Style Stories capture the experiences of previous clients where they share with me their own journey with their personal style and the impact that working with me at Neelam Personal Stylist has had on them. This may include a one to one styling client, a group event or maybe a brand partnership. Real life experiences allow you to really understand the impact of working with a personal stylist and how it could work for you too.
This month I spoke with Karen Lo, a Brand Creative Director who approached me back in 2023. When we first connected, Karen spoke of her struggles with understanding her personal style since moving from the US to the UK. ‘I found myself in a bit of a fog after my first year in London. My confidence was low and I didn’t ever want to go out because I always felt like I had nothing to wear despite having two wardrobes full of clothes.’ Clients often approach me when they have been through a change. Whether that is a change in their bodies, a change in location, or maybe a change in their decade of life. Change isn’t a bad thing, but it does come with adjustment.
Karen went on to share three of the biggest style struggles that she was facing.
Body
‘My body shifted a little after turning 40 and I was still trying to wear clothes that I’d had for 15+ years.’ As women our bodies go through multiple changes and once we start to understand our beautiful nuances, that is when we can really get to the root of our personal style. Dressing for years gone by can often leave us feeling out of touch with all of the other changes we have experienced, not to mention leaving our bodies feeling uncomfortable and unappreciated.
Routine
‘I was struggling to figure out how to bring my evolving personal aesthetic to life while stuck in old habits and old ‘safe’ clothes.’ As we change through our life, the way we approach our personal style, what we consume, where we spend our time, can all change. So knowing how to adapt to this is important. We can start to feel stagnant when we stick to the same routines that don’t evolve with us as our lives move on.
Relocating
‘I found making changes daunting, especially in a new climate and a new country.’ Going through body changes, a change in identity plus a change in location is a lot all at once! Especially when you are faced with the Great British weather! Understanding how to dress for your location can make or break your wardrobe.
After getting to know Karen more, we decided that the best package would be The Maxi, where we would start all the way from the foundations of her personal style to outfit building, shopping and beyond.
In our first session together we started to get to grips with Karen’s body shape, really getting deep into the fits and cuts of clothing and how to style her petite proportions. The second really important foundation of your personal style is how you use colour. Karen talks of how she ‘always loved wearing colour. But many of my choices weren’t flattering to my skin tone and complexion.’ After completing a Colour Analysis session together, Karen shares: ‘Now that I have a better understanding of my best colours, I can shop efficiently and confidently and avoid gathering items that I won’t wear. I now know not to pick up too many warm neutral pieces, even if they fit well. Unless there’s some incredible detail, I won’t get excited about them later because I’d rather be wearing a bright colour.’ Giving Karen confidence in her colour choices means she can now look and feel her absolute best in what she picks.
The final part of the foundations is all about nailing your style personality. Who you really are and how you want to come across to the world. Karen shares that her favourite outfit is ‘Surprisingly, a casual outfit. Flared jeans, a properly fitting sweatshirt, and tall shoes. Casual outfits used to be the hardest for me to put together and feel great wearing. This is the most significant mark of progress and change for me.’ Getting an everyday outfit on point can be one of the biggest struggles for clients. And to see this level of progress for Karen is so rewarding!
Once we covered the foundations of Karen’s style we moved on to do a Wardrobe Declutter and a Personal Shop. This is always a true turning point for clients as they start to implement what they have learnt in the foundations, into their wardrobes and how they fill them. I asked Karen if she felt more confident in putting outfits together now. ‘Absolutely. I have a wardrobe that suits my body, my lifestyle, and my personality. Packing for travel is also easier, which is pretty major since I spend several months a year working in other countries and often different climates. Even Halloween has been more fun. Knowing I have the right pieces for all these different scenarios means I can always feel like the best version of myself.’ This is always the mark of a successful experience with clients. That turning point where they feel their absolute best through their personal style.
When I first met Karen I could instantly tell she had more of a dramatic style personality, so it was really exciting to hear her describe her new found sense of style as ‘structured, creative and playful’. She shares some of her biggest transformations since working together:
Repurposing Energy
I was spending too much time, money, and emotion trying to make myself feel better with the wrong clothes. Then feeling lost and low that I couldn’t get myself unstuck. I’m no longer chasing trends in the hope of finding ‘that one item’ that will somehow transform my life. Putting in this work and being open to change has done that, which is lasting.
Understanding My Body Proportions
Knowing how to balance my proportions means I now rarely think, “I look awful in this.” I know why outfits don’t work and how to restyle them. I also know that if I give into fomo and trends as seen on tall, twiggy people, I’ll regret it. Because it’s not my body’s fault, not every piece of clothing is meant for every person.
Confidence
I know what I’m wearing is fun, creative, different, and flattering – which is how I want to present myself to the world. When I’m empowered by my OOTD, I’m more creative, better at my work and with my team, and more genuinely joyful and grateful about life.
Eeek those words are everything!!! I actually felt teary hearing just how powerful this experience was for Karen. ‘Working with Neelam is the best gift I’ve given myself. (Except maybe my first Mini Cooper.) Knowing what feeling fabulous in my own clothes feels like, I refuse to not feel great about my wardrobe ever again.’ A huge thank you to Karen for being so open in her journey and sharing her true experience with us all! And a few more lovely words she shared:
Moving from the US to London 2 years ago was a bigger adjustment than I anticipated. By this time last year, I felt completely out of sorts and my wardrobe reflected that – I was stuck in a style rut and it was affecting my confidence. Enter Neelam, my fairy godmother of fashion.
From our very first consultation, Neelam understood exactly what I needed. She assessed my body shape (hello, 40s), my personal style, reintroduced me to colours and explained why they suit me (or don’t!), and completely decluttered my wardrobe. Then we went shopping! She fully understood my love for standing out, getting creative with clothes, and attraction to colour and introduced me to brands and fits that enhance my petite frame.
But Neelam did so much more than just update my clothes. She helped me rediscover my sense of style and, in the process, boosted my confidence tenfold. I used to dread getting dressed in the morning, but now I’m actually excited to put together outfits and express myself through fashion.
If you’re feeling lost with your style or just need a fresh perspective, I cannot recommend Neelam enough. She’s an absolute gem – professional, insightful and incredibly talented. Thank you, Neelam, for making me feel like myself again!
I would definitely recommend following Karen over on IG to see some of her latest fun, creative and playful looks! If you have a Style Story you would like to share please reach out! Or if you want to experience some of the same magic that Karen did, make sure you book in for your Free Style Call here.
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