Friday Find: Casual, comfy weekend boot

For the ladies: http://www.sorelfootwear.ca/en/women-boots For the Gents: http://www.asos.com/Lacoste/Lacoste-Sauville-Boots/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=6107431&cid=17184&Rf900=1447&Rf911=2244&sh=0&pge=0&pgesize=36&sort=-1&clr=Grey&totalstyles=81&gridsize=3   Why? reasonable price point Easy weekend boot that isn’t out of place strolling around town or going for a  good for a light day hike.  

Image Is Powerful, Yet It Is Superficial

Let’s talk about image. I regularly share advice on how to build your personal brand and your personal style, but this time let’s talk about the ‘superficial’ stuff- image. Image is all about perception. How you are perceived by your peers, by your colleagues, or by a random person on the street. In the instant they see you, whether it’s for the first time or for the thousandth time, they form an opinion based on how you look. We all know that, that’s not new. What people don’t realize is the power of your image. Because image is superficial in nature, you can change it. Don’t be afraid to add more depth. You are not only what you are wearing or what you look like. Sometimes you don’t know where to start, how to change your image. That’s okay! Here’s the great thing- you aren’t alone in that feeling of insecurity. Watch this.  It’s a couple years old and certainly worth it (all 9 minutes).   … yeah, you heard it. Even this accomplished model is insecure. Pretty amazing that Cameron Russell stood up and shared this publicly. “I am insecure. I am insecure because I have to think about what I look like everyday.” Despite her insecurities, she’s completely right.  Image is NOT everything. (you’re furrowing your brows thinking “where is Lazina going with this?”) Well here’s why I say that… How you present yourself each day IS important- yes, but that’s not all. Your image and presentation needs to be grounded in a solid personal strategy.  Without this, image does seem superficial. Your personal strategy starts by taking some time for introspection. I often get clients to answer these types of questions: What do you value most in life? What motivates and inspires you? What do you want to be known for? What are you the absolute best at? What brings you joy and makes you smile? Take some time to answer these questions…. you won’t be sorry you did. Answering these questions bring clarity to who you are and want you’re about. Knowing what you want will help you embody the image of the person you want to be. Once you know YOU, you’ll be able to better understand and define how you want to share your greatness with those around you. You can walk tall and feel comfortable no matter how others see you.   “If there’s a takeaway from this talk, I hope it’s that we all feel more comfortable acknowledging the power of image in our perceived successes and our perceived failures.” – Cameron Russell

Introducing Style Ivy

This week we have some news – BIG news! L Squared Style had just launched the next phase of our business.  This new venture called Style Ivy.   Some of you may have seen previews on social media or maybe you’ve heard rumours through the grapevine. Well, rumour no more. It’s official. Come January 2016 Style Ivy will be available online! First, we want to make sure you know what it’s all about: Style Ivy has been something I’ve been working on for three years now.  It’s all about one thing- personal style. That’s it. We want to empower you to know that style is more than making fashion choices, it extends beyond your wardrobe. Style can make you not only look great, but feel great too! With Style Ivy, we put those tools in your hands. Each day, I work one-on-one with clients and well as train various size teams. Both groups hire me for this personalized service of better understanding their image and what they can do to improve what they share with the world each day.  It’s a premium service. It’s worth it. Ask those who work with me. On the Style Ivy platform, our first e-course is called Style Foundations.  This is an online course that will take you through a journey to discover your own style. In this course there are lessons, videos and, yes, homework. The homework at the end of each lesson is to help you further understand your style goals and personal goals. How does this differ from L Squared Style? Well Style Foundations allows you to go through this style overhaul at a slower pace of two lessons a week and gives you the time to reflect on what you want from your clothing choices. Also, Style Foundations is accessible to anyone, any where and at any time.  It democratizes the services I offer to anyone who is interested in personal/professional development . On that note – Christmas is coming up. If you have someone in your life who fits the description, think about getting Style Foundations for them. It could be just what they need to start the new year with a bang!     Style Ivy. Don’t just think about it. Do it. This is your time. Check us out on Facebook (Style Ivy) or on Twitter and Instagram – @yourstyleivy.