THE NEWSLETTER // VOL. 2 / ISSUE 1

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January 2018

My friend Anita chooses a word to embody the intentions she sets for each new year. The word becomes True North for twelve months, capturing the essence of how she wants to show up on a daily basis.
 
I've never been a big fan of resolutions but this? I love it. It's purposeful but not rigid, like cashmere in a closet full of over-starched shirts.
 
Which word would you choose?
 
Mine for 2018: Endeavour.
 
Enjoy.
 
xo
Elim
 

THE EDIT

Welcome to a new year, people! It’s about that time we do our best re-assessments of habits and routine. For some, this is the season for serious editing, wardrobes included.

I remember my first proper wardrobe edit like it was yesterday and it was with my friend, Chloe. We sat together in her closet, clothing splayed across the floor and neatly stacked in piles on her bed. While talking her through my process and reviewing suggestions with her, a few things struck me.

 1) Wardrobing is not intuitive to the general population. What I considered to be common knowledge was actually my expertise. (Duh. That seems obvious, right?)

 2) The real work as a personal stylist is helping people identify how they want to feel. Next, it's pinning down what their lifestyle demands of their wardrobe, identifying what they love and why, and empowering them to shop wisely. It has nothing (or very, very little) to do with trends.

 3) Posture is the litmus test. If someone literally stands tall in their clothing, they often figuratively stand tall and walk confidently through life. The way people feel in their clothes impacts their reality.

That moment in Chloe’s closet is long gone but what it taught me remains relevant today. While my job has everything to do with clothing, my mission has nothing to do with fashion. By sharing my expertise, I equip women and men to dress themselves in confidence and purchase with power. This has the potential to shift the industry and ultimately impact future generations. This is my kind of work.

So this is where you’ve found me, in the midst of my own edit, only it's not my closet that needs work. It's my head and heart.

My head knows I possess a valid and urgent message for this industry; my heart is scared as hell to do the work. It knows that delivering the message means showing up and being seen: public speaking, workshops, collaborating, writing--all the things I've been politely saying no to.

 
Not anymore. 2018 is the year I maximize every endeavour to impact the world around me. 

--- 

Are you taking stock of the tasks ahead too? If your work involves your wardrobe, here are some tips and tricks for a New Year closet refresh:

·Bored of current outfit options? I like to look to Pinterest or Instagram for #ootd inspiration and challenge myself to recreate looks with what I already own. Unsure about the pairing? Wear it OUT. That’s where the real observing happens

·Can’t see the possibilities? De-clutter the view. I don't need to see summer pieces so why are they in my daily line of sight? Move or store seasonal pieces away for added ease

·Take a cue from your smartphone. Intuitive design is everything. I observe which clothing I need to access quickly and organize accordingly. Ex: I tend to look to my right when looking at clothes so I flip all my clothing on hangers to face left. It’s the details, friends. It’s all in the details.

·Make a date with the cobbler. With spring in mind, I look over my footwear to see if any pairs need fresh soles or professional TLC