Recently I met a new client for coffee, and we began talking about her wardrobe and she told me, Annette, I have nothing in my closet.

Nothing.  Nothing fits. Nothing fits right. I go to my closet and try to pack for a trip, and I have nothing.

I wonder, have you ever felt like that?

What really is happening is, you’re done settling.

You are ready to take care of yourself in a more meaningful way.

And unlock your style potential by being MORE of YOU.

A wardrobe that has:

• Uniqueness

• Ease

• Quality

• Your look is pulled together

• Perfect for the occasion

• You are self-assured and radiate confident

You have elevated how you want to represent yourself.

It’s time to be INTENTIONAL and create a wardrobe that looks and feels TOTALLY You!

I refer to it as designing your Signature Wardrobe.

Creating a signature wardrobe that checks all the boxes MUST be intentional.

If not, it will become overwhelming.

What does a Signature Wardrobe look like?

A signature wardrobe should feel TOTALLY You. You look in the mirror and say, “oh my gosh, I love this.”

You feel self-assured and confident.

There's something about the look whether it's the style, color or a pattern.

Your style radiates confidence.

It’s TOTALLY YOU. And people comment, oh my gosh, that's so you.

10 Signature Styles

·       A signature color becomes your SIGNATURE.

·       A statement Red lipstick.

·       You’re in love with the drama of black and white.

·       One of my signature colors is pink. It just makes me feel vibrant.

·       A pattern that you love such as a leopard print.

·       The uniqueness of detail such as ruffles or fringe.

·       You feel powerful in jackets.

·       You feel feminine in beautiful blouses.

·       You love the ease of dresses.

·       You love the natural Sporty girl look and feel.

There's a lot of elements that can go into a signature wardrobe.

Nobody signs their name like you do, that’s your signature style.

Is it unique to you.

It feels comfortable being you.

You don't have to apologize for who you are because it's your signature style.

If this sounds like something you desire and want to learn more about, get on the WAITLIST to join Women of Definitive Style.

Sign up here: Women of Definitive Style WAITLIST

Are You Feeling Invisible?

Have you ever been in a dressing room trying on clothes, ready to buy, but walked away empty-handed?

You leave the store super disappointed because nothing fits? 

If only you were 10 lbs. lighter or didn’t have that darn tummy pooch, everything would have fit great?

Consider this statistic: On any average day, 97% of women say that they dislike their bodies.

And acclaimed Shame Researcher, Brene` Brown, Ph.D. found that the number one source of shame for women was body and weight. 

We’re continuing the conversation on Being Seen with Confidence.

Meet my guest Kip Clarke, Life Coach, who works with women in their “middle years” who struggle with finding quality men to date, symptoms of menopause, and feeling invisible. 

She helps them re-ignite their passions and find beautiful new ways to thrive. 

Kip will be sharing her 3-step system for transforming how to “see yourself” in a brand-new way.

HERE ARE 3 WAYS I CAN HELP YOU DRESS WITH EASE, BE ON-BRAND, & GET NOTICED:

1. Capture my BEST style strategies and image advice that include secrets to honoring your inner beauty, to what style basics are a must, to creating a color wardrobe capsule – Get Your Ultimate Style Guide: 7 Ways to go from feeling ‘off’ to rocking a signature look that is uniquely YOU!

2. Work with me privately to take you from questioning your clothing and style choices to creating a signature wardrobe that is uniquely you. Schedule a 30-minute Get Dressed with Ease Breakthrough session to share a little about your image challenges and what you’re envisioning for yourself, and we’ll devise a strategy, so you are ‘stepping into your excellence’ and showing up as the powerful woman that you are and dressing with ease. https://www.annettebond.com/contact

3. Join other like-minded successful smart women in my Style with Significance Facebook Group! This is a place to share personal styling ideas, get advice from a professional stylist, and meet other powerful professional women who value looking as good as they feel

How Words Can Affect Your Personal Style

Today, I want to talk about “words” and how they can influence being seen with confidence.

Whether you're stepping into your closet, giving a big presentation, or shopping for a great pair of jeans, the words you use to describe yourself, your personal style, or how your closet feels will affect how you see yourself.

If I took you shopping to Neiman Marcus, styled you in the most AMAZING outfit, and you looked in the mirror and verbalized your annoyance of your “poochy tummy,” you will always be disappointed with the outfit.

Are you aware of the “words” you use to talk about yourself?

Are you guilty of referring to yourself as dowdy or your closet is chaotic?

Does your day miraculously unfold just as you described it?

Or maybe you go out of your way, not to be seen?

When I was a young girl, my mother used to tell me, “Annette if you can’t say anything nice about anyone, don’t say it at all.”

That teaching has never left me. 

What if…you stopped talking to yourself that way?

What if…you began using empowering words to describe your personal style, your closet, how you want to experience your day?

Would you then feel more confident to be seen?

Style Tip #1

• Become aware of your self-talk 

• How is it affecting you emotionally when you refer to yourself as dowdy?

• One-by-one eliminate words that don’t empower you to feel beautiful and seen

Style Tip #2

• Become aware of how you want to be seen, choose a word for the day as you choose your outfit 

• Notice how you feel as you embody your word of the day

• Your word + your outfit = Ready to Be Seen

I can guarantee your confidence will elevate instantly as you become more intentional with the “words” you use to describe yourself. 

Your inner radiance will shine brighter as you embody your words.

Others will notice as you are stepping forward to BE SEEN. 

HERE ARE 3 WAYS I CAN HELP YOU DRESS WITH EASE, BE ON-BRAND, & GET NOTICED:

1. Capture my BEST style strategies and image advice that include secrets to honoring your inner beauty, to what style basics are a must, to creating a color wardrobe capsule – Get Your Ultimate Style Guide: 7 Ways to go from feeling ‘off’ to rocking a signature look that is uniquely YOU!

2. Work with me privately to take you from questioning your clothing and style choices to creating a signature wardrobe that is uniquely you. Schedule a 30-minute Get Dressed with Ease Breakthrough session to share a little about your image challenges and what you’re envisioning for yourself, and we’ll devise a strategy, so you are ‘stepping into your excellence’ and showing up as the powerful woman that you are and dressing with ease. https://www.annettebond.com/contact

3. Join other like-minded successful smart women in my Style with Significance Facebook Group! This is a place to share personal styling ideas, get advice from a professional stylist, and meet other powerful professional women who value looking as good as they feel

Being Seen with Confidence

Have you recently noticed that prior to an upcoming event, whether it's in-person or online, speaking, or you're presenting at an important meeting, that you have this not-so-good feeling deep down about showing up fully?

And then you begin to blame it on the last couple of years, weight gain: Covid-20.

Your age is creeping up, and it’s affecting your psyche about being seen? 

Or maybe it’s your outfit – it doesn’t feel professional and put-together?

You're noticing yourself doing a lot of comparison with women in your circle? 

And it's really starting to mess with your mind about being seen.

If this is you, you are not alone. 

If we haven’t met, I’m Annette Bond, certified image consultant. And I work with successful, amazing women, just like you who are not feeling 100% confident in being seen and it’s starting to erode your self-confidence.   

It's holding you back from showing up fully.

I have worked with women for 30 years; it's truly been a lifetime passion. The one common denominator that I find with the clients I work with, “Annette please help me to show up more confidently.”

Welcome to Being Seen with Confidence Series where we are going to discuss what it looks like to show up confidently. 

We’re going to begin by focusing on what you can do today. 

Several small steps. 

They may feel small and trivial, but I guarantee these small steps are going to elevate your confidence when it’s your time to be seen.  

One thing I know for sure as women, you compare yourself to other women.  

She’s prettier. She’s skinnier. She speaks better. 

You’re worried about being judged. 

STOP RIGHT NOW!

You are in a losing battle and not alone.

I remember so clearly, four or five years ago, when I was told, “Annette, you need to go LIVE on Facebook.” 

I was so terrified. I can remember the pit in my stomach thinking EVERYONE was going to be watching me. 

What were they going to think? 

My message was not good enough. 

Who cares about what I have to say. 

Funny thing is….no one was watching me. 

I’ve discovered that life is too short to continue down that path. 

What another person thinks is none of my business. 

Life is too short to continue hiding.

God gave me a gift and I am going to share it and you should too.  

BEING SEEN Style Tips!

#1 What do you LOVE about YOU?

• It might be that you love your eyes. 

• When was the last time you wore make up?

#2 What makes you feel beautiful?

• Is it a beautiful new blouse that brings out your eye color? 

• Or maybe you have a stylish chic blouse anxiously waiting for you in your closet, that you haven’t worn in 2 years?

#3 What makes you feel like having fun?

• Creativity. Curiosity. Femininity. 

• How might you express that in your clothing choices. 

What you have begun to do is; focus on your inner beauty and what makes you feel beautiful on the outside. 

Next step, how might you express that in your clothing choices?

In business we all know, what you FOCUS ON…EXPANDS. 

I want you to begin focusing on what makes YOU feel amazing and watch it expand. 

Feel Beautiful, Dress Up, Be Seen.

HERE ARE 3 WAYS I CAN HELP YOU DRESS WITH EASE, BE ON-BRAND, & GET NOTICED:

1. Capture my BEST style strategies and image advice that include secrets to honoring your inner beauty, to what style basics are a must, to creating a color wardrobe capsule – Get Your Ultimate Style Guide: 7 Ways to go from feeling ‘off’ to rocking a signature look that is uniquely YOU!

2. Work with me privately to take you from questioning your clothing and style choices to creating a signature wardrobe that is uniquely you. Schedule a 30-minute Get Dressed with Ease Breakthrough session to share a little about your image challenges and what you’re envisioning for yourself, and we’ll devise a strategy, so you are ‘stepping into your excellence’ and showing up as the powerful woman that you are and dressing with ease. https://www.annettebond.com/contact

3. Join other like-minded successful smart women in my Style with Significance Facebook Group! This is a place to share personal styling ideas, get advice from a professional stylist, and meet other powerful professional women who value looking as good as they feel

10 Perfect Pieces to Creating a Dressy-Casual Wardrobe

Are you really good at what you do whether you're a corporate professional or an entrepreneur, but when it comes to your dressy- casual wardrobe, you question, how do you create a perfect dressy-casual wardrobe?

What are the pieces you need?

Where do you go shopping?

Welcome to the dressy casual wardrobe series, part 4 as we bring it all together with pants, shoes, and jacket options for creating your perfect dressy-casual wardrobe.  

Life has changed over the last 24 months; it’s gone more casual. 

Adding the 10 Perfect Pieces to your wardrobe will allow you to dress with ease, be on-brand, and confidently ready to be noticed. 

Step ONE / 2-3 Pants

• 2-3 pants that fit your lifestyle

• Make sure your pants fit your body type

• Can you wear each pant style with 2-3 other pieces in your wardrobe

Step TWO / 2-3 Jackets

• Think of your jackets as a layering piece

• Choose 1-2 neutral colors

• Find a signature jacket that presents a polished put-together look

Step THREE / Shoes

• Think 3 levels of shoes – casual, dressy casual, sophisticated/fashion forward casual

• Focus on your lifestyle and how you want to feel when you show up

• What shoes are missing in your current wardrobe?

As you are shopping and creating your dressy casual wardrobe, think about your lifestyle. By incorporating the ‘right 10 pieces’, it allows you to show up confidently put-together, feeling polished, and ready to be seen and noticed. 

Stop fussing with your clothes. Edit them out or alter them. 

If you are ready to take the next step and know you can’t do this on your own, let’s chat. 

Book your ‘Get Dressed with Ease’ call

Click here to learn more about my head-to-toe transformation, 90-day Reveal Your Radiance program.

HERE ARE 3 WAYS I CAN HELP YOU DRESS WITH EASE, BE ON-BRAND, & GET NOTICED:

1. Capture my BEST style strategies and image advice that include secrets to honoring your inner beauty, to what style basics are a must, to creating a color wardrobe capsule – Get Your Ultimate Style Guide: 7 Ways to go from feeling ‘off’ to rocking a signature look that is uniquely YOU!

2. Work with me privately to take you from questioning your clothing and style choices to creating a signature wardrobe that is uniquely you. Schedule a 30-minute Get Dressed with Ease Breakthrough session to share a little about your image challenges and what you’re envisioning for yourself, and we’ll devise a strategy, so you are ‘stepping into your excellence’ and showing up as the powerful woman that you are and dressing with ease. https://www.annettebond.com/contact

3. Join other like-minded successful smart women in my Style with Significance Facebook Group! This is a place to share personal styling ideas, get advice from a professional stylist, and meet other powerful professional women who value looking as good as they feel

How to Style Your Dressy Casual Jackets for Weekend Play or Casual Work Environment

Jackets are my thing. Whether it’s for work or play. 

You may be more of a sweater girl. Either way, they are both great layering pieces and add an extra layer of style to any outfit. 

As a Seattleite, I feel there is always a need for a tad of warmth in both the summer and fall. (ok, yes I’m always cold)

Today, I’m sharing 3 dressy casual jacket options that you can wear in a casual work environment or weekend play, elevating your simple casual look to a put-together and polished one. 

I talk about lifestyle and having a wardrobe that supports you. 

So, what does that mean really?

Being able to go to your closet, and instantly know you have the perfect jacket for the event or occasion you’re attending. 

And of course, with some style. 

#1 The Most Versatile Jacket

• Why? Because I can wear this black and white gingham jacket with three levels of dress. 

• It is a jean denim fabric that is relaxed yet elevated, never feeling underdressed or overdressed

• Whether I wear it with my pearl earrings or white sneakers, it just works beautifully for my elegant casual lifestyle

#2 The White Track Jacket

One of the trends for spring and summer 2022 is the “great white out”. Lots of white, whether that is shoes, dresses, and eyelet blouses. 

• The beauty of white, it’s crisp, clean, and organized. (aka; the personality of white) 

• It is a neutral that goes with just about EVERYTHING. 

• Not just for working out, in fact, this jacket never makes it to the gym. Have fun with the versatility and choose your right color. 

#3 The Running Jacket That is NOT Just for Running

There are times when you need a casual jacket to throw on with your cute joggers, jeans, or skort. This is that jacket. (ok, yes you can definitely wear this jacket for running and you will look sooo good!)

• Fall in love with the color and feel of the fabric 

• A hood, brings more casual to the jacket

• Quality, brings more elegance to your style

As you are shopping and creating your dressy casual wardrobe, think about your lifestyle. 

• What are the various events in your life that you never have the right jacket?

• What do you love on other women or see online, and wonder if you could pull it off? 

• Begin making a list of your needs and missing links. 

• Shop with more intention and make new decisions. 

If designing a dressy-casual wardrobe feels like too much work and you need help, let’s connect so that I can learn more about your lifestyle needs and personal style challenges. 

I would LOVE to help you. 

Click here and let’s chat.

HERE ARE 3 WAYS I CAN HELP YOU DRESS WITH EASE, BE ON-BRAND, & GET NOTICED:

1. Capture my BEST style strategies and image advice that include secrets to honoring your inner beauty, to what style basics are a must, to creating a color wardrobe capsule – Get Your Ultimate Style Guide: 7 Ways to go from feeling ‘off’ to rocking a signature look that is uniquely YOU!

2. Work with me privately to take you from questioning your clothing and style choices to creating a signature wardrobe that is uniquely you. Schedule a 30-minute Get Dressed with Ease Breakthrough session to share a little about your image challenges and what you’re envisioning for yourself, and we’ll devise a strategy, so you are ‘stepping into your excellence’ and showing up as the powerful woman that you are and dressing with ease. https://www.annettebond.com/contact

3. Join other like-minded successful smart women in my Style with Significance Facebook Group! This is a place to share personal styling ideas, get advice from a professional stylist, and meet other powerful professional women who value looking as good as they feel

3 Shoe Options to Wear with Your Favorite Pants

Have you just bought a new pair of pants that you can’t wait to wear when you suddenly realize you don’t have the right shoes?

Or maybe you are questioning what style of shoes are appropriate? 

Having a variety of shoe options, definitely makes getting dressed more fun. 

The good news, is you have options.

I’m going to share 3 Shoe Options to Wear with One Pair of Pants.

Shoe Option #1 – The White Sneaker

The White sneaker was made popular back in 2014 by fashion bloggers and street stylists, the simple white trainers.  

It’s now 2022, and they are not going anywhere. They are here to stay, and I personally love my white sneakers.

If you’re a girl with a little sportiness or enjoy a little comfort, a white sneaker is a must. 

• They provide a clean classic vibe. The color white denotes refined and elegant. 

• You are elevating your sneaker game with a minimalist white sneaker. 

• Wear your white sneaker with a jean, a casual summer dress, or a skort.

Shoe Option #2 – The Patent Leather Sneaker Shoe

Personally, I love patent leather. It’s that instant splash of shine and dressy combined. 

Patent leather might not be your thing but think about a sneaker sole with an added dressier shoe combination. Or for you, maybe it’s casual flats. The perfect Dressy Casual Shoe. 

• Elevate the everyday with comfortable and chic.

• Experience versatility of dress sneakers for work.

•  Wear with jeans, Ponte pants, or cotton twill.

Shoe Option #3 – The Mule Shoe

I remember my first pair of mules, 20 years ago. I loved them. 

They are back with a vengeance with style and ease. 

• The easiest pair of shoes to slip into and feel instantly dressed up in a casual chic way.

• The block heel gives the dressy casual pant an elevated look and feel. 

• Short legs? Pair your pants with a pointy toe mule, it’s going to give you an elongated leg.

Looking to keep connected? Download my FREE Get Style Confident Now Guide!

Stepping down from your stilettos doesn’t mean taking a step down in style with these flashy kicks.

HERE ARE 3 WAYS I CAN HELP YOU DRESS WITH EASE, BE ON-BRAND, & GET NOTICED:

1. Capture my BEST style strategies and image advice that include secrets to honoring your inner beauty, to what style basics are a must, to creating a color wardrobe capsule – Get Your Ultimate Style Guide: 7 Ways to go from feeling ‘off’ to rocking a signature look that is uniquely YOU!

2. Work with me privately to take you from questioning your clothing and style choices to creating a signature wardrobe that is uniquely you. Schedule a 30-minute Get Dressed with Ease Breakthrough session to share a little about your image challenges and what you’re envisioning for yourself, and we’ll devise a strategy, so you are ‘stepping into your excellence’ and showing up as the powerful woman that you are and dressing with ease. https://www.annettebond.com/contact

3. Join other like-minded successful smart women in my Style with Significance Facebook Group! This is a place to share personal styling ideas, get advice from a professional stylist, and meet other powerful professional women who value looking as good as they feel

3 Pant Silhouettes to Create 3 Three Levels of Dressy-Casual Style

Have you found your professional attire moving toward a “dressy casual” look and feel?

And notice that you tend not to wear professional trouser pants like you used to?

You know you need another option in pants, but are not sure what to purchase?

Today I’m going to share three pant options to add to your professional wardrobe that will give you the dressy casual look and feel yet sharp and polished.

#1 Dressy Casual Level One – the Joseph Ribkoff Trouser Pant

• What I love about these pants is you can dress them up or down, which gives you versatility and ease when getting dressed.  

• The pant has elastic at the waist. There is something so comfortable about elastic, as it allows you to move and breathe in your pants with ease. Gaining a few pounds around the middle gives you some wiggle room to still feel comfortable and confident. 

• It’s an ankle-pant. You can wear an ankle-pant with various shoe styles. A traditional pump. A sandal. A fancy sneaker.

#2 Dressy Level Two – Dark Wash Black Jeans 

• The straight-leg silhouette is classic and timeless. It is always in style and does well with most body types. 

• The dark wash black jean gives you the visual appearance of a pair of trouser pants but the look and feel of approachable and understated. That is dressy casual. 

• The black jean has a professional yet stylish appearance that can be styled with jackets for a crisp sharp presence.

#3 Dressy Level Three – 5 Pocket 4-Way Stretch Fabric Pant

• Here I am introducing a lululemon pant but there are so many options available in this level of dressy casual.  Looks like a jean silhouette but with more polish and elegance.

• Personally, I love the polished fabric with a 4-way stretch fabric that is ultra-comfortable and allows you to move with ease.

•  This pant also gives options to wear with multiple shoe styles.  From a dressy sandal or pump to a dressy casual sneaker.

BONUS: The Skort – Skirt with Benefits

• Dressier than a pant but not a professional skirt style. 

• Benefit of the spandex short underneath so you can move with ease. 

• Personally, I wear my skorts to work in front of zoom to riding my bike to the winery and then to dinner.

As you may have noticed, all my pant options are black. 

Yes, black is versatile and easy to mix-and-match. 

To expand and optimize your wardrobe, I encourage you to ‘try on’ and consider other neutrals like navy, khaki, or white. 

Join me next week for part 2 of the dressy casual wardrobe series as we chat about shoe options. 

If you haven’t already, please come join us in the Style with Significance Private Facebook group as we continue the conversation. 

HERE ARE 3 WAYS I CAN HELP YOU DRESS WITH EASE, BE ON-BRAND, & GET NOTICED:

1. Capture my BEST style strategies and image advice that include secrets to honoring your inner beauty, to what style basics are a must, to creating a color wardrobe capsule – Get Your Ultimate Style Guide: 7 Ways to go from feeling ‘off’ to rocking a signature look that is uniquely YOU!

2. Work with me privately to take you from questioning your clothing and style choices to creating a signature wardrobe that is uniquely you. Schedule a 30-minute Get Dressed with Ease Breakthrough session to share a little about your image challenges and what you’re envisioning for yourself, and we’ll devise a strategy, so you are ‘stepping into your excellence’ and showing up as the powerful woman that you are and dressing with ease. https://www.annettebond.com/contact

3. Join other like-minded successful smart women in my Style with Significance Facebook Group! This is a place to share personal styling ideas, get advice from a professional stylist, and meet other powerful professional women who value looking as good as they feel

12 Style Tips to Show Up as Your Best Self as You Go Back to The Office

You’re a different woman than you were 24 months ago, you've evolved.

 As you're looking in your closet you may be thinking, I don't even wear half of these pieces. 

You may be getting ready to go back to work, or already in the trenches of back at the office, and you're looking at your wardrobe thinking, “Oh my gosh, I don't wear 50% of the pieces I already have.”

Realizing over the last couple years how differently you were dressing, right? 

You may have lowered your standards of how you showed up, especially on zoom.

Remember, the world told you it was o.k. to wear pajamas to work.  

Sometimes you get sucked into the world views thinking it’s normal, and then one day you wake up and realize your self-confidence isn’t what it used to be when it comes to style and looking the part.

This is why I’ve come up with 12 style tips for you to show up as your best self as you go back to the office.

Style Tip #1 One by one, begin removing pieces from your closet that don't make you feel like a million bucks. 

Style Tip #2 Take note; you probably purchased clothing pieces over the last 24 months that were designed to be in front of a zoom camera. 

Style Tip #3 Give yourself permission to be done with them and say goodbye.  

Style Tip #4 When you have unwanted pieces, they clutter your mind.

Style Tip #5 You do not want the illusion that you “should” have all kinds of amazing potential outfits, when you do not.  Let them go. 

Style Tip #6 Maybe they remind you of COVID and it is a negative in your subconscious.  Let them go. 

Style Tip #7 Because you didn’t care as much, the quality isn’t aligned with you and your normal standard of purchases. Let them go. 

Style Tip #8 They're tattered, they're ready to go. 

Style Tip #9 One of the things I learned from Marie Kondo and recently did myself was, to completely clear your closet and then begin adding the pieces back in one-by-one. 

Style Tip #10 My philosophy is that everything must be invited back into your closet, and you should love each piece. Marie Kondo would say, “Does it brings you joy?”

Style Tip #11 Do you want to continue to wear them as you move forward into 2022 and beyond? 

Style Tip #12 Do the pieces you are keeping align with how you want to be perceived as a businesswoman? 

Does this process overwhelm you? 

Does it stress you out? 

Would you love help? 

I am here to help you. 

You are invited to my new program that was designed especially for you, called The Seven Day Signature Style Edit.

HERE ARE 3 WAYS I CAN HELP YOU DRESS WITH EASE, BE ON-BRAND, & GET NOTICED:

1. Capture my BEST style strategies and image advice that include secrets to honoring your inner beauty, to what style basics are a must, to creating a color wardrobe capsule – Get Your Ultimate Style Guide: 7 Ways to go from feeling ‘off’ to rocking a signature look that is uniquely YOU!

2. Work with me privately to take you from questioning your clothing and style choices to creating a signature wardrobe that is uniquely you. Schedule a 30-minute Get Dressed with Ease Breakthrough session to share a little about your image challenges and what you’re envisioning for yourself, and we’ll devise a strategy, so you are ‘stepping into your excellence’ and showing up as the powerful woman that you are and dressing with ease. https://www.annettebond.com/contact

3. Join other like-minded successful smart women in my Style with Significance Facebook Group! This is a place to share personal styling ideas, get advice from a professional stylist, and meet other powerful professional women who value looking as good as they feel

3 Ways to Style Your Timeless White Blouse  

You may be thinking, white….it's a little boring?

Maybe you’re thinking you prefer a timeless blouse with more color or frill?

However, the white blouse is a wardrobe staple that is: 

• Timeless

• Versatile

• Luxurious

1.Let’s talk Timeless

Begin styling it with your classic black jacket. Simple. I'm sure you have one in your closet. Showing up professional and put-together is going to give you the confidence that you need as you head back to the office or begin in-person meetings. 

Add pearls, gold, or silver accessories to make it your own. 

2.Let’s talk Versatility

Style your timeless white blouse with a beautiful sweater or even a denim jacket. 

There is no one way to style your white blouse. The options are endless. 

As you are investing in the timeless white blouse, think of the various jackets you already own.

The timeless white blouse now becomes an investment piece into your wardrobe.

3.Let’s talk Luxury 

The color white denotes clean, crisp, and organized. 

Is that how you want others to perceive you?

Will you choose a beautiful Italian pima cotton fabric that says bespoke?

Luxury and custom. 

Let Your Timeless White Blouse do the Speaking for You. 

HERE ARE 3 WAYS I CAN HELP YOU DRESS WITH EASE, BE ON-BRAND, & GET NOTICED:

1. Capture my BEST style strategies and image advice that include secrets to honoring your inner beauty, to what style basics are a must, to creating a color wardrobe capsule – Get Your Ultimate Style Guide: 7 Ways to go from feeling ‘off’ to rocking a signature look that is uniquely YOU!

2. Work with me privately to take you from questioning your clothing and style choices to creating a signature wardrobe that is uniquely you. Schedule a 30-minute Get Dressed with Ease Breakthrough session to share a little about your image challenges and what you’re envisioning for yourself, and we’ll devise a strategy, so you are ‘stepping into your excellence’ and showing up as the powerful woman that you are and dressing with ease. https://www.annettebond.com/contact

3. Join other like-minded successful smart women in my Style with Significance Facebook Group! This is a place to share personal styling ideas, get advice from a professional stylist, and meet other powerful professional women who value looking as good as they feel

If you're like me you probably learned to get dressed when you were four or five years old. Kindergarten or preschool?

Or at least your mother allowed you to go out of the house with your personal picks.

So WHY at 40, 50 or 60 years old does it seem sooo hard to get dressed?

Each time I work with a new client, I continue to understand and receive new insight into the struggles and challenges of getting dressed.

You try on 3-4 outfits for every event and settle on the "best one" or the one that is "good enough."

You wear repeat outfits and it gets old fast.

Wishing you looked and felt better in your clothes.

• Could be the style or color that's not right

• A trend that doesn't serve you

• Your girlfriend that told you it looked great, deep down inside you knew it wasn't right but you bought it anyway

• Fit isn't complementary to your body shape

• You're not the same size you were a couple of years ago

I can help you discern:

• Color

• Fit

• Proportions

• Style

I pride myself on helping you curate a wardrobe that FITS YOU NOW!

As you arrive for your appointment, ALL the clothes are mindfully selected for you before you arrive.

I just ask you to show up with an open mind to see yourself as a whole person (a package) not the ONE thing you don't like about yourself. 

Recently, I was in the dressing room with my client Shelley. She hired me because she was in a transition with her career. She didn't have outfits in her closet that she felt confident in.

She was missing those go-to-outfits that made getting dressed easy.

As I observed from the distance, the look on her face as she tried on every last piece of clothing that FIT her body type. (And yes, she was NOT the size she once was)

PRICELESS.

She felt like a million bucks.

She smiled at herself with delight.

Oozing with Confidence.

She had a budget in mind and ended up spending double the budget because she found so many pieces that made her feel like a million bucks.

What's it costing you to wait until...

Life is short and wouldn't you love to FEEL CONFIDENT NOW?

Not in 2 months or 2 years?

Honoring the body you have NOW is a gift you can give yourself today.

When you fight against your body you only cause frustration and angst.

Annette, I'm ready to start LOVING my closet and want it filled with pieces that reflect my unique style and also FIT!

Let's Talk

With Your Definitive Style in Mind,

Annette

Annette Bond works with accomplished, professional women to Elevate their Image.

She inspires women to elevate and express the best of who they are Now, so they can go out into the world with greater confidence and ease.

Annette is a Certified Personal Image Consultant AICI CIC, Corporate Image Certified, More Alive With Color™ Certified, and Fashion Feng Shui Facilitator.

Follow me on LinkedIn / Wardrobe Wednesday on Facebook

annette@annettebond.com

www.annettebond.com

UPCOMING EVENT: Is Your Wardrobe in a Style Rut?

Elevate Your Image Workshop / Saturday, September 29th / 10am-3pm / ONLY 7 Spots Remaining!

Deadline to signup is September 17th!

Sign Up TODAY

Style Confidence. Do You Have It?

Do you ever feel like finding your personal style is somewhat of a mystery? You take a style quiz and it tells you, you are classy chic, modern elegant, or boho?

So now you go looking for clothing pieces to match the "style quiz." You go into the dressing room with a handful of dresses trying to find what looks like "classy chic."

What you discover is the style doesn't fit your body type.

You're not sure about the color.

Then you catch a glimpse of a dress that's really fantastic, you love it but it's not really classy chic. Confused?

Wondering how to navigate the world of Personal Style?

Recently I was browsing YouTube to see what the "YouTube style experts" had to say on the subject of finding personal style. It was suggested that I go into my closet and see what I have "a lot of". Meaning I feel super comfortable in that style. Conclusion: that is my personal style.

REALLY...is that all I have to do? If it was that simple then why are so many women feeling frustrated with their wardrobe.

In a survey I conducted a few months ago asking, "what are your biggest style challenges?"

Women told me...

Sick and tired of feeling frumpy. What styles are right for my body type? Help me to understand what styles compliment my body type.

How do I dress appropriately for the next level in business? How do I communicate who I am? I want to look credible.

I have too many clothes. Where do I shop? How do I begin building a wardrobe.

What I know and believe: Style Confidence begins with the woman and NOT the clothes.

You're wondering, "Where do I start?"

First it begins with you. Who are you?

Second, I believe your clothing represents what you want to say without needing to say it.

We are multi-faceted women.

If you're like me, I love to express myself in different ways on different days. I love wearing a multitude of colors and styles.

Questions to Ponder:

1.Who am I? What do you value? If you could pick one word to describe you, what would it be?

2.How do you want to be perceived?

3. What do you want others to know about you?

4.What do you want to attract into your life?

5.What is your body type?

6.What is your natural coloring?

Why are all these questions important? 

The essence of Personal Style begins with you. What you choose to wear everyday tells me a little about you.

I BELIEVE that Style Confidence begins with the woman and NOT the clothes.

Why does it matter? You feel comfortable in your own skin. You're authentic.

Your clothing is there to support your dreams and goals. Not just another pretty dress.

When you have a Style Confidence Plan; dressing, shopping, mixing and matching and choosing colors becomes effortless.

If you're thinking, Annette I would LOVE to have all those questions answered. I'm tired of the confusion, self-doubt and navigating the world of Personal Style on my own.

I Invite you to join me on Saturday, June 2nd for a Fashion Feng Shui Workshop where we'll spend 5.5 hours honing in on your Personal Style. Leaving you with a plan of action to develop and achieve Style Confidence.

Get Your Tickets Today & Receive Early Bird Pricing: CLICK

Annette Bond, works with accomplished, professional women to achieve Style Confidence. She inspires women to elevate and express the best of who they are Now, so they can go out into the world with greater confidence and ease.

Annette is a Certified Personal Image Consultant AICI CIC, Corporate Image Certified, More Alive With Color™ Certified, and Fashion Feng Shui Facilitator.

Annette is one of 30 women in the U.S. and one of 75 worldwide who are licensed to teach Fashion Feng Shui.

My second “closet” session where Annette and I put outfits and accessories together using my own items was just as valuable as the first.  Since we had gone shopping during the last session, we had new items that were needed to supplement what I was previously missing. 

I couldn’t believe all of the additional great outfits she was able to create given she had already put together so many in the first session.  There were numerous times that I was taken aback and “wow’d” at how she took what I considered to be my old, boring clothes and put them together in an impactful way. 

It is so nice to be really excited about my clothes again. It is like I have an entirely new wardrobe, although I only purchased 5 items.

1.Navy pant 2. Camel pant 3. Blue jacket 4. Navy skirt 5. Coral scarf

As Annette continued putting together fabulous outfits, she taught me style tips and tricks throughout.  I was learning so much that I took 4 pages of valuable notes.

It feels so great to feel empowered with the knowledge to apply all of this on my own in the future as a business owner. 

I’m so glad that I decided to do this now rather than wait since I can start realizing all of the benefits today instead of a few years from now.  The best part is that I really do feel that everything Annette has done (specific clothing, accessories, and makeup) does truly reflect who I am.  It feels so good to not only feel good about how I am dressed but that it is 100% me. 

My “look” is truly aligned with the brand I want to reflect as the Founder and Solutions Consultant for my business, Solutions for Impact, LLC.   This has been such a valuable experience. 

Thanks to Annette’s great explanations and the way she naturally teaches, I have been able to apply everything she has shared. 

I’ve gone to the extent that I proactively put up two hooks in my closet so I can assemble and review outfits and accessories before I finalize what I’m going to wear.  It really helps give me a different perspective of the “look” and is nice not to continually change my clothes until I get it right.  To prove a point, I humbly tell you that I literally now get compliments every single day. 

I have really enjoyed getting to know and working with Annette. She is always 100% professional, very kind, easy to be around and fun.  

I can’t but help love her approach since it aligns with the key aspects of the services Solutions for Impact, LLC provides to clients – “realistic, actionable, easy to manage, sustainable and impactful.”  It is pretty amazing to be on the other side of that as a client. 

Like always, I cannot wait until our next session!

Hi I’m Annette!

As a certified Personal Image consultant, color expert and Fashion Feng Shui facilitator I am dedicated to helping you reveal your radiance and dress with style and intentionality for your professional lifestyle. 

I am passionate about supporting you so that age, shape, or size are no longer in the way while aligning your style with the real you.  So you can walk into the world with more confidence and make a great first impression that is authentically yours!

Story by Michelle Esteban of KOMONEWS.COM

On the red carpet or in the office, best-dressed can bust your budget. But now, the latest online shopping trend allows users to rent a dress, and own the look.

"I think it's actually kind of awesome," said Annette Bond, owner of Definitive Style by Annette Bond.

She is a personal image consultant with 30 years of fashion industry experience.

"Oh my gosh, I love it, what do you think?" asked Bond, of her client Angela Hildre, who beamed in a beautiful coral-colored one-shoulder dress.  "I love the color of it too," said Hildre from Bond's home office.

Bond calls online shopping a new option for clients like Hildre. Renting provides access over ownership.

"I try not to wear the same thing, so I want something new," said Hildre.

She can either pay retail for a department store gown, or try to rent the look for less.

"The fact that you could get a designer look, a one-of-a-kind look, and you don't have to invest the money," said Hildre.

It's RentTheRunway.com, an online service that has 50,000 designer dress rentals that can be delivered to your doorstep.

For example, I rented a gold-sequined Badgley Mischka full-length gown, which retails for $620, for $70. That included shipping, taxes, insurance, a first-time ordering discount, and 5 bucks to rent earrings. My total price tag was $98.50.

And if the dress doesn't fit, the service provides a backup size for free. My order arrived on time, the first dress fit like a glove and looked as if it came right off the rack; not tired, used or overly dry cleaned. But their gowns are like Cinderella's chariot, they have to be returned in either 4 or 8 days - or else there's a late charge.

The clothing rental trend goes beyond the red carpet. LeTote.com, for example, rents daily wear.

For a monthly fee, users get door-to-door service, and can buy anytime at a discount.

"There is something to be said for trying the dress on, and seeing how they feel and look in the dress in their body, their figure," said Shirdel. "I think a stylist is priceless."

You do have to know what works on your body type, before you rent.

"That's something you really need to watch," warned Annette Bond.

For first time renters: Keep these 4 tips in mind:

1. Have a budget and beware of the snowball effect.

2. Online sites makes it easy to over indulge with accessories, including shape wear and makeup.

3. Pay attention to fees, damaged clothing, or late returns. They can quickly add up.

4. Since models looks good in every outfit, always check out customer’s reviews and photos to get a real look at the rental on real women.

That red carpet look is not just for the celebrities anymore.

Stress-Free Summer Packing Exists!

There’s hardly anything more stressful than packing for a trip. You’ve probably had your own nightmare experience whether its forgetting the most important outfit for your business trip (the complete outfit is hanging in your closet 3,000 miles away) or you forgot your makeup bag on the bathroom counter. Or maybe the new shoes you purchased for the trip have left you with blisters on Day One. It’s time to adopt a new plan for packing! Start with a timetable and work your way up to the big day.

Here are some pre-departure tips to help you

14 Days Out

Although your trip seems far in the future, it’s time to start prepping now! 

Try on and write up or take pictures of all the pieces in your highest impact outfits. What are high impact outfits? They’re the outfits that are the most important outfits you’ll be wearing on the trip. Attending a wedding? Interviewing for a job? You know which days or nights mean the most to you so be sure you create those outfits early. This way you’ll have time to purchase any components that might be missing.

Do you take prescription drugs? Check the refills now. Your pharmacist will help you stock up so you won’t miss any days.

12 Days Out

Investigate the condition of your outfit pieces by looking closely at each clothing article. 

Finalize your high impact outfits and check closely to see if any articles need repair, alterations, or cleaning.

10 days Out

Start brainstorming your low to medium impact outfits. 

These are the outfits you’ll wear on day trips, visiting museums, going to the beach, socializing with friends, relatives, having casual dinners out. Try on the different possibilities and be sure to include the accessories. Let these possible combinations simmer for a couple of days in a section of your closet. That way you can mull over your outfit ideas without feeling rushed.

7 days Out

You can start creating your non-weather related pre-packs.

Some items can be packed right now. Consider gathering up your panties and bras now and packing them in a small travel bag. Nightgowns or pajamas and anything you use just before bed can be packed in a small travel bag. Do you have a favorite lip balm you apply at night? Do you wear earplugs or eye-shades? Designate a travel pack for just these items. When you get to your destination, you just pull out this nighttime pack and you could be asleep in five minutes!

 

Make another pre-pack for your workout gear if this is included in your itinerary.

Count out your daily vitamins and/or medications and put them in mini-plastic pouches for each day of your trip. You’ll feel so good taking care of this ahead of time.

Your toiletries and hair products can be pre-packed now too and placed in your suitcase. A benefit of having an extra set of makeup is that you can pack this early and avoid any panic about forgetting a most important product.

5 days Out

Your anxiety might be presenting itself. Keep calm and get more of your packing prepped. 

Check the weather at your destination. Now you have a clearer idea about the forecast and how it will affect your wardrobe. However, always pack a couple of pieces of clothing for each extreme weather possibility. That could mean a pair of shorts and a long-sleeved sweater.

Since you already planned out your high impact outfit ideas on Day 14, time to put them together completely. Check to be sure you have the accessories for each outfit.

Make the final edits of your travel wardrobe for your low to medium impact outfits. Do laundry if needed. Plan your actual “day-of” travel outfit.

1 Day Out

Don’t worry, you’re ready for this day. Time to fit it all into your suitcase and get some good night sleep, stress-free.

 Make yourself a note of anything that needs to be put into the suitcase just before you leave. This could include a curling iron, makeup, and makeup tools.

Have your travel outfit laid out and ready to go, especially for those early morning flights.

Need more simplifying?

Let me help you. I've packed my clients for many different destinations and occasions. They love how simplified their packing experience becomes. You could be the calmest customer in the security line on your next trip!