Are you dreading going to parties?

Are you thinking about skipping them because you have nothing to wear?

Do you waste lots of time trying on party outfits that don’t feel right?

In today’s video I share my top reasons why you feel you have nothing to wear this holiday season and what to do about it.

My wish for you this season is that you look great and feel great so that you talk to that handsome man at the party or meet that powerful person that you think is intimidating.

Because when you look great, you feel great.

Xoxo
Alexandra

P.S. If you’ve decided this is your last holiday to feel frumpy and uncomfortable schedule a call with me to make a plan>>

The post Nothing to wear this holiday season? appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

She is an intuitive healer who works by phone so she is not visible during her client sessions.

She explained that she didn’t feel she currently had a STYLE.

She was best dressed during her period of working in finance and that now living in Utah everyone hangs out in yoga pants and that as an intuitive she’s expected to show up dressed woo woo.

She admitted that none of these boxes feel right but that she would like to find a way to weave in all three and define her own style.

All of this got me thinking about how common it is these days for women to feel a bit lost style wise and with more and more women working from home and not seeing clients……

Who are we dressing for?

Who should we be dressing for?

Without a uniform, a dress code or clients we have to impress, then are we all destined to roll up in our pajamas?

And is that a good or a bad thing?

For sure we’ve gotten more casual as a society and COMFORT is the number 1 common desire of all of my clients.

Yoga pants have become more and more acceptable.

Even in wealthy communities like Marin north of San Francisco where everyone looks as if they’ve come from the gym but in an expensive car.

Angie Dickinson said famously,
“ I dress for women. I undress for men”

Well how about a different concept.

Dress for your own personal joy.

Dress to feel your own power and confidence.

Dress for you.

Maybe it’s influenced by Handmaid’s Tale currently on Hulu where all the women on the show have uniforms based on their position in the society.

Fertile women wear red capes and big white cone hats to stay isolated and controlled by the men and (barren) wealthier women wear green.

I wore a uniform in my first grade school and it felt like a punishment so seeing this show has made me re-engage with the pieces in my closet I love the most.

When a client puts on an amazing outfit, she feels amazing and has a spring in her step.

She walks a little different.

She interacts with people differently.

She meets more people and shows up for life in a different way than if she shows up in ratty sweatpants. (Where she would act like a wallflower).

My client Laura, after completing my signature program said to me,

“Every woman deserves to feel this GREAT”.

I so agree!

If you are reading this and feel that:

• when you open your closet NOTHING feels like you or brings you joy
• you feel out of alignment with who you are and what image you are showing to the world
• getting dressed is a frustrating act
• you don’t know how to get out of your style rut

I invite you to schedule a style assessment call with me CLICK HERE

Xoxo
Alexandra

The post Who are you dressing for? appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

Truth time:

Do you have a whole bunch of scarves that never make it onto your body and out the door?

Maybe you have scarves that were gifts from loved ones and you can’t think to get rid of them

but you don’t love them?

Then you will love this video.

In the video I visit Elizabeth Gillett’s garment district showroom in NYC

and we show you three ways to wear a scarf NOT around your neck.

A perfect solution for those ‘gifts’.

It’s official! I’m having a love affair with Facebook Live.

It’s not perfect but it’s a ball. You can join in and go behind the scenes and watch me live by following me here on facebook>.

And the cool thing is if you catch the live show you can ask questions and I can answer them. Our next live is next Wednesday at 11am at True Gault’s showroom.

Don’t miss the next facebook LIVE here on facebook.

Hope to see you there!

The post Elizabeth Gillett Scarf + Bag Tips appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

One of the fabulous shots from my instagram… come party with me over there @alexandragreenawalt

I AM!

But that’s because I have a variety of fantastic coats in my closet.

In NYC a coat is like your car… it’s your first impression vehicle (the ultimate luxury in nyc is a driver at beck and call so you don’t need a coat- although Uber will fill this need too).

My top choice this season is the coat dress or the overcoat or vest that doubles as a dress.

It’s a splash of femininity to an often neglected part of your wardrobe.

Here are few choice options:

Throw over a simple dress, jeans, or even sweat pants in the same color and voila instant outfit.

Don’t forget a scarf too!

Lurex Jacquard A-Line Coat Dress

Sachin & Babi Noir
Flower-Print Coat Dress

Ted Baker’s CORABEL
Lightweight trench coat

The post Be honest… do you love your coats? appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

The nice thing about the print is that it adds some personality to basics like black, brown, cream, tan and even red.

Here are a few tips to make sure you look classy and not trashy:

Alexandra shows you how to wear Leopard and still be classy while having a blast.

Under NO circumstances do the head to toe leopard (you are not Nicky Minaj) 

NO head to toe

Avoid slutty too short styles of mini skirt or dress.

I have to thank my client Susan for this title and idea for this post.

The post How to wear leopard and not look like a whore appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

Tips to look naturally sexy and stylish.

1. Bring more red into your style.  Not sure what red looks good on you? Check out my post on how to wear red.

2. Include either a red dress, top, red lipstick, red shoes, or a red scarf in your get up.

3. Show off your best asset. Got a great ass, breasts, or legs? Show them off.

4. A faux wrap dress is universally flattering.

5. Breathe in love and out loss. A good affirmation for this month is
” I release all past losses and feel free to create a new, fresh, vital life.”
This is especially helpful if you have some past beaus you haven’t totally forgiven.

6. Exercise out in nature if you can. Nature makes you glow.

7. Try some new makeup tricks. Get a makeup lesson to bring a new look into your arsenal.  I recently had a makeup lesson by Shara and a blog post is in the works!.

8. Revamp your tights. Men will not notice details but they notice the overall. My favorite sexy nylons are a cross between a hose and a fishnet called ‘micro mesh’ by HUE. I wear the brown and the nude ones and always get compliments from men. (And yes I share this secret in my book Vetted by a Stylist.

9. High heel shoes are ooooh so sexy but what’s not sexy is not being able to walk or stand comfortably.
A man at a singles mixer brought up tottering girls in the meatpacking district as ridiculous. Don’t be that girl. Check out True Gault and get high heels that fit your feet. No more painful shoes.

10. Don’t want to have a big meal on the V-day? Opt for a healthier idea like taking your man to a fitness class he wouldn’t normally try. My personal favorite is Anti-Gravity Yoga. I have my top favorite’s listed in the Health section of my book Vetted by a Stylist.

11. Detox your skin. Get rid of chemical face products and find some new green alternatives. I share my list in the beauty products section of, you guessed it, my book, Vetted by a Stylist.

My favorite red and love festive pieces to invest in this season are on my red post.

This Valentines day why not give yourself a little style over before the big day

Check out my Vetted by a Stylist VIP EXPERIENCE which will kick your style to the next level.

What have I missed to get you in the mood? Leave me a comment down below!

The post What to wear for Valentine’s day appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

It’s a myth that redheads can’t wear red.

Everyone get’s a shade of red in their 12 tone seasonal palette.

12 tone seasonal color is the type of color analysis which I’m trained in and do my style practice….. it is more precise than Color me Beautiful that has only 4 different seasons…. I digress.

So yes everyone gets their own shade of red for their coloring.

There are different kinds of reds-blue reds (with cool undertone), orange reds with warm undertone, and true reds which have a neutral undertone. Experimenting with reds can be fun.

Simply hold different red fabrics under your naked face (no makeup) in daylight in front of a mirror and look for a change in your skin.

Like if your skin has a cool undertone, blue reds will be best, and if your skin has warm undertones, an orange red will make your face glow.

For some, this is easy to see, but not for everyone.

If you want a professional to help you with your colors, my Style Flash package is perfect.

And here are some fun red pieces to brighten up your valentines day:

Ellen Tracy Belted Stretch Sheath Dress

Ellen Tracy Print Jersey Sheath Dress

Eliza J Pintucked Waist Seamed Ponte Knit Fit & Flare Dress

Adrianna Papell Pleat Jersey Sheath Dress

Tadashi Shoji Embellished Metallic Lace Sheath Dress

Adrianna Papell Pleat Detail Cap Sleeve Sheath Dress

Tadashi Shoji Crisscross Waist Lace Sheath Dress

Kate Spade peplum sweater

Karen Kane Cascade Faux Wrap Dress

Kate Spade embellished sweater

Calvin Klein Garda

Kate Spade bow quilted gloves

Kate Spade hancock park studs

Via Spiga Clio Cutout Pointed Toe Pumps from Bloomindale’s

Kate Spade shira sunglasses

Salvatore Ferragamo
Shoulder Bag – Aileen Mini

Henri Bendel After Party Stingray Box

The post How to wear red appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

But how to look fabulous and still stay warm when it’s freezing outside?

The perfect coat!

I’ve had to do a little coat makeover this week because my biggest “baddest” and puffer coat’s zipper broke on Friday, just before the freezing weather arrived. January is a great time for sales on coats but not always the best if you want the biggest selection. A few purges ago, I gave away or sold all of my extra coats that I weren’t regularly wearing. At first, I regret doing it until I hit Macy

It’s on late Sunday night and it’s snowing sideways. So no surprise Macy’s coat department was a zoo! Everyone was looking for a new coat and almost everything was on ridiculous sale. I did discover a new brand of very well-made coats– Rudsak, who also makes RUD by Rudsak, from Canada.

Now, I would never recommend this kind of emergency shopping because you might end up buying something you don’t really love, but I did find a decent Calvin Klein puffer in the color and style I wanted– brown with faux fur hood, and a belt that I like for only $150. One of the main reasons why I looked for such coat was because I thought the hood with zip up neck warmer was going to solve my cold issue. Besides, I have worn out my deeply loved DKNY red coat and it looks like it needs to be replaced.

You should take a gander at coats to see if there is anything that you really like. Sales staff can be pushy sometimes– just make sure you won’t walk away with something you will not wear and love.

You know, there is something psychological about coat shopping. It’s like bikini shopping, you do it when you just need it. I would suggest to you to shop for coats twice a year; at the start of the season when majority of the coats arrive and during sale time.

How many coats should you have in your closet?

A good coat wardrobe for NYC should consist of:

• 1 raincoat in fun color or print (forget boring tan unless it looks amazing on you)
• 1 very long, very warm, hooded, belted monster coat -puffer, fur, or wool
• 1 knee length fun color basic wool mid weight coat (mine is a red DKNY)
• Fun night time coat for parties– maybe with a metallic or sparkle factor
• Short lightweight coat for Spring/Summer (I always find myself removing a lot of such coat out of clients wardrobes as they often have multiple of this kind. Mine doesn’t get much usage too)

To sum up, here a few tips to find the coat(s) of your dreams:

1. Firstly, take stock of your needs. Do you need a coat for dressing up, for work, or for a more casual life? How do you travel from day to day? In a car, subway, bus, bicycle, hired car, or on foot? How much time do you spend outside? For example, if you have a car and driver on demand, you may not need much of a coat or thick one, and gloves. But if you need to wait for the bus in the freezing temperature, or if you love to regularly walk your dog outside, you’re going to need to suit up with a coat that falls below your knees. Just have a deep think about your daily and weekly needs for a few minutes to give you a good compass of what to look for. It’s a big no to get a crazy and wild ‘clubbing coat’ when you are not really into nightlife. Walk away!

2. Shop in November and January.

3. The best time to shop is first thing in the morning when you are fresh, or just after dinner. Don’t shop hangry. (hungry+tired)

4. Research online first and then see them in store for size.

5. Look at companies who specialize in coats, not in fashion. I’ve seen a lack of quality in fashion coat like Michael Kors’. It is a huge company but I’m very disappointed by the quality of its coat.

6. See the good coat companies section below.

7. Wait for a big sale day like Martin Luther King day.

8. Look for a coat in a basic or accent color that will go with most of your wardrobe of that season. I wear ALOT of brown and no black so I try to find coats in brown (my favorite neutral), red (my favorite accent color) or metallics (go with everything). Don’t buy a coat in a strange weird color that clashes with most of what you own.

9. If black drains you in the face, don’t buy a black coat.

10. Look for a coat with a hood and look for belt, princess seams, or cinched waist detail to keep you look slimmer. Attached hoods keep you WAY warmer than just a scarf and a hat. It keeps the warmth from escaping from the gap between your neck and your accessories

(For more details on how to look chic when it’s cold read this>>post>>bit.ly/1UkrZF4 )

11. Don’t get hung up on buttons. If you hate the buttons they can be swapped out! This can instantly elevate a coat. I changed the buttons on this coat by a quick trip to M+J (one of the wonderful resources I feature in my second book Vetted by a Stylist)

12. Hit the big department stores first and then graze on the boutiques. Macys is good for puffers, Lord and Taylor has great wool selection, as well as Bloomingdales and Nordstroms. Bergdorfs has also beautiful coats but price points are higher.

13. Once you’re in a department store, identify the brands who are doing styles and colors that work for you. If you don’t find your dream coat but think the brand is good for you, check out more on their official websites or other online retailers. Don’t forget to look on Amazon and Zappos.

14. Check your coat or bags so that you can shop hands free. For example, Lord and Taylor has a coat check on their 8th floor, but a lot of people don’t know about this much needed service.

15. Department stores have personal shoppers so if you are low on time call ahead and ask one to pull coats for you in your size, color and shape preference. Don’t be shy to say no when you don’t like any of the selections.

16. Make sure the color of the coat is flattering to your face and not draining.

17. Look at fabric content and care.
(From warmest to least warm)
Fur (sorry PETA)
Shearling
Down coat
Wool
Blends

18. It is better to get ‘dry-clean only’ coat in dark color as it hides dirt while light color is more difficult to maintain. Other than that, puffers are generally washable which is helpful, but you would want to check what the down feather content is. The higher, the better. Also take into account if there is any fabric that you are allergic to. The inside label will tell you exactly what you are buying. If it’s got a high polyester content, it shouldn’t be priced expensively and, if it is, you’re just paying for the designer label.

19. Make sure the waist of the coat hits you in the right spot. I noticed this season that as a long torso-ed person, some coats had an empire waist or the belt placed too high for my shape.

this puffer’s waist is too high on me and makes me look like a ridiculous marshmallow

20. Once you find a few coat options, take a few snapshots and sent them to a trusted friend or put them on social media to get some feedback. This is also helpful if you’re going to be photographed. I tried on this puffer that on the hanger looked really nice but I looked like a marshmallow in it. Thankfully, my friend made that joke and I passed on it.

21. Price is important but consider your comfort first. Buy something you’ll be comfortable wearing.

Here are some companies that have current coat options that I like:

Rud by Rudsak and Rudsak
Rud by Rudsak is the more affordable coat line because they use faux fur and Rudsak uses real fur. But when I tried various coats from both lines on in Macy’s, I found that the RUD coats looked and felt warmer and also higher quality. Strange, I know. Although they do tend to have very overwhelming hoods that are better for big heads, they’re not so good for tiny peeps.

Postcard
Very high quality. My favorite bronze raincoat is from them.

Mackage
Another company famous for their quality coats. They do a very streamlined asymmetrical puffer/shearling coat and have figured out that we ladies like a large hood but we also need our necks kept warm.

HideSociety Shearling

DKNY
My “go to” red coat seen in this picture is DKNY that I got years ago on sale at Nordstroms for $80 at the waaaay end of the season. I wasn’t in the coat shopping mode when I saw it because it was Spring, but I realized it was a wardrobe staple at an amazing price so I snapped it up and It has served me very well. The coat seems to repel water and dirt! I’m also eyeing another DKNY burgundy wave coat.

Elie Tahari
I’ve loved some of the coats Elie Tahari has offered in the past!

Laundry by Shelli Segal
They always seem to have flattering cut of coats. This ONE is good for those who need an empire waist or are hiding a pooch.

Calvin Klein
If you need a walking sleeping bag..ie you need coverage below the knees this Calvin Klein maxi down puffer is a great option and it comes in espresso and black. I’ve noticed it’s not easy to find this length of a coat.

Ted Baker
Ted Baker makes some nice dressy city coat options like this navy Flared Skirt coat.

LL BEAN
Known for quality this mid length down coat has nice seaming that is slimming.

Eddie Bauer
Eddie Bauer made their mark on outerwear. This coat has lots of nice color options including their navy that looks teal- like. Size wise, they have petites, plus, and tall in addition to women’s which is really handy.

Eliza J
I tried this Eliza J  – It looks like a winner to me! I put it on Facebook and it got a thumbs up from Diana Rowan who said ” looks like a chic eskimo”

Uniqlo
Uniqlo’s coats are very lightweight and easy to pack which is handy for the fellow global travelers.

Have a coat story to share with me? Comment down below and let me know what has worked for you.

(Special thanks to Barrie Blake who snapped this wonderful shot of me in front of the Bergdorf Goodman red holiday window)

The post How to shop for a winter coat appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

Be stylist with metallics

I gotta come clean.

I’m addicted to metallics.

Especially metallic accessories.

Because, let’s face it, they go with everything and they are so much more interesting than black.

I was having a massage on Orcas island and my MT said to me: “I normally don’t remark on clients clothing but I have to tell you I’m mesmerized by your copper boots.”

See? Even communities that aren’t driven by fashion can appreciate beauty when they see it.

Here’s my latest round up of my favorite metallic accessories to scoop up before they are gone:

Veronika pleated flare coat by Alice and Olivia is sold out.

Xia Metallic Jacquard Coat by Alice and Olivia at Bergdorf Goodman

Gold ‘Malu’  peplum blazer and the Stephanie Bronze jacket  by Ariana Rockefeller holiday collection

Kate Spade ‘lexa too’ ostrich feather embellished gold shoes from Nordstroms

Gold bum bag by Tamara Mellon – SOLD OUT.

Gunmetal gloves by Echo 

S’well bottle in rose gold or gold

Copper boots by Uggs Collection on 6pm

Cole Haan makes a wristlet smartphone wallet

Coach also makes a cute gold wristlet

Gold gloves on Amazon

Kate Spade has this amazing wallet/iphone wristlet case that comes in three different glitter options-gold, rose gold, and pink multi.  Now I just need to get an iPhone.

IPAD PRO case with luxury gold keyboard

Strike Gold Pen Set from Kate spade

Wonderful carryall “Gemma tote” by Trina Turk in Silver or Rose gold

Check out the pinterest board I built for my metallic obsession

Am I missing a wonderfully metallic style piece? Let me know in the comments down below and it might get added to the mix.

P.S. My next book signing event is coming up this Saturday January 16th, 2016 at Lord and Taylor. More Info.

The post Love Metallics for Style appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.

After staying in the Greek Islands for a while and honestly not seeing much special in the style department, I was beginning to think I would have to forgo the slated Greek artisan post.

Then I came across an intriguing store in Chania on Crete called XAMAM and found a multi-functional wrap from my current favorite greek designer Ioanna Kourbela.

I wrote about Ioanna four years ago (Cool Clothing in Sifnos) on my previous trip to Greece.

This wrap is called the 2550 and the designer has at least 10 different ways to wear it in an easy to watch video.

I personally prefer the style at approximately minute 4:10 in the video. This piece is so brilliant and I just had to have it so I bought it in teal and in dark purple/espresso.

Ioanna Kourbela’s reach is very impressive. She has flagship stores in Athens, global distributors and many stores which carry her line. I now realize I’ve seen her designs in multiple shops on several of the cycladic islands so it’s exciting to see her business thriving.

The Greek Islands definitely do not lack shopping but unfortunately so much of it is manufactured crap and not local or artisanal.

In New York you can find her beautiful designs at DRAPE on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn 718-624-2969.

P.S. Love my style resources? Ioanna Kourbela is just one of the secrets I share in my next book Vetted. Get on the VIP list now for your advance copy here>> http://t.co/GfewPQL7hJ.

The post The Ultimate Travel Wrap – Ioanna Kourbela appeared first on Alexandra Stylist | Personal Wardrobe Stylist.