by Helena Grant | Sep 26, 2018
It started happening early on – my clients would say:
“I feel like you are doing more than just helping me figure out what to wear…”
And it’s true. But I didn’t really understand all of it until recently.
The fact is, my work comes from a deep place of believing that every woman everywhere deserves to look and feel beautiful and powerful every day.
It is this belief that drove me to launch H.GRANTSTYLE and what spurred me to create my online offerings (BE YOUR OWN STYLIST and Capsule Creation Crash Course).
And recently I realized something…you can take it or leave it.
There’s spirituality in the process of getting dressed.
When you wear something that represents who you are, who you want to be, the Universe responds in incredible ways. When you celebrate your beauty with clothes you know look good, your body and mind align.
You empower yourself by integrating the inside and the outside.
And it doesn’t have to be expensive. It doesn’t even have to involve new clothes – the best way to initiate this is with a shift in perspective. By making the choice to decide you will honor your beauty, and celebrate it.
I believe that a woman’s closet is her “altar” – it’s a place where her expression of beauty starts every day and it represents a density of symbols – the brands she loves, the things she believes about herself. Your closet is also the one thing in your life over which you have complete control; there is ritual involved when you put on something that makes you feel unstoppable.
And when you feel unstoppable – that’s when you become one of those women who people always say: “WOW, she always looks fabulous!”
In my opinion, this can happen every day whether it’s a Little Black Dress or a pair of jeans that fits just right, even yoga pants can illicit this internal feeling of empowerment and an external reaction of compliments.
Whatever you wear, it needs to FIT you both literally and figuratively.
And as for the “altar” part? That’s where we get into the logistics of organization and merchandising your closet so it looks like your favorite boutique, a topic we cover in a dedicated module of BE YOUR OWN STYLIST.
But all of this takes effort – at least in the beginning as you are setting up to #DressIntuitively (side note: will link to challenge evenually).
It’s so easy to say: “It doesn’t matter how I look.”
I actually hear this a lot. I try not to get too perturbed but, when you say it doesn’t matter how I look, this is what you are really saying:
It doesn’t matter = I don’t care
I don’t care = I’m not worth it
I’m not worth it = a crime against yourself
You are ALWAYS worth the effort. You are BEAUTIFUL. Let your inner goddess shine. Watch and see how differently people respond to you – watch and see how differently your respond to yourself.
Photography by Sonya Highfield
by Helena Grant | Sep 26, 2018
It’s a bit counter-intuitive but a small, well-planned suitcase gives you a plethora of options plus the ability to feel unhindered by your baggage. Keep it to a carry-on and make sure everything you take with you is worthy of a place in your bag.
Remember this “packing zen” phrase:
Large, heavy suitcase: struggle and forget things.
Small, manageable suitcase: forget nothing, wear everything.
5 Strategies for Feeling Fab No Matter Your Destination:
1) Pack for 3 days – prepare for one hot, one cold, and one rainy day (apply as necessary). What you need for 3 days is the same as what you require for 10 so focus on minimalism. Align your itinerary with the weather and it helps to select a tonal palette of colors: choose a capsule of 3 base neutrals and two accent colors. This will also aide you in accomplishing strategy #2.
2) It’s a big PUZZLE – think of it as a game: each item needs to serve more than one purpose. Lay it all out on the bed or the floor – walk through each day’s activities and envision the outfits. Interchangeability is a plus i.e. a dress for evening becomes a dress for day; plays well with sneakers and heels.
3) Fold & Roll – maximize space and minimize wrinkles by turning every item into a burrito-sized roll. Stuff shoes with smaller items like socks and underwear.
4) Prioritize – sometimes our imaginations are bigger than the suitcase; put the most important, must-have pieces in first so you don’t end up cramming the essentials in at the end.
5) Travel Outfit – look nice for the best treatment but go for comfort. Who do you think will get the upgrade? The woman in yoga pants and sneakers or the one in skinny jeans, ballet flats and a perfectly draped scarf? Layers are key for fluctuating temperatures and en route is the best time to transport bulky items like sweaters, outwear and shoes.
BON VOYAGE!
Helena Grant is the founder of the personal styling company H.GrantStyle and creator of the online course BE YOUR OWN STYLIST. She is on a mission to ensure every woman everywhere feels like a ROCKSTAR every day.
Packing List
Destination: Anywhere in the world
Duration: 3 days. 10 days or 3 weeks
Weather Preparedness: Hot, rainy, cold (30-70 degrees)
Important activities
– Touring
– Enjoying
– Exploring
– Dining
– Feeling awesome all the time
Style Itinerary:
Travel outfit
– Skinny jeans (dark wash or printed)
– Belt
– Tank top
– Lightweight sweater
– Leather jacket
– Moto boots
– Blanket scarf
Day 1 – Exploring, hiking
Morning: Athleisure
– Deconstructed flannel
– Printed leggings
– Tank
– Wide belt
– Sneakers
– Hat
– Sunglasses
Evening: Loungewear
– Jogger pants
– Tank
– Sweatshirt
– Ballet flats
OR
Evening: Out to Dinner
– Fitted Dress
– Leather leggings
– Ballet flats
– Vest or leather jacket or both layered together
Day 2 – Touring
Morning: Athleisure
– Long black leggings
– Sport tank
– Performance top or long cashmere sweater
– Mid-weight zipper jacket
– Sneakers
Evening: Dinner
– Distressed jeans
– Silk blouse
– Striped cashmere sweater for warmth
– Vest for added coziness
– Moto boots
Day 3: Shopping
Morning: polish so the shop clerks treat me well
– Printed travel jeans
– Striped long sleeve shirt
– Moto boots
– Skinny belt
Evening: Dinner at the bar
– Leather leggings
– Fitted dress
– Ballet flats
– Vest
OR
– Distressed jeans
– Cashmere sweater
– Moto boots
– Leather jacket
Travel outfit
– Printed jeans
– Tee shirt
– Flannel shirt tied at the waist
– Moto boots
– Leather jacket
Packing List:
Yoga/Athleisure clothes
– 3 pairs of leggings
– Lounge pants
– 4 Tank tops (for layering)
– Sports top (built-in bra)
– Sports bra
– Warm layer
– Vest
– Jacket
– Sneakers
– Socks (3-4 pairs)
– Baseball hat
Other
– 2 pairs of jeans
– 2 short sleeve tee shirts
– 1 long sleeve tee shirt
– 2 sweaters (wool/cashmere preferable)
– Ballet flats
– Blanket scarf (wrap yourself up on the plane!)
– Winter hat (beanie) or warm headband
– Underpinnings
– Water bottle
– Sunblock
– Sunglasses
– Gloves
– Dop kit (hair, skin and tooth care)
– Make-up bag (for headshots)
– Chargers – phone/ipad/computer
Photography by Sonya Highfield
by Helena Grant | Sep 19, 2018
When it comes to style and closet management, there is a phenomenon I call the Waterfall Effect.
Since there are no rules in the realm of personal expression, in this case a “waterfall” can flow in either direction: up or down; in or out.
And, as with the Style Archetypes (as in no one archetype is better than another) any of these directions can be beneficial… or dangerous. There is light and shadow to everything.
Remember the last time you went shopping and bought something fabulous and you brought it home only to find it made the rest of your closet look “schlubby dumpy”?
Maybe it was a dress, a silk blouse, a new sweater or jeans that fit just right. Whatever the specifics, it’s a piece that gives you a whole new perspective on your wardrobe and maybe even inspires you to purge yourself of the things that don’t stand up to this newly established level.
This is an instance of the waterfall flowing up or out – this piece makes it easier to edit and pare down.
Then there are pieces that perhaps you coveted. Maybe you saw it in a glossy magazine or someone sporting “street style” on Instagram. It’s something you just know you MUST HAVE, life would not be complete without it. It’s so beautiful. It will change everything. Maybe it’s something with some sort of detail, embellishment or in a color your rarely choose. Regardless, you get it home and FLOP.
What the hell do you do it with?
How do you style it?
Where will you wear it?
This is when the waterfall flows down or in – it’s something you wanted so badly but when it’s finally yours, nothing you already own quite does the trick. You need to invest in a few more pieces to make it work thus bringing in more and possibly drowning in the decisions you had to make under duress.
So where does this lead you? Here’s a self-awareness tip:
Ask yourself: is this a WATERFALL ITEM? If so, which way will the waterfall flow?
And remember, whatever you bring into your closet, and whichever way the waterfall goes, put it to the styling test using one or all of the 3 Antidotes to I-Have-Nothing-to Wear.
Photography by Daniel Zapata
by Helena Grant | Sep 19, 2018
Shopping is a Workout – Preparing for the Hard Work and the Payoff
It’s no joke that shopping is tiring. It really is a workout. You’re faced with a myriad of stores, a plethora of options. You’re surrounded by trends and fads; you just want to find something, anything because your wardrobe needs updating. You’re getting cardio just by walking the floor, weight training holding all those heavy hangers and a bit of yoga with all the up-and-over-the-head, shimmying, kicking and jumping of the try-on process.
Be prepared for the harsh conditions and the bright lights. It’s exhausting just thinking about all the activity which is why preparing for the excursion can mean all the difference between feeling elated or deflated by your purchases.
1) Warm-up: Get Dressed To Go Shopping
This means everything from your hair to your make-up to your attire (including shoes). Look good when you catch a glimpse of yourself in those harsh mirrors and you will not only feel better but you will likely get better service from the salespeople. So wash your hair, blow it dry, put on some make-up and wear clothes that are easy to remove but that are presentable. Slip-on shoes, like loafers are highly recommended – this is a great opportunity to build your outfit using the first of my 3 Antidotes. This is also a good time to wear your prettiest underpinnings. Again, those mirrors.
2) Hitting the Floor: Be Focused But Open to Opportunities
Know what works for you and what doesn’t. Stay focused on what you’re looking for but you never know what you’re going to find when you’re looking for something else. That’s called style serendipity. Either way, be sure that when you look at the price tag you would be willing to pay five times more than what’s listed. This puts into perspective whether or not something is worthwhile, especially if it’s on sale.
3) Sustaining the Workout: Hydration and Satiation
Low blood sugar is a surefire way to buy something that you don’t really like just to end the painful process of shopping itself. And, with all the exertion, you likely are losing quite a lot of water. Bring a small water bottle with you and don’t be afraid to ask an eager sales clerk if they have water on hand. Most stores do and it’s in their best interest to keep customers happy.
4) Stamina: Try It On!
Buying it and taking it home means that you will be swayed into thinking that you should keep it mostly because you don’t want to go through the returns process (I don’t blame you!). This results in all kinds of clothing that you don’t really like and that you won’t really wear. Trying clothes on in-store helps combat falling into this trap. When in doubt or even when you find something you think you love, take a SELFIE!
5) Throwing in the Towel: Leaving “Empty Handed”
This is paramount. Just because you went shopping doesn’t mean you have to go buying. If it isn’t fabulous and you don’t absolutely love it and you wouldn’t pay five times more for it, then leave it behind. You’ll feel so much better and you’re making room to buy something that you do really love down the line. Again, let me stress, don’t be afraid to walk out of the store with nothing. The worst is getting trapped on the wrong side of the Waterfall Effect so be sure to practice just a dash of restraint and self awareness.
Whether you have plotted a course or you are out browsing for an impulse buy, these strategies will arm you for the battle and ensure you are confident in your purchases when you walk out of a store, shiny bag and tissue paper in the crook of you arm.
Helena Grant is a Boston-based Brand Stylist who loves to shop anywhere from T.J.Maxx to Saks. She believes everyone can benefit from a little retail therapy with the right strategies. Follow her on Instagram @hgrantstyle
Photography by Sonya Highfield
by Helena Grant | Sep 19, 2018
We’ve all faced it; even as a Brand Stylist, I grapple with indecision at times.
You feel defeated, paralyzed, trapped – you are looking at a closet full of clothes and you think:
I HAVE NOTHING TO WEAR
You tell yourself: “I have to go shopping right now,” and while a little closet refresh might indeed be necessary, you will feel infinitely better, empowered even, if you start with what you already have.
And besides, you would need to get dressed to go shopping anyways.
Some of my clients coped with this issue on a daily basis, others only when they had an occasion and needed to dress outside their comfort zone.
Whether the feeling is constant or occasional, I have designed three strategies to combat the desire to throw a belt around a bed sheet and pretend it’s the next sartorial trend.
THREE ANTIDOTES for any Style Archetype:
1) Start With Your Shoes
How awful is it to put together an outfit only to realize you don’t have the right pair of shoes to compliment it? Reverse engineering your look by starting with your soles is incredibly effective.
CONSIDER: how far do I have to walk? How much time will I spend on my feet? Most importantly, what’s the weather? Start at the bottom and work up from there; you are sure to have a look that truly will carry you through any day, any event.
2) Wear Something You Never Wear
All those beautiful pieces you purchased that now languish in your closet? Something that might not have made it to the otherside of the Waterfall Effect? Well, this is the time to take a new, fresh look at them. It might be a few years old but if you think outside-the-box, something old paired with something new or totally unexpected might actually work. Even if you don’t end up choosing any of these forlorn pieces, the journey of trying them on will likely bring you somewhere closer to the perfect outfit. And, along the way, you gained a whole new perspective on items you hardly wear.
3) Subtlety Rules
It’s amazing what the smallest detail can do to a piece of clothing, or an outfit in general. For starters you can roll your sleeves (short or long apply), unbutton (or button) an extra button or cuff your jeans (big or small roll) to show some ankle and alter the proportions. Could a top be belted and bloused? Tied or partially tucked? Just a slight tweak can take you, in an instant, from frumpy to FAB.
I hope these 3 Antidotes will aide you in your search for the perfect, effortless outfit every day. And, if you do wear that bed sheet, it’s because you really want to; and that to you, it looks and feels like a ball gown.
Helena Grant is a Personal and Brand Stylist specializing in helping women build wardrobes that make them look and feel amazing no matter what. She is determined to make every woman feel effortless, confident and empowered through teaching them to dress intuitively. She is CEO of her namesake brand H.GrantStyle, creator of the online course BE YOUR OWN STYLIST and designer of the Style Archetype Test. Check out her website hgrantstyle.com or Instagram @hgrantstyle
Photography by Sonya Highfield
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