Valentine's Day is kinda a scam.

Valentine's Day is kinda a scam.

But still, a girl likes a little chocolate and some attention anyway.

Quick story:

You know Mike & I have been together a long time- on and off since high school in fact. So that's quite a few V-Days.

Once, a few years into dating, we decided that we wouln't do anything for Valentine's Day. We expressed our love to each other every day and we didn't need a holiday to make us do it.

The day arrived and Mike didn't get me anything. He didn't do anything. Not even a little note or a single Hershey Kiss.

WTF.

He was shocked. I mean, we agreed, right?

Wrong. A girl wants something, anything, on Valentine's Day. My rational mind said it's a silly day, but my heart- my twenty year old emotion driven heart-said you fucked up buddy!

Let's just say that it is a lesson Mike has never forgotten, because I won't let him.

So if your girl says she doesn't want you to make a fuss, get your ass out to the store and get her some candy and hand write her a love note. Because everyone wants to be remembered on V-Day.

And if you don't have a guy or a girl this year, fuck it and celebrate with your friends. Galentine's Day is real, probably more real than Valentine's Day. I love my girls!

Happy Valentine's Day, ya'll.

Photos: @alicegpatterson Makeup: @alistartistry

What does your wardrobe say about who you are?

What does your wardrobe say about who you are?

Most clients come to me because the want to look "pulled together".

Really what they want is to feel like they've got their shit together, and sometimes that starts with just looking like it.

The truth is, sometimes we all feel like we are falling apart. But when we put on a great outfit that we love and feel confident in- regardless of what the scale says-we just feel better and go out into the world and make better choices.

So start where you are today.

Don't wait until you get that job.

Don't wait until you lose 10 pounds.

Don't wait until your kids get a little older.

Stop waiting to be happy and do it now.

Go up to your closet and choose your favorite outfit. The one you feel the best in. Maybe it's your best jeans and a blazer. Maybe it's those incredible shoes you get compliments on. Put it on and feel great right now.

You'll see that you won't want to waste a day of feeling and looking great, so you'll go do something awesome with yourself. Maybe it's just being happier when your kids come home from school or maybe it's sitting taller in your meeting with the board. But you will be confident and you will feel great.

Don’t take my word for it. Click HERE to book your Closet Cleanse Service with me and I'll make you a believer.

Photo: Alice G. Patterson

Breaking all the fashion rules!

The summer is over. I’m sorry. It’s true. It’s Labor Day weekend, the official end of summer. Put away those strappy sandals, darken up your sun kissed locks and definitely stop wearing white pants. 

NOT! DON’T YOU DARE DO THAT. What you should put away are those silly rules! This is 2017 and the only rule in fashion is to be true to your own style. 

OK, maybe that’s not exactly true, but those old fashioned rules don’t really apply anymore. I’d consider them more like guidelines. If you want to play it safe, or it’s just notyour style, then by all means, stick to the “rules”. That’s cool too. But the older I get the more I become a fashion rule breaker, a FASHION REBEL if you will.

My clients hear me say it all the time: the trick is to pay attention to the details. And it’s the same for getting away with breaking these rules. After a long search this spring, I finally found the most awesome pair of distressed cropped white denim jeans and I am just not ready to part with them for the season. Here’s how I will mix them up for fall:

Layer a heavy cable knit cardigan over the top. (Detail: make it hits me below the hip.)

Pair them with cropped boots in suede. (Detail: about an inch of skin between the top of the bootie and the hem of the pants.)

Denim button down top and cute mens-style loafers. (Detail: pick a bright color shoe, like red!)

Tone on tone and mix up the textures! (Detail: white, off-white, peach and taupe- mix up different shades on top of each other for a monochrome look with some edge.)

Check out this article with 19 reasons why you really shouldn't wear white after Labor Day and see if you agree. Will I see you rocking out your white pants this fall? Yes, you CAN pull it off! Try it, girl. You got this. Want more tips on how to wear white? Subscribe to my newsletter here. Want me to show you how? Book a Wardrobe Evaluation service with me here. 

*Photos above from Liverpool Denim Instagram & The Small Town Stylist. 

How Your Closet Cleanse Service Will Benefit Veterans

Ever wonder what I do with the clothing and things I go home with after your Closet Cleanse service? I donate them, of course. Just because they aren’t working for you doesn’t mean they won’t bring joy to someone else. 

My favorite place to donate is to the women’s boutique at Syracuse VA Medical Center. Mary LaRussa is the veteran program manager/maternity care coordinator at the VA Hospital which provides services to the thousands of famale veterans in the 13-county service area. But she also created and curates the boutique at the VA which provides clothing to our female veterans who are in need. 

Mary’s Boots 2 Suits program was featured in Syracuse Women’s Magazine. Right now they are in need of gently used (or new!) accessories like handbags, jewelry, scarves, computer bags, etc. You can find out more about the program by contacting Mary at mary.larussa@va.gov. 

Book your Closet Cleanse appointment today and the clothing & accessories we designate as donations will go to the Boots 2 Suits program or The Rescue Mission (to benefit Vera House Inc.).

BOOK HERE

Looking back with gratitude.

Happy Holidays! After 6 really busy weeks including several new personal style clients, a Bridge Street collaboration & appearance, a big commercial shoot, and launching a new project with Ana & Nikki called This & That (not to mention traveling for Thanksgiving and shopping for Christmas plus my usual Mom & Wife duties that I love), it's time for The Small Town Stylist to take a little break for the holidays.

I'll be back on Bridge Street in January with fun new segments. Look for new episodes of This & That too. Plus the #BoeheimBall is only a few months away and the Fashion Team is back to give you more style tips & tricks plus a behind the scenes look at this great event now in it's 18th year!

I'm so grateful for all your support and love this year. It's been a great two years in business- I'm surprised and excited by the response- and although it's very fun, it's also a lot of hard work to run my own business. I could not do it without support from fellow women entrepreneurs who hep and inspire me (you know who you are), my parents who have my back, my kids who tell me often that they are proud of their momma, and most of all my biggest cheerleader, my husband, who picks up the slack for me, keeps me laughing when I get overwhelmed, and keeps me humble when I get too busy.

Thank you to my wonderful clients, not only for trusting me with such a personal and important task, but for referring me to your friends and family. Meeting all of you, helping and teaching you, brings me so much personal fulfillment and joy. I’m looking forward to what 2017 has in store for all of us. Happy New Year!

Appointments can be booked online for 2017 at thesmalltownstylist.com.