From Lacy P.
The Cyrano Effect
I can't say enough great things about Lennie. She is a wonderful stylist , educator, coach and enthusiast. A little about me: I'm a 36 year-old female still wearing college clothes from over a decade ago... trying to date and present myself as a lady and eligible bachelorette. I'm 5'2, 25 pounds over weight and VERY curvy. I hate shopping, get discouraged when clothes don't fit, and my favorite thing to wear is an oversized flannel with a denim mini skirt and flip flops. I desperately needed professional help to accomplish my goal.
First, I chose her because her bio and website spoke to me. She is knowledgable and experienced, yet affordable. She has worked with celebrities, but is not JUST for them.
After our first encounter, I knew I could trust her professional opinion and had 100% confidence in my decision. We met at my house and she started by asking me questions about my background with clothes, how I feel about shopping and my inspiration to hire a stylist. She took notes and listened tentatively. Then, she told me about her background with fashion , but was never boastful or intimidating. She explained the process of what she envisioned for us and how she felt she could really help. Her focus was all on me and she made me feel comfortable.
We then went through my clothes together (this part I was so dreading and embarrassed about, but knew it had to be done). I was surprised that instead of making fun of me (like they do on TV)... she was sensitive and compassionate, we even cried together! Respectful of my budget and time, she left me with a list of "homework-to-do" to get ready for our shopping spree. Part of the homework was that her & I create a Pinterest board where we could collaborate and share ideas on styles and brands that we both liked for my future wardrobe. This part was fun, and she initiated it the next day... no lag time to procrastinate and get discouraged! Lennie was always a text message away and I never felt abandoned or forgotten about. In fact, she initiated most of the conversations and made sure I was still on track with our plan.
Two weeks later (because of my schedule, not hers) our second meeting was a successful shopping spree! Again, respectful of my budget, she had three stores selected and all the clothes were ready for me in a designated waiting room. She did not waste my time on searching for clothes, rather my time was spent trying on clothes that she had pre-selected and in appropriate sizes. So much of what she picked fit and was affordable... if it didn't fit, we talked about why the piece was wrong as opposed to me blaming my body. If it wasn't affordable but I liked it, she took pics of the tags and said we could watch it & wait for it to go on sale. She always made a point to tally up the price before we left the dressing room, so that I wasn't surprised at the register. She really gained my respect for that and I appreciated her helping me avoid the shock factor. It allowed for us to eliminate pieces in the dressing room (in private) rather than at the counter in front of other people.
Also, she embraces the natural beauty of the human body and believes in adjusting the clothes to fit YOU, instead of encouraging you to alter your body to fit the clothes. On that note, I want to mention that she was very informative and educational. She taught me about clothing selection, clothing returns, how to care and manage for certain fabrics, how to care and manage my shoes, and how to select a seamstress for alterations. She was also aware and respectful of my feelings. If I didn't like the way an article of clothing made me feel... I took it off, didn't waste time, and on to the next! If only she could be my wing-woman in a speed dating dinner!
Something to consider is that I found it helpful to have a stylist of the same gender, because she was in the fitting room at all times and that allowed for us to make the most of our time. I feel like "IF" I had chosen a male stylist... a lot of time would have been spent on me putting the clothes on, trying to adjust the pieces to fit and then walking out to a common area (lots of time wasted). I also don't think I would have been as comfortable about talking about my body/self image with a male stylist. (As I'm sure many male stylists are great at their job, I just want to mention gender as it as something to consider.) I also think it is important to find a stylist you feel comfortable being naked in front of. I know this sounds extremely raw, and it is, but it makes things easier. With Lennie, I felt empowered, beautiful, and accepted... not judged.
I can't thank her enough for what she's done for me and I definitely recommend her above anyone else. I plan on having a long fashion relationship with her and hiring her for seasons to come. I also plan on hiring her for one outfilt-special occasions. After my experience with her, I firmly believe it is best to go shopping with a sylist for that big occasion where the pictures will be looked at for generations to come, rather than a best friend or family member.
Best of luck to you, Lennie, and all those who are lucky enough to be in the company of your services!
Never ending thanks,
Lacy
