My Story
Maybe you think I’ve always been a stylish person: one of those women who always knew what to wear and how to wear it.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
I spent my teenage years and early adulthood wading through the shame of wanting to be seen, the frustration when clothes never looked the same way on me that they looked on the model, and the pervasive idea that if I just looked different - if I had different hair, a different body, a different face, if I were a different person altogether - I would be better.
I couldn’t understand why this was so hard for me, and why other women had it figured out when I didn’t. Why couldn’t I just walk into a store and pick out a blouse that looked good?
Thus began a long and painful cycle of experimentation and regret. A box of Clairol hair dye because my hair was “mousy.” A dark red dress that I couldn’t go two minutes without adjusting because it wasn’t stretchy enough for my hips. A new shade of lipstick every time I went to the drugstore, which I would apply in my rearview mirror before I left the parking lot, only to be disappointed in the face looking back at me.
All of this wheel-spinning experimentation morphed into a reluctance to spend any real money on myself. I had no idea what I was doing, and everything looked bad anyway.
Then something happened.
By chance, I discovered Personal Color Analysis. And with it, I also discovered a radical idea: nothing was actually wrong with me. I just didn’t know what was right for me.
I became more and more fascinated by the art and science of color analysis. I was staying up late reading about PCA, guessing the season of strangers on the street. There was a lot less information about PCA available back then, but I wanted to consume it all! And with many people in my personal life thinking I had completely lost it, I took a leap of faith and decided to train as a personal color analyst.
Shortly afterward, when a fellow color analyst introduced me to Personal Image Analysis and instructed me in the best styles of clothing for my body, I felt for the first time that maybe I could figure this whole thing out. I could look really good after all.
What surprised me, though, was that crafting my own distinctive aesthetic was fun, and I had a talent for it.
I taught myself to combine my season’s colors in a way that felt creative and polished. I taught myself to wear my archetype’s lines and design details in a youthful and modern way, with a nod to my favorite vintage fashions.
I explored my personality through my style, asking myself questions like: How do I want people to respond to me? How can I show people who I am instead of telling them who I am? How can I be my most genuine self in every aspect of my life - including my clothing?
I went from being afraid to try, lest I failed, to exploring my creativity in uncharted ways. And an amazing thing happened: women began to look to me for guidance.
My own color journey is a complicated one. During my initial training as a color analyst, I was placed into the wrong season. I tried hard for a long time to make that season work. Eventually I was re-draped, but the result was still not quite correct. I struggled greatly with makeup, and I began to think negatively about my natural appearance. This was very frustrating because I had seen firsthand how straightforward and pleasant life was for my clients and for other color analysts when they were in the correct season.
For a while, I tried not to think about my own color season very much. I focused on serving my individual clients, and I began teaching color analysis students. But my belief in the system itself made me realize that I could take everything I knew about color analysis…and apply it to myself. I finally draped myself, meticulously and multiple times, until I arrived at the right answer. And while it took me many years to get to the comfortable color home I was promised, I’m happy to be here now, where everything is smooth sailing. It’s never too late to make a change and discover yourself anew.
Personal style is a beautiful intersection of art, science, and psychology. Inspiration is everywhere, and I love helping my clients develop their own sartorial calling card. Whatever speaks to you, whatever you love, I promise you can find a way to incorporate it into your personal style in a way that is not only beautiful, but effective.
About Me (the fun stuff!)
I’m a passionate baker and home cook, and I love experimenting with new recipes and flavors from around the world. I love to throw themed parties with special menus.
My library card is one of my most prized possessions. I enjoy reading poetry, literary fiction, fairy tales, and personal development books.
I’m a Light Summer in SciArt, and my style archetype is Romantic Natural. I love mermaids, the color periwinkle, and florals.
If you like personality typing, I’m also an INFJ, an enneagram 6, and a Scorpio. My favorite tarot card is The Star.
I live in Louisville, Kentucky with my husband, my two kids, and our five cats.