Mary Lou Andre

    February is often described as the shortest, longest month of the year for good reason. Many of us want to rush ahead to spring yet often feel stuck in the “messy” middle of winter with the doldrums definitely settling in. Here at Dressing Well we’ve learned to “flip the switch” on February and embrace the month for the style gift that it is. Here are 5 ways you too can turn this often dreary month into a beacon of style, hope and discovery: #1 Prune Your Closet Before any spring garden can bloom, it needs to be properly pruned. Same with your wardrobe. If your wardrobe is in need of a serious weeding, vow to get it done this month while you’re likely spending more time inside anyway. Extra Bonus: Transitioning your closet come spring will be so much easier if you spend the time now to get the deadwood out of there. Promise! #2 Cash In Your Donations If you’ve been in our world for a while, you know that properly retiring items that no longer serve you is a big part of our mission. When you can turn some of your castaways into cash, all the better. If you’re wondering how you can deduct clothes and accessories you donate to charity on your annual taxes, consult with your tax planner. For help knowing how to value your donations, check out this handy guide. #3 Shopping Success (& Therapy!) Once you clear the brush, you can begin to see the forest through the trees (aka the gaps in your wardrobe!) with much more clarity. To stay focused on what you actually need, make a list and visit your favorite websites and retail establishments. Sales are in high gear throughout the month of February so you’re apt to save a bundle too. If you venture out to shop, you’ll likely have fewer crowds to deal with as February is also the slowest retail month of the year. Extra thought: Don’t underestimate the power of retail therapy as a way to beat the winter blues. Once you update your basics, be open to a few novelty pieces that speak to you. Good for the soul any time of year, yet especially beneficial in February! #4 Create Your Own Boutique Once things are cleared out and properly sorted, create a plan to make your closets cheerful, warm and bright. Not only will you see your clothes more clearly, but you’ll feel better whenever you open the closet door. A fresh coat of paint in a color you love, new lighting, and hanging accessories just right is a gift you give yourself now and throughout the rest of the year. #5 Valentine’s Fun Finally, just when we all really need an extra dose of style inspiration, Valentine’s Day arrives mid-February in all its red and pink glory. Embrace this whimsical holiday for your sanity as much as your style. Go all in, or dip your toe in with heart-themed socks, scarfs and sweaters that help you celebrate the universal love of the day. We all need more ways to come together. I vote for Valentine’s Day unity! Extra Inspiration If you’re looking for more inspiration, we’re here to help. We’re on a mission to help people at all stages of their style journey make style confidence more attainable (and fun!). Here are three ways we can further assist: Grab Our Free Guide Our handy guide “How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe” is available to everyone on our mailing list. It’s a great tool to start rebuilding your wardrobe! Don’t have a copy? Grab yours now.   Download “How to Build a Capsule Wardrobe”   Join Us on the Inside Our new monthly style club, Dressing Well Insiders, is designed to keep your style moving forward affordably from month-to-month and season-to-season in the company of like-minded others. Our February session is tonight, February 5th, from 7-8 pm on Zoom. Topic: 5 Ways to Beat the Mid-Winter Style Blues. Join now, get instant access. Monthly and annual memberships are available.    Yes, I Want to Be an Insider!   Let Us Transform Your Style 1:1 Our highly effective one-on-one coaching services might be the best investment you ever make in yourself. We arrive at your home ready to tackle your closet right beside you. The results are immediate and you can expect several brand-new outfits from what you already own along with a focused shopping plan that we help you implement. We can also Zoom into your home to guide the process. Please schedule time on my calendar to explore your needs and land on just the right plan for you.   Book a Complimentary Connect Call   Parting Reflection I have spent my entire career (and at this point in time, half of my life!) helping people use their style as a tool of confidence, communication, and personal and professional success. It often starts in the closet and ends with a big (and lasting!) boost in style confidence – and with far fewer clothes than you ever dreamed possible. I have seen careers catapulted, first marriages at age 50 and beyond, weight melt away and stress vanish. All with simple closet and style shifts that anyone can implement. We are booking our spring calendar now, with a few spots open this month too. February only has to be as dark and long as you make it. We are here to shine a light on your closet, your style (and your life!) with proven tools, common sense and joy. Here’s to the lovely (yes lovely!) month of February. We look forward to serving you. Mary Lou AndreFounder & PresidentDressing Well, Inc. mlandre@dressingwell.com Get Social with Us! Dressing Well, Inc. Toll Free: 800.578.3770 Local and International: 781.444.0140www.dressingwell.com©2024 Dressing Well. All rights reserved.     Return to Main Newsletter Page

    Hope you all had a great holiday and are ready to embrace 2024 with extra style and gusto. We are ready to help lead the way! Admittedly, I’m a New Year planning junkie. I get giddy when my new planner arrives right around November, and can’t wait to take a newly sharpened pencil to it and save time over the holidays to begin planning what I’d like more (and less of!) when the calendar actually flips. I’m looking forward to some wonderful trips, special weddings and personal milestones this year. Not sure how it happened, but I am entering a new decade this year too! Special thanks to photographer Leslie Browne for helping me embrace this special time in my own life. It’s also really nice to be starting the New Year with some new professional headshots! Here at Dressing Well, we are excited to be starting the year by going all in on our new program Dressing Well Insiders. Piloted this past fall with a small group of clients, it has been a wonderful success right out of the gate. Enrollment is now open to all of you. Our first monthly session of the year is tonight, Monday, January 8th, from 7-8 ET on Zoom, and there is plenty of time for you to join. We welcome you on the Inside too! What You Can Expect as an Insider Each month I literally take you on the “Inside” of my own closet, showing you 5 new outfits I have put together for myself and our private clients, while coaching you on the styling principles that allow you to make fresh, new seasonal outfits for yourself. Members love having a monthly commitment on their calendar to keep their style seasonally fresh and moving forward with the ability to ask questions in real time. Community is also a big part of Insiders. As part of each monthly session, we save time for a fun, interactive breakout room activity so that you can meet and share ideas with other members. In between sessions, you are able to continue sharing ideas while getting feedback on your outfits in the group’s members-only, private Facebook group. Technology makes it easy for you to get started in the program right away. When you join, you’ll be sent a welcome email with the program calendar and zoom link for tonight’s program. Easy peasy! Can’t make it tonight? No worries. You’ll get the replay tomorrow along with a set of shopping links of items featured in the session delivered directly to your inbox for your consideration. Insider content is not available anywhere else. Yes, there are plenty of benefits to being on the Inside with us! Tonight’s Topic: New Year, More Stylish You! Here’s a snapshot of what we’ll be covering tonight: • Brighten your winter wardrobe with modern color combinations (while repurposing your holiday greens & reds with a fresh twist!) • It’s boot season! When to wear booties, tall boots and everything in between (with hosiery guidelines as well!) • Love your outerwear! Vow to retire what no longer works (& be inspired to pick up some fresh new pieces while sales are in high gear) Tonight’s Breakout Activity: In celebration of January being “Get Organized” month, bring a favorite closet organizing product (or idea) to share with others in your breakout group. Perhaps what we are most proud of is having an affordable new way for many more people to experience our Dressing Well philosophy in an uplifting, non-judgmental and motivational forum, giving you more access to our talented Dressing Well Insider’s team. We invite you on the Inside too! A member recently shared: “The biggest gift of this group has been recommitting to my style. I look forward to the monthly sessions and love watching how others are implementing the lessons in the Facebook group. The shopping links are great and save me time and money. I am ordering key items without second guessing myself. Thanks for keeping me from falling off the style train. Who knew fashion could be so much fun!” – Heather M.   Yes, I’m In! Take Me to the “Insiders” Program Enrollment Page Please    From all of us at Dressing Well, here’s to 2024! Hope to see you on the “Inside” tonght! Dressing Well, Inc. Toll Free: 800.578.3770 Local and International: 781.444.0140www.dressingwell.com ©2024 Dressing Well. All rights reserved.     Return to Main Newsletter Page