Local Spotlight: Style Me Mena

Hello readers!
We have a special blog post prepared for you today and would love to introduce you to our newest small business spotlight contributor; Mena Vincelli of Style me Mena.
This lovely woman excels in her craft by helping women find their style and revamp their wardrobes so that they can go out into the world with the utmost confidence. Mena has prepared a blog post highlighting how to elevate your style with the existing items in your closet and create a whole new wardrobe repertoire. Since dressing myself isn’t my strong “suit” (your welcome for this weird clothing pun), I will let Mena take it away!

Hi there!
I'm Mena, just a girl who believes in celebrating your style and that what you wear should honour who you are and what you stand for! I share my passion as a stylist to give you confidence and inspiration so you can look, feel, and do-good! So let’s get started on helping you feel your best and helping you rejuvenate that closet.

If you find yourself staring blankly into your closet trying to decide what to wear, and wishing someone would help you make outfits with the clothes you already own, this post is for you!

I'm sharing 7 simple tips that will help you build more outfits with the clothes in your closet and start having more fun with your look! 

Before you begin;  A good size mirror will help this process and good neutral undergarments are key here so you don't have to change 100 times when trying on clothes.

Tip 1) Build your outfits around colour

Don’t get bogged down thinking about fabric varieties, types of occasions or the fundamental shapes. Focus on colour. It’s the easiest way to pull together an outfit that works and it’s where I start with my clients.
So, for example, if you have a skirt that you want to build an outfit around, take it over to your closet and pull out all the tops that match or compliment the colour of the skirt. Once you’ve found a good amount of options you like, start trying them on with the skirt.

Tip 2) Combine clothes you have never worn together.

Try pairing articles of clothing together that you’ve never combined before. Don't worry too much at this stage whether or not they work together, just grab them from the closet and try them on because I know you will find some glorious new combinations that you will love! 
If you’re someone who hangs their clothes in outfits (this means the bottoms and tops you wear together are beside one another), this will be a really valuable exercise as hanging clothes in this way can often limit how you wear them.

Tip 3) Mentally remove any labels you've given your clothes

Don’t leave an item of clothing in the closet because it’s “too special” or “too casual” and don’t save things for the “best timing” because that time could never come! Remove those labels and free up your clothes to be worn anytime, anywhere and don’t waste money on the “what-if” outfits. You make the rules with your wardrobe and if you love it, wear it and show it off! Any item can be dressed up or down by combining it with casual footwear, layering items and playing around with accessories. 

That favourite dress you’re saving for a special occasion could be dressed down for the weekend with sneakers and a leather jacket!  Those scruffy jeans you save for wearing around the house can be dressed up with a blazer and heels!

Tip 4) Make sure you try items on!

This is really important. I don't want you to rule out any combination until you've tried it on!  Clothes look totally different with a body inside them and everyone has a different body type., There are lots of styling techniques (like tucking in, cuffing, knotting etc...) that will help make two seemingly incompatible items work perfectly together.  So, I'll say it again, don’t rule anything out until you’ve tried it on to see if it works.

Tip 5) Use styling techniques to bring a look together

You can’t just put clothes on and expect them to work perfectly together. Often, you’ll need to style them in order for them to sit well together. Knotting and tucking in are two of my go-to techniques. I often find that knotting a top at my waistband gives both me and the top a little more shape…as you can see in the picture below. And make sure you play around with the sleeves. Sometimes a simple cuff of a sleeve will transform the look and fit of a top.

Tip 6) Don't put pressure on yourself to create the perfect outfit

Some combinations won’t work and that’s totally OK! This is all part of the creative process and how you figure out what you feel confident in and what you don’t. I’ve found some of my favourite looks by first creating some terrible ones and this exercise is an opportunity to experiment and try new exciting things. If a look doesn't work, don’t give up because there always will be something that looks fantastic! 

Tip 7) Accessorize each outfit

I know it’s tempting not to bother when trying things on, but at a minimum you should be adding shoes to each outfit you try on. Shoes are what make an outfit and they play such an important role in the success of an outfit. I can almost guarantee that there are some clothes you're not wearing in your closet because you don't have the right shoes to wear them with.

It's also a good idea to have a few belts and necklaces on hand while you try outfits on as they tie a look together and can help change the shape of an item that's not quite right or is lacking in shape.

Bonus tip for you… Workhorse pieces that work with every wardrobe!

Be sure you build these hard working items into your wardrobe - they will elevate your look every time!

A black blazer, a white soft blouse, a white t-shirt, dark jeans, a denim jacket, a good pair of black flats, a black pencil skirt, a black slim cut pants, a striped sweater, a pair of white sneakers, and of course… the infamous little black dress!

After spending  years helping women edit and re-work their closets so they are easy to use and fun to wear, I KNOW that there are lots of 'new' outfits hanging in your closet, you just need to spend a little time looking for them. I’d love to hear from you If you try any of my tips, as feedback is important for my industry.  Also if you want any help finding your signature style, please ask me, I'm here to guide you and can offer personal shopping services or styling services.

Mena.

Wasn't that a great read? If you haven’t followed our Friend and owner of Style Me Mena, what are you waiting for?
Special thank-you to Mena for contributing her expert advice to our blog and to you, our reader, for following along!

Happy Styling my friends,

Markie.