Mary Michele Nidiffer is a Master Style Coach, Founder of StyleFinder Boutique (ShopStyleFinder.com) and The StyleFinder School of Style (SFSchoolofStyle.com) Follow her on Instagram at @stylebymarymichele A wardrobe isn’t built in a day, and typically women have years’ worth of clothing jammed into their small space, cluttering it up and preventing you from seeing what you want to wear.  More than creating clutter, it often causes shame.  It’s time to toss some things and I want to make it easy for you.  If you start with just one small step, you’ll feel a sense of accomplishment and it will spur you to take another, then another…Start with these 5 things (because 10 can feel overwhelming) and see where it takes you.  I’m cheering you on, my friend.  You can do it! 1/ Anything that you haven’t worn in over a year. 2/ Anything that no longer fits. 3/ Baggy, pleated pants or jeans. 4/ Your old blazers.  5/ Anything that you can’t.stand.to.wear.  Period.   Need help in your closet?  Contact me to learn more about a personal Closet Clarity Session, or a StyleFinder 101 session to help you know what’s right for you – and what to never wear again!  Reach out to me at [email protected] and let me know how I can help you feel beautiful! Did you hear? We have opened the doors up to the StyleFinder School of Style and I invite YOU to become a founding member! Sign up today at SFSchoolofStyle.com and learn the secrets to getting dressed in 7 minutes or less every single day. “Mary Michele has drawn on her lifelong love of style and extraordinary fashion sense to create an essential resource for the woman in search of the perfect look…to discover your best and most beautiful YOU!” Deborah Harrell Meehan ***Won’t you leave me a 5-star review? If you enjoyed this podcast I’d love to have you leave me 5 stars and a few words about what you liked – and what you’d like to hear more of! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. XO Mary Michele

Do you love shopping or hate it? Regardless, it’s something we all have to do at some point in our lives and the more enjoyable it is, the less stressful it will be. Learning to enjoy shopping can help you cultivate good shopping habits that work for you, not against you. Starting by doing your homework can help you to make smart decisions and not become tempted by things you don’t need. Here are my suggestions to prepare you: 1. Make a list - Start by going through your closet to determine where there are “holes” in your wardrobe. Do you need the basics – a new suit, a few pairs of pants, great tee shirts – or do you need colorful accessories that will make our core items pop? 2. Three is the Magic Number - If you find yourself tempted by something that’s a great deal, ask yourself if you truly love how it looks on your body and if it’s something you’d pay full price for. If the answer is yes, and you can make 3 outfits with it then go for it! 3. Get the Munchies - Grab an energy bar or some trail mix and a bottle of water. You’ll need sustenance and don’t want to risk making a poor wardrobe decision if you’re feeling light-headed. 4. Know Thyself - Know what styles flatter your body best and stick with them. Don’t be afraid to try something new, but if you’ve learned that a certain cut doesn’t work on your body type, steer clear of it and stick with cuts that enhance your assets. 5. Color is Key - Know what colors are your most flattering tones. These will make you look your best and enhance your natural coloring. If you have had your colors done, take your palette with you. 6. Mix high-end and low-end - Shopping can be a fun game and shopping in a variety of stores helps you to create a look that’s all your own. You can mix items from Saks with something you found at

a consignment shop, or TJ Maxx, to great effect and no one will ever guess how much (or, rather, how little) you paid for it when the overall effect is nothing short of fabulous! Plus your look will have your personal stamp on it rather than looking like it’s right off the rack. The most fashionable ladies shop this way and it makes for a much more interesting effect overall! 7. Have a Strategy - Your core pieces are the ones you want to invest in, but seasonal trends are where you can get away with going budget. Trendy items won’t have the longevity of the classic items in your closet. Do a cost per wear analysis – divide the price by the number of times you think you’ll wear an item. For example, if you pay $30 for a dress, but only wear it twice, that’s $15 per wear. But if you find one you love for $300 and wear it 100 times over the course of 3 years, that’s $3 per wear. Which is a better bargain in the long run? Follow me on Instagram @stylebymarymichele Follow me on Instagram @stylebymarymichele Take our Style ID quiz: https://shopstylefinder.com/pages/styleid-quiz Shop our Boutique: https://shopstylefinder.com/ Work with me: calendly.com/marymichelenidiffer

After a year of wearing comfy clothes, many women have shared with me that they’re feeling frumpy and frustrated and have a few extra pounds to boot. No matter where you are in your journey, I’ve got you! Today I’m going to share with you 3 easy ways to bust out of a COVID style slump.  1/Reframe No matter what your situation, I invite you to see things differently. How you feel is just that – a feeling. And you can change how you feel about yourself and your style. Don’t let the frumpy zone keep you stuck and living a life unfulfilled! Go for what you truly want. 2/ Reinvent Who do you want to be? This is the perfect time to get clear on what image you want to project. Find images and words that you want to incorporate into your style. {Take our Style ID mini quiz here: https://shopstylefinder.com/pages/styleid-quiz} 3/ Reimagine Play dress up – find what looks great on you now! You may find that a style you loved is no longer right for you physically, but also emotionally. Maybe you’re working from home and the suits you used to wear are no longer appropriate. Maybe you realized you need more color in your wardrobe. Discover new ways to wear old favorites, or visit your fave local boutique and try on some new things. You’ll know when you put it on if it's right for you! Follow me on Instagram @stylebymarymichele and @shopstylefinder Shop our boutique and sign up for our newsletter : www.ShopStyleFinder.com Work with me calendly.com/marymichelenidiffer

Follow me on Instagram @stylebymarymichele

Take our Style ID quiz:

https://shopstylefinder.com/pages/styleid-quiz Shop our Boutique: https://shopstylefinder.com/ Work with me: calendly.com/marymichelenidiffer Five Tips for Finding the Perfect Dress “What is important in a dress is the woman wearing it.” – Yves Saint Laurent Buying a dress may be one the of most challenging experiences, right next to buying a swimsuit. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be so complicated. Here are my best tips to help you choose the right dress for you: 1/ Buy for your Body Type 2/ Skip the Black and go Blue… 3/ It’s All in the Details 4/ Make it Your Own 5/ The Whole Shebang Wearing a dress isn’t just putting on another piece of clothing. It’s about an attitude, and creating an entire look that encompasses everything from your hair, makeup, jewelry, handbag, nails, shoes and legwear (should you or shouldn’t you?). When you wear a dress, you embrace your femininity, step into your power and show off your most beautiful self! Because, girl, you’ve still got it!

Follow me on Instagram at @stylebymarymichele and @wine_women_style Shop our boutique: https://shopstylefinder.com/ Work with me: https://calendly.com/event_types/user/me Take our Style ID mini quiz: https://shopstylefinder.com/pages/styleid-quiz “Life’s biggest heartbreak is being untrue to yourself.” – Robin Sharma 5 Compelling Reasons Authenticity Matters Being the most authentic version of who you were meant to be allows you to live a more fulfilled life in many ways. Expressing yourself authentically through your style can help you to see yourself as who you truly are and show up as the real you. 1/ Create deeper connections  More easily connect to others  Feel more connected to self  Being understood  “You get me”  Clients become magnetically attracted to you 2/ Creates Trust  Give others permission to be themselves too  Others know who you are and what you stand for  Clients feel safe with you  Creates level of expectation – they know what they’re getting, no bait and switch  Builds trust in yourself 3/ Builds Confidence  Being deeply anchored in yourself creates an unstoppable confidence  Deep trust in yourself  Self-expression is freeing on so many levels  Free to be who you are = self-validation  Self-awareness, self-worth 4/ Live a Richer, Fuller Life  Self-expression is vital to our lives  You’re happier  Creates a ripple effect  More enjoyment, more pleasure, more fun!  It doesn’t seem like work

5/ Become memorable for all the right reasons  Others will remember you because of your quirks – what makes you different makes you unique  Set yourself apart  Get away from comparison and set yourself apart  Create your own identity, style and brand that’s all YOU!

Raves & Faves:

Le Grand Noir Brut Rose Brut Rose 2013 grenache blend Languedoc France Strawberry on the nose, hits of citrus, raspberry, flavor is fruity but not sweet, creamy vanilla, dry $14 http://www.legrandnoir.com/ We’d love for you to leave us a 5 star review on iTunes! Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wine_women_style/ Join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/winewomenstyle For more information or to work with Mary Michele go to https://winewomenandstyle.com/

Mother’s Day has come and gone, but it’s time to focus on you! You’ve probably been so busy doing everything for everyone else that you may have neglected yourself. Well, ladies, it’s time for a little TLC! I’m sharing with you 10 great ways to put yourself back on your to do list and to reconnect with you! 1. Have your makeup updated for the new season  2. Reassess your 3. Have a fit  4. Adorn Yourself  5. Don’t Lose 6. Make a date with yourself  7. Start a style journal  8. Pretend you’re a 9. Have a spa night 10. Organize Your Closet Taking some time out for yourself can leave you feeling refreshed and ready to tackle your to-do list with ease and grace.  I’d love to hear your favorite way to take time out for yourself. Want to work with me? I work with clients all over the globe to help them find their style and dress like they mean it! Sign up today for a complimentary consultation and let me help you uplevel your style post pandemic. https://linktr.ee/wine_women_style

Raves & Faves: Hitch Pinot Noir Edna Valley, 2018 ($14.99 Wegman’s) https://shop.wegmans.com/product/213719/hitch-edna-valley-pinot-noir Excellent! Bright flavors, medium body, hints of tarragon, earth, crushed berry. Very good with tarragon chicken.

We’d love for you to leave a 5 star review on iTunes! Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wine_women_style/

Join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/winewomenstyle

You work hard to put together a fabulous outfit but then – yikes – what shoes do you wear with it? Your shoes matter! They aren’t just something you throw on at the last minute without any consideration. No, shoes need to be carefully thought out. The right shoe will pull together your entire outfit, punctuate your look and put your own personal stamp on your style. When you get it wrong, however, you’ll feel as if something’s out of whack, not to mention have aching feet at the end of the day. Here are my best tips for choosing the right shoes for any outfit: 1/ Occasion – First, determine what you’ll be doing. Going to work, traveling, special event, etc. The occasion will determine what style of shoes you need. 2/ Functionality – Will you be walking long distances or sitting down? If you’re touring a new town, running errands or showing homes, choosing something that is comfortable, broken yet looks polished will be your best bet. Leave the heels at home! 3/ Color – Bookending with your haircolor will always give you a balanced look. If your coloring is light, beware of black shoes that can make you look visually bottom heavy. Neutrals/Metallics are the new black. 4/ Shape – Ever wondered why you always gravitate towards a round toe and a pointy toe makes you feel weird? It’s influenced by your face shape! 5/ Style – Your shoes set the tone for your style, so choose wisely. If you’re more dramatic, your shoes will tend to be more avant garde and unique. If you’re more sporty, your shoes are ready for movement and comfort. Never wear shoes that you feel wear you. 6/ Weight – I’m not talking about your weight, I’m talking about the visual weight of your shoe. Is it delicate? Or is it clunky. Does it create balance with your look? Or does it throw you off? 7/ Matchy-matchy, contrast or statement – The old way of thinking is to be very matchy- matchy, i.e. navy pumps with a navy outfit. However, in this day and age you want to provide more contrast but one that feels natural. Instead of wearing head to toe black, choose leopard print, red or a metallic. Don’t be afraid to step out of the box and mix colors in a new way. 9/ Ankles/Calves – if you have heavier ankles or calves, avoid any kind of ankle strap as it will cut you off. Choose shoes that are more open and create length. With skinny ankles, choose higher shoes/booties that add width to your ankles/calves. 10/ Hem length – the hem length of your pants/skirt will influence your shoes. Pair an ankle pant with a flat, a heel or a wedge or a bootie that creates balance.

Work With Master Style Coach, Mary Michele: https://linktr.ee/wine_women_style Raves & Faves: Predator Old Vine Zinfandel It’s been months since I’ve had a glass of @predatorwines old vine Zin, but it’s a love affair that continues to burn strong! As I open the bottle I’m greeted with that familiar sensual, smoky aroma. Upon the first sip I’m reminded how lush the mouthfeel is, with hints of deep, rich plum, cherry, blackberry and leather with a slight cedar note.  This is one sexy wine! But wait, there’s more...their label may have changed but still features a ladybug front and center.  This ladybug is actually the ‘predator’ it is named after, and what they use in lieu of pesticides to keep the bugs from devouring their grapes.  Predator is good to the planet...and your palate! And at $13.99 a bottle at Target, it’s a keeper and one I’ll reach for often this season! I’d love for you to leave me a 5 star review on iTunes! Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wine_women_style/ Join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/winewomenstyle Shop our Boutique www.ShopStyleFinder.com For more information or to work with Mary Michele go to https://winewomenandstyle.com/

Follow us on Instagram @wine_women_style and @shopstylefinder For more information go to www.WineWomenandStyle.com To learn more about working with Master Style Coach, Mary Michele send me a DM on Instagram. What Type of Shopper are You? The way you shop makes a difference. Always shopping the sales? Or do you shop more like a man, getting a season’s worth of clothing at once? Your shopping habits can be very telling when it comes to your wardrobe, but also when it comes to your wallet and your confidence! Women are going to spend money on clothes. But did you know that the way you spend money might be costing you more? Often I’ve found that women who only bought a piece or two at a time, or only shopped sales, thought they were spending far less money than they actually were. Conversely, those women who spent $1k or more in a strategic way actually saved money by buying more at once. Can you believe it? Over the past decade as a Master Style Coach, I’ve noticed that women fall into one of five categories. I’ve also seen how their habits can destroy their confidence, or can boost it exponentially. Take note of the pros and the pitfalls with each category, and see what subtle shifts you can make so that your shopping habits work FOR you and not against you. 1/ The Desperate Shopper Mindset: “I’m not worth taking time out to shop or plan. I’ll just wait until the last minute.” Pitfalls:  Never gets it quite right  Doesn’t want to wear things again because they didn’t really work the first time  Never takes time to build a wardrobe  Has way too many clothes but nothing she loves  2/ The Bargain Shopper Mindset: “I am not worth paying full price to get what I need.”, “I can always find a better deal” Pitfalls:  Sacrifices quality for price  Settles for something that isn’t quite right for price  Never really buys outfits, just separates  Lots of one hit wonders or stray items  Always has a closet full of clothes nothing to wear  Missing core pieces that are the foundation of her wardrobe 3/ The Casual Shopper

Mindset: “I deserve to look good and am always looking for something to add to my wardrobe.” Pitfalls:  Buys a piece or two at a time, hoping things will work together (but they rarely do)  Never buys an outfit or even a capsule  Buys more clothes but never ‘builds’ a wardrobe  Too many clothes, but it doesn’t all work together 4/ The Get it Done Shopper Mindset: “I’m worth it and I’m going to get everything I need at once. I’m not afraid of investing in my wardrobe and in myself.” Pitfalls:  May fall into a rut  Wear same outfits over and over  Doesn’t refresh often 5/ The Strategic Shopper Mindset: “I’m worth it and I’m going to invest time and money into my wardrobe, knowing it will pay me back in spades.” Pitfalls: None Raves & Faves: It’s NC Wine month and I want to share with a few of my favorite NC Wineries: 1/ Jolo Vineyards – https://www.jolovineyards.com/ 2/ Raffaldini – www.Raffaldini.com 3/ Hanover Park - https://hanoverparkwines.com/ 4/ Divine Llama Vineyards - https://www.divinellamavineyards.com/ 5/ Biltmore - https://www.biltmore.com/visit/winery/

Having a style that is unique to you isn’t something that is relegated to A-listers and celebrities with a stylist on speed dial. You, too, have a style is that all you and when you can express it in an authentic way, it is empowering in so many ways. So many women tell me they don’t have a style, but I tell them they are wrong. Everyone has a style; it’s just a matter of tapping into it to discover what makes your heart sing. Before you put on a stitch of clothing, we’re going to go inward. Because dressing like you mean it starts with knowing who you are. 1/ Discover Your Style If you haven’t already taken our proprietary Style ID® min-quiz, I encourage you to do so here (https://shopstylefinder.com/pages/styleid-quiz). It’s a wonderful tool that will help you hone in on one of your style touchpoints and from there you’ll gain clarity on what’s truly you – and what to steer clear of. 2/ Create your StyleStory™ This is like a vision board for your style. Clip images, words, colors, etc. and create a collage or Pinterest board that speaks to the look you want to create. This is meant to inspire you, give you some direction and help you take your look in the right direction – the one that makes you smile! What’s yours? Define what message you’d like to portray through your style. List words, phrases, pull out pictures and create your own StyleStory vision board. It will bring clarity, give you direction and help you understand what it is you really want to wear to not only clothe the body, but to nourish the soul. 3/ Find a Style Icon This could be your Great Aunt, your mother, a famous figure from history or a celebrity that’s hot right now. It helps if this style icon has a similar body type to you, but primarily what you want to look for is their personal style and how they combine items to create outfits. Take cues from their accessories, cuts and signature items. This will give you ideas to create new color combinations and outfits that are unexpected, but oh so right! My style icon(s) is/are: What I like about their style: What I can incorporate into my own style: 3/ Create Your StyleStrategy™ Once you know your style, you need a blueprint that can keep you on target. Your StyleStrategy™ will help you understand what core items to focus on, what accent items

to bring in and how to create a consistent look that’s all your own, over and over. It’s like your very own personalized recipe for style. You’ll never again wonder what to wear, or if something is right for you. When you have your strategy, you just know it’s right! “When you find a trend that resonates with you, run with it. It may be the start of a whole new look as well as a discovery of a side of yourself you had not been in touch with.”

Raves & Faves Raffaldini is one of my favorite NC wineries located in the Pilot Mountain area at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The setting is truly breathtaking and you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into the Italian countryside. Raffaldini’s Liguria https://www.raffaldini.com/Shop/Wines is an incredible Vermentino (white) ($22) blend with citrus sensations such as grapefruit and lime are backed up by incredible minerality.

Lately I’ve been asked if the colors a woman should wear changes with the seasons. After all, your color harmony is based on the four seasons, so it would make sense that as the seasons and the landscape change, that your colors would change too, right? Wrong! Actually, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Your personal colors are your personal colors. Period. The only time your personal color palette changes is when your personal coloring dramatically changes. For example as you age, the colors that flatter you become softer. My beautiful mom is a great example, but she is not the typical example. Years ago, back in the 1980’s, she had her colors done and was told she was a ‘winter’. Several years ago, when I worked with her to determine her personal color harmony, I discovered that she is now a True Persimmon Autumn – a far cry and not a typical color change. Yet over the years her hair, skin and eyes had lightened up and become tinged with yellow-undertones as opposed to blue undertones. As I helped her transition from bright jewel tones and lots of black, to wearing oranges, mustards and caramel tones, she began to see herself in a whole new light! While your own personal color harmony may change over the years, it will NOT change with the seasons. However, using color to complement your own personal coloring, and wearing what’s best for the seasons can help you to personalize your look and be ready for spring! Here are a few tips for wearing your best colors for Spring/Summer: 1/ Lighten up Your Neutrals – If you’re accustomed to wearing dark brown or black during the winter, I recommend that you make the transition to a lighter, more flattering neutral. For your bottom weights, choose a shade that is deep, yet less harsh than the darks, and will tie in with your own coloring. Select medium brown, caramel, chestnut, greige, putty, pewter or cream and see how it lightens your look. Don’t forget your shoes! 2/ Tone Down Your Brights – During the winter months, wearing rich, deep colors is just right. Come warmer months, lighten those colors up a few shades and opt for lighter, brighter hues that will make you think of spring. Choose your best wow! colors and use them in varying ranges from medium to light and see how pretty you’ll look! 3/ Mix Colors in New Ways– Instead of using just one bright with your neutrals, try mixing two or more will brighten up your overall look. This also gives you the opportunity to create a unique color combination. Try red with mint green, nectarine with turquoise or bright blue with coral for a fun twist on your look.

4/ Don’t Be Shy – If you love a color, let it take center stage, but don’t overdo it. A bold jacket, a bright scarf, shoes in an eye-catching hue or a scarf that surrounds your face with color will help you to look oh-so-right for the season. When choosing color, remember, your personal coloring trumps any color trends that are out there. If there is a color that you love, but it washes you out and drains your face of color, perhaps you want to use it sparingly (such as in a print) or avoid wearing it altogether. Color is the first thing people notice about you and the element that makes the greatest impact on your image. When you let it work for you – not against you – you can leverage it to help you take your look to new heights!

Need help? Email me at [email protected] to set up a complimentary get acquainted session and learn how you can rock your style like a boss!

Raves & Faves: My wine pick today is Le Cigare Volant, $18-$22, Boonie Doon Vineyards, Monterey California.( https://www.wine.com/product/bonny-doon-le-cigare-volant-2018/540077) We’d love for you to leave us a 5 star review on iTunes! Follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/wine_women_style/ Join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/winewomenstyle For more information or to work with Mary Michele go to https://winewomenandstyle.com/