Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Rule #1 for the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale…

don’t get caught up in the hype if you don’t “need” anything!

Seriously. Things have really changed over the years with the arrival of the fashion blogger scene…. now influencers. Yes, I love them too. It’s just making the sale landscape more and more difficult for “regular” people and non-cardholders every year.

The mind-boggling number of #nsale posts on Instagram causes a lot of hype and frenzy…

and if you follow quite a few of the influencers (which I absolutely do) you’ll suffer a serious case of FOMO if you attempt to hold your wallet tight and ignore the sale.

The top question I get is “why is everything already sold out?” Ugh…. that’s the most frustrating part of what has happened to the sale in recent years.

There are literally thousands of influencers posting about the same FINITE group of items…

top influencers will reach over 100K people (some with much more) with one little post! These top influencers have what Nordstrom calls “icon” status and they get to shop VERY early. Hence all the #nsale posts for the past 3 weeks when MOST people couldn’t even get a “preview” look.

Some call this exclusive, some call it elitist.

You get to decide how it makes you feel.

Then shop or don’t, accordingly.

How does one get marked “icon status”? Spend over $15,000.00 a year at Nordstrom alone. Yep, I wrote that correctly… $15k. Yikes. The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is a BIIIIG money maker for the influencer scene so your social media channels are getting bombarded right now. Do some popular items sell out before “regular” people even get a chance to take a look? Yes.

Do they ever restock? Sometimes. Can I find these or very similar pieces at a later date? Sometimes no but usually yes. Will I find the sold-out items at other retailers throughout the season? Yes! Often.

With the exception of BP items, of course, their in-house brand.

So if you want to hold out…. you can. Booties will freaking go on sale again, lol. As will jeans. And so will cardigans. Especially with the current climate in 2020… retailers will still fight for your attention with killer Fall sales. Promise!

Moving forward, I feel like I can serve you best by simply pointing out the things on my own personal wishlist and my reasons why. I hope it helps you decide if you’ll shop or not!

You can scroll through below… or head straight to my shoppable storefront here. This is where all of my shoppable style boards live… and you’ll identify the sale boards by “Nordstrom Anniversary Sale” at the beginning of every title.

First up….stylish comfort. I know for sure that I’ll be home a lot more in the Fall because um #COVID so it makes sense to spend money where I’ll use it, for comfy at-home pieces.

Just click the picture to shop!

And it makes a whole lot of sense to grab some on-trend fashion sneakers. You can use them with leggings, jeans, jackets,

or to make a dress feel more casual. Those are great reasons to add some to your list!

And speaking of comfort, take a look at the best in athleisure while you’re at it!

Just click to shop.

Enjoy! Send me an email anytime and I can create a personalized Nordstrom Sale board for you!

Xo, Jaime

Don't Forget The Accessories

Have you ever looked in the mirror and felt like your outfit was missing something?

Maybe you put on your favorite dress or you paired up your best blouse and hottest jeans for date night and felt just “meh”.

You probably forgot the accessories!

This often-overlooked element will complete your look and help you get that “put-together” feeling.

Even jeans and a t-shirt look better with a belt, great shoes, and the right jewelry to complete the outfit.

It’s like the icing on the cake.

Let’s start with belts.

If the loops are there, please use them! It just gives your jeans or pants that “complete” feeling.

You can add a leopard belt to accent a solid top and pair of jeans or you can try a fun Obi belt which is fantastic for belting a loose black dress in the Summer.

Don’t forget to accessorize!

Next up: jewelry. Whether it’s earrings or a necklace, don’t forget the impact your jewelry can make on an outfit. Check out my favorites below.

It’s a shoppable board, if you see something that strikes your fancy, click on the picture and check it out.

Speaking of icing on the cake… my absolute favorite accessory for jeans and a t-shirt is a pair of statement earrings or a long tassel necklace, usually just one or the other for me. But if you love a good statement earring AND a long necklace, you do you! I also feel much more “complete” when I accessorize a simple outfit with a bunch of gold jewelry. Combine a pair of studs with a simple bracelet, an inital necklace, and rings and you’re accessorizing just like Jennifer Anniston.

And finally, shoes.

Don’t let them be an afterthought. Red flats are the best pop of color and sass for dark skinnies and a black tee. Strappy pumps are great for a party top and jeans… see where I’m going here? Don’t forget the effort in shoes. Below is a shoppable board, click on it and dig in!

If you think your shoe game could use a little work, check out the fun ideas above. Do you have red flats? If not, why not start there? I use my red flats whenever I need something special for a “plain” outfit like jeans and a black tank or jeans and a leopard sweater.

How about an animal print shoe? Leopard flats are a great idea, printed pumps rock, and checkout the booties too!

As always, if you’re looking for a style update and want me to help you, let’s get going. Get it done now, no more boredom with your current style.

Xo, J

How Well Do You Know The Classics?

No matter your personal style, it's important that your wardrobe has a solid foundation of mix-and-match basics.  Usually, these basics are classic in nature and you can find them at all price points at any retailer. 

The elements of classic style are timeless, simple, minimal detailing, tailored, and in neutral colors. 

Think of these classic pieces as the building blocks to create great outfits.  Whether your style type is edgy, boho, glam, or casual you will still benefit from having a great foundation of classics. 

 You bring in your own personal flair in the way you choose to style these foundational pieces.

Need a little inspiration?  Below, I've collected some examples for you.  Click the picture to take a look at my current favorites.

Is it time to refresh the classics in your wardrobe? I am available here for a Virtual Style Refresh that you will love.

Bad Style Habits You Need To Stop Now

The best way to fall into a big ole style rut is to keep on keepin’ on with the bad style habits above.

Let’s start with a biggie, negative self-talk.  Those nasty little things you’d NEVER tell someone else but you have no problem repeating to yourself like, “ugh my stomach is so fat, I hate my thighs, I could never pull that off, I look like an idiot, I wish I was taller, shorter, thinner, I’m not cool enough, I’m not good enough…”  you get the picture.

It’s natural to have that inner critic to a degree but you’ve got to have a limit. 

Stop yourself before it becomes a constant inner negative dialogue. Go do your Google research.  There’s plenty of brain research with evidence to show the negative effects on the words you HABITUALLY say to yourself. Negative self-talk is toxic and there are damaging effects. I’m no expert in the field but I don’t want to just run off to the next paragraph and leave you hanging.  You can find lots of cool exercises via internet search to first identify YOUR negative self-talk, write it down, and exercise replacement language. Pretty cool stuff.  Promise me you’ll take a look?

Moving along, want to stay stuck in old boring style habits?  Then wear the same outfit combinations day in and day out. K? Here’s my advice: Don’t try anything new.  Stay safely inside that style comfort zone! Ok, sarcasm voice next…. I mean yuck, try something new and you might risk a few compliments, you might experience a confidence boost, you might feel new and refreshed…  see where I’m goin’ here?

I style a lot of Moms in the late 30s and early 40s.  They come to me craving something new, refreshed, chic, and they want to stop the boredom.  Do you know what I see a lot of? This age range is (typically) finished with having kids and the current kiddos are a little grown now. Mom finally got a chance to reflect on herself, take a look at her style.  The years consumed in diapers, bottles, walking and Kindergarten are over and Mom is no longer on the back burner.

In my experience, they’re all stuck in the same patterns they developed before kids. They’re still buying (or using) the same sizes, cuts, shapes, stores, and outfit combinations that worked well for them over a decade ago! The #1 safe outfit combination is the skinnies and oversized blouse routine. Sidenote: If that skinnies/big blouse uniform rocks your style world and you’re confident and happy, feel free to give me the finger, lol. But I’m talking to those who use that same ONE outfit combination over and over again, mindlessly…. and now you feel the dreaded rut.

In my experience and the larger point, take a look every now and then at what you’re creating style-wise.  Try a new silhouette, try a new denim cut or a new color, change up the shoes or accessories…

just wear something outside of your comfort zone! 

What’s the worst thing that can happen? Worst case: you hate the outfit for one dang day and you learned something new about your likes/dislikes.  The world will not crumble.  

Ok, next.  Stop grabbing a piece just because the price was great. 

“But it was on clearance”.

But do you actually NEED it? Do you have a similar piece already?  Do you really love it? Does it fit right? Does it flatter your shape? And I mean actually fit, not “it’s cheap so I’ll make it work.”  Please look past the immediate gratification of a sale...

You won’t keep reaching for that “make it work” piece for very long and eventually it becomes a discouraging item you’ll have to look past each morning…  hello, closet full of nothing. Ask yourself if you’d still want (and need) the item if it was full price. Another question to consider is, “how can I style this in a few ways with what I already have in my closet?”   Which leads me to…  

Oh gosh, you’ve gotta shop with a plan!  Or at least just HAVE a style plan. A closet full of NOTHING to wear ends up that way because of the things you mindlessly buy and toss in there.  What kind of plan you ask? A style roadmap! A style plan. One that includes your clear vision for what you want your style to say about you, list of foundation pieces for you and then sprinkle in lifestyle, budget, and body type as the remaining factors.  

If you know your style type and take an inventory of your closet, a style plan will guide you to buy only what you need, buy only that which aligns with the plan.   Follow these quick tips and you’re well on your way to better style in 2020! Cheers! j

Reaching For The C Suite? Don't Forget This Tool.

“Dress for the job you want.”

Are you using personal style to your advantage? Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.

It’s an age-old sentiment but it rings true today more than ever. How you dress (your personal style) still matters in most professional work environments. Yes, I’ve seen how it’s acceptable to wear a hoodie to some offices and we all know the Mark Zuckerberg “uniform” by now (grey t-shirt, jeans, and Nikes on repeat). Therefore, it’s easy to forget that your image makes an impact but it does… in two key ways:

“First, your personal style influences the way you are perceived and second,
it influences the way you perform.”

Clothing influences perception, your own perception of your ability to perform (dressing to feel confident, dressing to boost your mood). And it influences the perception others will have of you as well (the impression they get through your style). This is the reason we choose a suit for a job interview over a pair of comfy sweats. This is why you’d feel better if your doctor is in a lab coat or professional attire rather than a hoodie.

Yes, research shows that the clothes you wear actually change the way you perform!

Dressing well doesn’t have to mean being fake or wearing things that make you uncomfortable, just be thoughtful in planning your style, be strategic in crafting a signature style.

YOU HAVE A VISUAL BRAND whether you know it or not. Your clothing sends a message about you, don’t you want to control that message? It’s time to end the cycle of a closet full of nothing to wear.

Need a style rescue asap?

Power In Personal Style

Who we are as human beings is more important than what we are wearing.  I don’t know anyone who would argue that.  

However, I wouldn’t call it superficial to put serious thought into your personal style, your image.  There is power in a signature style… one that matches who you are on the inside and propels you to where you want to go next.  We all know…

when you look good, you feel good.

Maybe, similar to me, you have a second career, maybe you’ve set goals for a promotion, you’re working on your personal brand, or perhaps you simply use style to elevate your mood. 

Whatever the reason, personal style starts on the inside; in your soul and your mind. 

The clothing is secondary.

I’ve talked to so many women about the “inside stuff” and I promise you…  there’s magic in the alignment of your internal self to the clothing that sits on the outside.  Stop the madness! End the cycle of a closet full of nothing to wear!

This is how I define personal style. Xo, JD

“Personal style starts on the inside; in your soul and your mind. 

The clothing is secondary.”

— Jaime Diehl, Personal Stylist

Finding Your Personal Style

Hello, World!

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Why not find it together? For the month of April (2019) I’m offering group virtual styling here : https://www.jaimediehlstyle.com/style-tribe-with-jaime

Sooo Is my Personal Style boho or is it casual? Perhaps I’m chic and polished or maybe edgy and modern?? The truth is

most women are a combination of styles.

But when you determine at least one style type or two that works for you, your wardrobe will thank you for it! So first let me tell you WHY identifying your Personal Style helps.

• It makes shopping easier.

• It makes getting dressed easier.

• You’ll send the proper messaging.

First, finding your Personal Style makes shopping easier. How? When you have a clear understanding of your own Personal Style you can create a shopping roadmap. Why wander the malls and scour the web to purchase something “just to be done with it”? Or worse yet, you settle for a so-so top because you’re exhausted and want to go home. When you have identified and labeled your own Personal Style, you will understand what your wardrobe needs and what you can happily pass by in the mall. You’ll make more intentional choices while shopping.

Second, knowing your Personal Style will make it easier to get dressed. First you label your style, second you make purchases that suit that style, and what happens next is that your entire wardrobe works together. You have a coordinating closet because you’ve chosen pieces that work for you, they fit your style game plan.

Third, by identifying your Personal Style you will send the proper messaging. Who are you? A polished professional? A SAHM extraordinaire? An enrtenpenuer? Whoever you are, does your Personal Style reflect that? What if you came to a workshop of mine and I made my presentation in baggy sweats? What if I came to do a Closet Edit in slippers? Would you trust me to teach you about Personal Style? Are you a 20-something professional who can’t land a job but you have the skills? Does your wardrobe send the message that potential employers should take you seriously?

Ready for the “how” of identifying your Personal Style?

I like to move clients through the following 5 steps in identifying a Personal Style:

• describe your personality

• lifestyle evaluation

• find your style icons

• visualize and create mood board

• evaluate the closet
  

Describe Your Personality come up with a few descriptive words about your personality. What are you like? Serious, playful, friendly? Need a little help? Ask a friend or loved one which words come to mind when they think of you.

Is your personality warm, funny, and approachable?

How about bold, powerful and strong?

Or whimsical, shy, and dreamy?

Lifestyle Evaluation What are your daily activities? What do you do for a living? It may seem obvious that you should dress for your lifestlye but it helps to identify it and write it down. It helps to be more intentional about the process. Do you have some upcoming life changes (going from SAHM back to work OR going for a promotion at work)? Working on some personal goals? Dating again? Jot these things down.

Find Your Style Icons She can be famous, noteworthy, or some one you know… bring those people to mind whose style you love. Jennnifer Aniston is known for the California casual look, Kate Middleton embodies classic style, Katy Perry is bold and eclectic. See what I mean? Whose Personal Style speaks to you? Here are some images of my style icons and my style inspiration.

Images Amy Jackson, Olivia Palermo, Jennifer Aniston

Visualize/Create A Mood Board You can do this via Pinterest (see my boards here) or you can go old school and snip some images out of magazines or print them out. Tape this to your closet for inspiration. But I highly recommend Pinterest to collect these images. You want to save images you are drawn to. Spend some time on this, you don’t have to get a whole board done in one sitting. Visit your style board frequently and make edits when necessary.

And the point here is to help create that road map I mentioned above.

Don’t hyper focus on one piece in an entire outfit. Take the helicopter appoach and look for overall themes. After a while (hopefully lots of pinning) you will begin to notice the same vibes, a theme. What styles are you pinning the most of? Are you pinning mostly casual looks? Do you see a lot of classic and polished pieces? Do you see solid colors or do you pin a lot of colorful prints? Do these themes happen to match any of the descriptor words from your personality words?

If yes, cool! If not, no big deal. We’re just building some inspiration here and looking for an overall theme or two. In my case, my Pinterest boards always help me realize I am first and foremost casual in my style but I am also heavily drawn to chic and glam elements with lots of boho mixed in. See? You don’t have to nail yourself down to just one Personal Style! But if you can, that’s great too.

And for the last step evaluate the closet. This is for two reasons. 1- I want you to find the themes or repeat items in your wardrobe and 2- I want you to identify the holes.

Find the themes: Take a long look inside your closet and find those items you love. Identify the pieces you wear over and over again. How do they make you feel? Do your go-to pieces make you feel happy? Comfortable? Powerful? What is it that people compliment you on? Do you have a strong jewelry game? Is there a color people say looks great on you?

Are some of these pieces repeat items? For example, is there an item you see over and over again? Discover the reason your closet has this repeat item (lots of striped shirts for example). Maybe stripes make you feel happy or a striped tee makes you feel more stylish than a solid tee.

Identify the holes: What is missing? Have you pinned a leather moto jacket over and over but you don’t have one? Perhaps you’ve pinned lots of elevated casual outfits with skinny jeans, heels, and blazers but you only own jeans, tees, and yoga clothes. A few months back, I found myself pinning lots of 70s-inspired fashion like high-rise wide legs pants. I added a pair to my wardrobe! Do you see how we now have a roadmap? With these steps you can create an action plan.

To recap, once you describe your personality, evaluate your lifestyle, find your style icons, create a mood board, and evaluate the closet… you now have a roadmap, you have a

style game plan.

You can now give your Personal Style a name or two. Some of my client’s examples are “Polished Professional” and “Edgy Fun Mom” or “Easy, Chic, and Strong”… see where I’m going? Hold up that next fashion purchase (or glare at it online) and ask yourself, “does this jacket have a place in my “Polished Professional” wardrobe? Does this trendy-of-the-moment purchase fit into my please for “Edgy Fun Mom” goal?

And then identify your style goals and solidify where you want your Personal Style to take you in life. Have you just had a baby and decided to ditch the chic office attire for a Mommin’ around wardrobe? Or perhaps you have the need to dress for re-entering the workforce? Do you find that you’re ready to kick ass at work and go for the next promotion? Does your wardrobe have what you need to take you there? After spending the time to work through my steps, you should be able to create an action plan and be more intentional with your Personal Style. As always, you can comment below or reach out here for personalized styling.

Come back soon for a follow-up post about the features of different style types. Xo, Jaime

The "Third Piece" Rule For Getting Dressed

Ever hear of the 3rd-piece secret in Personal Style? Ok maybe it’s not a secret. Let me start by telling you that the 3rd piece rule/tip/secret/trick is THE answer to the most frequently asked questions that

I hear everyday:

So it goes a little something like this, start with your basics. You know, pants and a top. Easy, right? Put your jeans on, put your top on, and you’re totally dressed right? Nope! Take your outfit to the next level by adding that third piece ……..

most easily that 3rd piece is a jacket, cardigan, or blazer.

When styling my clients, the most frequently used items for a 3rd piece are as follows:

• A layer: this can be a vest, cardigan, denim, jacket, blazer… see where I’m going?

• Some jewelry: the #1 thing I do when a woman tells me she LOVES turtlenecks but they feel too plain, I say add a statement necklace! Using jewelry as the 3rd piece can also mean statement earrings or a long, layered necklace over a blouse or tee

• Accessories: adding a scarf might be the most frequently used 3rd piece and in most climates it’s a no-brainer for Fall and Winter but you can also add a hat or belt as your third piece.

1st piece (top) + 2nd piece (bottom) and your 3rd piece to pull it all together !

Just be sure to pull pieces that suit your taste, your Personal Style.

Not sure you have what you need?? Start with a very basic cardigan to go over your favorite striped knit top like this or this.

Or get a little dressier with a blazer here or here.

Even better, go for a moto jacket! Here and here

In the examples below, of course a striped tee and jeans is fine and so is my chambray top with the white jeans. You aren’t doing anything “wrong” with just a top and bottom. Those outfits are good enough but the 3rd piece tip is the way to feel more pulled-together, feel more dressed.

And THAT’S a question I am asked quite a lot!

Outfit ideas that show you the “third piece rule” in action are here on my Pinterest board!

I will continually add lots of ideas so you can be inspired. But just remember…

How to look more stylish? Add a 3rd piece!

How can I feel more pulled-together? Add a 3rd piece!

How do I create outfits? Add a 3rd piece!

You can do it! XO, Jaime

Statement Earrings.... are they missing from your accessories? Look no further.

Statement Earrings

They're a fun way to complete your outfit when you need a little style pick-me-up.  With my styling tips below you can find lots of uses for a new pair... from a simple jeans and t-shirt outfit to an evening gown.  

Ladies, statement earrings can make your whole face come to life!  Use them as the perfect accessory to a white v-neck t-shirt and your favorite pair of jeans.  If you are petite or your body type is bigger on the bottom, let's draw the eye up with a topknot and statement earrings.

 Statement earrings are most often missing from my clients’ accessories stash.

When I'm going over my clients' wardrobes, they typically have all their fun necklaces covered but great earrings are often missing.

Take a look at this catalog for some great options....  

For the trendiest styles this season, you'll see baubles, beads, fringe, and pops of color.  I most often get asked about the earrings on the cute ladies from Southern Charm, Naomie and Cameron.  

The catalog has some of the earrings they've been spotted wearing on the show.  Take a look for a variety of options in a few different price points.  As always, contact me for more personalized assistance. 

Xo, Jaime

How To Wear A Pop Of Color In Your Shoes

So they say Spring is arriving soon (still a high in the 40s on April 11th ugh) and we're all going a bits nuts waiting for warm air...   so adding some excitement with color is really on my mind.  I can still be in jeans and chunky layers but add a pop of color with my shoes.    

Color can be intimidating for a lot of ladies so a classic red sandal is MUCH easier for adding color to your wardrobe than a bold red dress.  

On the left, blogger Rachel Martino, adds the slightest pop of red to black jeans and a striped tee.  I added the perfect little strappy red sandals in the catalog.  

Ever since Oliva Palermo wore cobalt shoes on her wedding day, I've been rather obsessed with that for a pop of color.

As seen below at VivaLuxury, cobalt doesn't need much else going on.  It looks so nice with a dark navy outfit, dark jeans, or an all-black outfit to make them pop.   

Cobalt, or any colorful shoe for that matter, doesn't need much of anything besides jeans and a white blouse like MimiGStyle does it here.  

And seriously, what's NOT to love about hot pink suede AND a bow all on the same shoe?  Pair these with a colorful, printed dress to go all out or go with the classic reference above, jeans and a white top.  

Rather than a pop of solid color, how about a cute printed shoe???

These Nine West pumps can be used casually with jeans and a solid top like the Banana Republic eyelet top above or you can try a little pattern pairing and use them with a striped tee! 

As always, be sure you feel comfortable and remain true to your personal style.  

I have so many more cute options in the catalog so be sure to take a look. 

Can't put all of this together on your own?  Think about hiring a Personal Stylist.    Email me today!  Jaime@jaimediehlstyle.com

Xo, Jaime