesome women in attendance.

I would love for you to join me for this morning of empowerment! Purchase your ticket this week and receive $10 off your ticket price using discount code DIVAS. Click HERE to purchase your ticket.

I hope to see you and your friends on Saturday, April 19th!

Although I sent this offer via my newsletter, I wanted to make sure I shared it with you in case you currently don’t receive the newsletter, which you should! You can sign up here.

Although it snowed on Monday, according to the calendar, today is the first day of Spring! That means if you haven’t done so already, it’s time to get your wardrobe ready for the new season. To help you get a head start on preparing your wardrobe for spring, I am offering a special discount!

If you need help putting together new looks with your current wardrobe, learning how to mix and match or need to update your wardrobe, I am here to help! All appointments booked now through April 26, 2014 will be 20% off!! All new clients will receive a FREE style consultation prior to their first appointment. 

Please click HERE for more information on styling services available. To schedule your consultation and to book an appointment call 301-836-1451 or email me at [email protected]. I look forward to helping you put your best foot forward this springs season!

Valentine’s Day is this Friday! Whether you’re making it a date night with your boo or hanging out with your best girlfriends, you’re probably wondering “what should I wear?”

Below are four looks to serve as inspiration as you prepare to celebrate love and friendship this Friday.  Since there are so many different things you can do on Valentine ’s Day, hopefully these looks will work for any occasion you have planned.

Let’s dive in shall we?

While this look can be worn if you’re hanging out with friends, slip on a skater dress and fur coat for a night out on the town with your significant other.  This style of dress is one of my favorites because it is flattering for a variety of body types.  The empire waist of the dress will conceal the tummy and create a waist. The a-line silhouette will skim the curves of a woman who is bigger on bottom and add flattering volume for a woman who doesn’t have curves. The cap sleeves also help balance the bottom half of the body, creating an hourglass shape.

Accessorize a red skater dress with your favorite black booties, a printed clutch and gold jewelry. Of course, if you don’t want to walk around with your legs exposed, you can add black tights (solid or textured). Complete the look with a cat eye and nude lip. 

Shop red skater dresses:

More Asos…

Although Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday, there will many women who have to go to work that day. If you know you won’t have time to go home and change before a romantic dinner date, add some edge to your work outfit by pairing a pussy bow blouse with a leather pencil skirt.  Switch things up by pairing the outfit with pumps in a fun print instead of black. The pencil skirt will nicely show off your figure while of course leaving something to the imagination.  Use the color of the blouse and the bow to add visual interest. Seal the look with red lipstick. Yes you can wear a red shirt AND red lipstick at the same time.

Shop a tweed coats and blouses:

More Ellen Tracy…

I envision the last two looks being for those who have more casual plans or are hanging out with their girl friends. I know I plan on having a girls night out; we’re having dinner and then going to see About Last Night.  I don’t want to wear a dress, so the plan is to wear leather pants or jeans. If you’re not a fan of wearing red, opt for a pink or fuschia sweater and pair it with leather pants or printed pants. Printed pants are great for women who are bigger on top. It adds visual interest to the lower half of the  body. It also helps create shape for women who may have a boyish frame. The shape of the purple sweater will work for a variety of body types including those who have a little extra in the middle; given the sweater skim the midsection, it will camouflage the midsection. 

Whether you’re pairing a sweater with printed or leather pants, add a pair of black pumps, a statement necklace and texture clutch to bring the outfit together. You know accessories take outfits to the next level! Complete the look with a smokey eye and dark nail polish.

Shop printed pants:

More Forever 21…

The final look is for the woman who loves wearing jeans. She does not want to be bothered wearing a dress. She is the type that likes to use heels to upgrade what would normally be a causal outfit.  If your ankles won’t be cold, pair a white or cream sweater with your favorite boyfriend jeans. To my fuller leg ladies, baggy boyfriend jeans will make your legs look larger; opt for straight leg boyfriend jeans.

If you’re not a fan of boyfriend jeans, you can pair a sweater with your favorite skinny or straight leg jeans. That’ll really elongate your legs. Use accessories to add pops of color. Instead of wearing red attire, opt for red heels and lipstick. Complete the look with a bold color coat.

Shop the look:

More Jessica Simpson…

Will any of these look work for your Valentine’s Day plans?

As much as I love scarves, I’m not very creative in the way I wear them.

Wendy of Wendy’s Lookbook created a great 4.5 minute video on how to wear scarves in 25 different ways. I remember seeing this video a few years ago when it first came out, and I was reminded of it when a client asked about different ways to wear scarves. I definitely need to bookmark this video!

By March 2012, my client Celia had weighed over 200lbs and was a new mom. She also had high cholesterol. That year, she decided it was time to drop the weight and become healthier not only for herself but also for her son.  

Fast forward to April 2013. By then, Celia had been working out regularly, eating healthy and losing weight. She was ready to work with a stylist to dress her new figure. Let me say that I have witnessed an amazing transformation since I started working with Celia and I couldn’t be more proud!

When Celia and I met for her consultation, we talked about her style goals.  Celia was a clean slate. She needed new clothes, an understanding of what looked good on her and how to put outfits together.  We were literally starting from scratch. At this point, she was the first client I had ever worked with that had lost weight and needed to create a new wardrobe. Oh the pressure! It’s one thing to tell a client they need a few new tops for the spring season. It’s another to make a list of ALL the wardrobe items a woman in a new body will need. Do you know how many wardrobe options women need to have?!

After her initial consultation, we met to complete two closet audits and we got rid of everything! If you could have seen the piles of clothes!! After only leaving enough clothes in her closet to wear until we went shopping (like they do on “What Not To Wear”), Celia and I sat down and created a list from scratch; jeans, skirts, pants, various length tops, blazers, etc.

When we first met, Celia wasn’t big on color and prints. She liked grey, black, brown and white. While we knew we would be purchasing new wardrobe pieces, she wasn’t really fond of the idea of wearing them in various colors. She appreciated a more simple wardrobe color palette.  Celia had lost weight by the time I started working with her but she really didn’t transform until a few months later when she reached her ideal weight and cut her hair. She was a new woman with a new confidence! She loves to show off her figure and every outfit must include color or print. If an outfit I put together doesn’t include color or print, she doesn’t hesitate to let me know! 

Rebuilding a wardrobe for any reason is a huge task and takes TIME! We’ve been working together for 7 months and we are still adding items to our shopping list as we continue to meet for various appointments. I would advise anyone that needs to start over when it comes to their wardrobe to consult with a stylist. You’ll have a lot of questions and need guidance on where to being. Being able to consult with someone will make the process of rebuilding a wardrobe less daunting.

This month, we’ll be putting together outfits for Celia’s 30th birthday. She wants to show off and it’s my job to make sure she does!

Read more about Celia’s weight loss journey in PYNK Magazine. For more information on my styling services, visit www.styledbykeri.com.

On New Year’s Eve, I stood in my closet and thought to myself “what I am going to wear?” I wanted to wear something festive since I was the cohost of a NYE house party. I also wanted to shy away from my go to skinny jeans (or pants), a top and blazer outfit.  After trying on a few outfits, I remembered that I had a pair of sequin shorts from Caché that hadn’t been worn in over a year. Sequin + NYE = of course!

I experimented with pairing different lightweight tops with the shorts, but I wasn’t feeling the outfits. After a few more trial and error moments, I came up with this look below: my sequin shorts paired with a button up and polka dot sweater. I completed the look with a fun statement piece and teal booties. It’s a nice mix of preppy meets party!

It’s easy to wear sequin shorts, pants and skirts with tanks, cute blouses and jackets.  However, if you want to transition those fun pieces to the winter season, pair them with sweaters (yes you can wear sequin ANYTIME you want. Not just during the holidays).

If you’ve struggled with how to wear sequins during the winter months, use my outfit and the looks below for inspiration:

Shop sequin shorts, pants and sweaters here:

More Ann Taylor…

 

Last week I started going through my Instagram pictures. While scrolling through photos from this year, it became apparent that 2013 was an EXTREMELY busy year but nothing short of amazing! I wanted to take a moment to highlight some of the great things that happened both professionally and personally, as well as identify some of the lessons I learned from this year’s experiences.

The biggest milestone I experienced this year for A Diva State of Mind, LLC was my brand becoming trademarked. Seriously, that could NOT have happened without the help of my mom. She was truly a blessing during the process. I’ll admit it’s still a little shocking to know that A Diva State of Mind, LLC is official. I can really put the ®after the name!

I always wondered how bloggers got to model looks on the local morning shows and then I became one of them! I started the year modeling gowns for the WUSA9 Inauguration Gowns Segment and ended the year modeling for the WUSA9 Holiday Accessories Segment.  In March, I submitted my application to be the Style Setter for the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. Although I wasn’t selected, I want to THANK YOU all for voting! Was I disappointed I wasn’t selected? Yes, but like I’ve learned before, everything opportunity that comes my way isn’t for me.  I know I have to keep pressing on and what is meant to be will be. 

When it comes to my styling business, I’m thankful for is the increase in the number of clients I had this year. Last year, I worked with two clients and this year I worked with seven new clients. I have a habit of downplaying accomplishments when I feel like they’re too small or not reflective of where I want to be. For example, if my goal is to be a full-time stylist, I may have brushed off the fact that I’m still styling clients on the side while working a 9 to 5. What I have learned is that each accomplishment no matter how small is important and should be acknowledged as such. Everything takes time and it’s important to focus less on the destination and really take time to enjoy the journey. And I am enjoying the journey thus far!

Through the blog, I was able to catch the attention of the National University Quantico Online Information Center.  I was asked to participate in their Improve Your Groove Series and thus challenged to give my first style presentation. I found out that evening that the event organizer found my website by searching for personal stylists in the DC area. That was a reminder that you really never know who is watching you.

The increase in business and request to give a style presentation also prompted me to move my styling services to a new website www.styledbykeri.com. The new website allows me to neatly display all services available and my portfolio (please check it out if you’re considering working with a stylist in 2014. The first style consultation is free).

I continued working with Facon Magazine this year and styled an editorial for the Spring issue. I also had the chance to work with Elaine Luxe Accessories and style looks for the company’s new website. That photo shoot was a lot of fun and I met some amazing women on set. I really hope to work with them again in the near future.

The second biggest milestone for me personally was attending New York Fashion Week in September. I had New York or NYFW on my three previous vision boards (don’t judge me!) so I had to find a way to get there. I didn’t get approved for media credentials but luckily fellow stylist Lauren couldn’t make it to all her shows so I went in her place!   I’m the type to plan but when it came to fashion week, things were a little unexpected. I secured a place to stay and knew I was meeting up with other stylists, but how my day would actually work out was up in the air. I attended shows I hadn’t plan to and ran into people I knew from the DMV but didn’t know I’d see while up there. The uncertainty made the experience fun (and exhausting). You can read about my NYFW experience HERE. Note to self: it’s ok to not have EVERYTHING planned out!

It wasn’t all about A Diva State of Mind this year! While a lot of things happened for by business this year, I sure did keep business with my personal life as well. I attended the 2^nd inauguration of President Barack Obama. I was in graduate school during his first inauguration so I made sure I didn’t miss his second one!!

This year served as the centennial year for my sorority, so I kept busy by attending ALL of the major centennial events that took place this year: Founders Day weekend, Women’s Suffrage March and Convention (check out pictures on my IG page). I join the sorority in 2012, so I was like a kid in the candy store; so excited to be a part of these amazing experiences. I also celebrated my one year Deltaversary!

Not only did I stay busy with Delta events, but 2013 was a great year in music! I attended three concerts this year: Alicia Keys, Jay-z & Justin Timberlake and the Made in America Festival. If you’re going to attend Made in America, please be a fan of large crowds. There were soooooo many people there. But I had a great time; it’s nice to not have to worry about putting on your “best look” all the time. Throw on some shorts (I did make sure I was “festival cute” lol), grab a beer, run into folks you know from the DMV (it seems like every one there) and just enjoy the music. It was my first time attending a music festival of that magnitude. If there are a number of artist at the next Made in America festival that I like, I’ll be there!

Note to self: Always stop and smell the roses!  We all want to live the life we imagine for ourselves. While we work towards making that a reality, it’s important that we take the time to enjoy life along the way.  You already know, life is too short. We must make the most of it while we can. And this year, while I prayed about styling and jumped on every opportunity I could, I also made sure I took time to have FUN!

I don’t want to brag about the things that happened this year. Instead I view this recap as a way to reflect on the year and lessons learned. Hopefully this year in review will serve as inspiration for others who are pursuing their dreams and/or often times find themselves sitting idle on the sidelines while watching others have some of the best times of their lives.

I can’t wait to see what happens in 2014!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tis the season for holiday parties and festivities! With so many events going on this month, you’ll want to step your best foot forward. I recently had a new client appointment where we created new work outfits, but also selected her NYE outfit. It’s never too early to start thinking about what to wear for the various occasions you have scheduled this month.

From personal shopping to creating new outfits with your current wardrobe, there are a plethora of options available to get you ready for your next holiday outing. Please visit www.styledbykeri.com for more information on styling services and to schedule a consultation!

P.S. Don’t forget to RSVP for the Holiday Pamper & Shop Party. I’ll be there along with celebrity stylist Apuje Kalu

Now that we’re in full holiday mode, I wanted to personally invite you to join me, celebrity stylist Apuje Kalu and celebrity jewelry designer Deborah Mdurvwa of Mdurvwa Collection for a Holiday Pamper & Shop Party hosted by PYNK Magazine.

All attendees will enjoy complimentary manicures & cupcakes, PYNK drink specials and style advice from Apuje (he has styled LaToya Luckett, Elle Varner, Mya and Jay Ellis to name a few). The first 60 attendees will receive a gift bag. You’ll also be able to shop the Mdurvwa Collection, which may serve as the perfect holiday gift for the women in your life.

This is event is FREE so please take a break from your busy weekend schedule and join us for an afternoon of pampering! RSVP at [email protected]

I hope to see you there