I was a bit frustrated with that, but I decided to not let it stop me from traveling, shopping, or living in a way that lights me up inside.

It was a pact I made with myself to make my own joy happen.

So when I was up in Maine celebrating my birthday I saw this ring in Sam Shaw that took my breath away.

It is a cognac diamond with the most unique setting.

The ring reminded me of my very glamourous godmother who had a cognac diamond instead of a normal white diamond.

It was a tidy sum but I had just gotten a bonus and some birthday money.

So I splurged and got it.

My best friend at the time swooned and said that if at any time I was sick of the ring I could sell it to her.

Since then, I wear it all the time.

And it reminds me that it’s better not to wait for a man to buy you something that you can buy yourself.

Why not marry yourself?

Love yourself?

Decide to cherish yourself?

I did.

I’m not advocating blind shopping sprees, but strategic purchases that enhance and bring joy to your life and image.

As a personal stylist I help hard working women make smart purchases that flatter, bring joy, and convey the right message.

If you are reading this and wouldn’t know how to find that special token for yourself you can always call me for help.

Schedule your style assessment call now. 

The post Are you still waiting for that special someone to give you jewelry to die for? appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

A treasured friend of mine, Antonia, is a talented singer/songwriter/performer who I worked with in my past life as a fashion shoot stylist-we’re talking about 2002.

The shoot we did together never yielded any good shots because the photographer was drunk the whole time.

Not an uncommon story in the fashion world but water under the bridge.

We stay in touch despite her traveling schedule and she was sharing with me a story about a 00 Versace dress.

She was neighbors with the designer who personally gave her this crazy small dress when she was younger.

The dress was slightly too tight and too small for her with a hemline in the‘coochie area’.

She was at the thinnest she would ever be in her life which was borderline unhealthy.

She was dancing ballet and young at the time and about 115 pounds.

The dress required her to lose a few pounds and one of her family members was encouraging her to lose it.

But really that was unrealistic. So she wore the dress maybe once and then kept the dress in her closet.

Once after having a stomach flu, she tried it on again and it fit.

But basically kept the dress for years until she was finally able to let it go and remove it from her closet.

I’ve seen this sort of situation happen time and time again.

We hold out on the idea that it MIGHT fit one day.

But I ask you…what are you holding onto? Can you let it go?

Can you accept yourself for where you are and be grateful?

I just finished giving my latest program CLOSET CLARITY a makeover. It is a self-editing program to help you get past your closet and style blocks.

I would love to hear from you what are your biggest challenges around purging from your closet?

Check out more information about the program here>>CLOSET CLARITY

Photo caption: In order to protect the innocent I’m showing your an incriminating photograph of me circa 2000 in the shortest, tightest dress I ever owned.

A gift from a boyfriend at the time.

Laugh while you can..

I was young.

The post Letting go of treasured style gifts appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

Well, don’t hate me, but I don’t believe in them!

We are all unique so why should we all dress alike?

I myself do not own a little black dress. ( I wore brown to the last funeral I attended and no one noticed)

Why? Because black looks terrible on me.

It does nothing for my natural coloring.

And 75% of the north american population doesn’t get black in their color palette (meaning, most women are wearing a color that ages their face instantaneously).

 As I go deeper and deeper into my work as a personal stylist serving successful time starved women.

I’ve found little or NO use for fashion week or fashion magazines.

I really can’t subscribe to the notion that we should be excited by checklists like,

“10 essential items every stylish woman must have”

I found out what works for me and my formula is as follows:

1. Wear your best colors for you…not Katy Perry and especially under your face.

2. Select a Shape and cut of a dress that looks flattering on you. Including a flattering neckline and hemline.

3. Pick a dress that fits in with your unique style. It has to FEEL like you.

4. Make sure it will fit into your current lifestyle so that you actually WEAR it.

And I base my client’s wardrobe master plan on their life and lifestyle.

What will make it easy?

What will make them feel supported?

It’s not about fitting into the same box every one else is in.

If your life demands jeans why would I tell you to buy a suit if it’s not you.

I do believe that a dress in the right color and right shape and fabric for you can work wonders.

Off my soapbox now!

The post Fuck the LBD appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

The part of me that would like to follow the life of a Stepford wife.

Be married to Don Draper.

Live at the Upper East Side…. and go to Benefits.

But the reality is that… I have been to Benefits.

But whenever I am there, I feel like a fish out of water (I am an introvert so social situations can be challenging for me).

— just like when I tried to wear the perfect Ferragamo shoes I mentioned above.

I know deep down if I listen really close to ‘that’ instinct, that pair of shoes isn’t me. (I think it’s the ‘too perfect’ bow).

There’s a part of me that wants to be that ‘Stepford kind of woman’ … and that’s okay.

Jealousy can sometimes lead us think or do what we are curious about.

But I know from experience that those shoes are not for me…. deep down in my heart and in my soul.

And I know that when I do love something, I do wear it to death and it gets great use.

My Uggs copper boots

Like my Uggs collection copper boots, my woven bronze Cole Haan sneakers, and multi metallic flats (which happen to be Ferragamo too, minus a toe bow).

So back to the ‘exotic skin espresso’ Ferragamo flats that I sent back to Zappos, because I have realized that the signature bow on the tip of the shoe is really just NOT me……

I blog about it because I find things in my clients closets that are so different (style wise) from them, so NOT them all the time, and it made me come up to a realization that it’s common for women to dream and wish for another life or look like somebody else.

Like with the client that I’m working with now; I have found several items that are all so different from her (style wise)…. and made me ask her what prompted her to buy them.

Her answer was, ” checking a box” i.e. trying to fit in.
Now working together she is stepping more into who she is and leaving behind who she is NOT.
Forging her own path.

The reality is that we are all patchworks of style. A bit of this and a bit of that. Most of us are not 100% classic or 100% avant-guard.

We have layers to our style soul.

It take courage to say ‘no’ to something that doesn’t feel 100% because we don’t always start singing hallelujah when we see an item.

So if you find yourself confused about an item. Ask yourself, “why am I drawn to this item”

…..and listen to the answer. It might tell you something.

If you like my brand of style wisdom and would like some help removing what’s not working from your closet you can check out my Closet Clarity program. It not only deals with the practical part of editing your closet but addresses the emotional style blocks too.

The post Why did you buy that?!!!! appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

I didn’t do it for any donation credit. I did it because at Brooks School, where I spent four years of high school, I spent most of my free time hiding in the theatre. (Yes, I was very shy in high school and a typical introvert who was learning to be more visible.)

I danced, acted, sang and worked in the costume department and made a lifelong friend with the theatre director.

So the theatre in a way saved me from all those awkward difficult years.

And when faced with a closet full of gowns and fabulous frocks that I no longer wear, I realized they were crazy/beautiful enough
to be on the stage.

Most of them were from my ballroom days but one of them was a black 1960’s couture level cocktail dress which
had been given to my Mother from my Father on their honey moon.
It was a bit too extravagant and over the top for my Mother to get regular use out of it.

I remember her wearing it for my Father’s birthday the year she baked him a piano cake.
Yes, she’s that talented of a baker. But this dress was the most beautifully made dress I had ever seen and I coveted it.

Luckily she tired of it and passed it down to me in Junior High when I promptly started wearing it for dress up and Halloween costumes.
I used it as “fabulous lady’ and punk witch in which I spray painted it pink and green with non-permanent hair spray dye from the drug store.
I was kinda crafty like that!

I kept it over the years but never really wore it as an adult except once or twice in my apartment.
I stopped wearing black just post college days. So the memories were very strong and preventing me from getting rid of all these un-used items.

But then I thought to myself….if they could be of some use….be on stage maybe….have another life besides sitting alone in my apartment never leaving the house….well that would be acceptable and even comforting.

So I took photos of all of the beloved items and sent them on their way. I find in general I’m resistant to get rid of certain things but once I find a new home for them, where they can do some good, it shifts my whole attitude about it.
Like when I take professional outfits that are in good condition to Bottomless Closet or Dress for Success.

They need it more than I do.

The trick is to reframe your tossing as giving away to another source who needs or wants the item.

So I ask you what are you holding onto so tightly and why?

Many magazines show you tips to edit a closet but most don’t cover the emotional part of letting go.

And that’s why I created a program so that you could have moral support during the process. I found with working with clients just having my presence made it much easier for them.

Join the demand self styling video program CLOSET :: CLARITY which will show you how to cleanse your closet with ease and reclaim your style.

Join over 500 women who have found clarity and confidence.

Not ready for the full program?  That’s cool.

Start Small~ join our 3 day challenge to get some momentum>>CLOSET :: CLARITY STYLE CHALLENGE

The post Why are you holding onto so tightly appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

Wow I can totally relate

This past winter I dealing with my own health challenges. I found myself with an extra 6 pounds in the pooch area which made me feel less attractive and uncomfortable. I felt like it was something I needed to take care of. But here’s the funny thing… my boyfriend loved my pooch and told me it was one of his favorite parts of my body because it was so soft.

HUH!!! WHAT??

Inside I was shocked and it took me a while to process, but here’s the lesson. Accepting ourselves as we are, all of ourselves, including bumps, warts and anything else that we think is an imperfection, will make us happier in the end. It’s funny that we can find chubby babies adorable yet we can’t find ourselves adorable because of a few extra pounds, scars, and imperfections.

Why? Because perfect is boring.

When we feel good about ourselves it shows to others through our attitude. One of my favorite people and founder of Journey Dance, Toni Bergins, as a part of her dancing ritual has her participants rub and tell their bellies that they love them very much. It was a game changer for me.

Here are 3 steps to loving all of “you”:

1. Become aware of any self or body part(s) you don’t like by keeping a thought journal for two weeks.
2. Accept the part(s) you don’t like
3. Send loving messages to that area daily through writing or self-talk (I love you pooch)…
repeat with the other parts

Let me know how it goes for you in the comments section below.

If you want to know more about Journey Dance it’s featured in my upcoming book Vetted. You can sign up to get it first here>>http://bit.ly/1tkIabb

The post Learn to Love Your Body appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

What woman wouldn’t want to look instantly younger and blur any imperfections? When it comes to beauty choices, there are simple ways to erase the years.

Make up:

Andrea Ducharme is GalTime’s resident makeup expert and the owner of The Makeup Artists. For women to have youthful, fresh faces, she gives the following suggestions:

Skin first! Long before makeup is applied, women need to take special care of the skin underneath. Ducharme recommends daily gentle exfoliation. “The bonus is makeup will go on smoother and stay on better without dull, flaky skin getting in the way,” she said. (Moisturizing is key, and once that is done, Lancome is on a mission to smooth over facial imperfections in under one minute with its newest skin care innovation, Visionnaire [1 Minute Blur]. CHECK OUT HOW IT WORKS IN THE VIDEO ABOVE!)

Use the right foundation. Texture, color and the proper application matters when it comes to foundation choice. Invest in the right primer, sponge and foundation brush to ensure foundation is applied perfectly every time.
Accent your cheeks. Peachy/rose tone cream blushes work for most light to medium skin tones, and warm golden plum is great for deeper complexions. “Tap a bit of the cream blush on your apples with your ring finger and just blend out and up towards the hair line,” Ducharme said.

Mind your brows. “If eyes are the windows to the soul, then the brows are the all-important frame,” said Ducharme. Start with a professional shaping session, and use both pencil and powder in a shade slightly lighter than your natural brown color.

Thicken lashes. In addition to mascara, apply waterproof black eye pencil to the upper lash line. Accent lashes by using neutral eye shadow and avoid shimmer or frosted textures that will emphasize drooping eyelids.

Pump up your lips. Use a lip pencil to make lips look fuller, and also to keep lipsticks from feathering into fine lines. Choose lip colors that are soft tones, like dusty rose, soft plums or fleshy peachy pinks and avoid dark or extremely bright tones. Satin to creamy textures are more flattering than mattes.

Go nude with nails. Use nude shades on your nails in order to pull off a younger-looking appearance. “Dark or extremely bright tones can emphasize aging hands,” said Ducharme. “Nudes always elongate the fingers.”

Fashion:

When it comes to making youthful wardrobe choices, personal stylist Alexandra Suzanne Greenawalt has the following suggestions:

Stay relevant. “Purge clothing that is older and outdated,” said Greenawalt. Go through your closet a few times each year and get rid of things that have a distinctive stamp of a different set of trends.

Wear body appropriate clothing — no matter what your age. Find clothing that flatters your body type, even if it means shopping outside of your designated demographic area. “I worked with a client in her 60’s who had an amazing body at size 4. Age wise, stores were pushing her into drapy, boxy clothing but that aged her. It made sense for her to wear current styles that fit her body well.”

Wear face flattering colors. As women age, their colors change. Choose colors that will accent youthful features, and detract from aging ones. “If you wear soft gray, wear black under your face or it will bring out the wrinkles and imperfections in your skin.” Greenawalt suggests getting a full professional color analysis to determine what shades look best on you.
Whatever your choices, remember that making the right ones can serve as an instant confidence boost.

“Choosing the right makeup is just as important as wearing clothing that flatters your figure. Both give you confidence that people notice,” said Ducharme.

The post 10 Ways to Look Younger and Blur Imperfections appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

A Style Webinar

Have you found yourself stuck in your yoga pants … feels so good, but you want to look more stylish+chic?

	Join me for the one hour Style & Comfort Webinar
	Change how you approach your style and remove the stress of getting dressed every day.

This was a blast! Watch the replay above. Here’s what I share:

Hey, I’m Alexandra (my friends call me “Lady A”)—a style strategist, wardrobe rehabilitator and image expert based out of New York City and the San Francisco Bay Area.

With over a decades’ experience styling women of all shapes and sizes under my red-patent skinny belt, the most rewarding part of my job is that I get to revamp the closets of REAL women leading REAL lives.

Real women like you and me.

My mission is to give all women the opportunity to feel amazing about themselves.

Confidence, baby! 

Professional Bio

Alexandra Suzanne Greenawalt is a personal stylist and the author of Secrets of a Fashion Stylist. Her photoshoot styling work has been published in Japanese Vogue, The New York Times,InStyle Magazine, Marie Claire Magazine, Surface Magazine, and many more. As a style expert, her knowledge is a valuable resource. Alexandra has been a guest style expert at several media outlets including Wake up with Al on the Weather Channel, CNN Money, Yahoo Finance, Real Simple, Fab Fit Fun, Shoptopia, and Sheknows, and she is a regular on the women’s radio program Luscious Life with Yolanda Shoshana. Alexandra has worked with celebrities such as Jennifer Hudson, Duran Duran, and Antonia Bennett.

Her 5th avenue atelier currently specializes in helping women through a variety of styling packages, including her signature Style Flash, a 60 minute program that kicks style into high gear. Alexandra’s unique approach is to nurture each individual’s style, working holistically and crafting a personal style prescription to make a lasting impact on each individual’s style and image.

The post Learn how to look fabulous + feel comfortable appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

And it haunted me.

The first article I read in AM New York had very little details except for the fabulous clients that she dressed and that her boyfriend was Mick Jagger. To prove how sick the media is, many news outlets, including the New York Times used headings Mick Jagger’s girlfriend…as if that defined her.

I wracked my brain and immediately flashed back to Isabella Blow’s death; yet another fantastically talented person in the fashion industry who was working in the shadows of others. But in Scott’s case…from the outside world she had ‘made it.’

Celebrity clients like Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Amy Adams, Sandra Bullock, Michelle Obama, and Madonna also counted her as a friend.

Her clothing line was elegant and adored by fashion insiders. She was respectable+beautiful.
And while she hadn’t yet become a household name, she had recently partnered with Banana Republic, so that would soon change.

And then, I wondered if her life was all that gold and glittery as her instagram feed.

Did it fulfill her from the inside, out?

The maid said she had wanted to get married and have a family.

Does it get any better than that in the world of ‘compare my fabulous life to yours?’

A lifestyle and beliefs I had personally left behind.

And clearly remaking herself by changing her name from Luann Bambrough may have factored into it.

Did she lose herself along the way? Did she feel like a fraud because her company was 6 million dollars in the red and she was living in a 5 million dollar apartment that she didn’t own, romantically tied to a partner she wasn’t married to? How many other New Yorkers are ‘faking it till they make it?’

Does it ever stop feeling fake?

Since there was no note, there is no way to really know what was inside her gorgeous head but I imagine it stemmed from a feeling of ‘less than.’ When you try to keep up with the 1% of nyc+celebrity, I think impossible to not feel like you’re constantly coming up short.

Perfection is a fraud.

That’s why I have based my life and work on what makes me feel good and of service to others. I focus on ‘real women’ with ‘real lives’ and ‘real bodies.’ It’s about progress, not perfection.

In the past, I’ve had TV producer(s) approach me who have wanted to make a ‘reality’ TV show about me and my uber-wealthy clients; flying around in private jets, having a blast, and drinking champagne. Sadly, I had to tell them the truth; that’s not my life.

And years ago, I worked with a roster of celebrities but found the work soul wrenching; leaving me feeling cold and un-appreciated so I made the conscious decision to move away from that kind of work. But usually the first question journalists ask me is, “ooooh! what celebrities have you worked with?” I now explain, that really isn’t part of my brand or message anymore. Sometimes they actually omit my comments in their article and honestly, that is just fine with me. I don’t subscribe to the notion that celebrities are ‘special people’ who don’t sweat, piss or poop like the rest of us. They are human, and to treat them otherwise is to put them on a pedestal.

Luann Bambrough’s death proves the pedestal doesn’t lead to happiness.

The post Why did L’wren Scott take her life? appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

After 13 years of personal styling work and consulting with women who shop Manhattan I can thread together common themes.
And one of the things I hear over and over is, “ I want to be comfortable”.

No one in all 13 years has selected to suffer for fashion on my in depth style questionnaire. Which is funny to me…but also telling that the fashion industry is missing the mark on most women.

We ALL want to be comfortable, to move, stretch, and possibly feel as if we could dance in our outfits. That’s probably why Juicy Couture sweat suits were as successful as they were. And LuLu Lemon is a runaway success. And why a common complaint in Marin county California from women is that they don’t know how to get out of their yoga pants..they are THAT comfortable.

I’ve seen some clothing companies offer basically a dressed up yoga pant as a wardrobe work horse. Makes sense right? So how do we bridge the gap of being comfortable but not feeling schlumpy. That you could run into a friend and not feel embarrassed by your dressed down outfit. That you could maybe even wow someone at work and still feel comfortable.

So I’m going to share the most important principal to consider..

STYLE IDENTITY

Does it represent your unique blend of style? Does it feel like you energetically?

It could be a great outfit but if it doesn’t feel like you, it will never feel comfortable. When working with private clients I often show them items that they would normally overlook. Most of the time trying on something out of their comfort zone is an AHA moment but ocasionally they aren’t ‘feeling it’ and that is usually when energetically the garment isn’t speaking to my client and so we move on.

If you’re enjoying this comfort exploration and would like more tips on how to be comfortable and chic you can watch the replay of my WEBINAR featuring a surprise guest click here>>http://bitly.com/1fRbDle

(Cashmere snood is ultra cozy by Poetry Fashion)

The post The Most Important style principal to be comfortable in your clothing appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.