Posts

Fabulous Family Heirlooms

/in /by

Maybe it’s an embellished brooch, or a knitted shawl? We all have family heirlooms we just aren’t sure what to do with. I feel so honored to have piece of my families past, but that doesn’t mean it is a no brainer on where and when to wear them.

Upon her death, my grandmother gifted me her rare Chanel cross body bag which has become a weekly staple for my wardrobe. Fine accessories like this need no introduction; they speak in their timeless appeal. Estate sales are a great place to shop for these types of stately treasures as well if you don’t have a relative to bless you with this kind of thing.

Gram also gave me a stunning, lace scarf that is too dainty to be tied around my neck. I have opted to tie it to my handbag on occasion or style it wrapped around a stack of antique books in my bathroom.

So here are a few other tips to keep the tradition going.

Is it a ornamental pin you are struggling with? Yes, they are so beautiful, with rhinestones and pearls… sitting on your bathroom counter. You do not need to feel intimidated by the idea of a brooch. They don’t have to be pinned to a 1950’s wrap or a mink stole. Instead pin it to a link chain or a swede strap to turn it into a necklace.

Or have you been lucky enough to get your moms wedding dress? Just aren’t sure what to do with those big ol’ sleeves? A really great way to share that moment with your mom, but keep your day modern and on point with your own personal style, is to add the lace of her dress into the design of your own. Upcycling {or creative reuse} for this special garment is like having a part of your mom with you while being true to yourself in your own style. You can also accent a hair pin with portions of the lace as well. It makes for a lovely hair accessory when you are having a bad hair day.

No matter the item always remember, you don’t have to be weary to pair the old with the new. Vintage is making a comeback after all!

 

Stylishly Yours,

Jen Young

Best Bronzers for Pale Skin

/in , , , /by

Hello Ladies!

Let’s be honest, my “porcelain winter skin” often looks as though I have a major illness. Sometimes I am almost transparent especially in photographs, so I am thankful for a good bronzer to add the extra color I need when I’m my palest self.

So for you fair skinned ladies who need a change in your makeup routine, I’m about to make your dreams come true with some amazing bronzers for your skin. Believe me– it can be hard to find the perfect one! Until NOW!

For the perfect application, glide your brush over the temples of your forehead, to under the cheek bones, back up to the top of your ear, and then under your jaw line. Drawing a “3” with bronzer will help slim your face as well as add the illusion of a healthy sun-kissed glow. You can also dust the bronzer on the both sides of the nose to make it look a smaller.

There are many bronzers to pick from, but finding ones for the fairer skin tone can be challenging. So I’ve picked out some of my favorite ones to use when you need to add an extra pop of color to your face. I would, however, definitely recommend going to my favorite beauty stores like Sephora or Ulta and try a tester so you can buy an option that is perfect for your skin tone.

Bronzers come in matte and shimmery finishes. Others have a duo blush combo built in while some come in super dark shades or for uber fair skin. So go try some of these brands and find your shade you feel happy in.

These products will make a huge difference in your makeup game.

Let me know of some of your favorite brands and bronzers if you have pale skin like me! Place your comments in the section below.

Stylishly Yours,

Jen Young

 

Comfort Heels for the Stylish Working Woman

/in , , , /by

Hi Ladies!

I hope everyone has settled back into their work and home life routines. I know my break felt too short, and now I feel like I’m running around like a crazy woman again. But at least I have good shoes to keep me going!

In today’s post I want to give a shout out to those brave women who have feet of steel and can wear gorgeous high-heeled pumps for an eight hour work day, five days a week in the office– when many of us {including myself…} wish we could do that for just one night without complaining about our hurting feet.

Stop griping about your bunions like me and start dreaming about confidently wearing your cute new pumps to work!!!

I have picked out some professional yet stylish pumps that are comfortable, affordable, that don’t look like serious mom shoes {we all know what I’m talking about}. I took a little time researching Nordstrom, DSW, Dillard’s, Zappos, and many many others that offer “Comfort Pumps.” These shoes just might be your besties yet.

Seriously… I’m about to change your life because working women and high-heels have always had a love-hate relationship.

These are some of my favorites I discovered through my curation of the “must-haves”:

As you can tell, there are a lot of different brands I adore: Cole Haun, Ivanka Trump, Nine West, Sole Society, CORSO COMO, Naturalizer, Clarks, BC Footwear, Adrienne Vittadini, ECCO, Sofft, and Rockport. These are such great brands that will keep both you and your feet happy throughout the day.

Perhaps I have removed the guess work when shopping for a new pair of heels for day of work or night out on the town?

Let me know of some of your favorite and comfortable heels! Please comment below.

Stylishly Yours,

Jen Young

Goal Setting for the New Year

/in /by

Cheers to a New Year, Fabulous YOU!

I don’t know about you, but I am ready to put 2016 behind me and turn over a new leaf in 2017!

Over the holidays, I celebrated new beginnings, laughed {a LOT as I got my butt killed in ping pong by my kids numerous times}, spent time with my family and also reflected on what I hope to accomplish in the coming year.

Setting goals is one of my favorite things to do in early January because it holds me accountable to achieve my desired outcomes…

Here are some thoughts as you decide where to place your energies in 2017:

1.} Write down your goals AND post them in a place where you see them every day–like your bathroom mirror or dream board. This the first step to achieving success. There is something that happens in your brain when you put pen to paper that subconsciously forces you to stay your course!

I use a simple analog system called the bullet journal for scheduling, tracking daily and long-term goals, and taking notes during client and personal meetings.

Here is the actual template I use for writing down both personal and professional goals c/o pageflutter.com. Keep it simple…choose three personal and three professional. List specific action items under each goal and the purpose. This helps you formulate the “why” associated with your goal.

2.} Next, having accountability with a business coach or close friend is also crucial to accomplishing your goals. When you have someone regularly checking in on your progress –you are more likely to keep your priorities in check.

So today, my beautiful readers, you get to read my list so I have no choice but to get my rear in gear.

3.} In the words of Eleanor Roosevelt – “Do something that scares you every day!” Take risks that make your heart flutter every day that require God-Sized help to accomplish.

4.} Think Big. Dream Big. You deserve it. According to Jim Collins and Jerry Porras’s book Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies, we should set B.H.A.G. {Big. Hairy. Audacious. Goals.} backed with bite-sized steps to achieve your goals coupled with accountability .

5.} Set aside time for yourself too.  Prioritizing self care is key to long lasting health and also maintaining balance and achieving all you want in life. Meditate, pray and exercise – even if adding one day a week is a new thing for you! Thank you Nike, “JUST DO IT!”

6.} Schedule time to be silly and have fun. Since I am generally a serious person, I actually made this one of my personal goals for this year. Laugh with friends, see a great movie and/or do whatever makes you giggle. Like pee in your pants laughter, people. Laughter is the best medicine for the soul as we maneuver through the challenges of life.

5.} Give of yourself margin in your schedule to accommodate for the unexpected. You never know when someone might need to chat or your help. If you schedule every moment without enough flexibility in your day, you may miss out on some of life’s greatest gifts.

I hope this post inspires you to dare greatly and achieve more than you could ever imagine on your own. Ephesians 3:20 inspires me as I lean into this next chapter: “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us!”

Blessings and Style Peace,

Jen Young

 

Stress Free Moving

/in , , /by

stress-free-moving

Hi Friends!

I have been knee deep in moving boxes for the last two days and just remembered that I had a blog to write. EEK. Let’s do this.

Holy cow moving is SOOOO stressful. Can I get an, “Amen?” I had been in my previous home for 6 years and thought I did a good job of purging and sorting since that is like… MY JOB! But I will confess, I still have way too much stuff like any average person even is culling is my middle name.

So I empathize with any of you attempting to go through this insanity right before the holidays. Once the “crazy” calms down, I will eventually get a Christmas tree decorated {many thanks to my friends and clients, the incredible Russell Family, for buying my tree this year BTW}, but today I am focused on stress free moving and taking many deep breaths… and maybe a few Xanax. Wink.

Since “Closet Nip and Tucks” are my specialty, I will be offering a 10% discount from December 5-15th on those services. Check out those details HERE and connect with me directly to schedule a free phone consult HERE to discern if and how I can best assist you. Reference this discount in your in-take form, and I will happily honor this incentive.

I will also be blogging about my own experience during my move in the coming weeks so stay tuned for those details. Here is a teaser pic of my empty closet to let you in on the journey.

fullsizerender

A few things to consider during your move:

1.} Hire a moving company you trust if you aren’t packing/moving yourself! Interview several crews and get many bids ahead of time. I used Square Cow Movers and adore the crew who loaded and unpacked me. Reward your crew with a tip and lunch and they will bend over backwards for you…literally.

2.} Make sure to be present during the packing process as my boxes got very jumbled since I scheduled my house closing date right in the middle of the packing process and couldn’t direct the team to my expectations.

312f40ca-e7b2-45e2-a847-5100aeb6fab9d491ce2f-41a0-4b6e-92f7-658c376116533.} If you plan to have your TV’s connected right after your move in date, make sure to gather all the chords and old satellite boxes with you. Finding those in the middle of the wake of your move can be overwhelming.

4.} Purge your closet{s} before the packing process even begins. There is no reason to transport unnecessary items with you and pay for the extra weight. Unboxing only your lovelies will make the moving process more peaceful. Admittedly, I have already sent an additional 5 car loads to Goodwill even after my initial purge. Less is More….always. Read this blog on how to reduce the overwhelm in your closet with these simple tips to ultimate save you time and money.

5.} If people offer to assist you, say YES! I ate humble pie and accepted all the help I could get. Thank you to my incredible mother, Cindy, Melanie, Mikaela, Becki and Gregg for your tenacity through it all. The meals you provided and your extra set of hands were so amazing.

6.} Don’t expect to have everything perfect overnight. Be patient with yourself and know that it is better to take time to place things in your new home back in an orderly fashion. Don’t rush to get it all done. Organize with intension. If you need an amazing resource for Home Organization, I highly recommend Imagine Gurus for their amazing expertise.

Stay tuned for more tips as I archive moving from the old home to the new….

Feeling blessed and encouraged.

Stylishly Yours,

Jen Young

 

Cyber Monday Deals

/in , , , /by

cyber-monday

Happy Cyber Monday!!!

I hope everyone had a fun time with their family and friends this holiday and that your bellies were equally jazzed by the spread of food. I know mine was!

Can you say stretchy pants?

Of course, after the Thanksgiving splurge, we all anticipate the insanity of shopping on Black Friday as well. Did you partake? Here is my blog from Friday to access links to shop that are still relevant.

To be honest, I typically don’t have the time to stand outside a storefront at 6am to take advantage of all the crazy shopping incentives. BUT I do love a little online shopping that I can do in the comforts of home in my dream pants on CYBER MONDAY–which is the perfect time to secure amazing steals for holiday gifts for your loved ones or even yourself!

So if you have free time during your lunch break at work or if you’re just hanging out at the house, take some time to start browsing your favorite websites to see what deals they might have on the hottest gifts. The perfect way to maximize your shopping dollars and not waste your time is to think BIG. The bigger the store, the bigger the deal. So focus on establishments like Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and many many more.

Perhaps you are in need of a…

New winter coat? Try North Face

New TV or computer? Try Best Buy

New home decor? Try Nordstrom

New pair of shoes? Try Nike

New workout clothes? Try Under Armour

New Kitchen Aid? Try Target

New makeup? Try Ulta

Here are some other fun gadgets and gizmos I adore….

HAPPY HUNTING,

Jen Young

Black Friday Bargains

/in /by

 

black-friday-3

ONE // TWO // THREE // FOUR // FIVE // SIX // SEVEN // EIGHT // NINE // TEN // ELEVEN // TWELVE // THIRTEEN // FOURTEEN // FIFTEEN // SIXTEEN // SEVENTEEN

Happy Monday Everyone!

I hope everyone is ready for some serious eating and family time this Thanksgiving holiday! BUT don’t forget about another important date of the year– November 25th, 2016–otherwise known as Black Friday!!! This is the perfect time to find outfit pieces that you would normally not buy for yourself or even gifts for someone special for Christmas at reasonable prices.

There are tons of sales going on from Nordstrom, J.Crew, Lululemon, Amazon, and many more. Spend this shopping day splurging on a nice pair of boots you’ve been eyeing or a new winter coat as well as a fabulous new makeup palette or accessories.

Even though you might dread the thought of going out and shopping on Black Friday there are many tools to shop online for exactly what you want.

Here are some of my other key vendors I love who will feature specials for Black Friday:

  1. Shopbop
  2. Neiman Marcus
  3. Loft
  4. ASOS
  5. Revolve
  6. GAP
  7. Net-A-Porter
  8. Ulta
  9. Birchbox
  10. Sephora
  11. Minted
  12. H&M
  13. Joe Fresh
  14. Nike
  15. Etsy

What deals did you locate? We would love to hear from you.

Happy bargain shopping,

Jen Young

5 Ways to Style a Scarf

/in , , , , /by

Happy Monday Fashionistas!

Hope you’ve been enjoying these cooler nights. Lord knows I have in my mid-life hormonal craziness!

Let’s face it–we’re in that weird weather transition where our days begin in the low 50’s and end in the upper 80’s. So how can we effectively look cute without losing our style sanity?

Let’s focus on 5 ways to style a scarf that can simplify your dressing routine and ultimately make you feel pulled together on these seemingly schizo days.

Here are five different outfits that utilize several types of scarf material, the latest trends, and also links to learn how to tie a scarf itself.

Outfit #1)

One of my favorite looks includes a ‘faux infinity scarf.’ This is a great day to night outfit, especially topped with the leather jacket. It’s a smaller version of a blanket scarf but super elegant yet light enough to wear with a short sleeve shirt {check out this additional post to Style a Basic Tee for more inspiration}.

Outfit #2)

Styling a basic shift or t-shirt dress paired with some riding boots and then accessorize with a wool or knitted type scarf is a “go-to” outfit concept for me. Try the figure eight or loop-n-through concept or simply let the scarf hang around the neck. Keep in mind, this style of scarf often looks best in the fall/winter months because of the bulk of the material, but it is a great staple scarf to have on hand regardless!

Outfit #3)

Plaid shirts are still popular this season coupled with your favorite tall riding boots and jeans. Add a knitted infinity scarf to add more warmth as well as a simple pop of color/contrast. I will be showcasing this outfit myself over the holidays myself. Check out last weeks blog post for more Simple Holiday Outfits like this.

Outfit #4)

This is the perfect professional ensemble if you add a blazer to this concept! Traditional trousers and a plain t-shirt paired with a fun loafer is adorbs. Get crazy and add the latest trend –the neck tie scarf. This dainty add-on can be tied in many ways as showcased in Audrey A La Mode’s blog.

Outfit #5)

Last but not least, get inspiration with a fun skirt and over-the-knee riding boot. Maybe opt for a classic denim skirt or button front style, that is also trending, with a simple double wrap scarf to add some color and pattern. This is the most common type of scarf you might see in stores and something that can be worn all year around depending on the weight and pattern you choose.

So don’t delay–get your day on with the perfect accessory–The SCARF!

For all you visual learners–also check out this fabulous instructional video from Nordstrom called “How to Tie a Scarf.”

If you have any additional tips for styling your favorite scarves, please share in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you!

Stylishly Yours,

Jen Childree

 

3 Simple Holiday Outfits

/in , , /by

 

1

It’s getting close to Turkey Day?

How are you getting your gobble on?

I seriously cannot believe it’s almost Thanksgiving… and then Christmas…WHAT?! Of course, these upcoming holidays beg the question, “What in the heck do I wear since it really isn’t even sweater-weather? Can you say 80 degrees in November?”

So today I’ve picked out three simple and fuss free outfit concepts as we transition from Fall to Winter to boost your style and confidence.

Outfit #1

This is a timeless yet preppy concept! Add a pair of skinny or boyfriend cut jeans with your favorite ankle booties topped with a basic tee {like I mentioned in the  Four Ways to Style a Basic Tee post} and a classic blazer. To spice things up,  add a scarf for a pop of color as well as some sparkly studs.

Outfit #2

Partner a shirt dress of your choice and with a pair of your go-to riding boots. Then add a bold statement necklace and some delicate earrings and you’re good to go, girl!

Outfit #3

Now this look has become very popular for the busy mom or for individuals for travel focusing on a Tunic tee. I absolutely adore a this longer style of top if  styled appropriately. I love wearing my leather jeggings or skinny jeans with knee-high or over the knee boots. Avoid wearing anything too bulky on the bottom where your proportions will be out of whack. Finish off the look with a long pendent style necklace.

I hope these 3 simple holiday outfit concepts give your wardrobe a little boost! Remember–you don’t have to go out and buy all new stuff to look and feel great. By reinventing your key essentials, that is all it takes!

Fashionably Yours,

Jen Young

DVF Wrap Dress

/in , , , , /by

1070x500tx2016dvf2-1024x478

Hello Ladies!

On November 15th, 2016 the Texas Conference for Women will be held in Austin, Texas. This one-day conference will feature inspirational keynote speakers including the iconic Belgian-born American fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg who is best known for her iconic DVF wrap dress. This timeless wardrobe essential came to symbolize power and independence for an entire generation of women in 1974.

By 1976, she had sold over a million of the dresses and was featured on the cover of Newsweek. This super versatile dress looks perfect on all different body types and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Especially for the fall, this dress looks sophisticated paired with riding boots, pumps, or if you’re feeling stylish…sneakers! Furstenberg literally changed American fashion with her relevant and classic design.

Check out some of the wrap styles I selected from Nordstorm, and pick the one that fits your shape and style!

There will also be 100 other speakers like international human rights attorney Amal Clooney, World Cup champion and equal pay advocate Abby Wambach, educator Linda Cliatt-Wayman, and Nina Tassler, the highest ranking Latina in network television {CBS}. There are several breakout sessions ranging from personal finance, health and wellness to career advancement offering something for everyone.

Unfortunately tickets are sold out but the call for volunteers is now open! Receive free registration in exchange for your time. Click HERE!

To learn more about the #TXConfWomen conference click HERE!

Please also subscribe to these social media sites on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay connected!

Check out this upcoming free teleclass entitled “Make Your Next Move” on October 25th from 12-12:30pm central time.

 Hope to see you at the conference or dressed in your DVF inspired wrap dress very soon.
Fashionably Yours,

Jen Young