Diane's high praises have left me speechless...

"It is such a STRUGGLE fending off compliments to my outfit today... REALLY!!!

...I see that the better I feel about myself, the less likely I am to indulge in an eating marathon.  The clothes you chose and the support you have given me make me feel incredible... having beautiful clothes when I am at my "fullest" has really had a profound positive impact on my self esteem."

People tend to think of fashion as being purely superficial.  But you'd be amazed at the way your appearance can lift/hurt your self-esteem.  Anyone who's ever felt over-weight knows what it feels like to have your outward appearance affect you negatively.  Like Diane (see her "after photo" on the FB page), did you ever stop to think that a wardrobe update might help build your self-esteem?

Before/After Pics: A Guide to Dress-Down-Fridays

My client was gracious enough to let me post before/after pics of him all over the internet (thank you!).  Cliff, a sex/relationship coach in the south bay, wanted to dress up his casual beach style to be a bit more professional.  Not working in an office setting, he didn't want to look like he worked in a cubicle, but did need to step it up a bit from his surfer style.

 

before

Cliff is not my first male client having issues with their dressy-casual clothing.  Whether it's casual Friday or date night, many men are unsure how to dress to impress without wearing a suit.  Take it from me, just throwing on a jacket over your favorite tee, a pair of dress shoes and your cleanest pair of jeans is not cutting it (you know who you are :)

after

We took Cliff out of his over-sized button down shirts and tees, and put him into more fitted layers in darker hues.  These darker tones, even on this red head, look stronger, more powerful and sophisticated.  Together with the better fit and more masculine colors, he's more approachable, professional, confident and ready to break into a larger client base.  What do you think?  How does your dressy-casual look compare?

Sarah H. sent you a review on Yelp

Hi, Sarah says, Hey Jennifer! I wanted to let you know I put up a review for you on Yelp! It's long, I wanted to share my experience as a newbie to personal shopping. I hope it will help someone else decide to take the plunge! Thank you so much for everything, and for continuing to keep me updated on styles and sales! I love it! Sarah would like to share this review with you: Beyond Black San Francisco, CA Reviewed by Sarah H. When I moved to SF, I got rid of all the clothes I didn't like or didn't fit well or were worn out, etc. I guess that was pretty much everything... once I moved in and looked at my nearly empty closet I realized I was going to have to do some major wardrobe basics shopping. With the pain of throwing out so many clothes still fresh, I came across the "personal shopping" category on Yelp. I didn't really know such a thing existed (besides for celebrities) but after learning how reasonable Jennifer's rates are, I realized this was within my reach and would be a good investment. I reasoned the extra money I would spend on bringing in a professional would make up for what I would probably waste in repeating my past mistakes. Jennifer came in and assessed my closet, showing me what kinds of items I should look for to flatter my body and fit my lifestyle. She also took note of the kinds of clothing items I was attracted to and what kind of style personality I wanted to project. When I met her for our shopping trip, she had already filled several stores' dressing rooms with a ton of clothes so I could get to work trying things on and seeing the outfits she had put together for me. She managed to capture my sense of style perfectly, picking out things that just felt like "me" without me even knowing what exactly that meant. She pulled things off the rack that I would have never grabbed, but once I saw them on me, a whole world of wardrobe possibilities opened up in my mind. She taught me how to mix and match things with a constant eye on what is most flattering for my particular shape. She also helped me stick to my budget, shopping at stores that would allow me to get as much bang for my buck, since I had so many holes in my closet to fill. In such a short time, Jennifer helped me accomplish what seemed like an impossible task, and now I'm excited to get dressed every day. No more "nothing to wear" mornings! Jennifer's really skilled and knowledgeable at what she does, and also genuinely personable and fun. I feel like I can ask her a question any time, or hire again if I need more shopping help. She also occasionally sends emails checking in, info about sales, or if she sees something in a store that she thinks you'll like. It's clear that she really loves what she does! I definitely recommend giving personal shopping a try if you never have, and Jennifer's a great resource. I'm glad I made the investment!  Bookmark

Thank You!

I received this wonderful "thank you" from a client of mine in Illinois after our Skype consult for a wedding she was attending the following day.....

I got the leather boots from 9 west and and patton pumps.  I also got the long black string beaded necklace from nordstrom.  Wearing it with the boots and love how I feel and my man loves how I look...success!
Much appreciation to you!   Peg

Gratitude is not given out as readily as we feel it.  The art of thanking people may not be dead, but the notes that should follow are.  Thank about that next time someone does something you are thankful for... send them a note!  People like to receive something in the mailbox other than bills :)

Image courtesy of Nordstrom.com

Why I'm in this business!!

I was so blessed to receive an email from a friend of mine, who is also a client, telling me about the rave reviews she got from some items she purchased with me at our latest shopping appointment at Ambiance...

"I wanted to tell you what a hit I was at the wedding I went to with John*. I wore the navy and black fitted French Connection dress. So many compliments!! One person asked me if I was a SF designer, because I looked so hip and trendy."

I love to hear things like this. I was so happy for her that I had to blog about it. It's for reasons like these that I'm in this business. Fashion is not just about how you look. It's about looking as great on the outside as you feel on the inside, and letting the rest of the world see it too.

Thank you Jane* for sharing the news!

*names has been changed for privacy