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Style during COVID-19

This past month while tracking the virus, the essential workers, the quarantined, the laid off, the shuddering economy, and growing class disparities, we’ve found ourselves wondering, “What’s style got to do with all this?” Now more than ever, are style, appearance, fashion, make-up, hair-cuts turning out to be non-essentials in our new reality? Concerns that fly out the window when intense survival-level and socio-political issues are in play? Perhaps.

Be that as it may, we have also realized that there are a few universally significant style-related phenomena that we’re all facing together in one way or another right now.

Chanmuny transformed an old square cotton scarf into a face mask.

First, the face mask gives us much pause for thought. In a span of weeks, face masks have gone from surgery wear to street wear for all. Community groups, individuals (even our founder, Chanmuny has been feverishly making masks to donate!), designers  and fashion houses have poured resources into mask production to address shortages as quickly as possible. Human spirit bursts through in the colors, patterns, designs, contours and creative interpretations of all manner of face coverings showing up. There are special and heartwarming Matzah masks for Passover, artistically hand-painted masks, flower-child home-made tie-dye masks, and even designer masks popping up on the Paris ‘virtual’ runways.

However, couture masks in logo prints stand in sharp contrast to repeated use masks of many essential workers, or no masks at all among many vulnerable populations. The sudden presence of face masks on our collective radar has also thrust disparity issues in class, race, ethnicity, gender and the like to the surface. As with all powerful style items, the face mask is both a wearable item and a disrupter. There is no doubt about it, this itty-bitty face covering has become relevant to each of us in some way, shape or form.

In case you need to make your own CDC-approved face covering, or want to make some for others, please see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29wnIpPmpAQ

Second, for those with access to technology, the rise of zoom/video conferencing as a primary way to connect with one another has forced us to think about personal appearance in new ways. The screen view that others see of us is an intimate into window into the rooms we live in and an up-close view of our face. There is plenty one can do to try to enhance the video image, for example, lighting, make-up, clothing, accessories. But in a time of crisis and stress, there may not be time or energy for this, and so we are showing up as our most regular, basic selves. (Not to mention the state of our homes, the size of our living spaces, the ambient sounds of our families, roommates, pets, garbage trucks, etc.).

It used to be that being on camera meant being in a studio with tightly controlled lighting, background, strategic wardrobe, make-up and hair. Now being on camera means everything about how we really are shows up. As a seminar student recently pointed out, this lack of image control is incredibly humanizing, and yet it’s also quite a departure from traditional style standards and norm, particularly when it comes to work and professional interactions.

We at The Stylery think both are great – the humanizing real aspects of our appearance coming through on camera for more authentic connection AND the opportunity to curate appearance to fit the situation if one has time, energy and resources. Dating in the age of Covid-19 is also prime territory for “getting ready” for virtual dates. For those interested in how to put your best foot forward on video, see Tom Ford’s Tips courtesy of NYT (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/07/style/tom-ford-video-chat-tips.html).

Third, and finally, we have been thinking about dressing and grooming as essential self-care in times of crisis. For those of us quarantined and experiencing loss of routine and structure, it is vitally important to stick to a daily regimen of personal care and hygiene. This idea is borrowed with gratitude from Viktor Frankl’s deeply moving book, Man’s Search for Meaning, in which Frankl shares how his personal daily routine became a lifeline when surviving life in a concentration camp. He explains that during times of terrible crisis and uncertainty, action, discipline and regularity in routine created purpose and helped him be able to control what he could – even in the midst of the uncontrollable and unimaginable. And while the quarantine is not at all akin to circumstances Frankl endured while imprisoned, we can certainly apply his deep wisdom to our current situation.

It is also well noted in the clinical depression literature that personal care, especially grooming and appearance, tends to fall away when people are struggling with significant emotional pressure. A small but powerful way to keep upright is to set up and stick to a routine of getting ready for the day ahead, including dressing and grooming. This means even if you are not planning to see anyone all day, in person or on screen, you should get out of yours PJs, shower, dress and groom for the day ahead. We are not suggesting you rock a suit or stilettos—although if this will lift your spirit, more power to you! Just get yourself cleaned up and ready to face your day ahead. (BTW, we also strongly advocate exercise and/or stretching daily if possible, as this helps metabolize stress and gets us out of our heads and rebalanced into our bodies.)

For additional self-care recommendations during times of stress, please see: https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/self-care-tips-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

Finally, we would love to hear your thoughts, ideas and insights on any of these topics or others related to appearance and style as we go through this time. In the meantime, we send all best wishes to you and yours during this time. Our hearts go out to everyone. Please take good care.

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The Hidden Power of Underwear

Underwear is your secret weapon. We’re serious. It’s the most private place you have to express yourself no matter what is happening on the outside. You can wear bright red panties for courage, strength—a rebellion even, while on the outside you may be dressed head to toe in professional navy blue. You can wear all black for power. Lace it up for sexiness. Shades of green for kindness and compassion. Skin tones for simplicity. Or go full-on leopard for a wild streak. There’s even Wonder Woman underwear for days you need superhero powers. The idea is to use the colors, cut, textures, and prints that inspire you, that will be a private affirmation between you and you for the day. There are no rules in the private world of underwear and that’s why it’s so much fun.

But even more essential than self-expression and inspiration, the most vital raison d’être for underwear is that it supports your outerwear.

That’s why foundational garments is the technical term for undies. These delicate bras, panties, slips, stockings, and shapers were created to support the body so that the outer clothing could drape beautifully. Think of it like this: undergarments are the scaffolding upon which the spectacular architecture of clothing rests.

Historically undergarments were notoriously complex, uncomfortable, restrictive and sometimes even harmful (did you know that women used to suffer broken ribs getting laced into corsets?!). But over the last century tremendous innovation and design coupled with body positivity have changed the nature of foundational garments. These days you can find underwear to harmonize with the body instead of fighting it. Today, when you select the right undergarments for your body, they optimize your form without sacrificing movement or comfort. As a result you feel smooth and seamless on the inside while the clothing you layer on the outside looks spectacular.

In the spirit of underwear empowerment for all, The Stylery teamed up with Soma Intimates for an event featuring foundational garment education. As The Sylery Founder, Chanmuny Dy, put it, “building a great wardrobe and building confidence starts with great foundations—figuratively and literally!”

A major focus of the event was proper fit, as most women are actually wearing the wrong bra size (!), which impacts both comfort and appearance. Attendees were measured and fitted by expert Soma associates and then tried on different cuts, styles and colors to experientially see which undergarments were optimal for their unique body type and wardrobe needs/goals. And, of course, there was plenty of time to indulge in color, texture and cut for self-expression!

 

If we missed seeing you at the event, we want to be absolutely sure you have access to the shared nuggets of gold wherever you may be!

Lingerie takeaway tips:

  • We recommend that you take the time to get measured and fitted (most undergarment shops will offer this service for free if you ask) and to shop according to what types of undergarments would optimize your outwear wardrobe.
  • Always have a nude set of undergarments to wear under whites, light colored clothes and thin fabrics that could possibly be see-through. (Please note that white undergarments under white clothing is NOT invisible!)
  • Build a bra wardrobe. Soma recommends having at least three bras in rotation: one that you wear, one that you are washing, and one that is resting. This rotation cycle helps bras last longer. Another benefit of having three bras is to be prepared for different body and wardrobe needs. For example, a dependable neutral bra for practical use, a comfortable bra for lounging and a beautiful or wild bra for self-expression.
  • Always try to make time to hand wash and line dry bras and panties. Alternatively, machine wash undergarments in a mesh lingerie bag on delicate cycle and line dry. Never expose them to heat as this breaks down elastic and shortens undergarment lifespan.
  • Just FYI, bras should last a year or two, depending on frequency of wear and care.
  • Pay attention to underwear lines! Seek out panties with flat seams or seamless edges for a marvelous effect.
  • Don’t forget to use your undies as a private source of inspiration, affirmation and self-expression – ENJOY!

Download infographic below!

 

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Branding Yourself Through Personal Style

This year the stars aligned for Washington DC Start-Up Week and New York Fashion Week to converge on the same stretch of September. While we enthusiastically attended the former and obsessively followed the latter, a sort of love-child insight took form:

What if we started thinking of our lives as start-ups and our style as our personal brand?

 

One of the most heavily discussed topics at this year’s DC Start-Up Week was branding. According to Ally Fouts , Creative Director at Viget, “Your brand is how you communicate: who you are, what you do and why you do it.” It’s a cohesive collection of elements including logos, taglines, images, symbols, colors and words that serve as a clear calling card to the public. Brands with worldwide recognition are Coke, FedEx, Starbucks, Louis Vuitton. A brand that does particularly well in communicating values we cherish is Patagonia. Excellent branding allows a company to be instantly identifiable, distinctive, aesthetically pleasing and consistent over time. Branding is absolutely crucial to a company’s success.

Now here’s where things get interesting. If you imagine your life as a start-up that would make YOU the face of the brand. No matter what you are trying to do—land a job, secure a promotion, succeed in school, make a speech at your community center, run for office, impress your in laws—how you speak, relate, present, engage and, yes, how you look is how you are branding yourself. Moreover, every single time you step out of your house and interact with people, how you are branding yourself impacts your achievements that day, big and small.

At the conference we asked (on the record!) two esteemed presenters for DC Start-Up week if they each consider personal appearance as representing their personal brands. They both agreed. Panelist Moderator Kim Cayce, CEO of Vitamin E, believes it is important to present with a consistent image and noted that this takes some discipline. She also emphasized that personal image needs to be authentic and should reflect one’s “true self” for it to be successful. Panelist Aurelia Flores, Managing Member of Athena Digital Group, agreed in the value and necessity of “putting thought into creating how you want to be seen.” She noted that no detail is too small to consider, “eyeglasses, jewelry, body language, voice, all of these influence brand.”

There seems to be consensus that how we come across to others impacts how they hear what we have to say. That is why personal branding in the form of appearance is so important to your success. You may be a spectacular human being bursting with potential but if you are not presenting in a way the world wants to engage with, you will not receive the attention you deserve.

Of course, this does not mean there is a cookie cutter approach to personal styling, or that you need to put on a three piece suit when you hop out of bed each morning. Remember creativity and authenticity are vital here. But it is worth thinking through your goals and responsibilities for each day and what look would best support you in accomplishing these.

Really branding yourself, however, involves more than daily consideration of how you are presenting yourself. Branding asks you to develop a master plan or a vision about how you want to be perceived and why. How can you begin to develop said master plan? We learned from DC Start-Up Week presenter Kelly Miller, Director of Banner Public Affairs, that excellent branding is:

1) Specific (not vague, or mixed messaging)

2) Unique (is it differentiated?)

3) Simple (not too much, not overly complex)

4) Data Supported (you’ve tested it out and know it really works)

5) Interesting/Memorable (this is where authenticity and creativity come in to play)

6) Consistent (doesn’t mean you wear the same thing every day, but that there is a recognizable signature to your look across time)

An excellent example is Marla Beck, co-founder and CEO of Bluemercury, who has successfully (and stylishly!) mastered branding. She wears her signature blue at nearly every single pubic appearance she attends, a creative and distinctive way to use her personal styling to feed back into her company’s branding.

Marla, hosts Halcyon Fast Forward talks with visionary women leaders, such as Sallie Krawcheck of Ellevest
Marla is on the panel of judges at a Vinetta Project Venture Challenge
Marla, as CEO of Bluemercury at one of her stores.   Image source: bluemercury.com

So, if you like the idea of your life as a start-up and your style as your brand, begin to think through these six principles. This will lead you to begin developing a brand for yourself and guide you to make personal styling choices that authentically reflect what you want to communicate to the world. Personal branding is a process over time, and it evolves as you grow and change and learn what works (and what doesn’t).

Building upon our Style Knowledge is Power thought, the core idea here is to be smart about it, to be intentional, even visionary in your personal branding, and of course to deeply enjoy the success that comes from it – because make no mistake, it will work for you if you put in the work!

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Cooking with Color

Remember our style hero  with the Kelly green pants? Well, we got to thinking more about the greenness of those trousers and how effectively the color communicated friendliness, abundance, creativity and aliveness, how the gentleman’s choice of Kelly balanced the possible formality of the crisp white oxford shirt and fedora. Color is one of the most important spices to consider in your style soup. It is immediately perceived and interpreted; like garlic, you can taste it in the first bite. And like garlic, there is a kick to color. It is best when used wisely, strategically and in symphony with all other ingredients. We’d bet the house that our style hero knew what he was doing when he sprinkled Kelly-Kermit-the-Frog-green into his style soup that day.

Color communicates volumes about the wearer including moods and emotions, states and traits, goals and fantasies. Of course, there are other aspects of visible style that speak out loud too, for example, silhouette, fit, texture, pattern, drape, and how the items are worn and combined. These facets of style—including color—all interact to form a visual gestalt for a viewer.

Just like a bite of food, it’s a complex of flavors, textures, temperatures that hit you all at once. And just like with a delicious dish, deconstructing the individual elements of a spectacular look happens only after initial impact.

It could be argued that color is one of the first perceived and the first recalled aspects of style. Think about it, when you recall a terrific outfit, isn’t it very often the color you remember first (that red dress Jess wore to the wedding was fabulous), soon followed by shape, texture, fit etc.? This may be because color is linked to the emotional centers in our brains, it flows into us on a kind of neuron superhighway, right into the heart of our feeling centers. Red is thought to elicit excitement states including arousal and danger, while blue to known to be calming, safe, stabilizing. (That’s why hospital scrubs traditionally worn by doctors are light blue, and probably why Jess turned the most heads at the wedding!)

Colors are like spices that influence the character of your creation, the more you understand what they communicate, the more agency you have over what you are saying to the world (more on that in our Knowledge is Power post). To explore more about how color communicates and how you can use the range of hues more strategically when self-styling, take a look at Plutchik’s wheel of emotions, which is based on evolutionary theory. While Plutchik is not the definitive guide on color-emotion correspondence—in fact there are many theories of color out there! —his theory is a very helpful starting point in thinking strategically about color communication.

Happy cooking, style chefs!

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Knowledge is Power

The phrase Knowledge Is Power usually refers to fields of study or crucial information that, once made accessible, can lift a person out of ignorance and into empowerment. Traditionally, types of knowledge that lead to empowerment are academic (i.e., science, philosophy, literature, law) or practical information (i.e., how to apply to college or how to advocate for yourself with health insurance companies).

Yet rarely, if ever, do we see “Knowledge Is Power” applied to appearance, style, self-presentation, fashion or beauty.

 

Despite a significant body of social science research demonstrating that appearance does matter and a well-established, credible cannon of knowledge delineating the science and art of mastering appearance (developed by the Image Consulting and Fashion Styling fields), style does not get a seat at the knowledge-worth-knowing table. Never mind that research has repeatedly shown that a well-crafted appearance can lead to crucial improved life outcomes in both relationship and career domains–two areas humans’ value most. Instead, style is so often seen as “fluff,” a superficial interest driven by narcissistic self-obsession, when it is really a key component of human behavior that significantly impacts both relationship and career success.

What would happen if we elevated the importance of style and treated it as a body of knowledge that could empower us in all domains of our lives? To this end, we invite you to begin to think specifically and strategically about how style, appearance, fashion, and self-presentation could lead to better life outcomes for you. For example, What aspects of your life do you think could flourish more if you knew how to optimize your appearance? What are your short-term and long-term life goals and how might having mastery over your appearance support you in achieving these goals? What is one style/appearance related topic you would like to actively learn about and implement right away?

By considering these questions we begin to take style seriously, rescuing it from the realm of fluff and restoring it to its rightful identity: the aspect of human dignity pertaining to how we present ourselves to the world. Now that’s Style Knowledge that Is Power!

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Style Heroes

Today I was walking through the city and spotted a slim black man sporting kelly green pants cropped perfectly to reveal printed socks and to showcase his fabulous classic patent leather brogues. He balanced the look with a crisp white oxford tucked in and belted, under a black blazer trimmed with classic gold buttons, and then topped it off with a Sinatra-style fedora perched ever-so-slightly askew with attitude.

His look stopped me in my tracks, the world went into slow motion. Everything else on the street fell away as I locked onto this man to take in every single detail of his look. A moment of peace descended. A moment of captivation ensued. A moment of beholding, understanding, appreciation, happiness. This man was my style hero of the day.

Style is inherently relational. It is a dialectic relationship between what is being expressed and the gaze that takes it in. And in this looping conversation both the expresser and the perceiver are impacted. What a delight it is to spot someone – a total stranger – who took the time to elevate their look, to express themselves authentically and creatively with their ensemble. Perhaps the best part of this phenomenon is that they have no idea exactly who will notice or how deeply they will impact another with their look. Like a birdsong, it is a free gift to anyone who is lucky enough to perceive it.

Can you remember your most recent street style hero? Someone you spotted out and about whose look made your gaze stick? A style hero can be your ideal, or your complete opposite. Their look can be wacky, classy, risky, or sheer perfection. The thing is they changed your inner experience and activated your creativity center with their look. Celebrities can serve as style heroes for sure. The nice thing about our beloved celebs is you can find their looks online in an instant. I’ll take a look at what Pharrell is wearing any day, it’s a guaranteed hit of inspiration.

It doesn’t matter where you come from, how much money you have, what your body shape, weight or size is like. We all have the inherent capacity to take whatever we do have and make it a personal expression that speaks. It’s the intentionality behind your expression that makes it style, not the items themselves, not the features of your body.

So, tomorrow when getting dressed, you just might make a few style moves to really express yourself. It could be as simple as cuffing your jeans, doing a half-tuck with your shirt, putting on two necklaces instead of one. Or you might go full-on kelly green and fedora. Whatever the level, remember that your effort to express yourself with these intentional style moves is a gift to all whose eyes you catch. And maybe, just maybe, if you let yourself really sing, you might be someone’s full-on style hero of the day.

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Why is image so important?

Before I start diving into all things style related, I’d like to share the WHY behind it all.

You may have heard the phrase (and book) “Dress for Success,” but simply put WHAT YOU WEAR INFLUENCES YOURSELF AND THOSE AROUND YOU. And there’s scientific evidence to back it up. It’s called “enclothed cognition” and you can view the White Coat experiment on NPR.

I like to think of Style as mostly art with a bit of science. Our brains are programmed into thinking certain things, but it can be “tricked” as well. More details to come.

My goal here at The Stylery is to educate, inspire and empower women to use their image to feel confident and achieve a certain goal, whether it’s to enter or advance in the workforce, or get results.

So, the next time you get dressed I want you to think about what your goals are and how your image will be perceived.