Blogger Feature: Tracy of The Closet Shopper

3 words to describe your personal style?

Oh man. The answer to this question is ever changing for me. I’m not exactly sure but I would have to say, Modern, Classic, Simple.

Who are your celebrity style icons?

Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker, Anne Hathaway, Reese Witherspoon, & Sandra Bullock.

What would you consider the 5 essential items to a fashionable wardrobe?

1. White blouse
2. Simple sheath dress. Doesn’t have to be a little black dress (LBD) it can be any solid color. I love mine in camel.
3. Black dress pants. (cigarette or wide leg. Preferably both!)
4. Structured blazer
5. Jeans (a pair that fit you perfectly! Buy two pair and hem one for heels and one for flats)

What is your favorite/most versatile accessory?

 I would have to say my vintage woven belt that I found at a thrift store years ago for $2. It’s the perfect cognac brown and it can cinch any outfit and make it look fitted and tailored and super duper cute.

I love your juxtaposition of higher fashion with the everyday. Do you have any tips for spicing up everyday outfits?

 Thank you for saying that, Dani. I think that you should be able to wear everything in your closet for any occasion. So, I use accessories to make the outfit casual or dressy. Scarves, shoes and jewelry can give an outfit a fancy feel or a more relaxed feel. It’s important to not categorize your wardrobe too much. I mean, if you bought it because you love it, why not wear it? Right?

I have to admit, I am overwhelmingly jealous that you have a real-life job as a fashion consultant! How did you get into the field, and how did you make such a great career out of it?

 Don’t be too jealous. It’s not my full-time job. Not yet at least. I have my own fashion consulting business but I do work a boring 9-5 job as well. The day job makes it really hard to focus on my fashion business alone since I can only see clients at night and on weekends. I’m not complaining. But as far as making a great career out of it? That’s a work in progress.

As far as how I got started, a friend said I should so I did. I’ve been styling my friends forever but until one of them said, “You are so good at this, why don’t you start your own business?” I had never thought of it. It started as word of mouth then I launched my website in 2007 and it’s been going strong ever since. I didn’t start posting outfit pics on my fashion blog until July of 2010. I decided it would be important for potential clients to see me as a normal woman that dresses in a regular normal way. I was hoping it would help them feel less intimidated to hire a stylist.

Working with women to empower them to love the body they’re in and to dress it appropriately has been the biggest high for me. I always leave a session feeling like I could climb the highest mountain. In other words, I really love this work. And maybe someday, I can quit my day job. Here’s to the dream.

Make sure you visit Tracy over at her blog, The Closet Shopper, to see more fantastically styled outfits!