Let’s Style This Mannequin and More About Me
Happy Tuesday ladies. Today I have a mixed bag for you. A mannequin and a bit more info about me. I’d like to start doing some question-and-answer posts. Are you curious about something you’d like to see covered? Curious about me? If you have questions just hit reply to this email and ask away.
Today I’m answering questions about me.
Did I work as a stylist in a store or individually?
Yes and yes. I managed several intimate, high-end boutiques for many years. I did the merchandise buying along with the owner and helped ladies find the right garments for their bodies. It was extremely rewarding and I loved helping them. They began to ask me to come into their homes and help them organize their wardrobes and help them decide what should stay or go.
I realized this would be a fulfilling career change so began my studies. I trained with several image masters, tested, and received my certification from the Association of Image Consultants, better known as AICI.
“AICI is the leading and largest professional association of personal and corporate image consultants worldwide. Our members counsel both, individual and corporate clients on appearance, behavior, communication, and soft skills.”
I ran my own Image Consulting business for several years, helping women clean out their wardrobes and discover the gaps they need to fill with garments and accessories that will help them look and feel their best. We would shop together to find what they needed.
When the economy hit a nosedive I decided to retire and start a blog so I could share online, what I had been sharing with paying clients.
Now enough about me, let’s have a look at a mannequin I came across and see how you would style what she is modeling.
The blouse is semi-sheer chiffon with a ruffled neck and cuffs. You can click through the links above to learn more about the items.
Would these pieces work for you? Would you wear either one and how would you style them to work for your shape, coloring, and lifestyle.
Let’s have an exchange of styling ideas and inspire each other.
Thanks for being here and making this community such a warm, sharing place for women to discuss fashion.
Have a great one ladies and remember to wear what makes you feel confident.
Living in a warm climate this look wouldn’t work for me. The high neck and jeans seem too heavy for my eye. As much as I like jeans I have worn them so infrequently since moving here. They are not acceptable wear in our clubhouse restaurant and not worn by women of my age dining out at night in town.
I really like this outfit, I would probably just add gold earrings and a bracelet. For footwear, either a pair of booties, or wedges, solid black – or even leopard print.
You have had an interesting career. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise.
I would be interested in trying it, but I’m pretty sure the blouse would not work. I’m too busty for this style, and the neck would probably just call attention to my crepe-y neck. I’m not a fan of boot cut jeans, but since they seem to be more and more popular, I think it’s time to try a pair and see.
When I first saw the outfit it was a big no for me…thought the blouse looked a bit matronly but then after reading comments I reaccessed. Yes I would wear this with large stud earrings or hoops and caramel or cognac booties…would also front tuck the top. Thanks ladies for broadening my thinking😊
That’s why I love doing these posts! We can all get new ideas.
So interesting to hear about your career! I’d love to know if there is a style, type of garment, or trend that you used to totally dislike, but now love or at least have come around to. Speaking of trends and looking at the mannequin, I find it difficult to accept combining something so dressy with jeans. If it were up to me, I’d replace the blouse with one of the zebra-striped tees that’s hanging on the rack behind her.
Well, it is difficult for me to get my head around this outfit. I live in Florida where it is so hot most of the time that I have not worn a “regular” pair of jeans in five years! Having said that, judging it as an outfit for 80% of the rest of the U.S., I would say just add nice gold earrings and high heels and a great bag and you are done! A nice tailored black jacket would complete the outfit! I do think the blouse would look better with skinny jeans.
I am in total agreement with everything you said, even tho I do wear jeans here in hot Florida. I find that I love much of the styling on this blog but would have few opportunities to actually wear them. Perhaps we could get a few more casual styling tips??
I love this simple outfit I might be worried about the higher neckline as they don’t always work for me. I would dress it up with some fancy gold earrings and bracelet. Maybe wedge boots. Your job sounds like it would be so fun and interesting. Do you miss it?
I don’t miss it. It was rewarding to help an woman discover what makes her feel fabulous but digging around in someone else’s closet isn’t very glamorous.
I like the outfit. I love the mix of dressy top and jeans. I’d wear narrow jeans, vs bootcut, and I’d add a long silver necklace, but smaller earrings. I wouldn’t want too much action at the neck – the ruffle is enough. I’d wear ballet flats or strappy sandals with it.
I work from home, so I like to look polished for zoom calls. But no one sees below the waist, so jeans are my go-to. Still, I think the mix of casual and dressy is very interesting. I’d totally wear it.
I really like the look I’d just do booties a big pair of earrings and maybe a bracelet or two. I never stopped wearing bootcut jeans seeing as i am pear shaped. Skinny jeans would never work with my figure. Thanks for all you do you do a great job.
There is a disconnect for me between the dressy-looking top and the casual pants. On the website the blouse is shown with darker wash jeans, a combination I thought more attractive. Thank you for sharing your work experience with us, Jennifer. What an interesting and rewarding life you have had. I am grateful you have turned to blogging to share your wisdom and experience with a wider range of people. I look forward to reading your articles every morning.
I’m glad you’re here with us Marcia.
I love the soft feminine with the bootcut jeans! Sheer arms are nice for me, as my skin has started to (ahem) sag in the upper arm region, so it is nice to still show a little skin in that regard. The high neck throws me off a bit. As one of your responders said earlier, she saw something similar with a V neck – now that would suit my taste much better. I really like how the waistline of the blouse is not fitted but gently lays where it does. Lovely!
Thanks for your bio information, it is helpful to know more about different bloggers experience and education. I looked online to check the “stats “, fabric content, rise length, and see the details. I like bootcut jeans, but these are too low rise for me, I need 12”. And back pocket design, I avoid because I’m a pear shape. The top is polyester fabric, which I never wear, it’s neither warm in winter or cool in summer for my body’s comfort. The high neck and design I like, I bought one similar in silk from Vince about 5 years ago in mink brown , my “summer” color, as a summer, I have very little black/ dark navy in my wardrobe, I prefer greys and mink browns. As a triangle/ pear I’m opposite of your inverted triangle, but I have similar “ coloring” to you and enjoy seeing light blue or pastels posted, for that, I thank you.
Very pretty yet simple outfit. Love the mix of casual and pretty. I’m a boot cut and boot fan and petite too. I’d wear this with nice hair, bolder earrings and either a bold bracelet or long necklace.
Wow, I never would have paired chiffon with denim. Those two fabric weights seem incompatible to me. Jennifer, I would be interested in your thoughts on this.
I would pair the blouse with a skirt or fluid trousers. It’s very feminine.
And, as such a blank canvas, I would add a long silver necklace as a contrast to the black. Something delicate, not chunky.
Love the outfit. Add earrings, an envelope style bag, and some stylish booties or pointy high heels.
High necklines make me look shorter and heavier, I prefer more open necklines like a boatneck or vee. A great fitting pair of jeans, bootleg or straight, is a great investment. I have yet to find them 😩
I would style this with a pointy toe black bootie with a heel. I would add some dainty .dangle ,sparkle earrings and you are good to go!
I would wear this look. Some diamond hoops and a small bracelet to jazz it up. At Nordstrom’s when I looked at this blouse they had another blouse which was same material with sheer sleeves and a v neck that was pink with small flowers I would like better for Spring. Love that bootcut jeans are back!
I like the outfit but wonder about the neckline of the blouse. Would it accentuate an aging neck? I don’t know but would have to try it on.
The blouse very pretty, but I’m not sure about the high neckline on me. Although it would hide my neck wrinkles! I really like the sheer arms. Casual but sophisticated. As far as boot cut jeans, that’s a no for me. I feel that my legs are too short. I much prefer a slimmer cut. Thanks Jennifer for giving us background on your careers. I very much like your fashion sense.
I love those sleeves, so pretty and feminine, and the sheerness hides the fact that my arms aren’t what they once were. I also like that the blouse is navy rather than black, and I’d wear it as shown with long boot cut jeans, probably a dark wash, booties, and a long necklace. The blouse would be pretty with a skirt too.