client praise: why i love what i do...

so at the end of last year...my girlfriend was having a family dinner...i'm thinking it was thanksgiving...but not sure...her family during dinner...decided to go around the table and say something that they were wanting for the new year...when it got to her brother...he mentioned that he would like to start dating...

so my girlfriend...being the lovely sister that she is...decided to gift my services to him...to help assess his wardrobe and help in any way i can...

her brother is an extremely smart young man...and the reason i bring that up...is the fact that he has aspergers...and i have such respect for people that fight the odds...the obstacles...and make a wonderful life for themselves...he is successful in every area of his life...graduated from a very prominent university...holds a great job that allows him to travel outside of the country...

the only thing missing was a fun dating life...and i...was so excited to be part in helping him with his wardrobe...

so i went over and met with him for the first time...he was shy...but so excited for this new adventure...i did several shopping trips for him and was ready to show him what i had come up with...and once we picked out the pieces that would work...created his very own look book...and he was set to go...

fast forward about three months...and his sister tells me that he now has a girlfriend...i cannot tell you how this warmed my heart...let's be honest...clothes aren't the whole piece to a puzzle...but when one is dressed right...meaning clothes that fit...and clothes that are put together...there is a confidence in that...and confidence is a pretty powerful force...at least i think so...

the holiday dress...

a client that i have been working with for most of this year...who has made amazing strides in her wardrobe...when we first met...she told me she wanted to work on having her own personal style...she wanted to wear things that her friends would say "that is so you"...she didn't want trendy...she didn't want "out there"...she wanted herself...the real person that she knew she was...but wasn't being reflected in her clothes...

so we started on this incredible journey...and at the beginning...mostly what she would say when asked to try something on...was..."that won't work on my body"...now we laugh about it...but back then...it took a while till there was a trust...a trust that she knew what i was doing...and that i was truly there to make her look her absolute best...

so...she called me a few weeks back...her gift to herself was to get a new "wow" holiday dress...she at this point does not question what i give her to try on...but the moment that this dress went on her...and she blurted out "oh my god...i never thought i could look this good..." we both knew it was the right dress...

when figuring out what works for you...and your body...you need to do the work...you need to try on many different styles...until you find the ones that work for you...and know that when something doesn't work...it isn't that something is wrong with you...but that the style is not right...

nicole miller open back jersey sheath dress
nordstrom

client praise: karen...

the reason why i love what i do...

I never thought I'd be hiring a wardrobe consultant - after all I AM a designer and I know what looks good . . . . After hearing my friends rave about her, I finally asked Elena to come and look over my professional wardrobe. She was exactly what I needed! Elena looked over what I had, put together coordinated outfits, and recommended which pieces I needed to buy to fill in the gaps. Now I can make the most of my time and budget by shopping just for the pieces that will help me wear what I already have!

thank you karen...it was my pleasure!

my client becky...

as i was going through old files in my office...i came across some notes i had jotted down about my first visit with one of my dearest clients...becky...this was before i was blogging...otherwise i know that it would have been a blog post...and then i thought...why not showcase it now...i first met becky back in 2008...

here was my journal entry...

i spent about 3 hrs shopping for one of my newest clients yesterday...

back to when we met...i was referred to mrs c. by a friend of mine...mrs c. hired me to help update her daughter becky's wardrobe...becky is 21 yrs old and has autism...mrs c. felt that her daughter looked like she was dressed by a 55 yr. old woman - her mom.

when i went over to their home to meet them...mrs c. told me that becky was finishing up her lunch and would come into the living room when she was done...we sat and chatted about becky's activities...and what she needs...

then becky came into the room...she came right up to me...gave me a big hug & a kiss on the cheek...and proceeded to sit right next to me...you gotta love that...

becky is a beautiful girl with such innocence - it grabbed at me...this innocence - the one we all long for...the surprise in every situation - they way children look at things in such wonder...

mrs c. asked becky if she knew why i was there...and becky says "closet"...
mrs c. asks "what about the closet?"
and becky says "closet clean-up"

the next few hours were spent doing a closet audit...and really looking at what becky had that we could build on...her mom's goal was to take becky from dressing like a young child and dress her like the young lady she is now...

obviously there are many challenges that go along with a child with autism...for becky - alot of it is buttons & tying, when to take the sweater off, what top matches those pants...things we don't even think about...(well most of us) ;o)

becky is a fully developed woman...who many times acts as a five year old child...so the things that we think about...crossing our legs...bending over...don't come into play with her...she is interested in playing with her toys...and yet...she is in college...goes to her part time job...and then comes home to play with her dolls...

becky does not think about fashion - but her mom wants her to look nice...

mrs c. was most excited about the look book that i was creating for becky...a book just for her - with pictures of all her clothes already in outfits...all becky needed to do is look through her book - and decide what outfit she wanted to wear...and it is put together for her...

i love that the innocence of a child can teach you so much, warm your heart & make you feel loved...all at once!

client corner: at the derby...

in my monthly newsletter...one of the favorite go-to articles is the "client corner"...my customers love seeing "real" people showcasing their jana kos purchases...

pictured below is lovely couple kathy and bob allen at the millionaires row at derby 2010...kathy is wearing jana kos "spring" 2010 collection...doesn't she look fabulous?