Ask My Wardrobe Podcast

E2: One Sneaker You Must Have with Abby Vitale

Abby Vitale is the founder of Lilac Blonde, a women's sneaker and clothing boutique with a community of over 55,000 women.

She started it with her dad after going to sneaker conventions and noticing the same problem everywhere. The best shoes were almost never available in women's sizes.

Lilac Blonde started as a place where women could find hard-to-get Jordans and Dunks in their size. Today it carries Adidas, On, New Balance, Steve Madden, Dolce Vita, Doc Martens and more, plus clothing to complete the look.

In this episode, Abby explains how sneaker trends have changed in the past few years, from bulky Jordans and Dunks to slim, clean shoes like the Adidas Samba and Onitsuka Tiger.

We get into why people now pick one statement piece instead of making the whole outfit loud, and how running and walking shoes moved from the gym into everyday outfits.

Abby also shares the most common mistake she sees in her store. Many women don't know their real sneaker size, and even shoes from the same brand can fit differently from model to model.

For anyone who wants to get into sneakers but doesn't know where to start, Abby recommends a few easy starter pairs and shows the Handball Spezial she has worn over 200 times.

She also explains how many shoes you actually need to cover the basics, and why women shop in outfits, not just single pieces.

We get into:

How Lilac Blonde started
Sneaker trends from Jordans to Sambas
Soft feminine colors vs. loud colors
Statement shoes vs. neutral shoes
Wearing running shoes outside the gym
Are there any sneaker rules?
Getting into sneakers at any age
The most common shoe size mistake
Why sneakers from the same brand fit differently
Checking sizing before you buy online
Trying new styles without looking too young
The best starter sneakers
Adidas Samba and Handball Spezial
On Cloudtilt
Why wait on Salomons
How many shoes you actually need
Seasonal and statement shoes
Building an outfit around a unique shoe
Why women shop in outfits

Abby's main takeaway is simple: start with a few shoes that go with everything, learn your real size, and think about the whole outfit before you buy. Once you have your basics, you can have fun with the shoes that stand out.

⭐️ Lilac Blonde website - https://lilacblonde.com/

⭐️ Lilac Blonde on Instagram - / lilac_blonde

⭐️ Lilac Blonde on TikTok - / lilac_blonde

Try on any sneakers virtually before you buy them, so you don’t spend money on shoes you won’t wear: https://askmywardrobe.com/

00:00 Abby Vitale & Lilac Blonde
01:00 Why Abby Started Lilac Blonde
02:00 How Sneaker Trends Have Changed
03:00 The Shift to Slim, Clean Sneakers
04:00 Soft Colors Over Bright Pink
05:00 Statement Shoe or Neutral Shoe
08:00 Running Shoes Outside the Gym
09:00 Are There Any Sneaker Rules?
12:00 Getting Into Sneakers at Any Age
13:00 The Most Common Shoe Size Mistake
15:00 Why Adidas Sizes Run Differently
17:00 Checking Sizing Before You Buy
18:00 Trying New Styles Without Looking Too Young
21:00 The Best Starter Sneakers
22:00 The Handball Spezial Abby Wore 200 Times
23:00 On Cloudtilt
24:00 Why to Wait on Salomons
25:00 How Many Shoes You Actually Need
29:00 Seasonal and Statement Shoes
30:00 Building an Outfit Around a Unique Shoe
33:00 Why Women Shop in Outfits
36:00 Where to Find Abby

The Ask My Wardrobe Podcast. Conversations about personal style, clothes, shopping, and building a wardrobe that works for you: https://askmywardrobe.com/

#sneakers #fashion #personalstyle

E1: Ignoring Your Body Shape Will Ruin Your Style

Jonathan Santana-Alvarez has spent more than 25 years in the fashion industry and over 15 years working as an image consultant.

And after working with clients on their wardrobes, shopping, and personal style, he keeps coming back to the same problem.

A lot of people are buying clothes without first understanding their body shape.

Jonathan is the founder of Estilo Image Consulting, where he helps women build wardrobes around their body, personal style, and the way they want to feel in their clothes.

In this episode, Jonathan breaks down why something can look great on a hanger, on TikTok, or on another person and still be completely wrong for you.

We get into how understanding your body shape changes the way you shop, why fit should come before trends, and why buying more clothes isn't necessarily the answer to dressing better.

We also discuss how Jonathan approaches clients who don't know their personal style yet, why he describes personal style as a "style personality," and how trial and error helps you figure out what works for you.

He doesn't believe your wardrobe needs to be controlled by the season. He explains why he sometimes wears pieces outside their traditional season and sums up the idea with: "Style has no season."

For people who struggle with putting outfits together, Jonathan recommends making things simpler first. Instead of immediately trying to combine different patterns, textures, and colors, he suggests beginning with monochromatic outfits and expanding from there as you become more confident.

Jonathan also explains how he plans outfits for clients before they need them. He creates digital references showing which clothes work together and sometimes builds complete looks on a physical clothing rack with the clothes, sunglasses, hats, and jewelry already selected.

We get into:

Personal style vs. style personality
Body shape and clothing fit
Pear, square, and hourglass body shapes
Men's rectangle, square, and circle body shapes
Why people buy clothes they never wear
Trends vs. dressing for your own body
Monochromatic outfits
Using the color wheel
Quiet luxury
Investment pieces
Quality vs. quantity
Tailoring and refashioning clothes
The one-year wardrobe rule
Building complete outfits in advance
Digital outfit planning
Understanding your measurements
Using measurements to shop more intentionally
Why Jonathan believes body shape is one of the first things you should understand before building your wardrobe

Jonathan's main takeaway is simple: once you understand your body shape and how clothes fit you, shopping starts to make more sense. You can choose pieces that work with your body, build outfits more easily, and buy clothes that are more likely to stay in your wardrobe.

⭐️ Jonathan Santana-Alvarez's website - https://estiloimageconsulting.com/

⭐️ Jonathan Santana-Alvarez on Instagram - / estilo_image_consulting

💎 Ask My Wardrobe - Your free digital wardrobe - Plan outfits, create new looks, build outfit collages, and try on clothes virtually before you buy them: https://askmywardrobe.com/

[00:00] Jonathan Santana-Alvarez & Estilo Image Consulting
[01:00] Finding Your Style Personality
[03:00] Why People Buy Clothes They Never Wear
[04:00] Shopping for Your Body Shape
[05:00] Quiet Luxury & Investment Pieces
[06:00] The Biggest Mistake People Make When Getting Dressed
[07:00] Starting With Monochromatic Outfits
[08:00] Using the Color Wheel
[09:00] Why Style Has No Season
[10:00] Finding Style Through Body Shape
[11:00] The One-Year Wardrobe Rule
[12:00] Quality vs. Quantity
[13:00] The Basics People Forget About Fit
[14:00] Planning Outfits Ahead of Time
[15:00] The Problem Jonathan Sees Across His Clients
[16:00] Understanding Different Body Shapes
[17:00] Measuring Your Body Before Shopping
[18:00] Jonathan's Biggest Takeaway

The Ask My Wardrobe Podcast. Conversations about personal style, clothes, shopping, and building a wardrobe that works for you: https://askmywardrobe.com/

#personalstyle #fashion #bodyshape