We’re at our final post for this inaugural Client Spotlight series. In our past three posts, we’ve featured Amy M. – an L Squared Style alumni. She had us work with her to help refresh her personal and professional style. With all honestly, Amy has a very focused sense of style. She really just needed a pick me up on her style. If you haven’t yet had a chance to read the previous posts on Amy, make sure you do (click here for Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3). Lastly, we’ve certainly heard your comments. You want to see more of Amy. Well, that’s exactly what we have planned for this final post. Enough from me, let’s hear from Amy. Of all the lessons that were shared with you during your time with L Squared Style, what are the top 3 things that you’ve fully incorporated into your personal style? Here’s what I’d say: I no longer try and hide my problem areas, instead I highlight the good ones! I miss patterns and wear more colour. I look for the right shape in a garment. I’m not a box therefore my clothing should not be shaped like a box! I’m adding a 4th one… I do not try to be something I’m not. I realized I dislake t-shirts so I no lnoger try to convince myself I should wear them. I’ve made peace with the fact that casual (for me) is not a t-shirt. Sometimes I look overdressed but that’s ok. That’s my style! How has this entire experience impacted how you view personal style as well as presentation of self? I’ve always had a very specific style so I think my style has remained the same. It has evolved though and has been taken up a few notches. I realized that if I don’t feel comfortable or confident in my clothing, it shows on the outside. We have to know (as does everyone else), what are your three most favourite outfits from your wardrobe? Here are three of my favs: Outfit #1: Outfit #2: Outfit #3: I’m looking forward to sharing more of my wonderfully stylish clients with you.
Client Spotlight: You changed my life! (Part 3)
I’m so excited to share today’s post. We’re talking to one of my fabulous clients, Amy M, who has shared her style journey and has opened up her closet to us. If you haven’t yet read the first and second post in this series, you’ll surely want to catch up. Last time, Amy shared her amazing “Project Closet” with us. This week, we’re asked her exactly what she invested to create this lovely dressing room. Let’s read what she has to say. So, you told us about the various components of your wardrobe. When you initially decided to build a dressing room, what type of budget did set? Why? I knew this was not going to be cheap, so I decided on a budget of $1200-1500. I felt like if I was going to do it, I was going to do exactly what I wanted and not half-ass it. I wanted to love the space and be happy with it. So, tell us what you got. Here’s what I purchased: 3 bookcases (IKEA) – $99/bookcase 12 extra shelves (IKEA) – $20/shelf A display case (IKEA) – $400 An area rug (IKEA) – $20 Covers for throw pillows (IKEA) – $30 2 garment racks (Canadian Tire) – $90/rack Chandelier (Canadian Tire) – $200 Clear shower curtain rings (Canadian Tire) – $20 A belt organizer (Home Outfitters) – $20 Jewelry displays (Eddie’s Hang Ups) – $65 I already owned a nightstand, a full length mirror, a mannequin, design books and the purple velvet hangers. The total I spent on buidling this space was $1472. This is right in line with the budget I set. Where did you skimp and where did you splurge? I would say my biggest splurge was the chandelier. I mean seriously…I didn’t need it. Who needs a chandelier in their closet? But I saw it when I was purchasing my garment racks and loved it. Bit of an impulse purchase but I don’t regret it! My other half was a real trooper putting that thing together and hanging it. There was much profanity. I would have liked the bookcases to match the nightstand and display case exactly, but the matching ones would have cost me about $400 more in total. So I skimped and went with the non-matching ones in the same color. What was the best bargain you found as you pulled together this amazing space? The polka dot area rug at IKEA for $20! I have a mild obsession with polka dots so it was perfect for me. If you had to do it again, where might you skimp even more? I would do it exactly the same way but if someone wanted to skimp, they could skip the display case as it was quite expensive. I might suggest opting for another bookcase to display bags and shoes. What was the one thing you’re glad you splurged on? Two things: I did a TON of research on garment racks before I purchased any. I opted for the commercial grade garment racks with a 50lb weight rating.
Client Spotlight: You changed my life! (Part 2)
Last week, I shared a very special post from one of my fabulous clients, Amy M. If you didn’t get a chance to read about Amy’s style journey, make sure you take a peek at Part 1. In that last post, Amy told us about Project Closet. Let’s learn more about from Amy on what she’s been up to since she started working with L Squared Style. Why did you go down the road of wardrobe organization? This was my boyfriend’s idea. When we moved in together, we chose to live in his house instead of mine. The closet situation was abysmal. To remedy what could have been a breakup worthy situation, he suggested I take over one of the spare bedrooms and use it as a closet. I took his suggestion and ran with it…I think he was thinking a few racks in a spare room. It turned into something far bigger. I started thinking of all the things I could do with that space. I had a lot of shoes that I stored in shoeboxes (When I say a lot, I mean A LOT. We aren’t in double digits anymore Toto.) and I found I was forgetting what I owned. As a result, I was not wearing some of the fabulous things I had. I had been wearing what was accessible. I wanted everything organized and out where I could see it. What did you do to organize your entire wardrobe? Here’s what I did: Shoes are on the bookcases, sorted by style and colour. My bags are on top of the bookcases (I keep a small step stool stowed away in the closet!). Clothing is on garment racks sorted by type (dresses together, pants together, etc) and colour. Jewelry is on displays and easily accessible. Jewelry that cannot be displayed is in the drawers below. Designer shoes and bags are displayed in a glass cabinet. Earrings are stored in individualized compartment trays in a shallow drawer and the other drawers are used for coloured tights, etc. I used the actual closet in the spare room to organize my scarves and belts and to store my laundry hamper. I purchased clear shower curtain rings which I used to hang my scarves (this works like a charm). Knee high boots are organized neatly under my garment racks and each pair has a boot shaper in them which stands them up straight and helps the boot keep its shape. What do you love most about how you’ve set up your new space? I love how incredibly girly it is. It screams me. From the polka dot area rug, chandelier, throw pillows…I love everything in that space. Everything is out in the open and nothing is hidden away in a box or a drawer. Now that you can see everything, how do you feel about getting dressed everyday? I love it! I choose my outfits the night before (I like to hit the snooze button…and I am usually really rushed in