As the cold of winter rolls in, it can be hard to pull yourself out of that oversized sweatshirt. It's time to see the holidays as an opportunity to add some festive flare to your closet! Don't feel like you have to go out and buy a completely new wardrobe—there are easy ways to elevate the clothes you already own.
Jennifer Dutilly is the co-owner of Shift Life Coaching and Styling. She and her business partner, Lisa Smith, work to improve their clients' lives be setting goals and boosting confidence. The pair began strictly styling their clients but found that life coaching came naturally. Your closet can be a vulnerable place. Inviting a stranger to go through your clothes was often followed with conversations about the bigger obstacles, including body image struggles. To foster this path, both Jennifer and Lisa earned their life coaching certificates.
"We found a unique niche and it has been working," Jennifer exclaims.
When it comes to a holiday celebration, it’s easy to feel lost when putting together your outfit, whether it's for a company office party or neighbor's annual bake-off. A few simple tricks can take any outfit from flop to fa la la.
"Everything holiday is about things that pop and glitter," Jennifer explains.
For an effortless sparkle, jewelry is a great go-to. Jennifer’s gold earrings offer the right amount of bling to her luncheon look. A hat is another simple accessory that brings an outfit to life. To kick up the holiday, add the hot pattern of the season—plaid. For those chilly, winter nights, cover up with a fur shawl.
Shift’s styling motto? “Shop your closet.”
"We show you how to pair your clothes together," Jennifer clarifies. The best way to build outfits is to find a few key pieces you already own to work from. Experiment with these foundations, seeing what works well and what needs to be changed. Take the staple of a black, cocktail dress. Jennifer elevates a piece many women have in their closet and makes it festive by adding a bright red jacket and leopard print purse. Adding different textures and colors brings a timeless cocktail dress to the next level.
Jennifer's goal is that she teaches her clients techniques to use in the long run, ranging from basic cuff to a wrinkle-free way to tuck a shirt. When clients send messages of outfits they put together and are proud of, Jennifer knows they are using her advice to find their signature style. Your signature look is your personality in fabric. If cranberry makes you feel like a million bucks, a cranberry gown is the right choice for a black-tie event. “A slit adds a little bit of flair,” Jennifer gleams.
Especially women, Jennifer encourages her clients to shop for the body they have now. It's your confidence that matters, not the size on the tag. Feeling good in an outfit changes how you hold yourself and how you act. You may be one well-tailored blazer away from a promotion. Jennifer’s favorite part of her job is when joy overcomes a client after finding a piece of clothing that fits in all the right places.
"People think It's just clothes, but it's more than that," Jennifer argues. "The clothes are just a vessel. Your best self comes from the inside out."
Page 2 details: Mix previously owned pieces with new finds to curate your signature style.
Page 4 details: Fellas! Add a seasonal twist to your suit this season with a festive tie.
Page 5 details: Jennifer's hat and earrings were found at local Cinderella Ranch Boutique.