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Fashion advice nordstrom local brooke cagel

The other day I was about to jet-off to an event when I realized I had nothing to wear that wasn’t at least 4 years old and fell into one of two categories: “Sweatpants collection” and “Saturday night clothes.”

As fun as it is to walk down memory lane every time I get dressed — “Hey look that’s the sweatshirt I took my finals in …. 10 years ago!” — it was clear I needed an upgrade. Problem is, I’m not a huge fan of shopping at a mall (one word: crowds!) or online (hmm, this *really* doesn’t look like it did on the model). That’s when a friend suggested I should use a stylist.

LOL right? Pretty sure stylists are a luxury good reserved for A-list movie stars and supermodels. But as it turns out this is no longer the case. In a bid to attract more Millennials (who I assume also hate shopping and want a more personal touch) big name stores — like Nordstrom, H&M and Anthropologie — are starting to offer personalized stylists gratis. As in FREE. As in sign me up.

So I did some research and there are some serious benefits to this idea that no one seems to be talking about!  Here are 3 ways utilizing a stylist will actually improve your life, without breaking the bank.

1. It can improve your self-confidence, instantly.

 

Build confidence fashion advice entity nordstrom local

Did you know that the clothes you wear can drastically change how you feel? But it’s not just about the clothes looking nice or being expensive, it’s about the symbolic meaning behind the clothes. It’s called “enclothed cognition.

For example, if you believe a certain article of clothing represents a strong, successful woman then when you wear that piece you will actually feel like a strong, successful woman. Cool right?

Problem is, sometimes we as shoppers don’t know how to pick out the right look. Enter a stylist. Having an expert, third-party pick out clothes for you that work for your body and set a specific tone will give you the impression that these clothes represent something powerful (after all they were hand-picked by an expert).

When you wear them you’ll feel that instant confidence boost knowing that someone awesome helped dress you. In research studies, this effect was achieved by having people wear white lab coats, which are often associated with doctors. In the experiment participants who wore the lab coats were more careful and paid more attention to detail than those who did not. In other words, we actually become what we wear.

2. Stress-free, anxiety-free shopping at last.

It’s no secret that hunting through racks and racks of clothes can be a stressful experience. There are so many options it can become psychologically overwhelming. Literally. It’s called the “Paradox of Choice.” In a nutshell it means that having too many choices can lead to regret because you’re thinking of all the options you didn’t choose rather than the one you did.

For example, you may have an idea of the perfect dress to wear to a friend’s wedding, but suddenly when presented with everything under the sun the pressure starts to build and your mind imagines 1000 different scenarios in 1000 different looks. Should you go for Boho-chic look or short sequins? Bright pink or classic black. Is crushed velvet in again? So. Much. Pressure.

It would actually be a less stressful, more fulfilling experience to only look at a few hand-picked dresses for the occasion and make the decision based on those. Which is where a store stylist can help. For example at Nordstrom Local, they’ll pull dresses for an event, have you come into their store location to try them on (drink some bubbly while you’re at it) and then you walk away with what you need. No sorting through racks, no dragging 100 dresses into the dressing room, and no wondering if it *actually* looks good on you because an expert helped pick it out.

3. Hang out with your friends IRL.

Why go to a mall and schlep around from store to store when you can “shop” in beautiful space sipping Champagne while a stylist brings you items you actually like? This is the new reality and the styling services are free.

Yes, not only can you use a store stylist to help you plan for your big event but your friends can come too. And instead of walking through a crowded mall full of small children on leashes, you can chill in the peace and quiet of a beautifully designed store that feels more like a living room from Pottery Barn than a department store. That’s called a win-win.

Plus, research has shown that people are spending more time hanging out with people online than in real life — which can lead to feelings of depression and loneliness. So getting a day out being pampered like a VIP sounds like a pretty great way to remedy that problem.

Reasons to hire a stylist Nordstrom Local event

Clearly way better than a mall. Credit: Courtney Halverson / PrettyLittleFawn

So if you’re going to take one piece of fashion advice this coming year, “use a stylist” because you won’t regret it.

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