This Personal Styling Service Worked Wonders With My Closet
As a working mom raising twin toddlers, I’m maxed out. According to this parenting stress study, I’m not the only mom who feels overwhelmed compared to Dad, and like other moms, I worry that I’m not perfect at balancing both work and family. My fashion has taken a back seat since becoming a mom, so for my birthday, I wanted to refresh my wardrobe — without buying anything new. I booked a two-hour-long session with a personal stylist service called StyleLab, which promised to help me pull together chic looks from my own closet.
StyleLab was founded by two BFFs, Ali Macer and Brittney Ben Moshe. They aim to help out busy ladies who can use advice in putting together stylish outfits that work for their lifestyle and budget. You can have your closet organized, work with a stylist on picking out fun outfits from your existing wardrobe, make sure you look killer for a big event, or get help shopping for new threads that you look and feel really great in.
I was a bit skeptical at first. How could I shop from my own closet? Since giving birth, my wardrobe has mainly consisted of nursing tops, comfortable pants, and loose-fitting dresses. Worse, as a busy new mama, I’ve taken a “shove things in there” approach to closet organization. I wasn’t sure how anyone was going to make sense of my closet or put together anything stylish for my birthday.
Macer and Ben Moshe arrived right on time with a shiny rolling clothing rack. They started by asking me questions about my personal style while I showed them some of my favorite pieces. We also talked about my day-to-day outfit needs, which are outfits that are easy to nurse my girls in, but polished enough for any in-person work meetings. From there, Macer and Ben Moshe started pulling items that they wanted to work with and organized my closet.
They pulled a few pieces together on their rack, along with some of my shoes, and had me try on different outfits that they’d styled. I had a blue wrap dress that I hadn’t worn in awhile and couldn’t fit into anymore that they transformed into a cool jacket that I could pair with shorts and a t-shirt. They took the black dress that I was planning on wearing for my birthday and suggested adding a black belt, carrying a knit clutch that I’d forgotten about, and pairing it with a denim jacket. It was the perfect trendy, low-key look for a casual Mexican birthday dinner with friends.
Macer also adjusted the sleeves on my denim jacket to make it fit my body better. I honestly never thought of pairing this particular black-and-white dress with my denim jacket. Macer also dug out these strappy black sandals that I love (and forgot about post-pregnancy!) and paired it with this outfit. I felt confident and comfortable all night.
Even better, they took snaps of each new outfit so my mommy-fried brain could remember how to pull it all together later. Plus, Macer and Ben Moshe organized everything. YASSS!
Post-styling session, Macer sent me a personalized shopping list based on what they thought I could add to my wardrobe to expand what I have. I love that they picked out affordable options and recommended brands that are similar to ones I already like. Here’s what she suggested:
1. Saks Fifth Avenue Nude Lace-Up Flats ($120)
2. Madewell White Cotton Button-Up Shirt ($65)
3. ASOS Black Off-the-Shoulder Skater Dress ($24)
4. AG by Adriano Goldschmeid High-Waisted Skinny Denim Jeans ($168)
5. Miss Selfridge Petite Duster Coat ($127)
6. Allbirds Tennis Shoes ($95)
7. Madewell Rib Tank Top ($35)
As a busy mom, this styling session was a fun, efficient way to rediscover my style. I wish Macer and Ben Moshe could organize the rest of my life! If you’re stuck in a style rut or need some expert eyes to shop from your own closet, I’d definitely recommend booking a stylist through StyleLab, which is currently operating in LA and San Francisco. You book by the hour, starting at $75 per hour, so you can have a quick session or a longer one, depending on your needs. If I could, I would order this for every mama I know.
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(Photos via StyleLab and Jennifer Chen)