Style Buzz: Smart Tools, Sharp Style + Styling Golden (!) Velvet Pants

Eugene Stylist
Dec 12, 2025
5 min read

Ideas to Inspire Your Style This Week

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"It's not about doing what everyone else is doing. It's a matter of embracing what works for me, and I'm so much happier!"

Whether it's how you decorate your house, what you eat, your social schedule, you likely do things differently than the people around you. GOOD! You should be doing what works for you. And when it comes to style, just because all everyone else is jumping on a trend, a cut, a color, doesn't mean you have to, too. What works for you should be deliberate and meaningful, which in turn helps you look most like your authentic self.

xxx rachel

*I mean, how adorable is this! I wouldn't wear tights like this but it certainly doesn't mean I didn't enjoy and admire how this lovely lady wore hers.*

SMART TOOLS, SHARP STYLE

I often speak of style as a tool - something to help you step into your life with confidence, poise, and comfort. You've likely heard me say, "Look good, feel good, do good," which makes style the catalyst to feeling good and doing good. It's really not as far fetched as it sounds - there are studies about enclothed cognition, how your brain responds to what you're wearing. When you're unsure about your clothing, you're distracted, fidgety, or uncomfortable, and a portion of your brain is preoccupied with those negative feelings. Figuring out your personal style can remove them by letting you go through your day knowing you are wearing an outfit that supports you physically and mentally.

So how do you know what works for you? I've created a handful of materials to help you turn your wardrobe into the beneficial tool it's supposed to be!

Style Diary

There's a phrase, "What you monitor, you manage." Usually they're talking about water intake or activity levels, but it applies to your wardrobe, too. When you track your outfits, you gain insight into which pieces you do and don't wear, how you pair them with other pieces, and what's missing from your wardrobe. You also get a sense of what outfits make you feel great. The Style Diary helps you do just that, and becomes a reference tool/cheat sheet to boot. (You'll also get a bonus tool when you download it!)

Style Diary

What to Wear to A...

Have you ever browsed those "10/50/100 items everyone should have in their wardrobe" lists and been overwhelmed because what if you don't have some of them and now you're supposed to go and drop a huge amount of money? Or you don't like some of those pieces? (True story: the former editor-in-chief of British Vogue hates white button-up shirts, a staple of those lists!) Instead, I prioritize a wardrobe with outfits that fit your life.

Start by identifying the occasions you'll need an outfit for with the What to Wear to A... list. Go through it slowly to find those occasions you have in your world (there's space to add your own, too) then come up with quick, go-to outfits for each one. Planning outfits ahead of time will save you time and panic for both planned and impromptu events, plus you'll discover some versatility with the pieces you already have.

(You'll also get a bonus tool when you download it!)

What to Wear to A...

Style App

As a professional Stylist, I have access to a digital style app, a clever, robust tool that lets you see your entire wardrobe at the touch of a button. With its three sections - Closet, Lookbooks, and Finds - my clients know exactly what's in their wardrobe and how to put outfits together using handy visuals. The benefits are beyond a reference tool: they end up saving money by not buying unnecessary duplicates, they can see what a new piece goes with before they buy it, and they can streamline mornings by scrolling to find a ready-made outfit. It's also amazing for organizing travel capsule wardrobes and wish lists.

Check out my blog post that dives into more detail.

Note: I give all clients the Style App for free, but do offer it as a standalone service if all someone wants is a visual inventory.

Style App Mini Session

Finding Your Style - a Self-Study Course

But what if you're either not ready to use these tools, or you want to go even further to find your style beyond what these offer? What if you're at the point where bigger change is what you want, to step into the future self that you're becoming, but want to dip into it on your own time, on your own terms? Surprise, I have a tool for that, too! I've created a self-study course for exactly these situations. It walks you through how to discover and create your own personal style, at your own pace and comfort level. No fear, though - I'll be right by your side the whole way. You can try out the first module for free, and when you're ready to continue, download the full course.

Finding Your Style Course

What it comes down to is the right tool for the job, and together these create a toolkit to give you a clearer picture of your wardrobe and how it currently works for you, as well as how it should work for you. Try them out and let me know how it goes! And let me know if there are any others you'd like to see.

COMING SOON! New Packages for the Ultimate Styling Experience

I've had a good think about how best to serve my clients and will be revealing some new service package options at the beginning of the year! How I work with you won't change - I'll still be doing closet edits, wardrobe remixes, personal shopping, travel packing, etc, but rearranging how services are bundled. I'm really excited about these - they better encapsulate what you've asked for to elevate your style in a way that supports your goals, your needs, and our community. Stay tuned!

3 WAYS TO STYLE IT: Golden Velvet Pants

Now there's a phrase I'd love to say more often! These fabulous pants are from Melange in 5th Street Market and a client absolutely fell in love with them once she put them on. They're surprisingly versatile and the color plays nicely with a pretty wide palette - neutrals as below but also burgundy, navy, yellow, and pink. Plus they're a wonderful alternative to jeans.