3 STYLE HABITS THE STYLISH WOMAN SHOULD DITCH IN 2022

WRITTEN BY SHARRA GREENE

So at the top of the year, I shared with you 3 style habits I think we all could adopt as we enter a new year. This week, I’m here with a few bad habits that I think hold our style back… read ‘em below.

BEING AFRAID OF A LITTLE GLAMOUR

I think with this now 2 year pandemic happening, we’ve all struggled with this one. Athleisure became the norm and now it feels almost unnatural for many of us to feel as comfortable as we once did in a dressier look. But with major fashion moments, from the Hanifa show, to Sergio Hudson’s “Return to Glamour” collection, I’ve been challenging myself to add a little glam back into my looks, whether it be a statement pair of earrings, a bold handbag, or a fun faux fur to add something to a casual look. You’d be surprised how a little glam can lift your mood.

SLEEPING ON YOUR SWEATS

This one is also a casualty of quarantine. We’ve gotten so comfy in our sweats just being chill clothes, that many of us forget how chic a sweatshirt can actually be. Dressing up a sweatshirt with a sexier bottom like body-hugging jeans, statement accessories, and fun heels is always an option when you’re in a pinch and need a last-minute dressy-casual look.

SHOPPING BLINDLY

I always tell my clients, the quickest way to lose money on clothing is to shop without knowledge on what works for your body type, as well as what key pieces will maximize your options when you get dressed in the morning.

While I’m definitely not someone who believes in being confined and restricted with style, I’ve learned through dressing myself and countless other women, just how much knowing what looks best for your unique look, and having a style strategy can enhance your confidence. This year, let’s let go of shopping just because an item is trending or there’s a sale, and start being more informed fashionistas!

Which bad habit will you be kicking this year? Let me know in the comments! P.S. P.S…. All my Style Source Members got this advice days ago! Don’t be sleeping! Join my Style Source for FREE style tips just like these sent to you weekly!

Sharra,

“Empowering her evolution through style.”

STYLE STARTS WITH SELF ESTEEM

WRITTEN BY SHARRA GREENE

One thing that I’ve learned from working one on one with women on their image is that, the way we perceive our own minds, bodies, and overall being has the GREATEST affect on not only our personal style, but our quality of life. I can pick the perfect shoe, dress, and bag for a client but if one isn’t confident in who they are, it simply will not hit the same. So, this week’s style tip focuses on subtle ways we can elevate our own self esteem in order to be our best selves…

PLAYING DRESS UP

Remember when you were little and would slip on your mom’s highest heels you could find, or throw on your best outfit in your closet and play in the mirror even when you had nowhere to go? It fed our imaginations and made us feel like we could be anything we wanted in this world. Even as a grown ass woman, I like to make time to do this every now and then, after a shopping trip or when my latest package from one of my fav online stores finally arrives.

Doing this can not only spark your creativity and childlike imagination, but it can also allow you to explore and discover new styles, silhouettes, colors, and prints that work for YOU as an individual. It’s a well deserved break from the social media scrolls and outer world influences telling us how we should and shouldn’t look.

“WHY YOU KEEP LOOKING IN THE MIRROR IF YOU NOT CONCEITED?”

…One of my fav Dom Kennedy lines. But forreal, sometimes a little excessive confidence is necessary. Many of us, especially women, can recall a time or two when someone has called us out for taking a good look in the mirror. There’s a negative assumption that those who do are arrogant or vain. But it’s not true… real confidence says I love who I am, and you should love who you are, too. True beauty radiates from the inside out, but many of us possess so much inner beauty but fail to let it shine through.

Often times, we get so caught up in our day to day tasks, rushing to get dressed (I’m guilty), and meeting deadlines, we rarely take the time to appreciate and familiarize ourselves with our own reflection. Spending some time in the mirror can give you the opportunity to appreciate your features, see yourself smile, and make you feel more in tune with your being.

I hope you picked up a gem or two from this post!

P.S. I’m thinking of making “Style Starts With Self Esteem” an email series so we can add a little spiritual food for thought in the mix of the style inspo I send you all! Make sure you’re subscribed to my Style Source so you won’t miss the next one!

Sharra,

“The definition of walking art.”

NOTE TO SELF: VALUE YOUR INDIVIDUALITY OVER CHASING THE TRENDS

WRITTEN BY SHARRA GREENE | PHOTOGRAPHED BY MKR SHOOTS

As a stylist, I’m constantly working to stay on top of the trends, problem solving, and analyzing what could be better, in an effort to make sure my work and my brand is the best it can be. When you’re in fashion, it’s easy to get caught up in who wore what, who wore it better, and what the next wave is. After years of following such an ever-changing industry, it’s easy to get lost in it all. Through well-intentioned habits of doing trend research, self awareness, and constant evaluation of self, the lines between staying looped in to the world around you and losing your sense of unique thought and creativity can often become blurred.

I realized this was a true conflict for me this past weekend. I was scatter brained, filled with a bunch of doubts, and just generally uninspired to do anything on my ever-growing to do list. As I vented my thoughts to my boyfriend, I realized that part of my frustration was coming from not being able to even fully hear myself and what I wanted and needed. I had been hard at work over the past few weeks creating pitches, traveling and networking, preparing myself for the next best opportunity, and being hyper focused on what I should be or shouldn’t be doing. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good productivity streak, but I had been seriously neglecting self care and honoring my own need to be heard by… well, by myself.

I’m sure many of you can relate. Day after day, we’re surrounded by everyone’s opinion of what’s right for us. Our timelines tell us what we’re doing wrong, or displaying to us what others are doing right that we’re not. Our jobs are constantly telling us where we could improve, and then we have our biggest critic, ourselves.

As I pondered all of the places where I feel pressure in my life to show up perfectly, I was finally able to conclude why I felt so negatively. I wasn’t giving myself grace to be fully myself without first running it through the filter of “Is this right for my business? Is it right to feel like this? What more could I be doing?” The reality is, as a young black woman, the world is already going to have plenty to say about how I look, what I wear, and what I do. I’m now learning how important it is to honor myself, apart from the standards and expectations that the world puts on me. I need to be clear on how I feel about myself and where I’m going, and honor those feelings, however imperfect they may be.

To do this, I’ve been practicing guided meditation to maintain a state of mindfulness. I’ve also been asking myself more questions about my mission and values, so I’ll know to bring that into everything that I do, instead of defining myself and my worth by where I am vs. where I think I should be. I’ve realized that I value helping to bring out the best in others by being my best, and my mission is to use my creativity to inspire the creativity and self expression of others. Styling is simply the current vehicle I’m using to live out that mission.

What are some strategies you use to stay grounded and in tune with yourself? Let me know in the comments!

XOXO,

Sharra

“Empowering her evolution through style.”