Also, for a limited time, if you purchase a one-hour styling session, you will also get a SIGNED copy of the book. So you are basically getting a free signed book or a discounted styling session. Whichever way you want to look at it. And most importantly, you are supporting me, and that really means a lot.

It is sometimes overwhelming when I think about how supportive this community is and how lucky I am to be able to do what I love (talk about and think about clothes all the livelong day). So, thank you. I could not have written this book without you. And that is literally true because this book includes a lot of real stories from real clients. Speaking of which, I am sometimes asked if I will ever stop seeing clients and doing my styling sessions, and the answer is: no. Without having that one-on-one time with a client, I have no content. Every single thing that I write and talk about is a direct response to a question or struggle that a client has expressed. While my “solutions,” “theories,” and “methods” are my own, I would NEVER have been prompted to think of these answers without all of your wonderful questions. So again, thank you.

As you see, my book is called Clothes Can Change Your Life, and they can. The book is all about transitional moments in our lives and how clothing can be both the “problem” and the solution.

The book touches on a range of topics: breakups, birthdays, babies, marriage, moving, loss, and the way that these transitional moments steer our style and our lives. When we talk about clothes, we are not just talking about clothes. We are talking about identity, emotion, aesthetics, desires, money. And when we are dissatisfied with our closets, it is often a lot deeper than “needing a new top”—it is a sign that we are outgrowing something in our lives and reaching toward something new. A creative block with our wardrobe is often just a marker that a transition is afoot. Things no longer feel right, and sometimes we can’t put our finger on why. It is because we are changing in some small but significant way.

And while clothes might seem like a very trivial and frivolous part of our lives, I cannot stress enough how powerful the act of getting dressed can be, especially when you are experiencing a shift or transition, and the ripple effect that it has on the rest of your life.

While my hope for my first book is that you come away with a newfound joy in getting dressed, my hope for this one is that you embrace the joy in stepping into a new chapter. We cover topics from menopause to marriage and changes ranging from weight loss to the loss of a loved one. I described the book as a very chic, very modern, and very fashion-focused version of Chicken Soup for the Soul (and I will be honest, they keep telling me to actually stop saying that)—because I want everyone to read it to feel cozy and supported and inspired. Whether you are experiencing one (or many) of the transitions outlined in the book or do not relate to any of them at all, I guarantee you will finish the book with a different perspective toward your wardrobe. And as you will see, changing your point of view through your wardrobe can support sweeping shifts of change throughout your life.

So I wanted this month’s newsletter to be about the clothes that have changed my life.

To be clear, this is NOT how the book is formatted. The book is not about specific pieces of clothing that change lives. Because that does not exist in a universal way. And as I have said before, something that I love and is “life-changing” for me might not work for you. And that does not mean that there is something wrong with you. It just emphasizes what is so great about fashion—it is not universal. It is personal. So again, this newsletter is not so much a reflection of the book as a cute way to play with the book’s title and talk about some pieces of clothing that I found really helpful and transformative at different phases of my life. And also, doing this exercise was fun for me. And I hope you find it fun to read!

Also, before we begin, the night after I announced my book, we had a little event at MAJE in Beverly Hills. We shopped, we talked, we styled. It was seriously so much fun, and I am always so excited to meet everyone and so impressed with the amazing questions that people ask. I get to meet the smartest and most stylish people. I feel so lucky. The winners of the night were the BARREL JEANS (I don’t think we even had enough sizes in the store! They have a really good fit), THIS CARDIGAN, and THIS JACKET, which has the removable collar. Someone bought the jacket, and then her friend begged her to let her borrow the collar for her outfit.

Also, I ended up borrowing THIS jacket for the night, and it is the best ever. It has a strong shoulder and a really great gold button but kind of feels like a cardigan in its ease. I love it.

Maje has been so amazing and even put my curated collection on the site HERE!!!!

2002 to 2006 in Michigan. It was when The OC premiered, and girls everywhere (including me) helped themselves to Marissa Cooper-style side bangs. I was obsessed with fashion and got doses of it from reading magazines and watching The OC, Project Runway, America’s Next Top Model, The Simple Life, Newlyweds, and So Little Time. I was really bad with a hair straightener and was wearing bronzer much too orange for my (or any human’s) skin tone. And also getting a really sickening combo of tanning bed and spray tan (remember Mystic Tan? I feel like I was AN EIGHT!!!).

I dreamed of going to Kitson, and my most prized possessions were my dark green Juicy Couture flared velour pants and a bright blue sweatsuit from Primp (which I wore to take my ACTs… does anyone remember that brand? I think I saw it on Jessica Simpson and said, “I must own these splattered sweatpants. ASAP!”). I think I ended up getting them when I visited LA and probably saved up money, but probably still had to ask my mom if they could be my birthday/Hanukkah gift.

I also think I was a similar color to Jessica now that I see this. We were all doing the orange skin look, I guess!

Mary Kate and Ashley, Nicole Richie, Marissa Cooper from The OC and basically anyone that Rachel Zoe styled at the time.

Silk Lace Camisole.

To be fair, there was not one exact camisole that I can remember, but I just remember that the idea that I could wear something that felt so sexy and sophisticated was a real game changer for me. Of course, I loved my Juicy sweats, but I think the silk lace camisoles really ushered in a new era for me as a “woman.” I had a few classics from Abercrombie that I would style with mini skirts, but I remember my favorites were a bit longer (past the butt), which I would wear with bootcut jeans and flip-flops. Since this was pre-camera phone, I don’t have many photos of this look, but I just remember that any party or any opportunity to feel “dressed up” was about a silky camisole with jeans and possibly a chunky belt over it or some turquoise jewelry that I got at BP (my fave, more on that HERE).

I am not going to pretend that I was sleek and chic in the early 2000s when I was in high school, but I do remember having the same discernment that I have now. I had a vision and an idea of what I wanted and how I wanted something to fit and feel, and I was prepared to search high and low for the perfect thing (which was way harder because we did not have online shopping in the same way or even at all).

I feel like this story sums up the way I was as a child. Growing up, my entire family (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents) would spend a week in Northern Michigan. My kind and patient grandparents would take the kids in the mornings and do an activity so the parents could relax and have some time. They called it “Papa and Grammy Camp,” which is adorable. At the end of the week, all the kids got to go to the toy store and choose a toy for the last day of “camp.” One year, when I was about 8, I saw that a few stores down from the toy store was a Ralph Lauren store. And so I pitched my grandma the idea that I could go get a pink Ralph Lauren sweater (a few hundred dollars) instead of a toy (a few dollars).

LOOK 1 : (1) Jacket (2) Necklace (3) Cami (4) Sunglasses (5) Jeans (6) Bag (7) Flats

LOOK 2 : (1) Cami (2) Cardigan (3) Sunglasses (4) Bag (5) Jeans (6) Boots

LOOK 1 : (1) Coat (2) Cami (3) Earrings (4) Bag (5) Jeans (6) Boots

LOOK 2 : (1) Jacket (2) Cami (3) Sunglasses (4) Pants (5) Mules

LOOK 3 : (1) Sunglasses (2) Coat (3) Cami (4) Necklace (5) Bag (6) Pants (7) Flats

It was 2008 and I had transferred from University of Michigan to FIT. I had a fake ID and was going to the Beatrice Inn and looking at the Cobra Snake for fashion inspiration.

When I was living in Michigan and envisioning myself in New York, I felt very inspired by Kate Moss and the Alexander Wang vibe. A little messy and rough. But I remember being in my first New York apartment, reading about Kate Moss on a forum called “The Fashion Spot” and learning she was inspired by Anita Pallenberg. This set me down a slightly different path of discovering the rock star girlfriends. I was also reading Pamela Des Barres’ memoir, I’m with the Band: Confessions of a Groupie, which led me down a reading obsession with rock star girlfriends and rock star memoirs. I devoured memoirs and autobiographies by Pattie Boyd, Marianne Faithfull, Bebe Buell, and Catherine James. Then I got into watching all the films featuring my new obsessions (Girl on a Motorcycle, Performance, Blow-Up, La Piscine). The background of my laptop was a still from Girl on a Motorcycle (losery?). I think this was maybe when the ’70s vibe was really cultivated.

TRIPP NYC Faux Leather Pants from Trash and Vaudeville on St Marks Place.

If you knew me from 2008 to about 2015, you know these pants. When I think of myself in my mind’s eye, I am wearing these pants. I first discovered these pants when I was shopping on St. Marks with designer taste on a bargain budget. And I could not afford leather pants, so I went for plastic. And I have to tell you, these were life-changing pants. I probably had about 15 pairs throughout the years (they were plastic, and they got kind of… gross) and even got into the PVC version and a leather-striped version as well. I had the mini shorts, too. I cannot stress enough how much these pants were part of my identity. I wore them every single night out, I wore them to class, I wore them to my internship, and I kept wearing them even when I got a job. These pants made me feel cool and sexy, and there was something fun about revealing that they were from a punk store that always felt like a fun party trick. Once, I was at the Whole Foods on Houston, and Padma Lakshmi was in the line next to me. We were waiting to be called up to the registers, and she tapped me and asked me where I got my pants. And she LOVED that they were from Trash and Vaudeville.

I often wore these pants with a vintage white T-shirt or some kind of flowy layer or a fur vest and always an ankle boot or studded sandals from Zara that I wish I still had. Another go-to was wearing them with a vintage blue and white striped mariner shirt that I actually wore until 2020. I wore it a lot during the pandemic, and my dad said if he saw it on me one more time, he would throw it away. I think it’s gone now, but that shirt does not owe me a penny. Sometimes I even turned the volume up and wore them with a fuzzy jacket that I got from Trash as well. That is maybe the runner-up for life-changing piece during this era…

I beg you to understand, these pants were essentially part of my body (and not just because they were plastic and stuck to me in a way that was disgusting and concerning). No matter what I wore, I always had the leather pants (or shorts or skirt) to break it up and add a little edge. These became such a part of my identity, and I think that they really allowed me to express a side that I had not yet explored. A few months ago, I was living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and studying art history. And suddenly, I was living in an apartment in New York and following my dream of working in fashion.

To me, these pants said: I am young, I am living in New York, and I have EDGE. And these pants were kind of the first foray into that New York version of myself and allowed me to step into a new identity as a young woman living in a big city and studying fashion.

And PS, I wore these up until about 2015. I remember when I first started working with my old boss around 2010, we worked with the brand Current/Elliott, and they let me pick out some pants. I got REAL LEATHER skinny jeans in a great deep burgundy color. They were amazing, but… they just didn’t hit the same as my plastic ones.

LOOK 1 : (1) Sunglasses (2) Vest (3) Top (4) Pants (5) Boots

LOOK 2: (1) Sunglasses (2) Jacket (3) Top (4) Pants (5) Bag (6) Boots

LOOK 1 : (1) Sunglasses (2) Gauze Dress (3) Top (4) Earrings (5) Bag (6) Pants (7) Boots

LOOK 2 : (1) Earrings (2) Belt (3) Top (4) Pants (5) Bag (6) Boots

LOOK 3 : (1) Sunglasses (2) Jacket (3) Top (4) Bag (5) Pants (6) Boots

As you will learn in my book, I am the kind of person who resists change when I need it the most. I like to rip off the Band-Aid one hair at a time… slow… painful! So when we moved to LA, we did it in stages. First, we spent two months, then we went for three more months. Then we were “bicoastal,” and then we finally took the plunge in 2023. Since I had lived in NY for all of my adult life, it felt like a loss of identity to leave. I was someone who always wanted to live in New York and who identified with New York, and to say that I “lived in LA” felt like I was giving up some cache. But the reality is that I really love California. I love a slower pace. I love a routine. I am a homebody. And while New York was great when I was young, I had personally grown out of it. I remember when my friends who lived in LA would always talk about the nice weather, I would think, “Yeah, but, like, who cares?” And I realized that I actually do.

This was also an interesting time for my career. I had really solidified my virtual business during COVID, so there was a realization that I could actually live anywhere. So, LA it was!

I think there was something about LA that turned the boho dial up a little. The more undone ’70s vibe started to shift a bit more whimsical. Looking back at my camera roll during this time, it is a lot of the same (Cher, Elsa Peretti, the Olsens, Jane Birkin), but there is a softness that is visible as you scroll further into my time in LA. It looks like I was settling into a softer era. This was also around the time that Chemena Kamali took over Chloé and brought boho back into the brand, and I went nuts for it!!!!

I think this was my first investment statement piece, and it ended up being the North Star that guided my style forward. Previous to this pendant, I would wear a few delicate necklaces, which I loved, but I was craving something that added a bit more structure and depth to my simple T-shirts. I found that when I added this necklace, my looks felt a bit more styled in a way that worked for me. Sometimes you get a piece and you put it on and think, “Oh, this is what I want to feel like.” I am not saying that buying something will totally change your life and your style, but I am saying that taking a swing can sometimes steer your style in a new direction. And this piece did. After loving and wearing this piece, I started wearing some of my grandmas’ pendant necklaces and then found an excellent vintage YSL one. Slowly but surely, my jewelry became bolder, and I think my style did too!

LOOK 1 : (1) Sunglasses (2) Necklace (3) Blazer (4) Tee (5) Jeans (6) Bag (7) Ring (8) Flats

LOOK 2 : (1) Sunglasses (2) Necklace (3) Jacket (4) Tee (5) Long Sleeve (6) Jeans (7) Bag (8) Flats

LOOK 1 : (1) Sunglasses (2) Scarf (3) Jacket (4) Crewneck (5) Necklace (6) Jeans (7) Bag (8) Cuff (9) Loafers

LOOK 2 : (1) Sunglasses (2) Necklace (3) Top (4) Bag (5) Skirt (6) Cuff (7) Boots

I found out I was pregnant in November 2024 after a few years of trying. I had an appointment with the fertility doctor the following week (that was a really fun appointment to get to cancel!) and had to do a blood test on a specific day of my period, which was a few days late. I did not even consider that I could be pregnant (I took a test and it was negative, but I think that I took it too early) and then kept delaying my blood work appointment because my period wasn’t coming. I took another test in the middle of the day just to rule it out, and YAY, I was pregnant.

It was an exciting time but also a stressful time because soon after, there were the major fires in LA. We were close to an evacuation zone, and we were worried about the effects of the smoke, so we camped out in San Diego for a few weeks. For me, I actually gained a lot of weight quickly. By the time I had my 8-week appointment, I had almost gained 10 pounds (it slowed down a bit after that because I had gestational diabetes, but there was an initial surge!). I immediately felt unfamiliar with my body and could not fit into most of my jeans or pants. I bought a few pairs in larger sizes, but what I really wanted was something that was comfortable and did not squeeze my stomach.

This is dark, but I looked at a lot of Sharon Tate images because she wore a lot of short, flowy things, and I still liked the way my legs looked. I also had some images of Hailey Bieber on the mood board and, of course, the Olsen twins. Always the Olsen twins.

The Row Gala in White.

I wish this wasn’t true. I really, really, really do. But these goddamn pants saved my life. I am wearing them as I write this, actually. I will say—I held out on these for a while, but I got a pair a few months before I got pregnant, and I have not looked back. I will say this (and I need you to really hear me): you do not need these. There are so many great pants that do really similar things, and some that might actually be better for you, depending on what you are looking for. If you want them and have some money to spend, go for it. But I am going to give you some great alternatives that are not “dupes” but that can provide the same comfort and level of sophistication.

For me, what I needed the pants to do was have an elastic waist, be long enough to wear at my waist but not so long that they would drag if I wore them below the bump, add a polished element to my look, and not wrinkle if I wore them while taking a nap.

You know that I always say don’t buy multiples, but I did. I got the black ones first and then the white. The white ended up being my MVP, though. The black worked so well pre-pregnancy because I could style them with a white T-shirt and sandals and feel cool, but for some reason, when I wore them with a black T-shirt and a trench (my go-to pregnant uniform), the all-black felt a little corporate, and it felt like I was missing the “cool” factor. For that reason, I would grab the white pair, which gave more contrast and felt a little less sleek. Since my boobs were huge and white T-shirts were harder in that state, I relied heavily on black or grey on top, which just felt better to me with the white pants.

I would say my biggest wardrobe struggle while I was pregnant was feeling cool and modern. I felt like I could easily look polished, but since I was missing denim, I always felt like I was missing the casual and undone texture. While white pants are not really subversive on their own, I actually found that wearing my cozy knits felt a little more unexpected with white somehow (I lived in the sweaters from Alex Eagle and COS). And I would often add a denim shirt or a leather jacket to give a bit of that casual texture. I found that when I would add a trench, denim, or leather jacket over all black, the jacket became the statement in a way that didn’t feel right to me. When I added the white, there was more at play and more to look at.

By the way, a very, very close contender for life-changing pants was the Enza Costa Everywhere pant (I added that below!!!). I had them in two colors, and they were perfect for me. Also, the Theory crepe pull-on pants were great when I had to go to work. Added those below, too!

If you have pregnant dressing questions, I can answer them! Write in the comments or book a session and get a free signed book! It is very important that we feel hot and cool during this transition!

LOOK 1 : (1) Sunglasses (2) Coat (3) Sweater (4) Earrings (5) Pants (6) Bag (7) Flats

LOOK 2 : (1) Scarf (2) Jacket (3) Long Sleeve (4) Necklace (5) Pants (6) Shoes

(1) The Row (2) Venroy (3) Donni (4) Almina Concept (5) Kallmeyer (6) Vince (7) La Ligne (8) Toteme (9) Enza Costa (10) Vince (11) Toteme

Picture this: it is 2025, I am freshly six months pregnant and feeling sick. I go to the hospital to get IV fluids, and I end up needing an emergency C-section. My baby goes to the NICU, and we are there for 90 days. It is a very hot summer. I feel very depressed and very ugly.

I was looking at a lot of photos of Jennifer Lawrence. She was also postpartum, and I often was looking to her for guidance. Help me, Jen!!

Looking back at photos of myself during that time, I was really struggling. I think I deleted a lot of the “looks” I posted on IG, but I wish I hadn’t. I was not perfect and was not very cute, but it was realistic, and I feel like I am sort of a hypocrite to delete them and only keep images and videos of myself looking “good.” Sorry, next time!

Dries van Noten Black Silk Skirt.

It was a hot summer in which I spent every single day at the NICU with Jack. It was not the most glamorous affair, but getting dressed became my lifeline. I could control very little during those months, but I realized that the way that I showed up really affected the way that I felt and my attitude that day. While some days I would arrive in bike shorts and my husband’s sweatshirt, I noticed that when I got dressed and felt like myself, I had a better day. And “feeling like myself” was a tall order in those days. My body was different, I was sick and traumatized, and I had a baby in the hospital. There was not much to hold onto. However, I had a Dries Van Noten black silk skirt that was the only thing that made me feel cute and like the Allison that I recognized. I got it with a credit from Nordstrom at the end of my pregnancy, and it ended up being the MVP of my wardrobe. It was black silk with a drawstring that cinched on the side. I could adjust it to wear as high or low as I wanted. There was a handkerchief-style bottom with lace trim, so instead of hanging straight down or clinging to my stomach (which I was uncomfortable with!), it somehow sat away from the body and created a really subtle A-line shape. The asymmetric hem is also not something I usually go for, but it created such a nice flow and shape on my legs at the time. So the drawstring, the asymmetric hem, and the length were all really working for me.

I know that my last newsletter said that being obsessed with “flattering” is making us look basic. But at this exact postpartum moment, the idea that this skirt made me feel comfortable in my body was a win. It also felt glamorous and chic. If you ever took me to coffee or lunch during those 90 days last summer, there was a 99% chance that I was wearing this skirt, a black T-shirt, and black flip-flops.

The best part is… I had a client a few months ago who was really struggling postpartum. Although I try not to insert myself and my experience when I am meeting with clients, I told her about my magic skirt. This client was about to go back into the office, and I was starting to feel a bit more stable, so I got her address and shipped her the skirt. I thought, if this can make you feel cute for your first day at work, I will be happy.

LOOK 1 : (1) Sunglasses (2) Necklace (3) Coat (4) Top (5) Sweater (6) Skirt (7) Bag (8) Boots

LOOK 2 : (1) Sunglasses (2) Coat (3) Top (4) Bandana (5) Earrings (6) Skirt (7) Bag (8) Flats

(1) Dries Van Noten (2) Lemaire (3) Siedres (4) Sablyn (5) Dries Van Noten

I am so excited to share this book with you and I really hope you love it enough to read it and then give it to someone else who would benefit!!!!!!

Please, please preorder it! It is so crazy that we have a few months before the book comes out, but I promise not to harass you too much in the meantime.

And if you have ever considered doing a styling session, now is the time! You will get a session and a signed book, and I will love you forever. You have all supported me so much already!

PREORDER

THANK YOU!!!

Now, lastly. Last month, I talked about my sleep and my sleep routine. And I am going to add some more tips, sponsored by Helix. And my amazing new mattress!

Thank you, Helix! Also, want to add that for Black Friday they are doing up to 30% off on select mattresses!

Also, inspired by changes and the things that change our lives, I have some life-changing products to share. After I had a baby, I was the sweatiest person ever. Especially while I slept (but also while I was awake). So the idea that these cooling sheets exist and I didn’t have them is sad, but I feel it is my duty to share them for anyone else who is going through any hormonal change! And a cooling pillow?! Heaven!!!!

(1) Harper Wilde Top (2) Blanket (3) Harper Wilde Bottoms (4) Kindle (5) Slippers (6) Blemish Mist (7) Candle (8) Nightgown

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PRE-ORDER HERE

I am so proud of Wear It Well as an encyclopedia of all my styling tips and tricks, and I still stand by every single word I wrote. But this book is not Wear It Well 2. It is also about clothes and style, but it is really about so much more. It is about our desires, our identity, and our expression. It is about transformation and how change steers style and style steers change. How clothes can often be presented to us as a “problem” but also guide us towards the solution.

Usually, a dissatisfaction with our wardrobe points to a bigger transformation that is trying to happen and reflects what we want most and who we are becoming. Through reflecting on our personal style, we are forced to confront our ideas about ourselves and our concerns over what people think. We can use clothing and personal style to help us express and shape our identities, and this book will show you how!!!!

This book is a collection of stories and tips organized around different moments of transition, and it has been such an incredible experience to write. If you enjoy my Substack, you are going to love this book.

You are also going to FREAK for the illustrations by Kara Rose Marshall of Tuftluckstudio, and you will CRY when you read the foreword by a woman who is not only a client but happens to be the most beautiful writer (who wrote two major bestsellers, might I add!), Jennette McCurdy.

Also, if you book an hour FaceTime Session from today until the end of November, you get a free signed copy. So if you have been thinking of booking, this is the time! (It’s a free book or a discounted session, however you want to slice it!)

The book comes out in March (on my birthday!), and I promise I will not hit you over the head with promotion, but I am SO proud of this, and I cannot wait to share!

Thank you for being part of my community!!!!

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I appreciate everyone who supports this newsletter (it is so fun and also a lot of work!). I love to be told I am cute and love to be told I have good style, but my favorite thing to be told is that I am a good writer! I really, really love all of you who pay for this. I like to make sure that each topic is thoughtful and useful, and I really take my time with links, and you allow me to do that. This is my favorite content to make (you know I love explaining things at length), and I am so grateful that you support me making it! I am lucky!

So we have more tips and observations!

But first… millennials, we have a Reformation x Alexa Chung collab to talk about.

Okay, it sort of goes without saying that anything Alexa designs is going to be fabulous and have the most perfect edgy but whimsical POV. But I am going to say it anyway! This collection feels like all the versions of all the best vintage finds. The colors, the prints, the textures, everything feels so singular and unique but also so wearable. For me, I am really obsessing over the black Radziwill silk dress. It is hard to find a great cocktail dress that has an ease to it, and I love that this feels fancy but also kind of just feels like wrapping a (very chic, silky) towel around yourself.

Similarly, I love the velvet red carpet scarf. As you read in the first installment of the “What 20 Years in Fashion Has Taught Me About Style” newsletter, and as you will read below, you know that I really like any accessory that can feel a little haphazard and breezy. There is something so glamorous about the texture and the idea of draping this over a dress or a coat but doing so in a way that feels very Alexa and very un-fussy. I would wear mine with a leather jacket to add a little softness to an edgier texture. I love the idea of doing black velvet with black leather, but there is something about this chartreuse color that feels so special and worth having.

Take a look through my picks! You will also be seeing me in that ’20s vintage top very soon with my vintage Levi’s.

(1) Mule (2) Top (3) Dress (4) Scarf (5) Boot (6) Tee

1. If you want to turn the casual dial up, instead of just going for a white T-shirt, a white LONG SLEEVE somehow feels even more casual and sporty. Black and grey also work (I got the black Dhoemi one and I love it!) to get the look. There is just something about the sleeve being long that feels a little less tidy and a little more tomboy. A long sleeve with a silk pant or with a skirt just feels a little more breezy than a t-shirt for some reason. And it’s perfect for the changing weather. I also have to note that I LOVE when the sleeve cuff peeks out under a sweater or jacket. So it’s a great fall layering tool as well!

(1) Athleta Long Sleeve (2) Long Sleeve (3) Long Sleeve (4) Long Sleeve (5) Long Sleeve (6) Long Sleeve (7) Long Sleeve

2. Same thing goes for a graphic T-shirt. I feel like I am getting a lot more requests from clients to help them source cool vintage (or vintage-feeling) T-shirts. If we think of our style as dials or like a scale to be balanced, when you have something more polished and sharp and you want to tip the scale to a more casual zone, a graphic T-shirt feels like a step more casual than a solid one! Don’t you think?! So if you have some silky pants and a T-shirt feels too clean and polished, maybe try a T-shirt with a graphic!

3. Also, a vintage sweatshirt. I have talked about that before (and talked about it recently HERE), but a sweatshirt under a more “polished” jacket is a really good way to turn the casual levels up. I have a lot of clients who are moms who feel like all of their clothing feels too polished and fancy for their lifestyle now. I always say, get a grey or vintage sweatshirt to style with your trousers or your chic jackets—it immediately makes the look feel more grounded and aligned with the drop-off/pick-up wardrobe. For example, one client had a leather trench that she loved but always felt too fancy wearing it with a sweater and jeans. The minute we added a sweatshirt… bam. I also have found that a lot of the cool fashion girls are often grabbing old, worn-out sweatshirts to tie around the waist or shoulders.

(1) Sweatshirt (2) Sweatshirt (3) Vintage Navy Sweatshirt (4) Sweatshirt (5) Vintage Grey Sweatshirt (6) Sweatshirt (7) Sweatshirt

4. I am going to call this “Off Center Styling,” which is really about creating some asymmetry. A bit of that “accidental” feeling that makes clothes (and the person wearing them) look and feel cool! In the first edition of this newsletter, I wrote about tying a sweater around the waist but doing it more to the side, and I think this also works for a belt or for a shirt around the shoulders. Having something slouch a little and feel a little more haphazard always looks like confidence and ease to me. I also love the concept of having a collar only tucked on one side, only one side of a shirt tucked in, an asymmetrical earring… truly anything that just tips the seesaw from perfect and symmetrical to a little funky and off. I also saw a LOT of asymmetry in terms of styling on the runway this season. I like to think it is maybe a rejection of the sanitized and filtered look we have been seeing for a while. We are craving things to feel a little more lived in and worn and imperfect.

5. Similarly, I feel like all the young girls are no longer doing the front tuck and instead are tucking the side of the shirt into their bra. I feel like that also creates that cool asymmetry and mixes up the silhouette in a cool way. A good tutorial HERE and a more subtle idea HERE. I am still pro-front tuck and talk about it in my LAST edition of the newsletter but you want to think of it less as a deep and perfect tuck and more of a way to change the way the hemline falls over your waist/hips.

6. There is this one video of Katie Holmes that always sticks with me where she has the cuffs open on a silk blouse and I love it. I do that a LOT now with blouses because it feels so easy breezy and kind of weird? I don’t know why I think of this a lot but I do!!!! Especially with a tie neck or silk blouse that has the potential to look stiff or fussy. Loosen that baby up!

7. Similarly, I like the idea of buttoning seemingly “random” buttons on outerwear. Like leaving a jacket open except the top button! I think the same works for a cardigan! Love the idea of the top one or two open! Or even some asymmetry here.

8. Elevated textures but casual silhouettes allow you to achieve that very delicate balance between easy breezy and styled. I have had SO many clients who work in more casual industries (like tech!) who want to look polished and professional but also can’t look stuffy or too corporate. The solution is usually to find T-shirts in elevated textures (like cashmere or silk blends!) to pair with denim. Or a pull-on pant in a silk or crepe with a cotton T-shirt or knit. You see? It is about balancing. I also find that my engineering clients and women who work with a lot of unfashionable men (sorry, it’s true!) will like this formula because, to the layman, it will look like a T-shirt and jeans, but it is actually a cashmere T-shirt, which feels way nicer. The overall effect is casual but also polished and respectable.

9. Silk robes can be outerwear, okay?! I also think they can be a good “topper,” almost like a cardigan for us WFH girls. I have a few silky robes/overlayers that I will always throw on when I am seeing clients on FaceTime because it gives a nice texture and also just makes me feel and look polished. A cardigan is great, but for me, sometimes the effect will look sloppy or almost “too cozy” for work. Adding something a bit more drapey and romantic can be an interesting way to take my simple T-shirt base and make it feel completely different.

10. Collars are being popped again!!!! And actually, they kind of never stopped popping! I will always remember the editors at Teen Vogue would wear really fun button-down shirts with the collars popped and, like, a leather skirt or leather leggings (it was 2008!). I always find a popped collar to be kind of subversive if it is not styled in a super preppy way. It feels kind of ironic and fun to have a popped collar with a slouchy pair of denim or under a vintage leather jacket! Similar to the open cuffs on a silk blouse, this feels like a fun way to make something that is really polished and classic feel kind of undone and dramatic.

11. Rachel Zoe (faux) fur vests and stoles are back. For me, they never left, but I love seeing them on the runway. I also have to confess, I just bought a vintage Ralph Lauren shearling VEST from The RealReal. I am so excited to style it… Below is my inspo. And a similar one that I almost bought (the one i linked is shorter!)

    Just a note—I feel like something that I touched on in the first installment of this newsletter is the idea of confidence and confidence in your taste. I find that wearing something eye-catching, dramatic, and glamorous like a faux fur takes a bit of nerve. And something that I have learned working in fashion and working closely with tastemakers is that you really just have to lean into it and commit. Sure, maybe it’s “over the top” to wear a fur vest out to dinner in LA or a fur with jeans to run errands, but what is wrong with that? I find that clients will often worry that people will think they “tried too hard,” but I feel like that is more a reflection on you and how you see people (sorry, but it is true. The way you think others will perceive you sometimes shows a judgment in yourself or reveals how you see others!!). Meaning, I have never once seen someone who looked fabulous and thought, “Ew, they tried so hard!” I have only thought, “Wow, they look amazing.” And I think that is all about the confidence with which you wear something. If you are feeling judged, you will not wear the piece with as much gravitas! So just commit, have fun, and go for it!!!!!! The energy with which you wear the piece is part of the look.

(1) Sunglasses (2) Earrings (3) Vintage Vest (4) Long Sleeve (5) Bag (6) Jeans (7) Boots

If you are wearing something short or fitted or even a light texture, you can create contrast by adding a large bag. It feels unexpected and gives a bit of contrast. I think it can also ground something that feels a little more dainty. More HERE if you want to see some visuals!

Since we are moving into fall, I want to broaden this idea too. I talked about using a bag as a styling tool (beyond function!) HERE, but I think if you are wearing something soft and flowy, it is cool to have something big and structured. Or if you have something a bit more formal, having a big bag makes it feel more casual and easy!

If you want to break up a look or create some waist definition, you can use a belt (of course), but you can also use a shirt around the waist, a scarf, a sash, or a tassel! With a shirt, I find that it looks cool when the tie is off-center… again, it goes back to the imperfection.

If a jacket, dress, or pair of trousers comes with its own belt in the same fabric as the piece, I always think it looks great to swap that belt out for one of your own. If there is a fabric belt with your pants, add a leather belt with hardware for some structure. If you have a dress with a fabric belt, try a tassel belt or a woven leather belt.

If you have a trench or a coat with a belt and you want to use that, make it messy! Too perfect feels a little self-conscious!

Scarves are always a thing, but I feel like recently we have seen a lot more scarf applications. I always marveled at the chic women I worked with who would tie a silk scarf around the neck, but if that feels too prim, we can use a scarf the same way we would use a sweater around the shoulders. I also love playing with velvet scarves or silk scarves to just switch up the texture a bit. There are SO many incredible examples. In terms of application, if it feels intimidating to just become a “scarf person” overnight, try dipping a toe and wearing one in a low-stakes situation. Try one when you are going to run errands or to work from home. I think the more you practice, the more it will feel like YOU.

I also have to say, one tricky styling challenge is what to wear over more formal looks when you need a layer. I think it is either a long menswear-inspired coat or a really elegant scarf/wrap!!! My friend’s husband is Italian, and we always laugh because before they leave the house, he asks if she needs to bring a “pashmina,” but I actually do think the idea of a great drapey scarf is really chic and cool. We like to laugh, but Luca is onto something here….

(1) Beige Scarf (2) Silver Scarf (3) Black Scarf (4) Purple Scarf (5) Multi-Colored Scarf (6) Ivory Scarf (7) Black Scarf (8) Champagne Scarf (9) Black Silk Scarf (10) Cashmere Scarf

I mean, duh. But if you want to make your face appear longer or if you want to draw the eye down your look, add long earrings or a long necklace. I always like something long because I think it makes my torso appear longer. It just draws the eye down my body and adds some depth! And as someone who goes for more neutral bases like t-shirts or simple sweaters, adding something long adds a bit of texture and embellishment.

I notice this also works very well with a long knit dress or anything that has just one texture throughout. You want to add something long and substantial to break it up and allow the eye to land.

I have found that earrings are also a great way to add some length to your face. I have had full cheeks my entire life so I was always trying to narrow my face and the only thing that works is a long earring.

Mixing silver and gold feels unexpected and cool. Breaking the “rules” shows confidence. Same goes for mixing brown and black or navy and black! If you want some tips on how to mix metals in a way that feels “organized,” here are my favorite ways to do so (if you have followed me for a while, you know these by heart! HERE are some more examples.)

1. Use a “bridge” piece that has both silver and gold tones. This is helpful because it sort of just connects the two metals in one piece.

2. Have a hero and an accent. Choose one metal as the main metal and then have one or two pieces that are the other metal as more of a pop. I like to do this with hardware on an outfit, bag, or belt as well. So I will have gold hardware on my belt and bag and then a gold earring but a silver bracelet. The silver is then more of a pop! I find that when things are too binary or too one for one, it can feel too balanced and that is when the mixing feels random or accidental. Or if you have an ear or ring stack—maybe two gold and one silver. Or vice versa!

3. Similarly, the more hardware you have… the less contrast you see. So if you have a lot of jewelry on, it can feel a little overwhelming to have all one color— but when you mix in a few different tones, it feels more interesting and collected. If you just have one silver bracelet and one gold necklace… the contrast feels really turned up. So more is more here!

4. You also want to mix different textures and lengths. I find that the more “collected” and personal it feels, the better. A gold and silver chain together is great but if you also add in something longer or something beaded, it’s even better!

Bracelets over a sleeve… yes. A necklace over a high-neck top… yes! It’s such a fun way to embellish something simple. I love the styling at The Row (I always do!), and I like the way the necklace is kind of over/under. I think you could also put a necklace on the outside of your collar. That always feels really chic and fun.

Is this a thing? I love when I see people do this… I think it looks a little quirky but, to me, signals confidence and a vision. It’s also like when I see people’s ears peek out from their hair. I just love it. It is so elfin and cute to me!

In terms of sunglasses, I have done SO many posts about how to use sunglasses. HERE and HERE and HERE are good examples!

Also, you know I love to shop but am also always trying to be thoughtful and intentional. But sunglasses are a place where I am a bit of a hoarder. To me, this feels like a good investment because sunglasses can change a look SO dramatically. I constantly have my eye on one (or multiple) pairs of sunglasses at any given moment. Right now my sights are set on the Burberry and Celine pairs below.

(1) Sunglasses (2) Sunglasses (3) Sunglasses (4) Sunglasses (5) Sunglasses (6) Sunglasses (7) Sunglasses

And I do not mean take one off. I mean that one accessory should actually NOT match. I guess this is an offshoot of “wrong shoe,” but I find that when we match the belt, the shoe, and the bag, the look feels a little flat and first-degree. If you want to match the bag and belt, have the shoe be different. If you want the shoe and the belt to match, add a bag in a different color or texture! Just make sure that one part of the look feels a little off.

And similar to the “wrong shoe” I do not mean that one element has to be ugly or weird (not sure how that has been misinterpreted!). I just mean if you are wearing a brown suede boot and a brown suede bag, maybe add a black belt. You know?

Having a low-slung belt with a higher pant or putting the belt lower than the pant (this works well with a pant that does not have a zip and button, in my opinion) creates a lot of interest. I also wrote in the first edition of this about having a cropped coat with a longer top underneath… this feels similar. I used to always make sure that the visual line was really clean, but in my observations, I realized that it sometimes looks a little basic or prescribed. When I am saving images or observing people with great style, there is often a subtly surprising element and this is a great one to try.

If you add a chunky menswear watch, wear it one notch looser than you think. It will look great with some movement and slouch. If you have a dainty watch, I always like this OVER the sleeve of something fitted. There is nothing chicer than a delicate watch over the sleeve of a fitted black turtleneck. I just love it!

We all know we can use internal safety pins to change the shape of a look, but want to know what else we can use?! BROOCHES! We can use a brooch to create a little ruching with a boxy shirt or dress. Or we can use a brooch to add some gathering at the neckline. Of course, we can also use a brooch as decoration, but I like the idea that it can be decorative and also functional!

(1) Black Brooch (2) Red Brooch (3) Gold Brooch (4) Black Brooch (5) Silver Brooch (6) Pearl Brooch (7) White Brooch (8) Onyx Brooch

If you are wearing something really soft and flowy or sheer, it often looks great to add a heavier shoe (a dark color, a wedge, or something chunky… anything that adds some visual weight. Think… wrong shoe) for contrast. But you don’t want the eye to immediately just go to the shoe. We want to balance the visual weight. So, for example, I love the idea of a silk slip or a delicate dress with a chunky wedge or a platform, but I would then add something heavier on the top as well, like a chunky earring. I think of it as scales or a seesaw—if you add something heavy or darker at the bottom, try to find a way to incorporate some visual weight on the top too so it feels balanced. Sometimes it is as simple as dark sunglasses to balance the weight of a heavier shoe!

Being a mom for an entire year has taught me a lot but the main thing is: Sleep is the most important thing. I know we all laugh at Dakota Johnson but I was her before Jack… I am a really really good sleeper and I need a LOT of it!

But as a mom, 14 hours is not possible so I have to make the hours that I have WORK! So my sleep hygiene has been very important. Here are my key takeaways from the past year:

I was lucky enough to get a Helix Mattress, and it really is life-changing. I took the quiz and found my perfect mattress, and as someone who has always just used whatever, this is truly one of the biggest luxuries. You know how some things feel too fancy/unattainable for some reason? For me, a customizable mattress just felt like something I would never have in my life. But turns out, it is possible to have a mattress that is perfect for you, and it actually is attainable and also life-changing. So, thank you, Helix!

I obviously got a very fancy one (are you surprised?) but TAKE THE QUIZ to find your perfect mattress!

I realized that I do everything better when I feel cute. Including sleep. So I like cute pajamas and cozy clothes. Also, as a new mom, I wear pajamas and loungewear a lot more than I did before, so it has been an adventure to find my “at-home capsule.” I honestly usually change into pajamas or cozy clothes before Jack’s dinner, so those are important to me! I did a post with ATHLETA about those “in-between” (often neglected) moments but added some more ideas below too for lounging and sleep!

Oh, also! Organic underwear. Sorry, no plastics or anything will do. Everyone needs to go buy bras and underwear from Proclaim (this is not an ad, just a public service!)

(1) Pajama Set (2) Bra (3) Underwear (4) Athleta Wide Pants (5) Athleta Bomber Sweatshirt (6) Pajama Set (7) Sweatpants

As you may know from the Make Allison Hot series, I want to look amazing, but I am also a lot lazier than you might guess about my beauty routine. If you have followed me for a while, you know that these are my tried and true, but I am just sharing them again because you know I like repetition and consistency.

(1) Moisturizer (2) Body Oil (3) Facial Cloths (4) Eye Mask (5) Beauty Oil (6) Body Butter

Maybe it’s just our house, but my lips are always so dry (I also talk A LOT so that could be it). I always have a new lip product next to the bed and lather it up before bed. Here are some of my favorites that I have been cycling through. I also got lip injections two years ago (and other stuff that I outline HERE and HERE), and I feel like they have stayed pretty plump because I am always applying all of these things overnight! I actually went to get botox a few weeks ago and asked if I should get more lip filler and she politely said “no.” Which I think is a testament to her honesty and work but also to my obsession with lip moisture.

(1) Lip Treatment (2) Lip Treatment (3) Lip Mask (4) Lip Balm (5) Tinted Lip Filler

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JK. I am a seasoned fashion girl, and I am going to share some of my favorite tips with you! I am old and wise!

This post was inspired by THIS amazing post from Elie’s Substack, “Most Things Fashion.” I came across this post, and I truly found myself nodding my head at EVERY SING…

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We lost an angel. A humanitarian, an incredible songwriter, a beautiful singer, and an absolute style icon. We have big hair, big heels, glitz, sparkle, drama… and it’s actually the least interesting thing about her.

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Even better, you can create a wardrobe in which every item of clothing is one that you truly love AND every item of clothing works with others to form a series of gorgeous, thoughtfully styled looks that make you feel like your most confident self.

But this dream wardrob…

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Sure, I have picked three words to describe my style, but I did so HERE in 2018 and was just sort of testing out the idea. This was WAY before TikTok, WAY before my book, and WAY before I really refined the process. So while I was telling my clients and readers and followers t…

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My parents had me when they were relatively young and were the first of their friends to have a baby. So I spent a lot of time around “adults” (if you would call people in their 20s adults). I talked early, but more impo…

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I have also taken the whimsical approach that you need to find your style by tr…

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The fashion …

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Similar to the Three Word Method, these personas are meant to help me (and anyone else who resonates) actually peel back some of the layers and go beyond the basic style words that we typically use (for example, “boho” and “beachy”). As a person, I am not “beachy”, so while that might be a helpful short hand while getting dressed, it can be too one dimensional. So instead, I will look at my moodboard and my inspiration and create a little narrative. What does this woman do? Who is she really? Beyond the clothes….

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I think trends allow us to participate, evolve, and feel modern in our style. I think where trends get tricky is when we really interrogate the reasons why we want something (or don’t). This is all about the WHO, the WHAT, the WHERE, the WHEN, and the WHY.

• Who is this piece allowing you to be? Who is this piece promising you you can be when you own it?

• What does owning this piece say about you?

• Where did you discover this piece? Are you being influenced by the algorithm?

• When no one else is wearing this piece, will you still want to wear it, or will you feel embarrassed or uncool?

• Why does this appeal to you??

What I always find really interesting is how one feels after they have seen something “everywhere.” I saw a funny note from Jess Graves in relation to this Conner Ives coat. Maybe you know the one, maybe you don’t. But on a certain corner of the internet, it is “everywhere.”

And please note, this coat is not even available to purchase yet!!

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