24: The Power of Personal Style Alignment for Women Executives
Sharon
Welcome, everybody to the Living While Leading Podcast. It's my pleasure today to welcome my special guest, Renée Lindo. Hello, Renée.
Renée
Hi Sharon. It's so good to be here. Thank you for inviting me.
Sharon
Well, it's a pleasure to have you. I'm going to read a short bio so that my listeners know a little bit about you and how amazing you are. Renée is a personal stylist based in Toronto, Canada, and she serves clients globally. She has a keen sense of style and a corporate sales background. She's perfectly positioned to guide professional women on their style journey so that they can show up as the best versions of themselves, which makes her a perfect guest for our audience.
Sharon
Renée has worked on magazine's, red-carpet styling and fashion shows. However, she gets the most joy leading her clients 1:1on their personal style transformations. She accomplishes this by working closely with her clients to craft a clear, confident and consistent style story. The unique story they want to tell through their style. And when this is successful, it's a game changer.
So very exciting. And I'm happy to have you. I am a lover of fashion and style. I've been following you and looking at all of the different outfits you present online and I just think that your personal style, and your personal brand is amazing. So I'm going to jump right into the questions.
Can you share how you define personal style and why it's important especially for professional women?
Renée
Absolutely. When I think of your personal style, it's really a way of communicating. Dressing right is the first thing that people see. It is how we introduce ourselves to the world. And even before you start to speak, people see you.
Especially for professional women, when you want to really own your story and you want to communicate a certain level of authenticity or authority.
Your personal style really is that tool that you can leverage to help you to do that. So that when you walk into the space even before you speak, people already start to make some assessments or judgments.
I think that's the other thing why it's this because people start to make decisions. First impressions are real. People start to make decisions about us in a few seconds. I always say since we know that, let's control that narrative. Let's all have a story that people are going to make because they make up stories and in making these first impressions, so let's own that and ensure that the story that we tell is one that we are proud of and that we want to share.
Sharon
Well talking about the story and how people show up and how others perceive who we are just by looking at how we look. Can we talk about the role that fashion plays in personal branding, particularly for women in leadership roles? And what are the secret key considerations for them?
Renée
I always say that I think that our style is the packaging of your personal brand. Right? We spend a lot of time really crafting our brand and showing that your brand an intentional thought. Kind of packaging your expertise, how you serve, where you can help. Really being intentional as to how that's going to serve your ideal clients.
Your style really packages all of that. You can you spend all this time building out your career, getting mentors, getting sponsors where you work, maybe more accreditation and certifications. So it's really important that when you show up as the face of all of we have accomplished that there's alignment, especially for women leaders.
You want to people to align the image that they see in front of them and your assets. It makes it so much easier for them to know, like and trust you. To build an expectation of you and not kind of wonder like, hmm, all of this sounds great or website sounds good, but what I'm seeing looks different, right?
When there's a disconnect — people don't buy when they have a confused mind. It's really important to have really good alignment with all the things you're putting out there. Your brand, what you put on social media, how you work, the theme that people get a view of you. They see that image really needs to align to tell your full right story.
Sharon
Alignment is very interesting word to use. Because when you think about it, we are showing up in the office. Sometimes we're showing up in the supermarket, we're showing up for dinner. There are lots of different spaces that we're moving in, and they don't necessarily require the same sort of clothing. So how does one get that alignment? Is there a tip that you have for us?
Renée
When you're thinking about your brand, you really want to have all of the touch points and all of the ways that people would interact with you to have to give them the same type of feeling.
I'm not going to wear a suit to the grocery store, but you want to show up in a way that shows your brand in a great light . As I say it everything that you do makes you who you are. It becomes a part of your brand and your style really is an important tool.
We can still be comfortable and be polished, right? Comfortable because so many times with the new way of work and our attire, it's much more relaxed than it used to be but that doesn't mean sloppy, right?
That doesn't mean that you're going to show up sloppy and don't care. Because remember how we show up, shows respect to our audience, right? We took time to put ourselves together. It's a message to us that we're important enough, That it’s important, even going to the grocery store.
You can still be comfortable and still look put together. That you give it some thought and it's really about the intentionality behind how you put yourself together and the different facets of your life. That's important.
Sharon
I can certainly understand that. And, the notion of looking put together can be accomplished also with a T shirt and a pair of sweat pants. It's just a question of which kind and how you're assembling it, isn't it?
Renée
And as I said, I always say it's not about having to wear a suit every day. You can be casual and retailers have done a really great job now making pieces and clothing that are comfortable. It makes a functional wardrobe with pieces that can work off hours. Pieces that have stretch or maybe have some elastic in the waist.
Maybe they're blazers that have stretch and then not as formal or form fitting that you can wear to work and your off time. It's really about creating a module that's functional, right? We really are getting away from work clothes. We really want to create a wardrobe that supports living.
Sharon
You just triggered a memory. I can remember when I was a child, we used to have our school clothes and our play clothes and these were two distinct wardrobes.
Renée
It's funny because that we would have going out clothes and home close. I think we may still have that to some extent. For more dressier occasions where you have a dressier outfit, but I think we're really moving toward having a wardrobe that we can wear throughout the seasons and throughout the different activities that we engage in. So we're investing in great pieces.
Sharon
Tell me what would you advise someone on how to adapt their wardrobe to reflect who they are today? Because for many of us, the shape of our body has changed over the course of years. Maybe even over the course of the last two years with the pandemic and staying home and eating too much. Some of us also had a very distinct style that we wore in our younger years and we're older now. What are your thoughts and your guidance on adapting the style to the person who you are today?
Renée
That’s such a great question! This is something that I help clients with all the time because, as we age and mature, we change, right? It's important also that our style evolves with us. And it's great to honor who we were 10 or 20 years ago. We looked great, but I think it's important for us to also embrace that we could look fabulous, no, we do look fabulous over 40 and 50 and beyond.
And it's really just thinking about how we want to show up what resonates with us in terms of our style. You may not want to wear a micro-mini is but maybe there's another style that's really more our vibe. A style that resonates with the woman we are now. That we can we can wear and still feel current and still feel that we're that we're being modern.
And our bodies change. That is such a big a big point because as we you know menopause, perimenopause over, our bodies change and our clothes fit differently. When I work with clients they knew what used to fit them. They knew exactly what stores to shop at. They knew what kinds of clothes to wear, and now that they've gotten older nothing fits in the same way.
They have weight on their body and so it's really about understanding how to dress this new body. I have a free guide on my website about dressing your body best. I go through the different body shapes and it really helps. It gives you some tools and some tricks that you can use when you're thinking of dressing your body.
It's not rules, right? I'm against standards. It's really just tips to help you if you want. It's really about helping you to feel confident and if it's a part of your body that you're not as confident about then you know you can utilize some of these tools to really make it where you accentuating other assets, balancing some of your proportions. It's honoring who we are now, accepting the fact that we can be fine with ourselves.
Sharon
There was something that I read recently about some fashion designers said that they have a uniform because they can't concentrate on their craft if they have to think about what they have to wear all the time. And I thought that was really interesting and wanted to hear your take on uniform, so to speak, and how we could make that work for us in terms of simplifying our wardrobe so it makes it easier for us to get ready and to get out of the house.
Renée
Again, that's something else that we that I work with clients on. And I don't use the word uniform, but I use formula. I think the first thing to think of that creates a closet where everything in there works for you. So that you know that when you pull pieces they are going to fit. This doesn't fit it's too tight or it's not instead so you create a play in that closet. That works. And then in terms of the outfit formula. I think it's easy because it works for us.
There's something that you think of that could be your formula. Maybe jeans and a blazer, a graphic T-shirt that could be your value. It’s a bit more casual for industries that are casual but you still want that authority with a blazer. Maybe it is black pants and a V neck sweater.
You can identify pieces that you love pieces that work for your body shape. Pieces that you feel great in that can be your go to uniform. It reduces decision fatigue. A formula that I like is when you have one basic piece which is could be basic like black pants, dark denim and whatever. So basic piece and interest piece. Something that has some color or striped or something interesting or some details.
And then the third piece is your completer and it could be a blazer or it could be accessories, hat whatever that is. I find that’s also is a quick uniform or outfit that really helps you streamline what you're going to choose in the mornings to make getting out much quicker.
I do like the idea of having a uniform. I don't have a uniform because I like to wear on different things. But I think it works for some people for sure.
Sharon
What are your thoughts on how women can use high-dressing meaning, having one brand that's an anchor, a very solid brand may be something a bit expensive, like an investment piece. You just mentioned some of those flourishes that you can use that would be something that you would get maybe from one of the trendy stores that have cheaper things that don't require large investment. What are your thoughts on that?
Renée
I think that’s great. And I think it flows right into how I create wardrobes. I think a great a functional wardrobe is 80% percent of what I call a wardrobe basics which are kind of wardrobe essentials. They're not basic like just a t-shirt like wardrobe basics meaning the pieces that you reach for all the time. The pieces that are the workhorses in your closet.
So, whatever those pieces are for you to 80% to be larger basics and those are presumed to invest and spend a little bit more on because you're wearing them all the time. You're wearing them in different ways make creating different outfits and then 20% are pieces that can add a bit more personality. Pieces that help you to feel current in terms of trying a trend or allowing your personalities to shine.
Those are pieces you’re really not sure you want to invest in them, maybe from the high street or some of the fast fashion places. And then when you when you do that and incorporate that 80% with the 20% it helps you to feel modern and current.
Being trendy is not the goal. The goal is to use a trend to determine a trend you want to participate in and inject it into your into your wardrobe. I think it's so important especially for professional women to show up and to be current in your attire. I talk about this on LinkedIn all the time. When people see you with dated clothes, they assume that your skill set is also dated. They just can't believe that somebody who is with it, whether it's technology or the latest in their industry or have a finger on the pulse that they would still look deep into. Remember people are making decisions about us.
Sharon
Let's talk about essential pieces. The women I coach are executive women and women in leadership roles. Are there any essential pieces that these women should be investing in and focusing on acquiring for their wardrobe?
Renée
I always shied away from saying that we need certain pieces just because people's lifestyles are different. There are industries that we work in are different and they may call for different things. So, I hate to just do a broad brush. Professional women usually show up kind of in similar spaces that have similar expectations.
I think a great white button down like what you're wearing is a great piece to have. So maybe you have a fuller bust and so a shirt with buttons down the front doesn't work for you because they gape. So, think about the fabric that you're going to choose your white button down. A fabric that is loose and flowing and moves with your curves. I think that white button down is great.
A pair of black pants are always great to have you wear them to work, for cocktails and wear them networking. I have some lawyer clients who have moved away from the suit. The wear dark denim with their blazer with a great blouse with their pumps. Right so there's still look to look current. But there's still that level of authority with their adding their blazer under great blouse.
A great pair of shoes that are comfortable. Right now, on trend is pointed toe and a kitten heel with a sling back. Those are great with every dress. I think a great black dress you can add a blazer on top. A blazer is a good one to have. It doesn’t have to be tight and can be more relaxed and roomy. We're seeing a little bit more definition in the waist. So those are a few pieces that say for our professional and executive women. Those are pieces that you would want to have great quality items.
Sharon
I love the kitten heel because it elongates the legs, although I don't need that because I'm very tall. It makes the leg and the foot look elegant without having to wear very high heel. My days of wearing four-inch heels are behind me. I don't want to do it.
Renée
After coming to the pandemic women are like no more heels! Right? So the kitten heel is a great option. Not too high but you still get that pulled together look. And they are elongating which is especially nice for petite client petite women.
Sharon
Can we talk a little bit about sustainability? You know everybody is growing very conscious of what it means to be kinder to the planet. What are your tips or ideas for us in terms of how we can build a sustainable wardrobe and if that's even possible?
Renée
We can have a huge influence on sustainability by how we shop and by wardrobe that we create. When you're intentional about what you're buying, when you create a list of what you really need. When you identify your wardrobe gaps, and you shop intentionally for these items. You invest in great quality pieces that are going to last you longer and that you can wear with different and create different outfits.
That also adds to being sustainable being because you're not shopping as much and you're investing in great pieces that you can wear in different ways. You're not constantly buying. When you keep buying and buying you don't know what's in your closet. When you think you need to keep up with the latest trends these are the things that really feed into the problem that we have now.
Sharon
Sometimes shopping is a very therapeutic experience for a lot of us and we shop to shut off or disconnect from a stressful day, and then we end up buying a lot of things that we don't necessarily need. So, I think those are really, wise words there, Renée
.
Renée
Absolutely. And I see that right because when I'm working with clients, they say that their closet is full of stuff. Yet, they still feel like there's nothing you have nothing to wear. And we hear that all the time. And it's really because of things that we buy. We really didn't give it much thought and weren't thinking of outfits when we were shopping. We're thinking of “oh, I like this piece”.
I really encourage clients to think — if I'm going to buy this piece, what do I have already that is going to give me at least three different outfits with this. How else can I wear this with what I currently have? So that way it's a piece that make senses in your closet and not just add to more clutter.
Sharon
I have a question for you about managing the closet. This summer, I took out three dresses and they didn't fit me. I put them back in and said I'm going to hang on to them for one more year. Maybe they’ll fit me next year. And I hope I stay true to that. Otherwise, my closet is going to really start to get overwhelmed. What do you say about, having a process or some sort of a workflow around culling what we have in our wardrobes and getting rid of things to free up space and free up the clutter so it's easier for us to make decisions.
Renée
That's such a good question. I suggest as the seasons change to really look at your look at your closet. Are there pieces that you didn't reach for? Are there pieces that maybe have passed their expiry dates in terms of style or even that you like them? As the seasons change, get rid of those things you're not drawn to anymore. Even before the seasons change because it was a piece that you see that you know you won’t wear, like just get rid of it.
This topic is coming in my digital course. I say to clients to think about whether they feel fantastic in this piece? Would I buy again, if it wasn't on sale? Think about and get rid of them. Think of your closet as prime real estate. It's not going to get bigger. All that happens is that you're just putting more and more and more in this space.
So, I really encourage you to be intentional with what is in there because you want to create your closet. You want it to be like a curated boutique for you where everything fits you beautifully. Everything is your current style. Everything works everything you can easily create outfits with so that makes it so much easier when you're getting dressed.
I'd say every when the seasons change tried to get rid of stuff and then make note of the gaps when you go shopping you need to replace it. So that's what I would suggest to be intentional about that closet. Everything starts and ends in your closet, your morning starts there and have your route for the day.
If you're hurried and rush to try to find something to it leaves you feeling confused and rushed. Whereas if you have a space that works where it's easy to create outfits work that makes it much easier for your days.
I always say kind of plan your week from Sunday. Have an idea of what you have coming up have an idea what your outfits are. My big tip is to try these things on. Try them honestly, does it still fit and if not. I tell me clients to give themselves a timeframe if they’re on weight loss journey. If it doesn't fit in six months, then get rid of it.
Sometimes you say “but I spent so much money it's so expensive.” You know it's okay to give someone something that doesn't work for you anymore. Yes, you spent money on it. It served its time and it was fabulous. Gift it to someone else.
Sharon
That's a really good point. I haven't had this client yet, but I would imagine I will have a client who will come to me with very specific concerns about her wardrobe. I probably would send her to you because you're an expert. Tell me what do you do with your clients when they come to you looking for some support? What does that engagement look like?
Renée
We'll usually start with questions. I have a questionnaire that I take clients through to understand who they are, how do they want to move through the world, what are their style goals? What do they do professionally? To really get clear on who is she and how does she want to show up?
We start there. We talk about the kind of the change that she wants, the transformation that she's looking for. I put together a mood board with pictures to illustrate what she likes. Right? So when we use the pictures it really makes it makes sense. We get alignment on that we're both working on the standard so she's in agreement. We do and this is all virtual, so we'll do a classic edit. She tries on things from her closet and we'll talk about what fits what doesn't fit. What's her vibe.
I take notes of any gaps, get rid of stuff that doesn't fit or that just doesn't work for her. I use her shopping list to go shopping and develop a virtual closet. The virtual closet contains items I find for them. They're able to see the items and then just click on the links to the retailer so they can buy and purchase right away.
And then we have our trying on session, and that’s when we put the look book together. They have all of their outfits ready-made. Clients love it. It's really a supportive process. It’s something that I enjoy offering clients.
Sharon
That sounds amazing. I want to thank you for your expertise and thank you for sharing with us. Can you tell my listeners where they can find you?
Renée
You can find me on LinkedIn, Renée Lindo. I’m also excited to let your listeners know that I'll be launching a Style Transformation Course. I will launch it next year in January. We're having a pre-sale for Black Friday. So be sure to join my email list and you'll hear all about it.
It's really to help women who are struggling with their closet struggling with putting outfits together to really understand and get clear on their style and help them to create and to feel good again, to feel confident putting your office together and to show up.
Sharon
Well, I will put all of your coordinates in the show notes so that people can find you. Your course sounds amazing. I might even join that myself. Thank you again for your time and thank you again for your wisdom Renée.
Renée
Thank you so much for having me on. This was a delightful conversation.