Blog | Blueprint for Style

Lifestyle & Tech

Pocket Personal Stylist

Pocket Personal Stylist is on-demand styling with 48 hour turnaround and just $29/session! It was imagined a few years ago and then reimagined and launched this week! Pocket Personal Stylist is a fast, affordable way to get your style problem solved by an expert. This service is perfect for just about anybody, male or female, looking for quick, expert help to solve a style problem. There is no question or fashion question we cannot solve! Best part? You get an

2025/04/04

Travel

The #1 Travel Essential Under $25!

x There’s ONE travel accessory that every professional needs, and it’s under $25! Say what?!? Packing for a trip? This must-have item is going to be part of your travel outfit! In this Ask Me Anything video, I share the ultimate travel essential that keeps you stylish and prepared even if your luggage gets lost! Whether you’re flying for business or vacation, you need a sizeable, medium-weight scarf! Watch now and upgrade your travel wardrobe! And if you want a

2025/04/02

Style

What’s Your Body Shape?

Do you know your body shape? It’s actually a real thing! You need to know because it helps you determine what clothing and accessories are ideal to highlight certain assets and hide problem areas. Certain clothes look better on certain people… Said differently: have you ever wondered why you see something on a mannequin or even on your bestie, and then when you put it on, it doesn’t quite look the same? While zhush could be part of the problem,

2025/03/28

YouTube

“Yes, I Wrote the Book on Style!”

As an author of two books, one of which was actually widely acclaimed, I know I have authored books but apparently, a lot of other people do not LOL! I get it because if everyone knew then I’d be a New York Times bestseller, right?! Anywho… The first book, Without Saying A Word: The Silent Power of Style, is focused on grounding you in the basics. I think of it as sprinkling seeds of style everywhere. You get a great

2025/03/24

Style

Everyday Fabulous

What does everyday fabulous even look like?! A fair question and a loaded question! I’m going to throw out a few criteria to consider or ask, and then you can share your thoughts and feedback in the comments… Do you agree or not? Did I miss the mark? I ventured out for a few client errands and worked my outfit around my super comfy camouflage Tieks! My outfit was doing-the-most with navy and olive. Did it work? I’d say yes

2025/02/28

Style

8 Wardrobe Essentials for Peri-Menopausal Women

Let me get two things off my chest first: (1) I am of that age so I am speaking from experience (ugh!) and (2) to get through this rough patch with your style intact it will require the following, “Embrace your shape exactly where you are – the sooner you get comfortable with what you have or don’t the sooner you can focus on finding your style true north.” Read my full style advice on AARP’s The Girlfriend!! The two clothing

2025/02/21

Style

Workwear Dress Codes

In today’s business environment, there are three levels of business attire: Which business environment do you work in most days? As a rule, your closet should consist of 75% of those types of clothing. The remainder is for you to decide but if you believe that “you should dress for the job you want” then the majority of the remainder should likely be in that category/level. Using myself as an example, I live in the Smart Casual category most days however, I

2025/02/10

Style

Jumpsuits: Yea or Nay?

I have a client who shall remain nameless who is utterly against jumpsuits due to flashbacks from a former boss but I cannot say I blame her. Until last year, I was pro-run-the-other-way when it came to jumpsuits. Everything has changed after cracking the formula on doing it right. I now own two. One is a zip-through and the other is a button-through front. One is denim and the other is an olive-colored print with a ruched waistline. On any

2025/02/06

Style

What Do You Wear While Home?

Some of you may instantly give me the side eye or a snarky laugh but is your” homewear”, loungewear, or #wfh attire ready for the inquisitive eyes of the internet in the form of your mailman, the coworker you’re Zooming with, or the random run to your local coffee watering hole? If you’re using COVID as your cover then the answer is no. Don’t feel indicted – it’s just facts! But, more importantly, how you dress while at home influences

2025/02/03

Style

Subtract One Thing a Day

Yep- I said it… Make this the year of subtracting “stuff” to multiply your happiness! Look around you (assuming you’re at home), you have so much stuff! When I say stuff, I mean tchotchkes, bits, novelties, candles, containers, clothing… If truth be told – it’s a quiet moment between you and your maker – you don’t even use half of it. So, here’s my proposal and I’m going got do it with you: every day, find ONE thing to subtract

2025/01/24

Color Combos

Colorblocking Basics

Colorblocking is a fashion technique that involves combining two or more solid colors to create a fashion statement and, to do it, right, there are a few basic rules to adhere to. If you know me then you know I love a good list! There are a few ways color blocking can go off-the-rails but if you follow just a few fashionable insights, you can level up your style statements on a regular. I’m going to share a step-by-step list

2025/01/22

Style

Are Pockets a Fashion No-No?

The question of whether pockets are a fashion yes or no is something I pondered to myself for about two days before I decided to write this article. The answer is”it depends” but that’s not really satisfying, so I am sharing my insights and experience in a list of considerations. We’ll approach this with three lists: considerations, exceptions, and general rules. Considerations- while I believe there may be more questions to consider, this list is a fairly exhaustive first pass:

2025/01/20

Style

Principles Needed to Create a Capsule Collection

Here’s the skinny: creating a capsule collection is a great idea but to do it well, you need to understand the purpose and use of a capsule collection. A capsule collection is NOT for everyone! A capsule collection is NOT: Do not ‘feel indicted‘, ‘a certain kinda way‘, or like you’ve been called out. This is not that. What this is is an opportunity to get clear on what you’re jumping into before you drown in the deep end of

2025/01/17

Style

2025 Fashion Goals

Did you create your fashion goals for the year ahead? Did you even think about it? As my mother used to say, “You are 100% likely not to achieve a goal if you don’t create one.” Wise woman! But even as you look at those superfluous ‘new years resolutions’, the best way to achieve them is to make them part of a larger, long-term aspiration, make them SMART (I never fully appreciated this framework until about six years ago!), and,

2025/01/15

Style

Must-Have Feature for a White Button Down

The white button-down is still as classic as ever but must have this feature to ensure its versatility. It’s still a wardrobe essential, one of the most versatile pieces in your wardrobe arsenal, a core component of your “elusive” capsule collection, and as awesome as ever! Everyone wants to make a fuss over “something new” but the classic white button-down is here to stay and doesn’t need to reinvent itself. Find YOUR perfect one, buy it in multiples, and love

2025/01/13

Outerwear

Outerwear Perfection

At this moment, the pound looks over the dollar like a boss with a cruel hand! Buying anything overseas especially England is just asking to pay more…except for those items native to the country! One of those items is the designer brand, Burberry! Long established as THE trench to have and something that has been on my Lust List for years!! Well, I recently went to London and while there, did some try-ons and got educated! Three fits to consider

2024/12/30

Style

There’s a Reason for the Season

The older I get, the more I enjoy the holiday season because I’ve come to understand there’s a reason for this season. Yes, I enjoy it more now because business slows down and the frenetic pace comes to a halt. But it also means that smiles and good cheer turn up even if for a day or week. We get to show up as our best selves in loving each other just a touch more! The widely held belief is

2024/12/25

Style

Every Woman Needs a Tuxedo

After having one made, I now realize every woman should own a tuxedo. It doesn’t have to be custom but, a tuxedo is such a great way to do elevated and chic while keeping it somewhat low-key. An evening gown can’t go as many places as a tuxedo can. My tuxedo works… Consider a tuxedo first as an alternative to a formal gown that can be mixed-and-matched. Mine is midnight navy (my favorite color!) and fashioned after an old blazer

2024/12/23

Color Combos

Color Psychology & Pink

Color psychology is the study of how colors affect our moods, behaviors, and interactions with others and ourselves. Since I can remember, my two favorite colors were navy blue and camel. More recently, I have added hot pink or cerise and vibrant/kelly green (see my specs!) to that list. Now, I am a wardrobe stylist and personal branding expert so I am aware that colors affect moods and, more specifically, how we show up and move throughout the day. In

2024/12/20

Style

It’s Layering Season!

Did you know there’s a formula that can help you layer properly?! We are officially cold on the East Coast so, no better time than the present to learn how to layer right. Layering is the smart choice for a few reasons: Take a peek at my pictures above: I’m rocking a sleeveless crewneck tee, an oversized white button-down (WBD), a short trench with a lining, and a multicolored scarf. I have color using my scarf, the tee is thin,

2024/12/18

Lingerie

Hosiery for Elevated Style

Hosiery – in this case, patterned tights – can elevate your style and outfit! We are in the perfect season to talk about tights and, more specifically, patterned tights! They are an easy way to get a little warmth – DC temps have dropped! – and add a bit of zhush! And this applies to men too – fun socks are a way to inject a little personality into any outfit. The real beauty of hosiery is that they are

2024/12/16

Friday Night 'Fits

Tchotchke’s Edition

Tchotchke’s Edition While I think I’m a great gift-giver, I also think it takes a lot of time and energy! But don’t worry, here are a bunch of small treats all under $50 that will bring joy to the recipients! This Tchotchke’s Edition is for anyone who has a girl’s Xmas party, a White Elephant Exchange (where did that name even come from??), gives out gifts to the mailwoman or mailman (I do!), has people that drop by and bring

2024/12/13

Accessories

Shoe Clips

Shoe clips give your shoes a new lease on life! they are meant to provide instant zhush and create something new with visual interest. In this case, I needed to attend a holiday awards dinner and while regular heels would have worked, the customized feather shoe clips added just a little extra in recognition of the occasion and season. You do NOT have to go as feathery as I did but even small ones can change the trajectory of your

2024/12/11

Accessories

Frame Your Face

You frame your face because it’s the first thing people see when they look at you! Besides having a wonderful smile, glowing skin, and hair ‘on fleek’, one of the easiest ways to frame your face is using accessories, namely earrings (and eyeglasses…but that’s for another post)! The goal (of all of it) is to draw the eye of the onlooker in. I have a few favorites including these super edgy studs by Erickson Beamon, and a vintage pair of

2024/12/09

'Fits For Women

What I & 3 Fashion Editors Scooped

What I & 3 Fashion Editors Scooped For four years or so, we’ve gotten together [ir]regularly to discuss issues, trends, events, solutions, and whatever else people in style and fashion do. And most recently, one had a novel idea of talking about what each other bought and why. That quickly blew up into, “Show me what you got!”, “Did you see this?”, and “OMG if you want X then you need Y!” So thanks to our collective consumption habits, you

2024/12/06

Our Blog

News, Articles & More

Pocket Personal Stylist

The #1 Travel Essential Under $25!

What’s Your Body Shape?

“Yes, I Wrote the Book on Style!”

Everyday Fabulous

8 Wardrobe Essentials for Peri-Menopausal Women

Workwear Dress Codes

Jumpsuits: Yea or Nay?

What Do You Wear While Home?

Subtract One Thing a Day

Colorblocking Basics

Are Pockets a Fashion No-No?

Principles Needed to Create a Capsule Collection

2025 Fashion Goals

Must-Have Feature for a White Button Down

Outerwear Perfection

There’s a Reason for the Season

Every Woman Needs a Tuxedo

Color Psychology & Pink

It’s Layering Season!

Hosiery for Elevated Style

Tchotchke’s Edition

Shoe Clips

Frame Your Face

What I & 3 Fashion Editors Scooped