Baby It's Cold Outside!

Growing up in "Minne-snow-ta" has given me an appreciation for all four seasons.  I must admit I am an "embrace and celebrate the season kinda girl".  Fall and winter are my favorite seasons when it comes to style because you can truly "Pile on the Style".  Lots of layers works for every woman and every shape!  Now that I live in Colorado, I can experience four seasons in one day! Layering is the key.  My favorite staple is a long sleeve cotton shirt. From there add a stylish vest, scarf, skirt, leggings, boots and a leather coat!  You are good to go for a long day on the run, either inside or out!

Pictured above is my dress shop BLOOM in The Village Merchants, Monument, CO.

Featuring my pick of the week...A Guess, European, Camel colored, Wool, Trench Coat.  

Simply Timeless!

                                    Grand Opening of Bloom Dress and Accessory Shop

Who knew opening a dress shop could be this much fun!  I was born for this new venture.  Over the years I have had women ask me if they could come shop in my closet or ask where and what are my favorite stores.  I would tell them: "I am no respecter of stores or name brands, I shop everywhere!"  It has been exciting to bring my style to you!
Just 2 weeks ago I opened my dress and accessory shop in Monument CO.  It is located in  The Village Merchants Store, 155 Jefferson St.  (The historic original Catholic Church, filled with lots of character and charm.) Pearl, our 1948 Chevy Truck, sits outside beckoning you to come on in.  The store is adorned with 15 boutique shops that showcase a variety of goods from boots, bath, wedding, furniture and the newest addition....Bloom Dress and Accessory Shop.  I promise you won't be disappointed. Almost everything in the shop is under $50.  One client told me this is "Affordable Athropologie" Style.

Stop in and check it out. M-Sat. 10-6.  See you there!

A Girl Needs A Little Fresh Inspiration Now and Then!

How often do we take the time to gather as women and share our personal interests and inspirations for style over brunch?  Whether you are the fashion savvy or the fashion needy, that's exactly what we did at our recent Freshen Your Fashion Workshop.  We crowded around the table with scissors, magazines and catalogs in hand to create our new inspiration boards for fall and winter.  Knowing what we already had in our closets, we combed over the pages for what would be good complements to add to it this season.  Then we went into my closet and, using my board, we were inspired to put new combinations of outfits together.  I love using my inspiration board to take the panic out of that old familiar feeling of desperation every morning:

 "What am I going to wear today"? 

Each woman brought a few favorites from her closet and talked about how she would wear each particular piece. Soon we were encouraging each other to wear our things in new ways .  Each beautiful woman was growing in her confidence to step out of her "clothing comfort zone" and into the possibilities of new fashion trends and techniques! 

Later that morning we took a field trip to a client of Bloom's closet that lives close by.  It was great to see what components made up ShawNa's wardrobe. She had organized it to accommodate great layering techniques:  long tunics, short sweaters or jackets, leggings/skinny jeans, skirts, boots, scarfs, and jewelry.  A lot of diversity, creating a lot of interest! 

The "cherry on top" for me was giving the women one last exercise, by having them create an outfit from ShawNa's closet that reflected their own style...imagine that! Each woman did an amazing job.  Not only did they assemble great outfits, but completed them with shoes and jewelry to match! I believe that every woman left with the confidence to return to her own closet and "Freshen her Fashion"

VOILA!!

       

                         

Cruising with Contrast

I recently met with Cindy, a beautiful woman both inside and out.  She is preparing for the vacation of a lifetime.  A 28 day cruise around the Hawaiian Islands including the exotic destination of Bora Bora. Cindy is a counselor by day and has an adventurer's heart for vacation...and she was ready to cruise!  

A scarf tied in the back for a shrug like feel.

As we quickly started to put outfits together, Cindy saw possibilities she had never seen before. Her wardrobe had the best structure I had ever seen, including a variety of colors, classic pieces and assorted fabrics. Every piece was bought with intention.  She had a theme in her color choices of Black, White, Taupe, Green and Blue.

We started building her wardrobe with a foundational piece, like pants, then paired them with many options of complementary tops.Cindy also mentioned she wanted to be prepared for the ships air conditioning or late night ocean breeze, and would like a little something for over her shoulders. By adding a contrasting 3rd layer it gave the outfit more interest. For example, if the pants were cream, with a taupe top we added a black shrug for more interest and contrast!  Soon we were calling it 3D dressing, referring to a third pop of color in her outfit. Just that little bit of whimsy and the unpredictable.  There is no doubt that Cindy will be one of the best dressed women on the cruise because of her strong clothing choices and playful combinations.

This is such a fun time in fashion!  So much freedom to be creative and express yourself in layers, contrast and color! As you're preparing for the holidays or a special time away, I would love to help inspire you to look and feel your best. 

6 New Trends for the Working Woman this Fall

I often meet women who like new fashion trends and want to update and incorporate them in their wardrobe. The problem is they are not completely confident they can wear them.  They may think they are not young enough, thin enough or even tall enough.  I encourage women to celebrate who they are today, start small and gain confidence. Instead of buying a dress in animal print, consider a belt, scarf or shoe in their favorite color of that print.  Also, I suggest that my clients concentrate on implementing one or two new colors into their wardrobe for the upcoming season.  For example, bold colors are a playful twist on the usual warm fall colors.  Pair a hot pink blouse and possibly a hot pink animal print purse with your standby classic pant or skirt.  Building a "closet of classics", then adding new colors, will give you more possibilities and updated trends.  Go ahead and jump into this fall with confidence!

1.  Houndstooth, Plaid or Tweed

2.  Boots

3.  Animal Prints

4.  Bold Colors

5. Classic Black and White

6. Blazers

It's Back 

Freshen Your Fashion Workshop!

By Popular Demand

This workshop consists of 3 sessions.  We start with appetizers and finish with desserts 

and have a whole lot of fun, inspiration and instruction in between!

Grab a Girlfriend and Join Us.

$10 off if you bring a friend.

Call the Village Merchants in Monument to reserve your spot

375-5438

Dates are Aug. 15, 22 and 29

6:30-8:30 pm

Cost is $75

Freshen Your Fashion Workshop

Bloom A Fresh You recently held a fun and interactive 3 session Workshop called Freshen Your Fashion.  Every week women personalized their wardrobe by adding new fashion inspirations, implementing practical organizing tips not only for their clothes but accessories too, and adding accessories to their outfits, to take their look to a new level...called "Pile on the Style".  

The last week each woman brought one of her favorite accessories from her closet then we went into my closet and made a completely new outfit, using new trends and ideas!  One woman commented: "We used to play in our friends closets when we were little, why did we stop"!  What fun we had as we encouraged each other to look their best!

Destination Shopping

The Situation

Dee was specifically in the market for a dress for an upcoming evening wedding in CA.  Her only requirement was that she wanted it to be "a little bit of sexy".  

The Profile

Dee has become a friend and long time client of Bloom A Fresh You.  Her style is sophisticated casual. Her personality is funny and playful and at the same time deep and sensitive. Dee travels extensively and her time is at a premium.  We had a small window and needed to be focused and intentional in our shopping.

The Solution

We shopped 10 stores in 3 hours.  She was game to try on anything and everything I suggested!  We found a lot of great options, but none of them were exactly what she was looking for...you know what I mean? Too short, too big, too expensive, too... Then, what looked like a tangled mess on the hanger, became the perfect dress...after giving it second look.  It was a black halter dress, with oversized pockets and an inverted and top stitched hem.  Simply gorgeous on!  So Audrey Hepburnish!  With what Dee had budgeted just for the dress, we were able to find the dress, sweater (for evening), shoes, purse and jewelry.

 Mission Accomplished and More!

                                             

Most commonly asked fashion question...How do I wear a scarf?

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LYAEz777AU&feature=youtu.be

Fall Fashion Trends and Video Preview

Timeless Fashion for Every Age

Fall is in the Air!  What a fun night Bloom a Fresh You had at Lillian's Boutique last night.  More than 50 women attended the Fashion Show and Workshop.  We had 2 sets of women, one mother/daughter the other grandma/daughter/granddaughter wearing the same dress, accessorized very differently to be age appropriate!  Think about how you might be able to re-purpose something in your closet in a new way!

               

 

                                                                                  

If the Shoe fits!

My new fall fashion pick..
boots with dress or
skirt.

Happy Fall!  I've heard so many women say "where did the summer go"?  I'm going with...."It went so quickly, because we jammed packed so much fun into it"!  Vacations, visitors, baseball games, late night star gazing, and so much more were true for us!
I've taken a respite from fashion updates, but with many upcoming events, I am eager to get back in the saddle.
I'm thrilled about the fresh fashion trends I'm seeing for fall. Here are just a few inspirations and lots more to come!!  There is Joy in the Journey with YOU!

A girl from the "Wild West" must haves!

 

Shoes and Boots with tights.

Leggings...BIG for fall

Q.  Are leggings appropriate for every age woman? 

A: Yes —comfortable, cool-looking, body-friendly and gives great structure to legs.  4 rules to know:

• Thick, unshiny fabrics like double knits don't show bulges.
• Layering is crucial. Think of leggings as tights rather than pants; put them under skirts, dresses, or tunics.
• Longer tops (at least to midthigh) camouflage tush, stomach, and hips.
• Leggings can look tacky with the wrong footwear. I prefer flats, boots, or a low heel.     

                              3 different looks:  Business, Season Bridging and Casual

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Read more: http://www.oprah.com/style/How-to-Wear-Leggings-Fashion-Advice-from-Adam-Glassman#ixzz1W5RXIZPB

Inspiration is Everywhere

Early Friday morning, 5 of us "early bird" shoppers piled into the empty Suburban, anticipating filling the expansive back end with our treasures from the neighborhood garage sales.  I love to garage sale with good friends and new friends alike.  So much to learn from other women, as we talk about new recipes, latest exercise crazes and the best coffee shop in town, in between stops!  Just when I thought I was caught up on all the "latest", I am  challenged and inspired by my friends!  My favorite finds this week were a pair of Banana Republic white denim capri's ($5) and an Old Navy yellow floral shirt ($2).  My $7 outfit (pictured here), will be my new uniform for the summer or at least this week.  What is it about us girls, that we love having something new, even if it is recycled or re-purposed?  

Saturday morning we (my handsome husband, and 17 year old son, who both appreciate a good deal) made our way to the Farmer's Market in our sleepy little town of Monument, Colorado.  As we were picking our scrumptious veggies for the week, I spotted a new vendor with antiques and the such.  There they were, the boots I have been waiting for!  A vintage pair of Acme Cowboy boots.  To my delight they were a perfect fit, hardly worn and for the unbelievable price of $25!  
It was a good weekend!


I haven't always been a "garage saler", but have come to appreciate the value and adventure. Surround yourself with friends and inspiration will abound. Challenge yourself to look for inspiration in new places, and share with me your secrets of success!

What's Buzzing with Bloom A Fresh You!

Bloom A Fresh You, partnered with "Lillian's..The Hippest Shoppe in Town" last weekend. The store was abuzz with women looking for summer fun fashion ideas. This store is truly a destination shoppers delight!  Vicky (below), brought in a few things she  had purchased beforehand.  She needed a little help accessorizing them. 

This is what Vicky wrote.  "What an uplifting experience Jennifer. I shared with a friend about the feeling of walking out of Lillian's feeling more confident and ready to seize opportunities with my business.  

Acting younger and loving every minute of it!"

                                 

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While on vacation a few weeks ago in MN, my sister Therese called all her fun, creative, and eager to learn friends together for a Bloom A Fresh You fashionista party!  One woman in particular, threw down a challenge for me.  This is what she said.  "If Jennifer can come to my closet & put together cute outfits with my clothes, then I will be a true believer!"  I'll know then that she is a miracle worker!" I accepted the challenge, met with Rachel for 2 hours, and put together approx. 25 "stink'n cute" outfits. Rachel was one my models that night and most of the women knew her. The real joy for me was when her friends saw her sporting a new look with confidence!

 This is what Rachel said afterwards "Thanks a million! It was very fun having someone come in and give me the OK to wear or get rid of some of my things!  I think of you every morning when I get dressed now!  "What would Jennifer wear?"
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Sue is a personal fitness trainer.  She also modeled for me that same night.  She told me that she wears athletic clothing (usually a sports tank and pants) most of the time! The rest of the time it's a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt.  Sue is also adding to her resume, becoming a life coach.  She had a closet full of beautiful clothes, but didn't know how to put them together and see great possibilities.  Here are a few pictures for her new professional endeavor and everyday play clothes!

                     

Sue wrote me an e-mail and said, "Jennifer, you would be so proud if you could see all the outfits I have already worn. I even put a new one together myself that I was pretty proud of, thanks to you.  Yes, please call me when your coming back!  I would love another appointment in my closet with you! Thanks again for everything. You are inspiring so many women.  Keep up the good work! 
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