5 Important Fashion Tips I Learned from My Trunk Club Stylist
Having a personal shopper is not only helping out your wardrobe, it's educational too.
If you're like me, one of your New Year's resolutions each year (along with making the world a better place and losing 10 pounds) is to step up your style game. Wear those insanely cute heels you had to have but are still in the box. Invest in a pair of really great destroyed jeans and not feel bad about it. Actually look like you tried at the office. You don't have to be a total shlub to aspire to reach new fashion heights, but it's SO hard to break out of a style rut on your own.
And that's where Trunk Club comes in. The personal shopping service sets you up with a stylist who'll chat with you about everything from what you do on the weekends to how you really like to accentuate your legs but your arms – not so much. After getting the lowdown, your stylist curates a trunk of clothes just for you and they arrive on your doorstep a few days later.
From there, you try everything on, and within 10 days you can decide what you want to buy and keep, and return the rest (free shipping both ways). It's a great way to build up your wardrobe without spending a ton of time at the mall, and most importantly it'll help you get out of that style rut.
I tried out Trunk Club for myself and learned some great lessons from my stylist Blair Romer along the way:
Jackets Are Your Best Friend
Jackets are so much more than things that keep you warm when the temps drop. They're more like fab cold weather accessories, really. "I could wear a pair of jeans and any T-shirt and throw on a new jacket and feel like I have a totally different look," Blair told me.
They're also great for hiding the extra pounds you may or may not pack on this holiday season.
I LOVED this Trouve leather jacket that came in my trunk.
Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone Feels Great
One of the best things about my trunk was trying on pieces I would have NEVER picked out on my own. I usually go for pencil dresses, but I got an adorable Theory fit-and-flare dress in my box and was pleasantly surprised. "People just stick to what they know and they have their go-to things, but they aren't working with what they should be," Blair explained.
Part of stepping up your style game involves busting out of the same silhouettes you've been rocking for years. Even if the looks you've been going for aren't broken, you might find something new that works and that's exciting. "People don't go to the store and put [different things] on themselves, but once they see how awesome they look, their confidence goes way up," she added.
A White Button-Down Shirt Isn't Just for Frumps
I can't even remember the last time I wore a white button-down shirt — probably that summer I worked in a law office and it was basically mandatory. And boring. It might seem like a blah option when it comes to blouses, but after trying on my Vince shirt, I'm sold.
Blair suggested wearing it tucked in with jeans and booties, or under a long vest for an unexpected, stylish option.
It's Okay to Balance Comfort and Cuteness
We all love our lazy boyfriend jeans weekends, and you can keep rocking them all through the week with a few minor tweaks — like trade your Chucks for a cute heel. "Most times every outfit looks better with a bootie or some kind of heel with boyfriend jeans," Blair said.
These Rag & Bone jeans from my trunk were great for dressing up and down. Basically I'm never taking them off.
Embrace Your Body
One of the best things about Trunk Club was getting clothes tailored to my body type (I gave Blair all of my measurements up front), instead of feeling like I was being sent what was cool and trendy for someone with a completely different figure. None of the pieces in my trunk made me feel self-conscious or bad about my curves — each piece accentuated the areas of my body I told Blair I was most comfortable with. And, really, when it comes down to it, don't you feel your most stylish and confident when you feel good in your own skin?
