.png)
Maximalist Life
This is Maximalist Life, with Brianna Gamble and Tamika Stringfellow. This unfiltered podcast is your permission slip to chase after everything you damn well desire.
Join us as we dish out no-holds-barred conversations and invite you to step into a life filled with limitless possibilities. Forget fear and embrace the maximalist mentality with us every week.
Get ready to experience piss your pants laughter, cringe-worthy truths, and be inspired to break free from living a mediocre life.
Maximalist Life
Ep 28 - Nothing to Wear? Let’s Fix That with Tamika’s Styling Secrets
Episode Summary:
We’re so excited because in this episode, Tamika is officially sharing her new business venture as a personal stylist for the everyday woman 👠✨ She’s spilling her best tips for feeling confident in what you wear—whether you’re heading to brunch, a branding shoot, or just trying to avoid a closet meltdown.
Your personal style isn’t just about clothes—it’s about confidence and how you show up in the world 💁🏽♀️ From everyday outfits to special events, feeling good in what you wear changes everything.
👗 Create "outfit recipes" so you’re not spiraling in your closet 10 minutes before leaving
🧳 Try things on before the trip or event so you're not panicking last minute
😩 A closet full of clothes but “nothing to wear”? You probably just need fresh combos
👚 Rentals like Nuuly + Rent the Runway = fun statement pieces without the commitment
🛍️ Styling sessions help you spot wardrobe gaps + remix what you already own
👕 Men need help too—yes, even the ones who claim they “don’t care”
💼 Looking put together isn’t about vanity—it’s about not missing opportunities
💃 When you feel good in your clothes, you walk into rooms differently
Want Tamika to help you find your style sweet spot? DM her at @Tamika_Stringfellow for personal styling sessions. She's here to help you dress with ease, own your vibe, and show up as you, but elevated.
Stay Connected:
📲 Follow us on Instagram: @maximalistlifepodcast
🎙️ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify – it helps us so much!
Welcome to Maximalist Live. I'm your host, brianna, and I'm Tamika, and today I'm forcing you to talk to us about personal style, mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:I know, so I you know. You're obviously like the fashion icon of all of everybody that you know in your life.
Speaker 2:Yeah, small pond. So I say this a lot okay, like people think you're cool or whatever, and I want people to realize that a lot of us live in these small ponds.
Speaker 1:You know, I have 1,000 followers on Instagram.
Speaker 2:It's not a big deal Popping off, no, and that's why I hate when people are just like I'm the best or I think I'm so cool, but I mean Vacaville.
Speaker 1:California is a small pond. I know and you want to. I know you are very humble and you don't like people to like say you're cool. You actually don't even like people to compliment you or your outfits?
Speaker 2:No, I won't wear them again. Don't say, you like something.
Speaker 1:I'll throw it in the garbage. If you see her and you like her outfit, don't tell her.
Speaker 2:I had one of our clients she's a friend client book clubber and she listens to the podcast and she was like I won't tell you, your outfit looks cute today.
Speaker 1:Yeah, when she saw me and I was like this is me not telling you that I like your outfit?
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1:I was like that's so cute. Oh, by the way, the fucking landscapers are going this morning, yeah, really hard. They keep going back and forth, yeah, like in front of our door. So if you hear a lot of like hustle and bustle in the back, we're sorry they're just blowing leaves around yeah, I mean we could cut it out.
Speaker 2:Then we have to keep pausing it and doing all this bullshit. Yeah, we're just gonna talk through it, uh that's horrible.
Speaker 1:Sorry guys. Okay, they're gone now. Yeah, so I know I mean you have been already kind of like inspiring, okay, this little pond of people with your outfit and like kind of making everyone else want to put a little bit more effort into how they look and into like I feel. Like for me personally, it makes me want to like express myself more through my outfits than I used to, and it's actually really fun and yeah, I think it should be fun.
Speaker 2:I think when we struggle to find outfits it sucks, yeah, yeah, and then you try on a hundred things and you're sweating and you're hot. You're like nothing fits. I hate everything. I don't want to go to this place.
Speaker 1:I'm not. I'm actually take back my RSVP.
Speaker 2:I'm not coming yeah, or and then you feel uncomfortable when you're there because it wasn't like the outfit that you wanted to wear and like, yeah, that all sucks yeah, so I used to have this thing.
Speaker 1:It was basically just like that, like I would get ready to go somewhere, but I wouldn't pick out my outfit ahead of time, like I would just be like all just yeah.
Speaker 1:I didn't really care that much too, but I was like I'll just kind of like throw something together, right? You know, when I'm done getting ready, well, I am always last-minute Lucy and then I'm like ready five minutes before we need to leave, right. So I'm trying to put an outfit together and, of course, like I can't, I can't make a decision, and then, like you're saying, you get like hot, you're pissed off and I would I'm not even kidding like I would have meltdowns, yeah, like a toddler over my fucking clothes to where then we would be late everywhere, and it was always because of my outfit and my ex-husband he was so mad about it like come on, just put your fucking clothes on.
Speaker 1:What are you doing?
Speaker 2:especially if it's for, like an event or something that you're just like excited about, like it's one thing for an outfit just to be like okay, when you like go out in the world like, and you're just like I'm gonna get my nails done, but like when you're going to like a birthday party, and then you're just like it didn't like prep this outfit or like I think that that's where people get kind of like at the end. Yeah, it's like you need to like think about what you want to wear, you need to try it on, and then you need to see if you need to tweak or purchase or like change things up. Like that happens all the time. Like I have an outfit in mind and then I try it on and I go, oh, the pants aren't really working with this shirt. Okay, let let me try these pants on.
Speaker 2:And a lot of times the outfit turns into something completely different than I thought it was going to be, because it just wasn't working. I don't like the way it looks on my body, I don't like the way this isn't like going to be comfortable for this or this, you know. And so then you're like okay, and then you're just trying hella, shit on, all your hair and makeup's done and then you're just like I guess I gotta fucking go and wear this ugly outfit.
Speaker 1:And then you're pissed off. Yeah, it would always be something we were like gonna go, like hang out with friends or go to an event or something, and it was just like I don't know why it just was so stressful it is it sucks and like even just the day-to-day stuff. Like you're saying like, oh, I'm gonna go get my nails done or do something where it's like it doesn't.
Speaker 1:I don't need to be decked out for this yeah but it, or even just coming to work, like I feel like it would be the same. It would be a similar situation and not to that extreme, but where I would be like getting ready for work and it's like I don't know, like I don't really know what to wear, I don't really care. Also, I need to just be comfortable if I'm shooting blah, blah blah and so I just throw on whatever, and then I would just look like shit all the time and yeah, you did. Yeah, really. And I look back at photos and videos that we because we would take behind the scenes and I'm just like I can't even believe I look like that.
Speaker 2:But yeah, I mean, I was silently judging you every time you came in.
Speaker 1:No, it wasn't silent because you would tell me. Sometimes you'd be like yeah, you look like shit. Because I would say don't get me in the behind the scenes video and I'd be like what are we doing? Like we're marketing our business and you don't want to be like this is your business and you can't be in the videos and I'm like, well, I didn't, I didn't get ready today, then that's a problem.
Speaker 2:Yeah yeah, huge problem. And it's not like I was dressing hella cute, it was just like you can't just look like shit. Yeah, get it together. Yeah, a little bit.
Speaker 1:So what I appreciated about when you did a styling session for me was that you put together not only like I think most people think about, like they need to kind of have this style or have be more into fashion or whatever, only thinking about bigger events, when the reality is like you need day-to-day outfits more than anything, obviously, and so what you helped me do was put together outfits that I could just wear to work and it was like just as comfortable as the shit that I was wearing before.
Speaker 1:That was ugly, but now it's not ugly right and put together, like you say, a little kind of outfit recipes. So I know I can just pull together, I know I like one of my recipes that we did was long sleeve button-up shirt with like a like a kind of like a corseted top or like a little a layering top, a little whether it's like, yeah, something croppy, or like a vest or anything, cinches it a little bit in which, which you know, I like that A little cinched in waist, yeah, you do so like I like that, and then just with, like some wide-leg pants.
Speaker 1:And that I can like mix and match any of that in my outfits now and I'm like, oh yeah, duh, that's like so easy.
Speaker 2:I can just mix a little bit of spice or a little bit of saltiness or a little bit of sugar on top.
Speaker 1:Yeah, making your own.
Speaker 2:Yeah, to make it your own or just make the next outfit different, like you still have like all of these things. And yeah, I think it's kind of like learning to cook, where you just kind of like figure it out and then you're like this is good, this tastes good, this looks good you know, um, and I think that that's kind of my whole philosophy on.
Speaker 2:It is just like having these recipes or having this wardrobe where I come in I style like 30 outfits and then you just have those for like two months or whatever right yeah, and that way, like you don't feel stuck in your day-to-day, like I have to pick this outfit out, you can really just maximize like your brain thought and not feel discouraged.
Speaker 2:when you're wearing outfits and not and when you have, you know you put something on and you're trying something for an event you're just like I don't know if this looks good. But when you have like someone else there to tell you like okay, this doesn't look good, let's change this, like that makes you feel more confident when you go out and wear it too.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 2:Yeah so, but you don't want to just send hella photos to your friend every morning Like, should I wear this outfit? This, you know, yeah. So I think that that is like hard, but when someone's there and they're just like these 30 outfits I feel so good about, this is good, and you know, that was I kind of discovered doing that just like for myself when we started going on these like european trips and you can't pack a lot right and so drew and I, before we go on these trips, we try on every single outfit.
Speaker 2:I put together every single outfit. We do one whole day of like, okay, you have to try on every single outfit, and then we switch everything up, and then we do all these things Because you guys also like to coordinate your outfits together, like you like to match kind of sometimes.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we do, but it's just more like that way I know that I'm going to use every single piece and I'm not over packing Like cause, I will used to be such an overpacker, like I'll just bring these shirts and these pants and then I'll figure it out when I get there. But and then sometimes I'm like I think that's where you go to, like you have to overpack, because what if I feel like wearing something else? Or what if I don't feel secure? But if you actually put the outfit on and then you feel like confident in the outfit and then you pack it, you're like, oh, in the outfit, and then you pack it. You're like, oh, no, I already know I like this outfit so it's just a matter of like.
Speaker 2:Is this appropriate to wear for this outing?
Speaker 1:you know, instead of like, I don't know if I'm gonna like this outfit like I just bought it, or whatever well, and the last thing you want to do on your freaking vacation is be stressed out and having your outfit meltdowns in the hotel yeah, what.
Speaker 2:What are we doing?
Speaker 1:and that you pack two luggages, lugging them around, because you were just like I don't know, I'm just gonna put a bunch of shit in here and if you're like most of us, you are documenting it and you want like cute photos of your trip and then you're like it's more pressure to like put cuter outfits together, and so doing it ahead of time is super helpful yeah, and I think that's like what celebrities do, like.
Speaker 2:I think it just makes it easier. So you aren't. You know like they take a photo of it. You take a photo of yourself in it. You pack it together too, so you know like this goes together, so you're not just like throwing shit around, you know, in the luggage, trying to find everything.
Speaker 1:You know, which we've all done for sure yeah, yeah, I think it's uh whenever we talked about. So you now officially offer personal styling sessions yes, yes, yes and we have, like I have done that a couple of times with you, um, but we were doing kind of the day-to-day outfits that's what we our focus was on, and I think that is like a baseline of like what you kind of first start out with clients doing, and.
Speaker 1:But then you brought up the idea of like the vacation thing, because I, while I don't go on like a lot of vacations, like even if I'm just going on a trip, like to go visit my family or I'm going doing something, I do that same thing that you're you're saying right now. I just overpack, and then I get there and I'm trying to like put something together.
Speaker 1:Or then I'm there and I'm like, well, I have to go buy something, because I I need another outfit so when you brought up, like well, you know, you could do a styling session with me and I'll help you not only pick out all your outfits so they're planned for every single day, every outing, but I'll also like help you, like tell you kind of like okay, based off this outfit, this is how you should do your hair that day too yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Like you should wear your hair like this. These are the jewelry you should wear. This is like the kind of hat that you should wear, like it should be down to, like the accessories that you're gonna wear and everything should just like be packed together, basically like in a ziploc, and you're just like this is for this event and this, and then just titled and like I mean just super organized for you. I think it just makes you feel better.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it makes you feel kind of fancy. But you didn't really do anything fancy, you just put your outfit together in a Ziploc and wrote on it. You know, you put the photo on it or whatever, Like you know yeah. And I just think you know people just that's just one stressor out for your vacation and people don't get that. You get that, you know. You just kind of live in that you're just like I do this every time.
Speaker 1:It is what it is, you know so, yeah, I know I uh, I just really appreciate how creative and like out of the box that you think, not only with outfits, but like how to help people style outfits and things like that, and I think it's something that most of us really struggle with, and I would say that most women number one, like they just don't know how to style yeah like their body type or whatever.
Speaker 1:And two, like you said, they are just like not confident in the stuff that they pick out. Uh, three, this was huge for me, like I have all these clothes but didn't know how to put them together right, didn't realize that's a typical woman that's a huge yeah, yeah, I think that that's like the main thing.
Speaker 2:It's like, yeah, but like they always say, what you have a closet full, you don't have anything to wear yeah, I think it's like not just that nothing to wear and you don't like anything.
Speaker 2:It's like you don't really know how to put them together or you don't know that maybe, like I know like over consumption is like a thing, but like maybe you just need like five pieces to like staples to be able to rework this closet. So it's just like finding like other little things that need to go with it so that you can rework the closet easily.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, and I think another thing too is like people don't.
Speaker 1:I think that people really underutilize outfits as a way to kind of like express themselves or to you know, and maybe everyone isn't like a creative person or whatever, and and I get that, but I think that how you present yourself I mean we've talked about this before and like how you present yourself in the world, says a lot about you and most women, I think, because they don't know how to do that and because they're not confident in, like their body, the go-to is black, like I wear a lot of black. Yeah, I don't which I used to wear only black, I mean.
Speaker 2:I think because it went hand in hand with my industry you know being a hairstylist. For some reason it's like black, which I don't. I get it because we work with a lot of color, but Drew used to always go uh, can you wear any other color? And I just didn't you know, and I think that I've been stuck for a long time with not being that creative with my outfits. Like I mean, I would dress cute, but it wouldn't be like what I dress now, Like I think.
Speaker 2:I really went for it this last year and I was just like I really just don't give a shit anymore and I and I'm like in an industry now where I could just wear whatever the fuck I want. I really couldn't do that. Then I couldn't wear nice stuff to work. I'd get it fucked up, you know um. So I think that's the thing is like for me. It's like fuck all those rules. If you want to wear that, then wear it. If you want to wear it and it's not in style, who gives a fuck?
Speaker 2:like if you want to wear it and you think like I'm too old to dress like that, yeah for sure, yeah, I'm definitely too old to dress as I think I am too old to dress as sexy as I do. Sometimes I don really show that much, but it implies a little more naked than I used to dress, you know. And I just go. You know, I don't really give a fuck and, yeah, there are times when I like walk through I've said this before I walk into Starbucks, you know, in our local Starbucks, and I just think like man, this is kind of sexy, just to be out at eight o'clock in the morning wearing this you know, people are like, where did she go?
Speaker 2:yeah, yeah, and, but like, you know, who cares like, who really gives a fuck, like, so what? The? You know, the some like little people are talking about you or whatever, or they just like, yeah, just like side-eyeing you, judging you. You know what, who cares like? And you know I, and I think that that goes back to like I picked out the outfit before I looked in the mirror and I say you know, and I think that that goes back to like I picked out the outfit before I looked in the mirror and I say you know, I feel confident in this, I could give a shit. What, like everyone else thinks, like I feel good and most of the times people are giving you compliments and what, except for me, what woman doesn't? Even if it's just like you have a cute top on, they'll be like, oh I in the world just to be ready for compliments. You know what?
Speaker 1:So, like I used to be, I definitely am a thousand percent more confident than I used to be a few years ago, and I I used to be like I would hate. You know, when you go somewhere and people look at you and you, like you get anxiety or you're like, oh no, like they're judging me. I feel like the past couple years, just all of the stuff I've worked on to kind of build my confidence now when I go, if I go in starbucks- or whatever people look at me, I immediately like I.
Speaker 1:I want to know what they're thinking, but I create these little storylines in my head like everyone thinks I'm such a bad bitch. Oh, I like it like I see someone looking at me, even if they're giving me a side and yeah, I'm like oh, that bitch is looking at me like damn, her outfit is popping yeah or wow, where did that bitch come from? Yeah, I always like now I have these little things. I'm like, yeah, look at me. Yeah, look at me.
Speaker 2:You know it's funny so I mean, I do go in starbucks a lot, right, yeah, don't judge us, it's the only place we can go get coffee really here in this little town. Yeah, um, quickly too. But like even this morning the girl was like I really like your outfit. Like I feel like the starbucks people are actually the ones that compliment my outfit the most. Going in, like they always the little girls are always like oh my god, your outfit's so cute, oh my god, your overall they're so cute, oh my god, this is so cute and yeah, it's just so nice. You know it's nice because here's the thing I just, if I get a compliment, it's like I don't want to talk about it. It's like, oh, thank you, grab my coffee and go go.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's like I just I don't know, I don't, you don't want it, you don't like that. Like you don't want the attention really to be. It's like you're, because the thing is, you're dressing for yourself, you're not dressing for the compliments, you're not dressing for other people and that's also why, like you're saying, you'll put on like an outfit that you think, oh, maybe it's a little sexy for other people, but you don't give a fuck because it's for you and not for them, and I think that's what people need to start.
Speaker 2:Embracing is like dressing more like what you want to dress for yourself, yeah, and I and I think that goes in every aspect I mean, just because you're not wearing, you know, stilettos and like I don't know you know some wide leg pants and a blazer, like just because that's not your lifestyle, going out and having like a cute pair of sneakers and like if leggings are your thing or whatever, um, some leggings or like a two piece like workout set with a cute hat and a ponytail, like that should be that you should feel confident in that, like I feel confident when I wear just my sneakers and like you know, just a cute outfit out and about too you know and so I think that that's what people don't realize too is like these moms that are stay-at-home moms, like you can have a wardrobe just to go out, like every day too like put these pieces together and it's cute.
Speaker 2:You don't have to feel like, well, you know, I'm just gonna wear my pajama pants everywhere, because it's just easy and I don't have anywhere to go you know, you could still wear cute outfits that aren't expensive, like I mean, the thing is is like I I know we're not supposed to, but like I'm an amazon shopper for clothes and stuff, because it's quick and fast, you know, and it's pretty cheap for the most Um, and so I just feel like if people want to shop on Amazon, I'll show you hella shit on Amazon. That's like really like good, like good pieces, or whatever. If you don't, if you want to like rent from a place cause you want to like always have like a turnover of outfits that you want to change, I mean that's like how, like I like to do, like I hate repeating outfits for myself. I've just hated it ever since I was in high school, yeah, and so I just try never to repeat an outfit. And it really gets to me when I do repeat an outfit, like I think about it constantly.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, it's like such a weird thing that I'm like you've already saw me in this outfit. I don't want to. Yeah, I already need to wear photos in the outfit Like, outfit Like.
Speaker 1:I didn't want to wear an outfit to our women on top event that I had already worn. Not even the outfit, just the pants.
Speaker 2:I wore them before and posted photos on my Instagram before, and so I was like I can't wear those pants to this event. Yeah, my outfit that I wore the women on top was the outfit that I wore to Fab's birthday party, and I just felt like, oh, like it feels like, is this the ever? She just wears this every time? You, that's what I think you know, and I literally wore the outfit twice. I'll probably never wear it again. I mean, the women on top dress that I wore the last year.
Speaker 2:I've never wore that dress you've never yeah, I've never wore it for any other event or anything where it could be like oh, something for my family, or like on vacation or something. I just never wore it.
Speaker 1:Actually I did wear it on vacation, I think, so I've worn that damn dress twice well, if you don, you don't want it, you can give it to me because I really like it. It's kind of tight.
Speaker 2:It's so cute. Yeah, I think too, it's kind of tight.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's why I get comfortable and like you know, when you wear dresses and it's like all, when you have big boobs and you wear dresses and you're a little like chubby in the midsection and you sit and it could be bunchy. The one thing that's good about this dress it has buttons and it has hooks underneath, so it does kind of like stay together a little bit more, but like, yeah, the button thing when you're wearing something tight is like crazy, that's tough. Yeah, it's definitely sometimes like you know, a fashion no-no yeah, yeah, so you mentioned renting and so that's something.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, like you were saying, sometimes people they don't, you know, they don't want to participate in fast fashion and that makes sense, or like ordering stuff from shein or places like that. And um, I totally, you know, get it and respect that. But I mean, I definitely utilize shein and I do get a lot of stuff on there, and it's also because I get tired of stuff quickly and so it is kind of nice to not spend a lot of stuff on there, and it's also because I get tired of stuff quickly and so it is kind of nice to not spend a lot of money on something and to just be able to get like cause they have some like funkier things they have all different styles and it's kind of like I don't know.
Speaker 1:I mean, I know this is still like when I used to walk through Forever 21, like back in the day when Forever 21 was like so big and it was like you walk in and it's just like so many different styles and everything was so cheap and you just get whatever I feel like. I'm in like an online version of it.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And you can look up anything you want. But also you had like kind of introduced me to the idea of renting outfits. There's websites like Rent the Runway Nuuly.
Speaker 2:Bento Box. There's a new one that I saw actually I can't remember what it's called and it looked like they had some cool stuff, I think it's just Bento.
Speaker 1:I don't think it's Bento Box. I just said that.
Speaker 2:It's a Japanese brand. Yeah, I think it's a japanese brand.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think it's like bnto bento or something like maybe I keep seeing it they're retargeting to me. Yeah, because I clicked on it once yeah, and you're like damn yeah, I want to try it so I mean.
Speaker 2:So the thing about the rent the run. So the rent the runway, I think, is there's a couple things. The rent the runway is more expensive, that's like the first.
Speaker 1:That's kind of like the main, like the first big one, I think that that has and they started out with like special event outfits yeah that's why it was called run through.
Speaker 2:It was like right, these like gowns, right, but now they just have tons of stuff, which they do have a lot of stuff. I think that their stuff you really got a dig with their stuff. The thing about them, I think, their pricing is it's not their prices usually. So usually you'd spend like 200. It depends on when you get in. You know like you get in on a special or whatever, but you're going to spend like 200, maybe a little bit plus, but you get more. You're talking per month. Per month you get more outfits, I think, and the thing is is you can trade them out right when Nuuly. You pay $100 typically, typically, and you can only trade once a month.
Speaker 1:Well and okay. One thing I do like about Rent the Runway is whatever, however much your monthly subscription is and you have X amount of outfits included, like let's say it's like not outfits pieces.
Speaker 2:Yeah, pieces Like six or something yeah.
Speaker 1:So you pick six pieces, but then you can add additional items for like $20 a piece or something. But the thing is Nuuly has a limit. You can only add a max of like four or five extras, and then you're tapped out. They won't let you do more. Yeah, run through and run away. You can literally do like 30. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and the fact that you can like get the outfit and return it. Like you have like two or like returns in the month when, nuuly, you can't do that. You either get it and then you have to wait until your next subscription date comes up and if you accidentally forget to put it in there, they're fucking charging your ass because they think you're keeping it. So I like Nuuly because for me it is a little bit more my style. I think it has a little bit more funkier stuff. It's just like a bunch of anthro stuff, really free people like all that stuff, right, and um, I think that it, the a hundred dollars, is pretty cheap. Yeah, like I get six pieces for a hundred dollars. That's really cheap. Um, yeah, and I think it's easy to find stuff and like the way their website and what they send you, I think is a little better than rent the runway.
Speaker 2:But I could see why rent the runway would be really good. Like I think rent the runway would be really good for vacation, like, and you wanted to get like 20 pieces or something. You're like I want a bunch of shit, or if you're just like you want to like.
Speaker 1:You're someone who you always want a new outfit, and so you might want to rent more outfits that month so that you can just you're constantly wearing new outfits all the time, whereas most people probably like a handful of things you could you know you're good with for the month, like personally, when I am renting from any of those, I try to focus on renting um more like unique yeah, things that like you would only wear it maybe one time because it's like so stand out, or something that you're like I'm not going to wear this all the time, so I wouldn't buy something like this and then having more staples just in your.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I feel like I use my Nuuly just for events and vacations, not so much for like month to month, like day to day things With the Rent, the Run, the runway. I could see how that would be better like if you live, if you worked in like corporate world and you actually had to go into work. I could see like you could really get some like outfits from there yeah, for sure yeah and they have like more higher end.
Speaker 2:I think a little bit like you know, you'll go in there and they're like their pants are like four hundred dollars yeah, like if you wanted to buy them from there.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So I think using those, especially if you're like learning what you kind of want, I think you using those rental places is really good and just having unique pieces that you don't really want to spend like a lot of money on, but having like something in your rotation is like good, I think, yeah, yeah, and you can purchase any of them and with right with newly, I think they're a little bit cheaper and they have like this newly thrift shop like anyone can buy from there.
Speaker 2:Um, like you don't have to have a you don't have to have a subscription or anything and you can go look on there and they got shit for like less than 50 dollars. That's like all free people or anthro things that are like pretty cool, like you could just go on their site and like look through it another thing I just thought of with the, the, with all of these type of sites.
Speaker 1:What's nice? Is you, um, like they ask you to review the item?
Speaker 2:which, yeah, I feel bad because I never do it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I should do it because I use people's reviews a lot to decide, and so you can rate the item, just like if you bought something on Amazon, you would give it a rating or you could give a review or whatever. So you go on there and you rate the item and then people will upload a photo of themselves in the outfit.
Speaker 2:I think the photo is the most helpful.
Speaker 1:And then they put their height, their like dress size. They'll put their bust size or like what size bra they wear. Yeah, the um height, weight, whatever. Like people put all this information on there so you can see, I think um camera members run the runway or, newly, like one of them had even asked like what, what body type are you? And so you can kind of like read through those things and see people who have similar body types as you and then, like you said, the photos are the most helpful because you can look at them and say like oh yeah, I look like I could.
Speaker 2:I would wear that, or like her boobs look as big as mine you know, I think that it's really helpful with that especially because newly doesn't like let you switch out.
Speaker 2:We're rent the runway, you try it on and then you really want to wear that for vacation and then you can, like, switch out, but newly doesn't like. You're just fucked for a month with that outfit that didn't fit, which sucks. Because, just like I just bought two things from newly, or, uh, rented two things from newly, both of them in a large and one's too small, one's too big, yeah, so like brands just across the board.
Speaker 2:Just I mean, I just feel, just feel like when you're purchasing things online, you always have to buy like two sizes.
Speaker 1:I know, you just never know. That's why I'm always really looking at the reviews as much as I can, but some of them, if it's a newer piece too, they don't have that, yeah, you don't have it, and so you're just like okay, well, here, cool Sorry.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't know what to tell you. It's like, come on, and it is crazy how brands across the board just like it could be one size, you fit one size. Drew bought these shirts from Banana or whatever, and they're the same shirt in different colors. One's a large and one's a medium. They fit the same way. It's just like crazy. It's just like the different color. Like what? What are we doing? Yeah, yeah, that is weird yeah and you know, here's the thing I love styling men too.
Speaker 1:Okay, I was literally I was just gonna and actually I was just at coffee the other day with a local business owner a male business owner and we were discussing like what we have going on and stuff, and then I mentioned that you were starting your you know officially.
Speaker 1:So I mean you've been doing personal styling, but like officially starting, and he was like oh my God, does she style men? And I'm like you know, I know she styles her husband and her son I don't know, actually, if she's styled other men, but I'm sure she would and he was like I feel like guys really need help with that. Yeah, they do For sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think they do. So I do style my husband all the time and you know I try to bring him into this more funkier style and to be different, but I know that doesn't work for every guy, but I've always enjoyed styling men.
Speaker 2:Like I just feel like they also have like no idea. They're not more inclined to go on Pinterest and put in like outfits for, you know, rodeos or you know, and so they're just like I don't know. I hope this fits, you know. I hope this looks good. I hope these skinny jeans I'm wearing with this t-shirt looks nice. And you know, sometimes they feel like they don't know how to dress for the occasion and like they just also don't have recipes that work well. I was just watching this video about how, um, about Michael B. You know I'm obsessed with Michael B Jordan, about Michael B Jordan's recipe, and I I agree he wears like high-waisted pants, tank top and then a button up, a boxy button up every time for everything. Like that's his recipe. It looks good on his body.
Speaker 1:That's his uniform.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it makes his torso like look longer because you know his legs look longer because he's wearing like more high-waisted, but it doesn't look weird, you know. And so I think that men have no idea, like, unless you're just real, like you really just come from like a fashion like family, yeah, like they don't really know what the fuck to wear or, like you know, oh, for sure.
Speaker 1:And then they just default to like t-shirt, jeans, yeah, and I will say this too being single and being on the dating apps man. I, I mean half of the time, like I'll come across. I would say I don't. I almost want to say 50% of the time. When I come across a profile and I think the guy is attractive but he dresses atrociously, then I'm like no, I, I can't be seen with you looking like this yeah, it's like I need to have an ad on the dating apps.
Speaker 1:Well, because also I so my first husband dressed so embarrassing and he knows, and he is just one of those people and he doesn't give a shit, and I thought it's fine, like he'll, he'll let me like dress him or something. He would not, he would not take any advice, he didn't like if I bought him clothes, he was like offended that's how a lot of men are actually.
Speaker 2:They don't like when other people like when their wives buy them clothes.
Speaker 1:They just think they're stupid outfits well, and then a guy that I dated like a year and a half ago the one from Tahoe, same thing, like it wasn't, like he didn't dress horrible, but it just was like we had a conversation about it got brought up and I was just like said something about outfits, like like oh yeah, are you open to? Like oh okay, and this is what it was. He said he needed new jeans and like I was like yeah, I mean I can go with you, whatever. So then it kind of brought up this conversation about outfits and stuff in my head.
Speaker 2:I'm kind of hoping, like, yeah, maybe he'll let me like, yeah, yeah, I mean I can go with you, whatever. So then it kind of brought up this conversation about outfits and stuff and in my head I'm kind of hoping like, yeah, maybe he'll let me like style him.
Speaker 1:I mean I don't want to style any of the guys Like, I don't even, really I'm not a stylist, but you know when it's a guy I can like.
Speaker 2:let you know what I like.
Speaker 1:Yeah, let me give social media, like when they show pictures, like when you, when like what a guy looked like before he became your boyfriend.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, I can't remember what it's called. It's like a boyfriend glow up or something like that anyway. Um yeah, so you always kind of like want to do that and so, yeah, he didn't dress bad, but I just we brought it up and then he kind of said, like I don't really like it when like I like how I dress. And I was like okay, okay, what? Like that's fine, okay.
Speaker 2:Cause, my dress ugly.
Speaker 1:Just so you know if you have a style, if you're a guy or who like, and you have an actual style that you like and you kind of like lean into that and that's you yeah.
Speaker 1:That's one thing. For then someone to come in and say like hey, can I like dress you differently or do a different ask to like be a different style, I get that. But if, if you're just somebody, if you're one of these guys who, just like you, just throw on the t-shirt and jeans, you have no style, you have no preference, you have no idea what you're doing. Why are you upset?
Speaker 2:if someone wants to help you, yeah, I think I right especially this. So because I, as you're saying this, I'm thinking like it's so weird that this guy dresses ugly, but he's like so confident it's ugly dressing, which I mean I get it. You should just be confident in who you are. So like he just dresses ugly and then he just you know. But then I think, like also just like when we say like guys want to know, like how to please us, I think it goes back to like guys I don't think we ever think about or talk about how like guys also feel insecure in these outfits, or like they don't really know, like does this look good when I'm going on these?
Speaker 2:dates and they do not want to look like they're trying too hard, yeah, and so like you have to have like these effortless outfits where it is more like maybe a jean and a T-shirt, and like cute sneakers and like a layering jacket or something that would just bring it like pump it up a little bit, then like jacket or something that would just bring it like pump it up a little bit than like you know what you're wearing and I you know. So drew, for example, drew always. I mean, the thing is we've been together for so long, so we've been doing this for so long, but drew always dressed nice in high school, I mean as far as elementary school, like he always dressed nice. He always wore like the name brand or what was cool, because you know, especially back in the 90s, like you're wearing, like the tommy hill figures yeah wearing, you know, the polos and like so then he always dressed really, really nice.
Speaker 2:But then when it came down to the nitty-gritty because people don't know this, like that, I dress him like every day, you know, I mean not every day, like when we go places he's like okay, did you pick my outfit out? Right, because Drew is very much like I don't give a shit what other people say about my outfit or what it is and he does like. Sometimes he'll be like I want to wear this or I like this, and I'm like okay, well, we'll just incorporate that into your like, into your closet right so he does have like, like, think those things, but for the most part he's like I only want to dress nice for you, like you.
Speaker 1:I want you to like think I look, cuz I'm really mean and you know, my family just knows this, but sometimes I'll just be like I really hate that shirt and then I remember not to cut you off I remember specifically one incident incident one time and I thought it was hilarious we were working out at you because you have like a home gym in your garage yeah, you're working out.
Speaker 1:And this is when Britt was a senior in high school. Yeah, and he, he would usually come out through the garage to leave for school, to say bye or whatever. He came out in the morning and you looked at him and you said that's what you're wearing to school. And he was like, yeah, and you're like, no, go inside. You know, that's not what you're wearing to school. Yeah, and we're like, absolutely not. Yeah, and it was just hilarious because that's just how you are yeah, you know, and you have like an expectation for them.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and the thing is, when someone says that to you, you think about that all like. You think about that throughout the day, like, is this shirt ugly?
Speaker 2:yeah yeah, and so I never thought of it like that until like I. So I like it didn't happen a lot, but I would just go I hate that shirt. But then later on Drew would go. I go, yeah, I mean, yeah, you could just wear that shirt or whatever, and then Drew'd go, but you don't even like when I wear this shirt, like you hate it yeah, like you're thinking about it, then I'm thinking about it and we're thinking about.
Speaker 2:We're both thinking about how ugly this shirt is so I shouldn't even just wear it, you know right. And so I'm just like like guys should dress for themselves, but also like you need to move in this world, like you give a shit.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and I guess that's the thing when I'm saying, like I see these guys and they dress ugly, like I said, it's not like. Oh, I don't like your style.
Speaker 1:It's that they don't have a style and it looks like they don't give a fuck and then it makes you look sloppy. Yeah, that's what I hate. I hate looking sloppy. Well, and if you look, I think, when I see someone and they look like they put no effort into anything, like you didn't even try to do your hair, you and I'm talking about men, women, whatever and you look hella sloppy and you just look, it makes me think that you're sloppy as a person, and then I don't really want to be associated with people like that.
Speaker 1:I don't want people who are lazy, who are like messy with their lives, and so that's what I'm saying. Like I feel like people don't realize how much like people will say like I don't want, like I don't need to make a statement with my clothes. It's like you are making a statement with your clothes, whether you try to or not.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I'm not saying everyone needs to be wearing like tutus and like cowboy boots, you know out every day. But I think that like looking put together, put together, and I think it's really the confidence thing, like when you are put together and you feel put together, then you move out in the world like that and then you just do things at a different level. I think that's really it. It's like kind of just leveling your life up. But it doesn't mean, like I keep saying, it doesn't mean that you're wearing these outrageous outfits. It is just like everyday outfits. It's just in your athleisure it looks more put together than wearing, you know, like pe shorts with these ugly sneakers and, like you know, this ratted fucked up shirt.
Speaker 1:You know, like, like, come on, like we got to try a little bit more well and if you think about it too, so whenever I go out and I'm just like running, errands or like I'm gonna go get a pedicure or I'm just like, whatever, I will try, you know, now to like, yeah, wear like a cuter, like even if I just want to be really comfortable, I want to just wear sweats.
Speaker 1:Okay, put it like a cute kind of like you said, two-piece, sort of like matchy or whatever kind of sweatsuit on, even if I'm wearing like a hat or something because I didn't wash my hair. Okay, fine, I'm gonna put the hat on. Instead of having, like my hair in like an ugly messy bun, it's better to just have my hair down and put a cute hat on throw on a necklace and some cute sneakers and it looks so much more put together.
Speaker 1:and I didn't do my makeup, I didn't do my hair, I literally just threw on this super comfortable outfit. So we're not talking about spending so much time, but I feel just as confident then as I do on the days when I fully do my makeup and put an outfit together to come to work or whatever, and I think about like you have to think about it too. In a way, you're saying you go out and then, when you feel more confident and you look more put together, you act differently and I think that people don't realize how many missed opportunities come up. So if you're a business owner and you run into people like yesterday I went to coffee with this other business owner that I met at our women on top event ran into two of our clients at the coffee shop yeah, instead of covering your face and going oh my god, oh god, I hope they don't see me I ran over, I was like, oh my god, and so I go over, I say hi, and because I'm not worried about that, I'm not worried and I wasn't.
Speaker 1:Hella put together, actually, all I did on my face was I just put a little bit of bronzer on, because I, you know, I don't tan my face, and so it looks all white and then just filled in my eyebrows.
Speaker 1:I didn't even have makeup on, but my hair was curled and my face looked, you know, put enough together and my outfit was cute, and so I was like, yeah, so I just run say hi to my clients and stuff. So think about it like that, if you're a business owner, or even if you're not a business owner, or like let's say, but maybe you're single and you're about to meet the guy, the guy of your dreams, and he is there and you are so scared to talk to him or to because you look like ass.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that's not to say like I know people are going to say like well, you know you shouldn't have to, but like when you go on these dating apps, you don't put the ugly photo of you like right when you woke up in your you know Christmas pajamas, you put like your best photos forward. So like I think that's the same thing with the outfit and the guys too. Like you're out in line at Starbucks and you look like shit. I mean, guys are just more confident, like they'll just fucking do whatever. But maybe you're not, maybe you're not that type of guy and you're just like I can't talk to this girl Like I can't like go up to her and ask, Because you feel like shit.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, or you're just like God. Look at my outfit. She's not going to say anything, you know. And your hair?
Speaker 1:looks like a mess and you're rushing out because you don't want to see him.
Speaker 2:I think that's the a business, or you know dating or whatever it is, or you know cause you're like, oh God, I look like shit, I gotta go, I gotta go in and out, yeah, you know. Yeah. So just like small things like that, I think really, and it's like you don't really have to go completely outside of your box to dress, you just need to look put together, and I think that people need help and recipes and, like you know, help finding that it's so funny too, because the last I'm trying to give us three or four people that have gone on dates with that I met on the dating apps.
Speaker 1:They all have said one of the things they all have said was you're just so put together, I like it and I'm like that is my favorite compliment, because I and I think that they they're saying like, not just like outfits, but like, yeah, put together with my life. Um, but guys will always compliment my outfits on the dating apps and they're always like I really love your style and I really like the photos I have on my dating apps aren't like my best outfits or anything, but they're all put together and not just out there.
Speaker 1:Look at all crazy yeah and yeah, some of them are just like comfy looking outfits or whatever, but it's not sloppy, not sloppy yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2:Yeah. I really think the sloppiness or just like the lack of effort, people could see it Like people know, like that's what you were like. I just think about that a lot and I know people don't have the headspace for that, but that's what I'm saying, like if I just if you don't have the headspace for or give a shit, really like you kind of care, like okay, it would be easier to dress myself. That's where I come in and just have these outfits and you don't even have to think about it, you just put it on.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And then you're not like, oh, I have to like be in the style or I have to be this. It's like, no, I'll just come in and help you dress for your body type, for you, what you're comfortable with, and then you'll just go from there and I'll just build these like little wardrobes for you.
Speaker 1:Okay, walk us through what it looks like. So if someone hires you and they've never worked with you and they're just like, hey, like I just need help, kind of like putting my personal style together, I have all these clothes I don't know, but I also have nothing to wear, like what does it look like for someone to just do kind of like what's a typical, like initial appointment? Look like with you.
Speaker 2:Yes, I think there's some homework in the beginning. I need like a Pinterest board of like what you like. It doesn't need to be like this is what I want to look like. It's more of just like. I like all these pieces. I like all these things overall vibe yeah, I like this vibe. I want to see like your five best outfits. Like show me like when you liked your outfit and you feel confident in your outfit.
Speaker 2:Like send me a photo of that from events or every day or whatever, and then you know I'll just like send like a little questionnaire about stuff you know, and then I think what happens is I can go into these places so that I can come to your house like I have all that, and then I kind of like prep and like know these things, come to your house, we look through your outfits and then also like, if I need to bring pieces to just kind of show you what it would look like, and then you could buy your own Like if you're like I don't have a white button up or I don't have these, but I see like that's a running theme in your like Pinterest board or what you're telling me, so that I could bring that with me and then we could see how we would style different pieces.
Speaker 2:And then we would just make, depending on what you like if it's like 12 outfits or 30 outfits or what it is you know you pay for, and then I will send you a list also of things that you need to get after, like if it's like oh, I don't have black boots, okay.
Speaker 2:Well, here's a list from low end to high end of boots that you know, and it's just like a list of a bunch of shit that we talked about that you need or whatever, and then that's it.
Speaker 1:I love it yeah, it was, I feel like super helpful. When you because, like I said I had before you came I was like, basically, before you came to do this at my house, I was already like, okay, I'm just gonna get rid of a bunch of shit, so when she comes here we don't even need to waste our time looking at this stuff. But then I was like, well, maybe I shouldn't do that because, like I don't actually know what I should get rid of yeah not.
Speaker 1:And so there was a lot of things that I was like I in my, in my head, I'm like, oh, I'm for sure getting rid of that blazer or whatever. And then when you came to my house, like you put it, I have this like lilac, purple, like blazer.
Speaker 2:And I wore it for an event.
Speaker 1:Yeah, For a fucking Prince concert, tribute concert, and anyway, and I never, I never wore it again and I was like this is kind of stupid, I'm going to get rid of this. And you put together like it was like my favorite outfit that you put together from that day with that blazer, and I'm like, see, I was just going to get rid of this and I never, ever, would have thought of like putting this with this other stuff Right.
Speaker 2:And then what I liked too was instead of you just coming and being like okay, here's all the outfits, whatever you were like I mean, even though it's I hate trying on, everyone hates this part. You have to try each outfit on. Yeah, it's like you need to have a hair clip in, so you don't get hot and you need to just be prepared to try on you know, depending on.
Speaker 2:You have to try everything on. If you don't try it on and I'm just picking these outfits you just will not know if you like it or not. Or like, I really don't like and the and I'm just picking these outfits you just will not know if you like it or not or like.
Speaker 2:I really don't like. And the thing is, it's not just me going put this on. This is your outfit. It's like me going. Okay, what do we like about this outfit? What do we not like about these out this outfit? Okay, let's change this. Let's do this, okay. Do you feel confident in this outfit? You know it's not just gonna be me talking at and I like.
Speaker 1:So what would happen, too, is like I put on an outfit and then, when we're talking through it, like I had a lot of pieces that were like, okay, this is so close, but like it just needs to be altered a little bit. And people, I think, make a big deal about getting their stuff altered, which is really cheap and really fast, and so it was just like we kind of set things to the side, like these all work with all the outfits we need. I just need to drop these off and get them altered. And so then we kind of had like I knew that that was what I needed to do to make more of my stuff work without having to buy new stuff.
Speaker 1:And then the last thing that was my favorite was uh, so you put all my outfits together and so you had like one whole section on my closet. It was like here's all the outfits. And then we, you kind of recapped them at the end and you're like okay, so here's this outfit, this, these are the shoes you would wear with it.
Speaker 1:And then you were like and if you want to swap out this and swap the shoes it makes it casual, or if you want to swap the shoes and swap this, then it makes it more dressed up. And so you, kind of like, went through each one. We also took photos of each outfit, because what happens is you put all the outfits together and then obviously when you leave, like, I want to reorganize my closet back to how it was, and so then I'm not going to remember what the outfits were.
Speaker 1:So when I put the outfit on we would take a photo of it and then we would kind of swap it like okay, now put it on with the issues. So I had like a like a folder in my phone of all the outfits yeah, and then I could just like keep track too yeah, like stuff. I already wore whatever, and it was super easy yeah, it's a little bit easier. Oh my god, it's a little bit easier, yeah and that's what I want.
Speaker 2:I just want to make everyone's life a little bit easier, so that you feel good coming out of your house every day and you just feel like, okay, I'm utilizing all these things in my closet. Maybe it's that you need to make more space in your closet, like whatever it is like, and you don't just have a bunch of junk yeah, yeah, okay.
Speaker 1:How do people get in touch with you if they want to set up a style consultation? They don't. Yeah, they do yes, they do.
Speaker 2:You just DM me at my name.
Speaker 1:Okay, tell us your Instagram username.
Speaker 2:At Tamika Stringfellow. That's it. Is it just Tamika Stringfellow? I think underscore.
Speaker 1:Tamika underscore.
Speaker 2:Stringfellow yeah.
Speaker 1:Perfect. Okay, well, I think that wraps it up.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think that was fun, that was really fun.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I it up. Yeah, I think that was really fun. Yeah, yeah, I loved it. I'm glad you let me do this because I know you don't really want to talk about and I, you know, you whatever so I am glad that you let me do, uh, an episode that was basically interviewing you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, thanks for making me do it, yeah okay.
Speaker 1:well, if you guys need help with any of your style, your, your personal style, your wardrobe, your closet, clean out any of that, make sure to hit up Tamika at Tamika underscore Stringfellow on. Instagram and this episode will be posted on our Instagram. Yeah, at maximalistlifepodcast and we'll see you guys next time. Hope you're having fun.
Speaker 2:Tits up, dicks out Easy Done yeah.