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Every person has a style, and every style deserves support. Enter your style strategy cheerleader and founder of BU Style, Natalie Tincher. Since 2010 Natalie has worked with hundreds of personal clients as well as large corporations and a major global news network—and she is here to guide you.
In this podcast, you will gain clarity and insights on how to connect your style with your authentic self through Natalie's style expertise as well as interviews with other style-supporting guests like designers, clients, and other professionals in and out of the fashion industry.
Whether you love fashion, fear fashion, or fall somewhere in between, it doesn't matter. This isn't about fashion; it's about exploring who you are and how to own your unique style identity. This podcast will help you cut through the noise and examine your personal style holistically so you can "wear who you are" every day.
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Remember, no matter how good the sales are, it's still our responsibility to be a conscious consumer and question the necessity of purchases. Our job to recognize the hidden costs of bargain hunting. So instead, let's make sure we're making mindful choices. Welcome to Wear Who You Are, a podcast that takes the fear out of fashion and holds space for everyone to explore how to connect your authenticity with your personal style. I'm your host, Natalie Tinscher, founder of VU Style.
expert style strategist, and your enthusiastic friend and safe space of support. I believe that every person has a style and every style deserves a seat. With over a decade of experience working with hundreds of personal clients, I've learned a thing or two about how to help others have a healthy and holistic approach to navigating how to build a wardrobe that reflects who you are. So pull up your seat and let's get started.
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Hello everyone and welcome back to another Where Who You Are, where I am going to lead you by the hand through the sometimes overwhelming holiday shopping bonanza. And do so with my usual panache and of course, puns. So this is a Style School episode with me and with my help, you'll slay holiday shopping. In today's episode, we're going to tackle a lot. An overview of the typical sales you'll see from now through the new year and beyond and how to make sure you
actually get a good deal. The types of items that stylists look for and how you can look for them too. All that to say, it's claws for celebration. Sorry, I just couldn't resist. And with that, here's our episode, Score Big Savings, Your Ultimate Holiday Shopping Guide.
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So what are the holiday shopping dates? And should you be buying then? That's a great question. To start off, here's an overview of the typical shopping sales calendar for the rest of the year. First we have Black Friday, which is November 29th, then Cyber Monday, December 2nd this year, New Year's Eve, obviously December 31st, New Year's Day, January 1st. I think it's fair to say that we're all quite familiar with Black Friday and Cyber Monday. How could you not be with the litany of ads and everything that you get?
Both of these holidays of sorts have sort of merged into a large general sales time where you can get a large selection of clothes with deep discounts. Unfortunately, a lot of the brands that I love and like to support aren't really equipped for these kinds of put all your stock on sale type of events. So these large sales are more associated with the more corporate brands or big box retailers, which is totally fine if that's what you're after. This one stop big box shopping can be an efficient way to shop.
Some brands that offer these type of blanket sales for Black Friday include, Guilt, a luxury goods amalgamation website, Reformation, Nobody's Child, Koss, Nordstrom usually has deep deals on brands like Veja, Good American and Birkenstock among others, J. Crew and other specialty retailers like Banana Republic, Gap, et cetera. So you get the idea and you know that you're about to get bombarded with a lot of holiday sales emails. So buckle up. But how do you...
actually make sure you get a good deal. Most of these emails are coming from the larger companies like I just mentioned that often actually have sales or promotions throughout the year. For example, a friends and family sale. So my best stylist advice is to actually have a strategic shopping list. You knew I was gonna say that. And know exactly what you want to buy. And this includes for yourself or for anyone else.
The next tip I have is to download a Chrome extension on your computer. Two options that we'll link in the notes are Honey or the Camelizer. These Chrome extensions are awesome because they allow you to check the item's price history. That way, you'll know exactly what you want to buy and exactly what a fair and good deal would be for that item. There's been a lot of evidence that companies are inflating prices of items in the weeks leading up to November and then slashing prices for sales.
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Interesting, right? Are we that surprised? They're tricking consumers into thinking they're getting a good deal. But we are savvy shoppers, as always, in the Where Who You Are podcast, so you're not going to fall for this. You're going to do your research and shop thoughtfully. That way, you'll know for certain when you're navigating these websites what's actually worth your hard-earned cash. This is especially important and useful because a lot of these brands and websites are employing a kind of scarcity or time-based scare tactic when they're promoting their items.
For example, and I'm sure you've seen this, buy now, only two left at this price or sale ends in one hour and 22 minutes. Sound familiar? It's all built to make you feel pressured to buy, but I would encourage everyone not to feel like they have limited time to make any of these decisions. That leads to regretful impulse decisions. Also, remember that if the item is for you and not a holiday gift, January is chock full of discounts.
as stores work to clear out their inventory to get ready for new spring arrivals. And remember that at the end of the day, the best deals are actually a lifetime low cost per wear, no matter the actual upfront cost of an item. Buy better, buy less, wear longer. Yep, I'll keep saying that one on repeat. And think about this when you're buying for someone else. We mentioned that strategic shopping list. Are you sure they're gonna love it and cherish it and wear it or use it for a long time? Or did you just buy it to have something to wrap? Remember,
strategic shopping lists work for gift giving too. In fact, Troy and I just sat down and made ours. Actually, I made him sit down and make ours. Let's be honest. Before me, he was a last minute Santa. I desire to give thoughtful and meaningful gifts and hate scrambling and buying for the sake of just buying. So making our lists, checking it twice and thrice if you're me, make sure I am gifting with a plan. So when I'm out and about and that perfect gift on my list comes to me,
I get to delight in the joy of knowing I got something the person I love will love as well. And if you're stumped, I will say this could be an unpopular opinion, but gift cards with a kind and thoughtful note attached as to why you got it for them can be really helpful and useful for someone getting the gift. There's no shame in a gift card game, I say. I personally love receiving them when it's from a place someone knows I love. After a quick break.
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I'm going come back with the types of items I'm buying as a stylist in New York City between now and the end of the year and how you can get them too.
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Hi, I'm Rebecca Robles, makeup artist and director of BU Beauty, the beauty focus branch of BU Style. You know, one of my favorite parts about being a makeup artist is connecting with new people. When you sign up for the Cue the Makeup Artist service, I'll meet with you for 60 minutes virtually to answer any of your makeup questions. The time is completely yours with the Ask Anything format. I'll demystify your makeup kit and teach you application techniques you've always wanted to know. Most importantly,
I'll help you master makeup at a pace that works for you. To book your Cue the Makeup Artist appointment, visit the Makeup Services page on the BU Style website at bu.style slash makeup dash services. I can't wait to meet you on your makeup journey.
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Welcome back. Now let's tackle part two, the types of items that stylists look for to help you identify how you can look for them. Obviously everyone's strategic shopping list should look different. It's your strategic shopping list. But I wanted to share mine. I've actually already shopped for some of these items and my SSL was really small this year because I've worked really intentionally the last couple of years post COVID to build a foundation that feels really aligned with me in this current state I'm in. So I literally
and have five total items on my fall winter strategic shopping list. I'll go through them one by one because it's a short list. First, an interesting black belt. Belts are everywhere now and I happen to always love belts. So it's a great time to get my pick of the litter. And I have a really, really lovely everyday one that I got in Florence more than five years ago at this point. And to add to my collection, I want something that's still versatile but has a little bit more of an interesting detail, perhaps studs or a Western inspired buckle.
It'll elevate a lot of my neutral looks. I know I want a soft matte leather, a worn in relaxed look of sorts, and it needs to be medium thickness to wear with jeans and belt loops or at my waist for skirts, dresses or high-waisted trouser. So I've been scouting secondhand stores periodically around me without a lot of success. And I have my eye on one that would be more of an investment from the brand Frida Salvador. But before I make that investment, I'm gonna check out the real real.
who, speaking of holiday sales, often has a lot of an extra 15 % off deals throughout the year, especially around the holidays. Also note for the real rule, I always make sure that it is returnable. Also, I'm gonna try a few in store at Madewell. They have some of the looks that I want, but I wanna see if the quality feels good enough to last and to make sure the thickness is right. Also, I generally like to try belts on in the store to make sure the sizing is right if I can, because it's often really hard to tell online if the length and whole placement will work.
my jeans and work up my waist like I need it to work. Next thing on my list is a barn jacket. They're all over right now and for this one, I'm definitely going to shop secondhand. First of all, I'm past the season to buy these new for winter unless it was straight from a place that sells them year round like a barber, which is completely an option. However, these jackets are usually waxed and they look better with wear, so I want it to be a beat up borrowed from my dad look. In fact, speaking of,
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I may see if there's something in my dad's closet when I visit in the holiday time before I shop. As you know, he's passed and this could be an extra special thing to wear who I am, Bill Tinscher's daughter. I'll share on Instagram if I find a treasure in his closet over the holidays. Third on my list is an interesting necklace or a few interesting necklaces. As you may know, I have a lot of those silk thin scarves from a brand Rockens. I still love them.
And I also scored a great chunky necklace from a local shop in Mallorca over my summer travels. I'm finding myself wearing it a lot and wishing I had a couple of additional varied options. Like one that's more of a matte gold. The one that I have is a bit shiny sometimes for certain looks. I have a few items saved at Roxanne Azzaline who often has holiday sales. I also have one from my friend's jewelry brand, Eza by Sylvia Dalvila.
and I pinned a bunch from the RealReal that I scouted while shopping for a client for necklaces for her. So those are three things that are still on my list. Then I had two key things that I already acquired that were on my list, which gave my wardrobe a huge update with only these two items. First were my gorgeous over the knee boots from NOMASAY in a dark burgundy, almost chocolate brown color. I bought them because last year I kept wanting a super chic but comfy tight tall shaft boot to wear under my midi skirts and dresses.
So I knew it was a good investment. I've been thinking about needing this since last year. Second was a mini skirt. Yep, that's right. This over 40 year old is getting a mini skirt. I wanted something unexpected and magnetic that would also look killer with my oversized blazers or just my basic foundational sweaters. And with those boots I just mentioned. I wanted this mini skirt to be different than a lot of the sparkly sequin ones out now. When one of my go-to brands, ADN came out with one, I knew it was perfect.
It's a really dark, dark, thick denim. It's long enough to be appropriate for all the settings I'm in. And Leia, the designer, as usual, got all of the details just right, down to the fact that she made the back just a bit longer so I can feel comfortable sitting and bending over in it. Why do I share this list? Well, it's to show you that having a plan keeps you from getting tempted to shop for yourself over the holidays. Any good stylist will tell you that shopping will always feel overwhelming without a plan.
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and you're so much better off leaning on hero pieces that make you feel great rather than buying a bunch of stuff whenever there's a massive sale. Shoes or boots, bags, coats, invest in these pieces. And when you think about it, these tend to be more winter items and therefore tend to be more on sale in January or February purely because this is the slowest time for retailers and they want to make money after the craziness of the holidays. So if you need those items still on your strategic shopping list, look for them then.
I will say some other great things to buy around the holidays, if they are on your strategic shopping list, are hats, scarves, gloves, the supplemental things to the coats and the boots. These items are often gift items and stores will mark them down truly because they know they'll be harder to sell after the holiday season. So what does your strategic shopping list look like? Start there. Find what you love. Pin it with the Chrome extension. Track the pricing and make sure you get the best deal.
regardless of whatever clickbaity thing is going on in the pressure cooker of sales emails. The great thing about this is that when January rolls around, you may just be able to get that investment piece you penned at a discount if you decided to wait to pull the trigger. Also, as an aside, ask yourself why you waited to pull the trigger. Was it strictly cost or was it because the items aren't quite right and wouldn't even be with tailoring and adjustments? If it's the latter, don't do it.
Don't let the shiny silver sail bells entice you. Thank you so much for joining me on this episode of Where Who You Are. I hope you enjoyed it. I did want to make a personal note as these holiday sales approach, particularly Black Friday and Cyber Monday. I certainly never want to be a buzzkill, so I waited until the end of the episode to say my piece. But these huge sales often have an environmental and social impact. Black Friday has evolved into a global retail phenomenon that encourages rampant consumerism.
There's also research to suggest that these massive sales have a negative impact on the supply chain. Many employees enter poor working conditions and poverty wages while corporations thrive off their cheap labor to meet consumer demands. Despite inflation, consumer spending is projected to rise, which leads to increased production and therefore waste, which as we know is putting even more strain on our planet. So instead of seizing the day with deals, really make sure you need these items.
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You should still tackle sales with that strategic shopping list. And that's your Where Who You Are challenge. Make your strategic shopping list if you haven't already. If you have, check it twice and refine it. And make your strategic holiday shopping list for your loved ones if you are giving gifts this year. Remember, no matter how good the sales are, it's still our responsibility to be a conscious consumer and question the necessity of purchases. Our job to recognize the hidden costs of bargain hunting.
So instead, let's make sure we're making mindful choices. I love gift giving and I love making people happy. So this is a great reminder to me as well, especially when cute little things pop up for my completely adorable great niece and nephews. It's really tempting, trust me, I know, but I'm committing to you right now that I'm gonna be mindful of what I'm buying and where I'm buying it. Buying local or supporting small businesses is a great way to shop in a more responsible manner.
In juxtaposition to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, consider Small Business Saturday on November 30th this year. And please don't expect small businesses to discount items. Being a small business is hard, trust me. I know, almost 15 years in the game. And most small businesses can't afford to discount, but they are contributing to local economies, creating community and so many other wonderful benefits. Just like I want people to support my small business,
I'd like to try to plan ahead and shop thoughtfully to support hardworking ethical businesses as well. Also, if you find you're in a position to spend money during the holidays, consider giving Tuesday another great holiday as an alternative to Black Friday or Cyber Monday. It'll make you feel better. I promise. All right, Nat Offer Soapbox, thank you so much for joining me. Love y'all.