Stylish Bridgette-isms
By Bridgette Raes
Over the nearly three years that I have been writing this newsletter, certain catchphrases have been coined or adopted which have quickly become household sayings by many of our readers and clients. I didn’t realize how much of what I have said through the years has stuck until I heard my clients and readers using these phrases, or telling me how what I have said in the past really resonates with them. I thought it would be fun to revisit some of the Bridgette-isms that I have used in the past and review the meaning of each, and how they apply to your wardrobe and personal style.
Orphan
Definition: That singular item of clothing that you bought that seldom gets worn, since you had no idea how you were going to wear it once you brought it home. As a result, it turns into wasted money just hanging in your closet.
I don’t take full credit for coining the concept of an orphan when it comes to clothing, but I have used it SO often that even though it isn’t a Bridgette Raes original, it has definitely become a word associated with this newsletter.
There is a true absurdity to bringing home an orphan and putting it in your closet. If you think about it, you wouldn’t purchase anything else for your home or life if you didn’t know what you were going to do with it. Shopping can be an emotional experience for many of us, but by simply taking a few seconds to look at something that you really love in the store, and carefully assessing how you will wear the piece before bringing it home, you can ensure that you will, in fact, be able to wear the piece. My rule is that before you bring an article of clothing home you should be able to think of at least two to three things that you can wear with your desired piece. If you can’t think of anything that you already own to wear it with, either leave it in the store or purchase at least one thing that matches back to it.
Style-Denial
Definition: Someone who thinks they look good when, in fact, they are just a “mess in a dress.”
I actually have to credit my boyfriend for noticing this brilliant catchphrase. I wrote an article a few weeks ago that posed a question to all of you: Do you look good when you get dressed, or are you in total style-denial about how you look? The article was inspired by a woman whom I thought looked horrible, even though she told me that she thought she looked great.
It is very easy to develop a skewed sense of our own style and if you think you could be one of these people, check in with people whose opinions you respect to ensure that you aren’t in style-denial.
Where ya goin’ in that?
Definition: The question that one should ask themselves before making a purchase.
This is probably one of the most popular sayings that I take credit for coining. Again, just like the saying "style-denial," I wasn’t aware how often I used this saying until a client pointed it out to me and suggested that I trademark it.
I often ask my clients “Where ya goin’ in that?” when we are shopping and my clients find something that they like but it doesn’t fit their lifestyle. They may love the way something looks on a hanger but if they can’t figure out where they would wear the piece they are considering purchasing, then I encourage them not to buy it.
The funny thing is that many of my clients don’t even need me to ask them, “Where ya goin’ in that?” They simply look at the piece and mutter to themselves, “This is nice, but where am I going in this?” I always smile with pride when any client of mine can look past the emotion of a beautiful piece of clothing staring back at them and still realize that something can be nice to look at but not exactly practical for their lifestyle.
If you want to implement the “Where ya goin’ in that?” rule for shopping on your own, be careful not to fall into the trap of making up places that you think you might wear something. I have heard many of my clients try to come up with new activities that they know they will never do just to justify the purchase. Be realistic with yourself: if you haven’t signed up for that ballroom dancing class or tennis lesson, or you don’t have a black tie affair slated on your calendar, or if your lifestyle is more stay-at-home but you keep buying suits, wait to purchase appropriate clothing until these circumstances become more of a reality for you.
Buy Nice or Buy Twice
Definition: The strong argument that, when it comes to making purchases that need to stand the test of time, you should invest in good quality.
Again, this phrase is not a Bridgette Raes original. I heard this saying several years ago and thought it a brilliant way to encourage the belief that sometimes it is worth it to spend more money on clothing that you expect to provide you with some longevity.
There are some things that you can get on the cheap like T-shirts, summer pants that you know you will toss at the end of the season, or even some trendy pieces that will expire once the season is over. Now, let me clarify. I am not encouraging any of you to rack up credit card debt just to obtain some investment pieces. I don’t want to get scathing emails blasting me for encouraging any of you to live beyond your means. My advice is this: always try to buy the best you can afford when making a good, classic investment purchase. Trust me, you won’t be sorry. And, as I have mentioned in a past article, when you do hit speed bumps in your lifestyle and need to curb your spending and not buy anything new for awhile, you will be thankful that you have some good investment pieces in your closet that will wear well.
Fluency in your own style
Definition: Having a complete and total understanding of how to dress your own style.
This is the best way to describe what we do with our clients at Bridgette Raes Style Group. The truth is that makeovers don’t work; within several months of getting a style makeover, it is a pretty good bet that a client will slip into old patterns of dressing if she doesn't understand the process of dressing her own style. Why? Because there was no education involved.
Even though many of my clients would like me to sleep in their closet everyday and pick their outfits for them in the morning, obviously this isn’t a reality. Eventually baby birds need to be kicked from the nest and left to survive on their own. So when we work with clients, especially clients who go through an extensive program with us like our Transformation Image and Style Program TM, the goal is to give them fluency in their own style.
Developing a sense of style and more importantly, an understanding of exactly how to personify that in your wardrobe, is like learning a language - it does take time. If you find yourself often wracked with anxiety by the process, remember your experience of learning how to ride a bike. How many times did you fall down?
Black pants colored top uniform
Definition: The common “uniform” worn by women.
When a client shows me a shirt or jacket and I ask them how they intend to wear the jacket or shirt, they often tell me that they plan on wearing it with black pants. We rely on the black pants in our wardrobe like we rely on air to breathe. The problem is that so many of us have gotten tired of this look, but don’t know any other alternatives.
I encourage all of you to break out of black pant-colored top uniform by realizing that any color that you can wear back to black you can, in most cases, wear back to any other neutral bottom shade, especially brown.
If you still feel a reliance on your black pants-colored top uniform then accessorize this look. There is nothing wrong with a pair of black pants, but where we often get stumped is when we stop there. Find accessories that will really make this outfit go from dull to fabulous. A stunning pair of shoes, a great statement handbag or some beautiful jewelry are outstanding options.
Color Triple Play
Definition: The formula for successfully using more than two colors in your outfit.
I wrote an article a few months ago called “Color Triple Play.” Color triple play is a simple formula on how to successfully and sophisticatedly incorporate more than one color into your wardrobe. Color for many women is very daunting, and many women are afraid of wearing it.
The Color Triple Play works successfully when you choose a bottom color in a neutral shade (neutral shades being black, brown, olive, tan, camel, khaki, deep plum or burgundy, grey and charcoal.) Choose a top color that works back to your bottom color, and then pop the outfit with a third accent color that accents the top and bottom shades you choose. The third pop color should be done in a small way such as a handbag, jewelry, shoes, a belt or scarf.
Set your style free
Definition: Bridgette Raes Style Group’s trademarked tagline. Setting your style free means realizing that you are born with your style and allowing it to be personified through your wardrobe.
Well, I certainly can’t give myself credit for coming up with this saying. When I started this company in 2002 I sat down with Stephanie Putter and Meredith Muegge, the creative minds behind Inkwel.com who helped me create the branding for Bridgette Raes Style Group. When they came up with our tagline "Set your style free" I was in love with it, because it perfectly and simply stated exactly what I believe style to be.
There are many people out there who think that either you are born with the style gene or you are not. My belief, however, is that we are all born with style. The problem is that many of us lose our way and don’t know how exactly to set our style free.
Developing your personal style means pulling it out from within, vs. layering it on. You can see the differences between someone who layers on a style and someone who learns how to simply personify who they are through their wardrobe. The person who layers on looks forced and contrived while the person who starts from within and sets it free looks natural and at ease.
When trying to develop your own personal style go within vs. looking at what is going on around you. All clothing is simply the tool that you use to personify your style; it is your personal style that should direct your choices, not what other people tell you that you "should" be wearing. When you start from within and learn how to set your style free, you can come from a much more empowered and comfortable place.
Fashion Russian Roulette
Definition: The very dangerous fashion game that many women play and often lose.
For many women getting dressed has become a serious game of fashion Russian roulette: sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. The sad fact is that often we are losing because it has been said that the average woman wears 10% of her closet 80% of the time. Clearly we are making bad shopping choices more often than good ones. This has become such a normal thing for many women today that we laugh about it, but this is a serious issue. Think about how much wasted time and money is hanging in your closet. When I speak, I often encourage women to envision dollar bills hanging from the hangers in their closet, rather than simply their unworn clothing. How much wasted money is hanging in your closet?
Closet Personality
Definition: The five personalities that personify how we manage our closet space.
“Closet personalities” is a definite Bridgette Raes original. When I started cleaning closets I quickly saw just how much psychology goes into this task. The closet really is the window to someone’s soul and very telling of how they live the rest of our lives. The five closet personalities are the Hoarder, the Devaluist, the Sentimentalist, the Identifier and the Pauper. Each personality is VERY different and often requires different approaches to closet and wardrobe management. My approach with a hoarder is very different than a sentimentalist, for obvious reasons.
By identifying your closet personality you can begin to learn how to approach closet and wardrobe management from the core of the issue.
Check your ‘tude
Definition: The check-in with yourself about the way your carry yourself, and the attitude you feel when you put on an outfit.
When I strut to the subway in the morning feeling good about the way I look, I know I have made a smart clothing choice. Conversely, when I want to hide from the world I know that my choice probably wasn’t the best.
Always check in with your body language, how you carry yourself, and if you would welcome a surprise meeting from an old flame on the street. When you know you look good, examine your outfit and figure out what you did right, and how you might repeat it in the future. The same is true with a bad outfit. Don’t just harass yourself for a bad choice, learn from your mistakes.
Cross Dressing
Definition: Having expensive and not so expensive components in one outfit.
I am not sure if this is a Bridgette Raes original, but I love the idea of wearing high and low in one outfit. I have left my apartment wearing an Old Navy T-shirt and a pair of expensive shoes. The best way to make something that is cheaper look more affluent is to partner it with something a bit more expensive.
Who’s wearing who?
Definition: The question to ask yourself to make sure that you are wearing your outfit, rather than your outfit wearing you.
My mother always said, “Never let your outfit enter a room ten minutes before you do.” This is brilliant advice that I have never forgotten. When you get dressed, always make sure that your outfit doesn’t make more of a statement than you do. You always want someone to notice you, not just your outfit.
To ensure that your outfit isn’t stealing the show, always look in the mirror and make sure that your outfit compliments all the components of your face. Do you have softer features? Well, if you want people to notice you, don’t wear loud bold prints near your face. Have more rounded features? Try prints that have that same amount of roundness to them. The bottom line is that you never want someone’s attention to get caught up in your outfit; you ultimately want all eyes looking at you to go back to your face.
If you don’t get it, nobody else will
Definition: If you want people to get the message that you want to send, you have to feel it first.
Powerful dressing starts with you, just like checking your ‘tude. Whatever message you want to send to people, you need to make sure that you feel it first. If you are vying for the promotion at work then make sure you feel powerful in what you wear. Trust me, there is no fooling anyone and if you don’t get it, nobody else will.
Our body language and the way we carry ourselves subconsciously changes when we don’t think we look quite right. We also can get mentally caught up in the fact that we don’t feel that we look good, and aren’t as engaged as we could be with others. If you know that you look good you can focus more of your attention on other things, like making a good impression at work. Never let what you are wearing detract from what you are trying to accomplish. Having a great style means getting dressed and then forgetting about it. If you are still stuck on what you are wearing hours after you get dressed, rethink your choices.
(c) 2005 Bridgette Raes Style Group
Sign up for our weekly newsletter at www.bridgetteraes.com
Over the nearly three years that I have been writing this newsletter, certain catchphrases have been coined or adopted which have quickly become household sayings by many of our readers and clients. I didn’t realize how much of what I have said through the years has stuck until I heard my clients and readers using these phrases, or telling me how what I have said in the past really resonates with them. I thought it would be fun to revisit some of the Bridgette-isms that I have used in the past and review the meaning of each, and how they apply to your wardrobe and personal style.
Orphan
Definition: That singular item of clothing that you bought that seldom gets worn, since you had no idea how you were going to wear it once you brought it home. As a result, it turns into wasted money just hanging in your closet.
I don’t take full credit for coining the concept of an orphan when it comes to clothing, but I have used it SO often that even though it isn’t a Bridgette Raes original, it has definitely become a word associated with this newsletter.
There is a true absurdity to bringing home an orphan and putting it in your closet. If you think about it, you wouldn’t purchase anything else for your home or life if you didn’t know what you were going to do with it. Shopping can be an emotional experience for many of us, but by simply taking a few seconds to look at something that you really love in the store, and carefully assessing how you will wear the piece before bringing it home, you can ensure that you will, in fact, be able to wear the piece. My rule is that before you bring an article of clothing home you should be able to think of at least two to three things that you can wear with your desired piece. If you can’t think of anything that you already own to wear it with, either leave it in the store or purchase at least one thing that matches back to it.
Style-Denial
Definition: Someone who thinks they look good when, in fact, they are just a “mess in a dress.”
I actually have to credit my boyfriend for noticing this brilliant catchphrase. I wrote an article a few weeks ago that posed a question to all of you: Do you look good when you get dressed, or are you in total style-denial about how you look? The article was inspired by a woman whom I thought looked horrible, even though she told me that she thought she looked great.
It is very easy to develop a skewed sense of our own style and if you think you could be one of these people, check in with people whose opinions you respect to ensure that you aren’t in style-denial.
Where ya goin’ in that?
Definition: The question that one should ask themselves before making a purchase.
This is probably one of the most popular sayings that I take credit for coining. Again, just like the saying "style-denial," I wasn’t aware how often I used this saying until a client pointed it out to me and suggested that I trademark it.
I often ask my clients “Where ya goin’ in that?” when we are shopping and my clients find something that they like but it doesn’t fit their lifestyle. They may love the way something looks on a hanger but if they can’t figure out where they would wear the piece they are considering purchasing, then I encourage them not to buy it.
The funny thing is that many of my clients don’t even need me to ask them, “Where ya goin’ in that?” They simply look at the piece and mutter to themselves, “This is nice, but where am I going in this?” I always smile with pride when any client of mine can look past the emotion of a beautiful piece of clothing staring back at them and still realize that something can be nice to look at but not exactly practical for their lifestyle.
If you want to implement the “Where ya goin’ in that?” rule for shopping on your own, be careful not to fall into the trap of making up places that you think you might wear something. I have heard many of my clients try to come up with new activities that they know they will never do just to justify the purchase. Be realistic with yourself: if you haven’t signed up for that ballroom dancing class or tennis lesson, or you don’t have a black tie affair slated on your calendar, or if your lifestyle is more stay-at-home but you keep buying suits, wait to purchase appropriate clothing until these circumstances become more of a reality for you.
Buy Nice or Buy Twice
Definition: The strong argument that, when it comes to making purchases that need to stand the test of time, you should invest in good quality.
Again, this phrase is not a Bridgette Raes original. I heard this saying several years ago and thought it a brilliant way to encourage the belief that sometimes it is worth it to spend more money on clothing that you expect to provide you with some longevity.
There are some things that you can get on the cheap like T-shirts, summer pants that you know you will toss at the end of the season, or even some trendy pieces that will expire once the season is over. Now, let me clarify. I am not encouraging any of you to rack up credit card debt just to obtain some investment pieces. I don’t want to get scathing emails blasting me for encouraging any of you to live beyond your means. My advice is this: always try to buy the best you can afford when making a good, classic investment purchase. Trust me, you won’t be sorry. And, as I have mentioned in a past article, when you do hit speed bumps in your lifestyle and need to curb your spending and not buy anything new for awhile, you will be thankful that you have some good investment pieces in your closet that will wear well.
Fluency in your own style
Definition: Having a complete and total understanding of how to dress your own style.
This is the best way to describe what we do with our clients at Bridgette Raes Style Group. The truth is that makeovers don’t work; within several months of getting a style makeover, it is a pretty good bet that a client will slip into old patterns of dressing if she doesn't understand the process of dressing her own style. Why? Because there was no education involved.
Even though many of my clients would like me to sleep in their closet everyday and pick their outfits for them in the morning, obviously this isn’t a reality. Eventually baby birds need to be kicked from the nest and left to survive on their own. So when we work with clients, especially clients who go through an extensive program with us like our Transformation Image and Style Program TM, the goal is to give them fluency in their own style.
Developing a sense of style and more importantly, an understanding of exactly how to personify that in your wardrobe, is like learning a language - it does take time. If you find yourself often wracked with anxiety by the process, remember your experience of learning how to ride a bike. How many times did you fall down?
Black pants colored top uniform
Definition: The common “uniform” worn by women.
When a client shows me a shirt or jacket and I ask them how they intend to wear the jacket or shirt, they often tell me that they plan on wearing it with black pants. We rely on the black pants in our wardrobe like we rely on air to breathe. The problem is that so many of us have gotten tired of this look, but don’t know any other alternatives.
I encourage all of you to break out of black pant-colored top uniform by realizing that any color that you can wear back to black you can, in most cases, wear back to any other neutral bottom shade, especially brown.
If you still feel a reliance on your black pants-colored top uniform then accessorize this look. There is nothing wrong with a pair of black pants, but where we often get stumped is when we stop there. Find accessories that will really make this outfit go from dull to fabulous. A stunning pair of shoes, a great statement handbag or some beautiful jewelry are outstanding options.
Color Triple Play
Definition: The formula for successfully using more than two colors in your outfit.
I wrote an article a few months ago called “Color Triple Play.” Color triple play is a simple formula on how to successfully and sophisticatedly incorporate more than one color into your wardrobe. Color for many women is very daunting, and many women are afraid of wearing it.
The Color Triple Play works successfully when you choose a bottom color in a neutral shade (neutral shades being black, brown, olive, tan, camel, khaki, deep plum or burgundy, grey and charcoal.) Choose a top color that works back to your bottom color, and then pop the outfit with a third accent color that accents the top and bottom shades you choose. The third pop color should be done in a small way such as a handbag, jewelry, shoes, a belt or scarf.
Set your style free
Definition: Bridgette Raes Style Group’s trademarked tagline. Setting your style free means realizing that you are born with your style and allowing it to be personified through your wardrobe.
Well, I certainly can’t give myself credit for coming up with this saying. When I started this company in 2002 I sat down with Stephanie Putter and Meredith Muegge, the creative minds behind Inkwel.com who helped me create the branding for Bridgette Raes Style Group. When they came up with our tagline "Set your style free" I was in love with it, because it perfectly and simply stated exactly what I believe style to be.
There are many people out there who think that either you are born with the style gene or you are not. My belief, however, is that we are all born with style. The problem is that many of us lose our way and don’t know how exactly to set our style free.
Developing your personal style means pulling it out from within, vs. layering it on. You can see the differences between someone who layers on a style and someone who learns how to simply personify who they are through their wardrobe. The person who layers on looks forced and contrived while the person who starts from within and sets it free looks natural and at ease.
When trying to develop your own personal style go within vs. looking at what is going on around you. All clothing is simply the tool that you use to personify your style; it is your personal style that should direct your choices, not what other people tell you that you "should" be wearing. When you start from within and learn how to set your style free, you can come from a much more empowered and comfortable place.
Fashion Russian Roulette
Definition: The very dangerous fashion game that many women play and often lose.
For many women getting dressed has become a serious game of fashion Russian roulette: sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. The sad fact is that often we are losing because it has been said that the average woman wears 10% of her closet 80% of the time. Clearly we are making bad shopping choices more often than good ones. This has become such a normal thing for many women today that we laugh about it, but this is a serious issue. Think about how much wasted time and money is hanging in your closet. When I speak, I often encourage women to envision dollar bills hanging from the hangers in their closet, rather than simply their unworn clothing. How much wasted money is hanging in your closet?
Closet Personality
Definition: The five personalities that personify how we manage our closet space.
“Closet personalities” is a definite Bridgette Raes original. When I started cleaning closets I quickly saw just how much psychology goes into this task. The closet really is the window to someone’s soul and very telling of how they live the rest of our lives. The five closet personalities are the Hoarder, the Devaluist, the Sentimentalist, the Identifier and the Pauper. Each personality is VERY different and often requires different approaches to closet and wardrobe management. My approach with a hoarder is very different than a sentimentalist, for obvious reasons.
By identifying your closet personality you can begin to learn how to approach closet and wardrobe management from the core of the issue.
Check your ‘tude
Definition: The check-in with yourself about the way your carry yourself, and the attitude you feel when you put on an outfit.
When I strut to the subway in the morning feeling good about the way I look, I know I have made a smart clothing choice. Conversely, when I want to hide from the world I know that my choice probably wasn’t the best.
Always check in with your body language, how you carry yourself, and if you would welcome a surprise meeting from an old flame on the street. When you know you look good, examine your outfit and figure out what you did right, and how you might repeat it in the future. The same is true with a bad outfit. Don’t just harass yourself for a bad choice, learn from your mistakes.
Cross Dressing
Definition: Having expensive and not so expensive components in one outfit.
I am not sure if this is a Bridgette Raes original, but I love the idea of wearing high and low in one outfit. I have left my apartment wearing an Old Navy T-shirt and a pair of expensive shoes. The best way to make something that is cheaper look more affluent is to partner it with something a bit more expensive.
Who’s wearing who?
Definition: The question to ask yourself to make sure that you are wearing your outfit, rather than your outfit wearing you.
My mother always said, “Never let your outfit enter a room ten minutes before you do.” This is brilliant advice that I have never forgotten. When you get dressed, always make sure that your outfit doesn’t make more of a statement than you do. You always want someone to notice you, not just your outfit.
To ensure that your outfit isn’t stealing the show, always look in the mirror and make sure that your outfit compliments all the components of your face. Do you have softer features? Well, if you want people to notice you, don’t wear loud bold prints near your face. Have more rounded features? Try prints that have that same amount of roundness to them. The bottom line is that you never want someone’s attention to get caught up in your outfit; you ultimately want all eyes looking at you to go back to your face.
If you don’t get it, nobody else will
Definition: If you want people to get the message that you want to send, you have to feel it first.
Powerful dressing starts with you, just like checking your ‘tude. Whatever message you want to send to people, you need to make sure that you feel it first. If you are vying for the promotion at work then make sure you feel powerful in what you wear. Trust me, there is no fooling anyone and if you don’t get it, nobody else will.
Our body language and the way we carry ourselves subconsciously changes when we don’t think we look quite right. We also can get mentally caught up in the fact that we don’t feel that we look good, and aren’t as engaged as we could be with others. If you know that you look good you can focus more of your attention on other things, like making a good impression at work. Never let what you are wearing detract from what you are trying to accomplish. Having a great style means getting dressed and then forgetting about it. If you are still stuck on what you are wearing hours after you get dressed, rethink your choices.
(c) 2005 Bridgette Raes Style Group
Sign up for our weekly newsletter at www.bridgetteraes.com
posted by Unknown @ 2:45 PM
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