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casual Fridays with flair

  You’re a professional! But how often do you come up short on casual Fridays? Casual Fridays are your time to exhale but also a subtle test to make sure you understand the company brand. With these eight (8) items in your closet, you’ll be ready to rock and put your best foot forward but also show your personality too!

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Features & Series

our newest venture – an online school!

Blueprint for Style is expanding in 2020! Our newest venture, in conjunction with Teachable, is an online style school dedicated to providing know-how and virtual support to help you become the most stylish version of yourself. The new online school, the Style School, will offer courses that vary from two days to 10 or 12 lessons across weeks, and will include everything from the fundamentals of dressing well to everything you need to create a more eco-friendly wardrobe! And the BONUS?!

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Events & Happenings

DC Event: fashion workshop & closet “redux”

It’s the start of the year, so let’s start it off right – – – in style! Click the pic (or here) below and join me for a two-hour Fashion Workshop and Closet “Redux” to ‘get your proverbial house in order’ ~ it’s closet makeover time! WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: In this workshop, you will learn how to better assess what works well for you based on your shape, style preferences, and lifestyle! We will cover how to take any style

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Accessories

personalized necklaces

Don’t we all love to see our name? Or to hear someone say it? I’m am no different and I’ve taken on a personal mission to find cool personalized necklaces especially since I’m into the multi-chain look too! I went searching a found lots of great options and some very reasonably priced Check them out and tell me which one you’re getting!   And if these didn’t appeal to you then check out this option or this one for custom charm

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Outerwear

top must-have outerwear guide

My clients send emails every now and again asking about jackets or “dressy coats” or “everyday coats for work” and then wonder when I send a list of must-have outerwear items. The bottom line is there is no one coat that can do it all ~ and a well-stocked outerwear closet is the way to ensure you are warm, dressed appropriately, and ready for anything Mother Nature throws your way! Your top must-have outerwear for your cold-weather closet includes…. Everyday commuter

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Events & Happenings

5 Weeks of Christmas: Black Friday Special

Blueprint for Style believes in shopping with your pjs on! And in honor of Black Friday, we’re kicking of 5 Weeks of Christmas ~ our version of the 12 Days of Christmas, only more stylish…. Every Friday starting today, Blueprint for Style will offer an incredible personal styling package loaded with value and goodies!! The only catch is quantities will be limited (because we simply cannot do it all). Check back every Friday through December 27th and click while it’s available! Black Friday Special:

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Beauty

bomb! facial mask

I picked up this exfoliating facial mask a couple of weeks ago during the Credo Beauty sale (20% off everything!) and have been following the directions. Can I say lov-ing it?!?!? A little goes a long way and the tingling sensation you get on application let’s you know it’s working. And the results? Immediate glow but also better absorption of my other products… WINNING ~ and just in time for the holidays!!

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Health & Beauty

3 tips for holiday #selfcare

You need to be the best version of yourself because people are counting on you but it seems like “me time” is the first to go.  Keep these three tips in mind across the next five weeks: Map out exercise time and block it on your calendar. Be kind to yourself and plan at least one or two “treats” for yourself. Create a schedule with open blocks of time so others can fit themselves in, if necessary. My version of

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Beauty

Best Hand Creams for Dry Hands – Top 3

It’s winter so every piece of skin is dry especially hands! And if you’re over the age of 30 then dry hands is almost a given so here’s the remedy – – – > hand cream! The top three hand creams: Weleda Skin Food ~ not only is loaded with essential fatty acids but it’s decadent. The key is to use less than you think….it’s super thick and emollient! Mario Badescu Fruit & Vitamin A Hand Cream ~anti-oxidant rich and hydrating…

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Holiday, Gifts & Guides

monogrammed gifts are perfect!

I mentioned it in a recent post but monogrammed gifts are perfect because they are personalized and show you care, and EVERYone likes to see their name or initials, right?! So when I happened upon these lovely monogrammed travel jewelry cases I had to share! Although I won’t be gifting them this year (I already have my girlfriend gifts secured….), they are the perfect, inexpensive favor. Why stop at the holidays? They’re perfect for birthdays too!!

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Holiday Finds

holiday party uniform

The last three years or so I’ve taken to creating a “holiday uniform” of sorts ~ last year, everything I wore to various functions centered around a pair of Vans glitter hi-tops! This year, my holiday party uniform will be jeans + sparkly sandal/heel + dramatic top….(thanks to Man Repeller). The shoe options are endless between Badgley Mischka, another Badgley Mischka (which I think will be my choice this year!), Sam Edelman, Miu Miu, and Schutz. For dramatic-entrance tops, I’ll

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Accessories

how to be a good friend and gift-giver

Over the years, I’ve had to figure out what to get my gaggle of friends. I started out buying special gifts for each person and, frankly, that became time-consuming and expensive. Over the last few years, I’ve stuck with monogrammed gifts and that’s a hit ~ who doesn’t love to see their name or initials on something?! This year, I’m going in a different direction (so hopeful that my girlfriends don’t get mad when they read this…..lol). There are studies that

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Wardrobe Stylist & Personal Branding Expert
Dresses & Outfits

9 Fall Game Changers For Your Wardrobe

“The best closets have the great basics and then have those statement and game-changer pieces that make the ordinary stand out,” says wardrobe stylist Monica Barnett.   I recently joined the Know Your Value team with Mika Brzezinski at NBC News. My first article about the 9 game changers you need NOW for your fall wardrobe is live. Read more….

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Style

vacation packing list needed?

August is the time for vacation because it’s right before the kids head back to school, Congress is back in full swing, and Q4 is on the horizon but, most importantly, the weather is almost guaranteed to be warm and beautiful! We wanted to make it easy for everyone. If you’re a mom then you’ve got to pack for the kids and likely your husband…. If you’re single then you’ve got to nail down the social calendar. And if you’re

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Beauty

without saying it, everyone loves straight, white teeth

OMG don’t look at me funny ~ it’s true! Years ago either Colgate or Crest commissioned a study but I couldn’t find it so, I went researching. Here’s some cake for you: a new study found that having whiter teeth makes you look more successful, more employable, more attractive and even five years younger. So when Smile Brilliant asked me if I would partner to test out a new toothbrush, the cariPRO ultrasonic electric toothbrush, I had to say yes!

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Accessories

best media tote bags

Compliments to my girlfriend, Sandra, who reminded me not only that I love tote bags but that they are not created equal! GQ recently did a write-up to share the top ten media tote bags ~ and I was happy to see my Monocole bag was on the list! Tote bags are awesome ~ and you don’t need a lot of them (just great ones)! They are great for running to the grocery store, your summer Saturday trip to the

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Books

join my boozy book club

When in need of fabulous ideas of a party/fete/shindig or any form of entertainment, check out the plethora of options presented on Paperless Post ~ and go from there!

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Health & Beauty

new workout gear

After my “successful” 5K, I’m ready to rock it all summer….culminating in a family 5K on October 5th at The Race in Atlanta, GA!!! Between now and then, my goal is to run at least 4 races…stay tuned. I am grabbing a few new pieces to make this happen ~ sneakers and leggings. I’ve come to realize that half the run of exercising is the gear…so I’m going bright and colorful, and moisture-wicking with Outdoor Voices technical apparel. Let me

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Lifestyle & Tech

who wants a party invite?

Although the weather is saying otherwise, it’s party season! That’s graduation party, wedding, new car, backyard refurb, welcome to summer, etc… do we really need a reason to throw a get together?! Gone are the days of sending invitations and now are the days of invite by email (and even text) but when they go low, we go high!!! I just finished shopping for my client’s June wedding (he will be smokin’ hot in theseTom Ford velvet loafers and Giorgio

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Bottoms

cargo pants for all!

Cargo pants are making a comeback and who doesn’t love lots of pockets! These ones I just scooped from Shopbop are by Robert Rodriguez and even if they’re not available, here are a few more options to consider…. They work nicely with heels for a dinner out or even on Saturday with some flats. Either way, it’s an elevated chic alternative to denim!

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Hats & Headwear

denim turban

I spent last week on a #roadtrip down the Pacific Coast Highway ~ I drove from San Fran to LA and stopped along the way at a few spots in Cambria and Santa Barbara. By the time I made it to LA and shopped on etsy, I found this GORG denim turban by Patricia Morales. My girlfriend convinced me to scoop it as it was perfect for my pool relaxation while in Santa Barbara (I stayed at the Kimpton Goodland).

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Footwear

basic but essential sandals

I’m not a “flats” girl but sometimes summer calls for a simple sandal and I’ve found a few that I love including these navy blue pair by Seychelles! Not a lot of fuss but they come in EIGHT different colors, are comfy and light enough to go with summer denim as well as a maxi dress….WINNING!

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Etiquette

five travel essentials

I’ll keep it simple because whether you’re a travel OG or newbie, there are some items that you’ll find incredibly helpful and, dare I say, almost essential…. beauty bag ~ [guys need this too] depending on the length of the flight, something to keep the moisture in your face, moisturizer/SPF in one [it’s clear so no ashiness], an all-in-one makeup solution, and a moisturizer that works for any body part —-> the theme for travel is moisture retention! overnight bag ~ while I

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Travel

road trip on pch

PCH is shorthand for Pacific Coast Highway ~ it’s that stretch of road from northern California to southern Cali that basically follows the coast and it’s GORG! And I’m headed there for a vacay in early spring. I’ll share details as they unfold but here are list of hotels we’ll be hanging out in: San Francisco ~ Hotel Zeppelin Cambria ~ Cambria Beach Lodge Santa Barbara ~ Kimpton Goodland Los Angeles ~ Hotel Figueroa Very excited…..will share our list of

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a lesson in high-waisted denim

I want to share my style lessons so you can make the proper adjustments or not fall into the same rut… In this instance, I am talking about the lesson of ‘high-waisted’ jeans. They are NOT made for everyone! I wanted to make these work because they were selvedge denim ~ they were straight leg styling ~ they were worn in and slightly distressed. Everything signaled “love” until I got them home and rocked them to the Marsha Ambrosius concert….bad.

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