How to Build a Teacher Wardrobe That Fits Your Life [Episode 245]

Heidi 0:00
This is episode 245 of Teacher Approved.

Heidi 0:05
You’re listening to Teacher Approved, the podcast helping educators elevate what matters and simplify the rest. I’m Heidi.

Emily 0:13
And I’m Emily. We’re the creators behind Second Story Window, where we give research based and teacher approved strategies that make teaching less stressful and more effective. You can check out the show notes and resources from each episode at secondstorywindow.net.

Heidi 0:28
We’re so glad you’re tuning in today. Let’s get to the show.

Emily 0:36
Hey there. Thanks for joining us today. In today’s episode, we’re joined by our friend Lindsey, the owner and senior stylist at Fashion Fix, to talk about a fresh way for teachers to approach their wardrobes, and we’ve got a teacher approved tip for looking good on school spirit days.

Heidi 0:53
But first, let’s start with try it tomorrow, where we share a quick win that you can try right away. Emily, what do we have for this week?

Emily 1:00
This week, give each student a couple of sticky notes and ask them to write down what they’d like to hear on a hard day. Maybe it’s, you can do hard things, or I believe in myself. Once they’re done, collect all the notes and tuck them away. Then when you notice a student having a rough moment or just needing a boost, you can pull out their own words and hand them back.

Heidi 1:18
I love this because there’s just something really powerful about getting encouragement in your own words. And if you want to try this, I promise you can eliminate a lot of blank stares and the I don’t know what to write comments, if you spend a minute having class brainstorm message ideas first. Maybe you even want to write them on the whiteboard, and that way you’re helping them put some actual thought into what they write, instead of just writing down whatever.

Emily 1:45
I love when you can find a win that’s so powerful but so simple to implement. In about five minutes, you’ve got a whole stash of personalized pick me ups ready to go whenever you need them. Just double check that everyone remembered to write their name on their notes.

Heidi 1:58
Yeah, the eternal struggle. If you like this idea or anything else we share here on the podcast, would you take a second and give us a five star rating? Ratings and reviews are one way that new listeners find us, so every rating and review really is a huge help to us.

Emily 2:14
Today, we’re so excited because we are joined by our friend Lindsey, who is the owner and senior stylist at Fashion Fix to talk about a fresh way for teachers to approach their wardrobes. And as a mom of three, Lindsey’s body, weight, and lifestyle have all changed many times over the years. She knows that style has no size and confidence comes in all shapes.

Heidi 2:35
Lindsey has helped women of every age, stage, shape and size, build a versatile and functional wardrobe that they love. You don’t need a lot of clothes to have a lot of wear. You just need the right tools and planning to have a closet full of clothes that make you feel comfortable and confident.

Emily 2:52
Lindsay, we’re so happy to have you with us today. Welcome.

Lindsey 2:56
Yay. I’m so excited that I get to have like, an act two after getting to participate in the Teacher Winter Talks. I was like, oh my gosh, this is such, like a bonus. Like, I get to come back again!

Heidi 3:09
And your session was so powerful and inspiring, like, it’s, I’ve approached my closet in such a different way in those two weeks since you taught. Like, it’s totally shifted.

Speaker 1 3:19
I genuinely had, like, takeaways of like, wow, I had never thought about that before.

Lindsey 3:24
Good, well, you know, I really try, you know, especially when I’m presenting, which is just all the time, because I’m always talking to people from all over the world, right, whether it’s on Instagram or we’re doing, you know, when I talk to your teacher group, you know, nobody is living the same life. Nobody’s going to have the same wardrobe.

Lindsey 3:41
And so when we’re talking about these ideas on how to build a wardrobe that feels good, that is fun, that is authentic to you, you just, you can’t have the advice of everybody should have this thing. Everybody should have that thing. Because this thing and that thing, like, is, it might not make sense for certain people. So really like being able to approach the idea of like, what are the practices that you want to put into place with your wardrobe, and what is sort of the tools to build a wardrobe that is good, specifically for you. So that everyone, no matter where you’re living, no matter what your lifestyle looks like, you walk away with application.

Heidi 4:22
That is such an empowering reframe of how we’re normally taught to consume fashion. Like, I am not a little black dress person. Like, that’s not my lifestyle. But I’ve always felt like, well, fashion doesn’t apply to my life, because I’m not that way.

Lindsey 4:36
Oh my gosh. I wish, I mean, like, I’m gonna have to, like, steal that audio clip from you, because I just feel like that is 100% one of the biggest, I would say, drivers behind Fashion Fix, is there’s been so many barriers for women, whether they are real or they make up and manifest themselves. Right? Or they’re the barriers are put upon them by other people, right? Like social narratives or, you know, things like that, that make women feel that’s not for me. I can’t be cute. I can’t dress cute, you know, like, I just don’t get it. I must not be fashionable.

Lindsey 5:15
And it’s because we are looking at and comparing ourselves to a standard or to an example that isn’t meant for us, that’s not, you know, that’s not relatable for us. And so then we automatically just take ourselves out of the conversation. And then that goes down the path of women feeling invalidated, feeling, you know, they don’t, like they should just kind of, they don’t take care of themselves because they don’t feel like, well, if I can’t fit into this exact picture of what it should look like then I’m not gonna do anything at all. It just goes into a whole thing. I could go on my soapbox forever, just a whole thing of like, you know, again, how we value ourselves, how we value what we do, who we are. It just, the whole thing, the whole thing.

Heidi 6:01
Yes, we’re spending so much money trying to, like, fit this mold you’re taught, and you’re like, this doesn’t work with my life, it doesn’t work with my body, like, and then now I have nothing to wear, but I’m also broke.

Lindsey 6:12
Yes, yes, exactly. I mean, we talk, we call it overspending and under buying. That’s kind of the frame, the phrase that I use with clients is like helping you not like, when you overspend. So you you’ve spent so much time and money on these things in your wardrobe, but you actually under bought, because the things that you purchased aren’t adding the value to your wardrobe that you hope them to. And so that’s what we call that. We call it overspending and under buying.

Heidi 6:40
Yeah, I’ve lived that.

Emily 6:44
I mean, I think all women can can relate to this to an extent, but especially our teacher audience. I feel like this is such a relatable problem to hear about of like, I just don’t even know what to wear every day. And you default to whatever’s easy, and you and you and you may not feel comfortable in it, but it’s just, it’s whatever is easy. And that’s why I love your approach so much. So do you want to tell us a little bit more about Fashion Fix and how you started?

Lindsey 7:10
Yeah, I know we kind of just jumped into the deep end. So for anybody that’s unfamiliar with Fashion Fix, we’ll try to catch you up here, because we, like, already, like went into it. But Fashion Fix was started 12, 13 years ago, something like that, and it came after a long career that I had working with national retail brands. So you know, for about a decade, I worked for many different companies and stores as a personal shopper or in like management positions teaching other people how to work with clients, and how to do personal shopping and styling and all of this kind of stuff.

Lindsey 7:45
So I did that for a long time, and I kind of sort of had a pinnacle moment where it wasn’t fitting for me anymore, like the dots weren’t connecting, and I was not thriving in the position that I had. And I had all of this experience with clients, and looking at this idea that, you know, we were working with them in the store, and then we were sending them home, but they were kind of coming back every time with the same struggles and the same, I would say, roadblocks or barriers in the wardrobe, and being able to feel like they really had a complete wardrobe, or a wardrobe that was functional or versatile for them. And it’s Like, well, we’re sending you home with stuff every month, like, what’s going on?

Lindsey 8:24
And so just really kind of starting to think about, like, what’s that disconnect that’s happening between women shopping in stores or shopping online, then getting home to their closet, and what’s happening there? Like, in between, where is that disconnect? And that is where Fashion Fix was really born out of, was that idea of like, okay, let’s let’s bridge that gap. Let’s create some tools, some resources, some help and support, so that women are more empowered with their wardrobe when they go home with it, rather than feeling defeated or again, they’ve overspent, under bought, like they’re still not hitting the target.

Lindsey 9:02
And that’s kind of where Fashion Fix really came out of, right, is like, let’s give more empowerment in that in between space between shopping and getting home with your wardrobe. So it’s gone through many iterations over the years. You know, just even as like, the landscape of shopping and fashion and and influencing and you know, all like, things going virtual and digital, and the way that we can connect with customers from all over the, you know, world now, rather than just like local, which is really where it started. I only worked in person with people, and now it’s quite the opposite. Like we pretty much only virtually work with clients. And rarely am I, you know, working with somebody in person.

Lindsey 9:39
I live, like, I can look out my window and I can see the Mall of America out my window, and so I used to do personal shopping appointments at the Mall of America. And like, you know, that’s just like such a thing in the past, because we’re servicing people literally from all over the world.

Lindsey 9:53
So it’s taken a lot of different iterations, but the one thing that has maintained and stayed the same since day. One is the mission I remember sitting on my couch in my cute little bachelorette apartment in the Twin Cities where I live, and like, you know, pen and paper and writing it out, and I wrote down this mission statement, and not a single word of it has changed since day one, which is to empower women and build confidence through a productive and style wardrobe.

Lindsey 10:19
And so even though we’ve gone through a lot of iterations of services, we offer, products, we offer, how we work with clients, everything has continued to be filtered through that mission statement, so that we know that we’re still aligning what we’re doing with what we believe in. And that goes from everything from, again, what we offer, how we price things, the language we use inside of our products and on our website, and, you know, on our different social media platforms. Like, how is that mission being accomplished through this? And that’s something that has just stayed strong this whole time.

Lindsey 10:57
So, you know, that’s kind of how we got to where we are, and now we’re even going on like another segment of the journey. You know, this year, we’re really focusing a lot on not only helping women with, you know, what’s in their closet, but their relationship with what’s in their closet too, and really taking, you know, even more of that holistic approach to how we’re helping women with their wardrobes.

Emily 11:22
Well, and I imagine that was informed by your personal journey with your body and your wardrobe, which is what really drew me to you, what you’ve shared about that, because I find it so relatable. Do you want to tell us a little bit about that?

Lindsey 11:35
Yeah. So, like I said, I had this really long, you know, this career working in retail, which means I had access to a lot of fashion and shopping and at a discount, which was great. So, you know, I loved to shop. I loved to have fun with my wardrobe. Also, at this time in my life, I was single, you know, hadn’t had any kids yet at this point. So it’s like, your girl was like, living the dream, right, living the dream.

Lindsey 12:03
And my life has taken so many different turns, and I’ve been put into so many different positions over, you know, the past 12, 15 years, from going to being, you know, single, no kids, working in retail, having access to a lot of things, to getting married and getting pregnant and not working full time anymore, and having my budget change and having my access change, and having my body change and having my lifestyle change. You know, my wardrobe looked one way, and it was so fun and it was so whimsical, because I was going out to work every day, and I was doing all these things and that. And then my life changed to staying home every day, full time. And then it kind of went to, you know, like 50/50, and that, you know, like it just sort of has taken so many different turns.

Lindsey 12:54
And not only in the past 10 or 15 years, all the different turns my life has taken, there was also that life beforehand, of navigating, you know, messaging about what my body should look like versus what it does look like, and messaging about what I should be wearing because it’s trendy or because it’s this, or because of whatever, versus like what I could afford to wear or want to wear, or what I had access to wear. So it was like there was also that whole pre-experience.

Lindsey 13:26
And so looking at that full scope of what I’ve gone through, you know, even from a teenager to a 45 year old woman, is part of what has helped me shape Fashion Fix, my experiences, what I’ve gone through. And what also has been really neat about that is we’ve created this sort of niche space that is a nice soft landing space for women that find themselves struggling with their wardrobe, struggling with their clothes, or their body because of difficult things like body dysmorphia or disordered eating or medical experience that has changed their bodies, all of those different things.

Lindsey 14:09
There is nothing any fashion fix client could come to us and share with us about what they have or our experience that would, you know, make us be like, Oh, I don’t know. Can we, you know, I don’t know how to approach this or handle this, or kind of feel taken off, off guard by it, or taken aback by it. Like, we have seen it all. We’ve worked with so many women with different walks of life, and it’s, it is something that I’m really proud of. Because of my experience, I’ve been able to train and coach my team on that, and then we are able to work with clients really well in that space, too.

Emily 14:41
And I think teachers have gone through a lot of those different, those same body changes you were talking about. But also I know in my experience, and then the teachers that I know, a lot of them, go through those body changes because of teaching, because you’re stressed out, you’re at school, you’re not able to eat as healthy. And, you know, just all these things.

Heidi 15:01
And you’re so tired that like going to the gym.

Emily 15:04
Yes, yes, all these ways that impact your body. So I know our teacher audience will relate to those experiences that you’ve had.

Lindsey 15:13
Yeah.

Heidi 15:13
So I one thing I really like about your approach is that you, the first step with you is not to jump in and buy more. Like you’re not pushing people to suddenly buy a lot of new stuff, but you’re also like helping them figure out what they do need to get that’s like a counter cultural messaging. Can you tell us more about that approach?

Lindsey 15:33
Yes. Okay, so oftentimes, when there is an approach to revamping your wardrobe, make you know, New Year, New You, better wardrobe. It always starts with like, let’s get out your closet and get rid of all these things and buy all these new things. We’re actually like, editing at your closet and shopping in our process does not come till step like, three or four, like it is way down the line. We don’t even start there. Because my hope is not just to put a band aid over something or give you like a quick fix with your wardrobe, but really help you feel educated and empowered with what is going to be best in your wardrobe. Because this is really, like, the counter, like, cultural thing with fashion and styling that I say, and that’s there are better things to spend your time and money on than clothes.

Heidi 16:30
Yes.

Emily 16:31
Yeah.

Lindsey 16:32
How can you say that as a stylist and, like, all this stuff? And I was like, Well, let me explain this. This is kind of the goal. So we actually start in the process with a body shape analysis, and then after that, step two would be a style analysis. Because I don’t want a client or anyone listening to be like, Okay, I’m going to start dressing better. I’m going to start, like, wearing clothes that are more fun and feel more trendy, so that I’m not frumpy. So then you just, you know, look at whatever’s on the mannequin, or what people are wearing on Instagram or on Pinterest, and you go and, like, buy all that stuff, right? You think, like, yes, this is gonna be, I’m gonna do this, so this is gonna be so great.

Lindsey 17:09
And then you bring that stuff home, and it does not fit you the same way that it fit that person on social media.

Emily 17:16
Oh, yeah.

Lindsey 17:17
Or that outfit that you saw completely put together on a mannequin, when you put it on, it feels like a costume, like it feels like you’re dressing up as somebody else. So that’s why going out and just buying a bunch of stuff that feels fun and new and trendy, and you’re gonna, you’re gonna just, you know, start dressing that way, that is not going to get you to a place of feeling comfortable and confident in your clothes.

Lindsey 17:38
So we start with, Okay, now this piece that you see, the shirt that you see on that person on Instagram, right? It fits them well, because this is their body shape, and this is the way that that shirt is cut. Your body shape is not that. Your body shape is this, so you want to wear shirts that are cut this way instead.

Lindsey 17:59
So we teach women, okay, you know, you’re seeing these things on social media, on mannequins, you know, in stores or wherever it might be, in magazines, and giving them the tool to say, okay, that’s not going to work for me. So I’m, I’m not going to chase that one, right? I’m not going to go after buying that shirt. We start to teach them, these are the cuts, these are the fits that are going to be the most complimentary on your body shape and feel the most comfortable to wear. So we start with that education piece.

Lindsey 18:33
Then the second education piece is the style. So understanding what each individual’s personal style profile is, and really helping them navigate and understand that. Like, you know, these are words we would use to describe your style, and these are examples of what those words mean, like picture examples of that, giving them different ideas. Because that’s what happened, we want you to feel really empowered with that, because it’s when you buy that whole outfit as it’s put together on a you know, mannequin, and you wear it, it feels like a costume, right? Instead of something that’s like, that’s because it’s not your style. Maybe that pattern, that print, that way of mixing and matching things together, isn’t authentic for your style so it just feels like you’re playing dress up.

Lindsey 19:17
So we want you to be able to say, oh, okay, oh, I’m seeing this outfit on here, and oh, those patterns really work for my style profile, or those details really work for my style profile. That is great. Now we’re getting more value driven purchases for your wardrobe. So we start with a body shape, we start with a personal style, because we want you to show up as your authentic self. We want to make sure that what you’re wearing feels like a true reflection of who you are on the inside, on the outside. And we don’t want you to change your body to fit into certain clothes. We want to change your clothes so that they fit your body.

Lindsey 19:54
So we really want to start with those two things, and then after we do that, we’re still not shopping. Still not, we’re still not. There’s two more things we got to do, because again, I don’t want you buying stuff you don’t need. I don’t want clients buying more of what they already have in their wardrobe. So we are still not shopping.

Lindsey 20:16
So actually, the next step then is to edit and audit your wardrobe. So we have a methodology that we use at Fashion Fix where it walks women through the different steps of editing, auditing and organizing their wardrobe so they can have a really good, full, complete understanding of what it is they already have in their closet, what they need to get rid of that now does not reflect their style or fit well for their body shape. Right? And then identifying, okay, where do I need to make some additions, where do I need to make some swaps for my wardrobe? So we really need to do that stuff before we shop.

Lindsey 20:59
So after you know your body shape, after you know your style, then when you’ve done the closet clean out, now we can shop. So we’ve got a few things we want to go through, because I want you to, I want you to spend your time and money wisely, because there’s other things that I’m sure you’d rather spend it on, then on clothes that you don’t like and never wear, and that aren’t going to get you any further to your goal of having a really value driven wardrobe. So then we shop.

Lindsey 21:26
But even then, I have parameters for clients when they shop. So this is too where it gets a little of that counterculture when we talk about fashion and styling, you know, I’m not just saying, Oh yeah, go buy all this and go buy all of that. You know, we really look at a strong method of what do you need to add, update or replace? So coaching clients through, what are the gaps and holes in your wardrobe? What are some of the updates we want to make that better reflect you know, your style, fit your shape better? And then what do we want to replace of like, your ride or die essential pieces?

Lindsey 22:00
So we walk them through, like a coaching strategy of, here is a great way to shop. And we really, you know, the shopping strategy was really born out of one of the biggest things we hear all the time from clients, is shopping feels so paralyzing. I’m sure you can relate to that.

Heidi 22:17
Been there!

Lindsey 22:17
Right, right. Like, where you walk into a store, and you’re just like, I don’t even know where to turn, like, what department do I look at? What am I looking for? You go to a website and you’re just doom scrolling, like, like, what, what category should I be shopping in? What should I be looking for? So it really helps, again, where you feel paralyzed, you don’t know what decisions to make, you don’t you should be looking for. And when you have the strategy of add, update, replace, it gives you focus when you go shopping, so it feels a less intimidating and less overwhelming. So, yeah, we don’t shop till quite a bit further down, and even then, you know, I really try to coach people on having some good boundaries on what it is that they’re shopping for.

Emily 22:57
And this process is actually going to save you a lot of money and time because you’re not wasting time hunting because you don’t know what you’re looking for, but it’s also going to save your money because you’re going to stop buying things that aren’t right for you, that you’re never going to wear. Because you talked about that, having things in your closet that then you never want to wear because they don’t feel like you. I have half a closet full of things like that because I don’t want to wear things that don’t feel comfortable, that I don’t feel comfortable in.

Lindsey 23:24
100%. And that’s when we, you know, what I say is like women, you know, if you find yourself standing in front of closet full of clothes, there is plenty hanging in there, but you look in your closet and it’s full of clothes, and you say to yourself, I don’t have anything to wear it, you know, it’s because we don’t have the right pieces for you. Whether it’s pieces that fit you well or pieces that even like work together.

Lindsey 23:48
Because part of the idea, also of understanding your personal style and having a value driven wardrobe, is being able to mix and match your pieces together really easily and really effortlessly, because they all complement each other, and they all go together. And if you have things in your closet that are, you know, multiple different styles or not, in the same color palette for you, then again, you’re going to be looking at a lot of stuff in your closet but struggling to wear a lot of it together. So that’s also something we really coach our clients on is building your best wardrobe. Also it’s giving you value, but also versatility in your wardrobe.

Lindsey 24:27
And going back to the idea of like, where it’s going to save you money in the long run, is the other thing we coach clients on is you don’t need to have a lot of clothes in order to have a lot to wear, right? So it’s not like a badge of honor if you have a closet bursting at the seams, or never enough hangers to hang your stuff up on, right? Because we say you don’t need a lot of clothes in order to have a lot to wear. So when we really focus, you know, on these steps of building your best wardrobe, it gets you to a place too, where you’re not really having to buy a lot on all the time, and that’s saving you a lot of, you know, energy and money as well.

Heidi 25:06
I loved your outfit formulas in your Teacher Winter Talk session. It was such a fun reframe. It made me think of the real life version of, okay, Clueless.

Emily 25:14
Yes!

Heidi 25:14
You know, she like mixed and matched all her outfits, and as a 90s girl, that was like a seamless dream. But this is like a real life way to make that work with you know, the things that I have, I don’t have a cute little plaid mini, but being able to look at my clothes and feeling like I have power over them instead of them controlling me.

Lindsey 25:36
Oh my gosh. I wish people could see my face right now, when you said that. I love that. They don’t have clothes, I’m gonna steal that, another audio clip I’m stealing from you. Yeah, where you’re like, the clothes don’t have power over you. You have power over them and how they’re used. Oh my gosh, I have goosebumps. That’s so good.

Lindsey 26:00
You know, and when one of the other things that happens when we walk clients through the build your best wardrobe system, these steps that I’m laying out here, is they actually find that they have a lot more to work with in their closet than they thought they did. You have no idea how many times I’ve heard women say, oh girl, you’re gonna just like laugh when I show you my closet, because I barely have anything in there. I don’t really have a lot. And when I teach them that the outfit building blocks and the outfit formulas that you’re talking about, they actually start to see that there’s a lot more for them to work with in their closet than they thought. They just never looked at it that way.

Lindsey 26:42
A lot of the pieces in their closet were really like siloed, or really like structured. I only wear it this way, or only wear it that way, or save this piece for that. And when I introduced them to that outfit building blocks and the style formulas, it is just like, you know, mind blown. Wow, I can do a lot more with what I have than I thought I did.

Lindsey 27:03
And that’s the final step, and build your best wardrobe. So we talked about body shape analysis, style analysis, the closet clean out, then strategic shopping. The final step is styling, and that’s where we play and have fun and do dress up. And we do like mixing and matching pieces together. And when all of it comes together, when all five of those steps come together, you just really get to this place where, like, your shoulders are like, they relax, because you’re like, Okay, I get this now I see how this all works together.

Lindsey 27:36
Because in that styling piece, then when you start to learn how many different ways you can wear the items in your closet, or how to use them differently, it also relieves that stress or that pressure where you feel like you need more. Well, I need more. I need more to be able to wear more. I need more to be able to do more. I need more to have more variety.

Lindsey 27:58
You know, one of the things that I say, is a volume does not equal variety. Just because you have a lot of clothes in your closet doesn’t mean you have a lot of variety of clothes in your closet, because often it can end up being a lot of just the same thing. And that’s why you feel like you’re wearing the same thing all the time. Because you know, my perfect example that I’ve been using for 100 years is, you might have 50 cardigans in your closet, but if, you know, 35 of them are gray and five of them are black, and then 10 of them don’t fit you, you have like two.

Emily 28:37
Yeah.

Heidi 28:38
I feel called out.

Lindsey 28:38
So that’s like, you know, when we, that styling piece, when you learn those style formulas, outfit building blocks, that’s where you really start to learn, you know, you don’t need a lot of clothes in order to have a lot to wear. And that’s why the styling pieces last too.

Lindsey 28:53
So going back to the idea of how it’s kind of counterculture, or counterintuitive, how we coach clients through. It doesn’t just jump in right away to, okay, wear these colors this way, or mix these patterns this way, or, you know, wear your cardigan three different ways, this way. Because if the patterns you have in your closet are not your style, you’re not going to wear them. If the cardigans aren’t cut right for you, or the shirts are cut, you’re not going to wear them. So, so doing outfit formulas, you know, doing the style formulas, doing the building blocks, you’re not going to be able to do that unless your clothes fit you well. If your clothes do not fit you comfortably and fit you well, if your clothes are not your style, nothing else is going to work.

Lindsey 29:31
So that’s why that even, like that kind of, quote, unquote, fun part of doing all the different outfits, that doesn’t even come till last, because I want to make sure that your clothes fit you well, that you’re comfortable in them, that you’re confident wearing them, because then we can do all these different outfits with them. So that’s why that really comes last in the process.

Emily 29:52
Oh, I love that, and it makes so much sense. It’s such a carefully thought out process, you can tell that you have perfected this over the years. But tell us, what is your hope for Fashion Fix in 2026, and how can our teacher audience be a part of it?

Lindsey 30:07
Well, I would say that our big hope now and for the future is just to introduce more people to the idea of building their best wardrobe in the method and using the process that Fashion Fix has, because we have really found that it has, like, really freed a lot of women from some of the toxic or negative thoughts or pressure or ideas or constructs or all of that stuff that, again, has been put on them from social narratives, from inner thoughts. It is really providing them with a way to free themselves from that and have fun with their wardrobe and feel good in their clothes.

Lindsey 30:53
And so we really, this year, just want more people to get introduced to fashion fix and that this place exists, that this is a soft landing spot for women that maybe previously have really struggled to find a place that can help them with their wardrobe in a way that feels, that feels good, that feels supportive, that feels empowering, and is giving them real life, practical, tactical tools and actions.

Lindsey 31:25
I think a lot too, in like the styling and fashion world, it can be a lot of these big ideas, big like aspirations, but not actualizations. And I will give you like, no, literally do this, like do step A, B, C, D, this is how you’re going to do it, so that the math adds up in the end, and you’re, you know, not left feeling more confused, or did you even get anything done. And so the more people that we can bring into Fashion Fix, we just feel, the more women are going to be empowered, you know, the more women that are going to be healed and helped, and that’s really what we want to be here to do. So spreading the word of Fashion Fix is just a really big dream of ours for this year.

Heidi 32:10
That is such a beautiful mission, and we’re so excited that you’ve been here to share it with us today.

Emily 32:15
And do you have a special offer for our listeners?

Lindsey 32:18
Yes, of course. Okay, so we have, if you want to get started, if you listen to all of this and you’re just like, chomping at the bit, you’re like, Okay, ladies, would you quit talking so I can just go to fashion fix and get started? Let me tell you where you’re going to go. You are going to go to fashionfixmn.com/secondstorywindow. And we have a page there for your audience, for your listeners, that will tap them in to a exclusive promo pricing on packaging together the body shape analysis and the style quiz, because you have to start there. You know, I know that sometimes it’s hard and you want to just like, race to the finish line or do the fun stuff first, but starting with the body shape analysis and this style analysis.

Lindsey 33:04
And then we’re doing a gift with purchase, because, like, I want you to also be able to get some traction, so we’re including the closet clean out when you purchase that bundle. So typically, that’s like a standalone, you know, workbook that you have to purchase and download. But we’re going to give your audience a gift with purchase of a copy of that closet clean out. So when they get their body shape results and they get their style analysis results, they can kind of hit the ground running with the next step without having to wait. So they’ll have access to that.

Lindsey 33:36
So fashionfixmn.com/secondstorywindow is where you’re going to find access to that exclusive deal. And I’m sure you ladies will put it in the show notes and email it out, because it’s a very secret deal, because you won’t be able to find that page. You won’t be able to find it anywhere else on the website. So you want to make sure that you save that link that that you get, because this is just for your listeners.

Emily 33:57
Insiders only. And our team member Melanie went through these exercises with you a couple weeks ago, and she had such a good experience. She said that she was surprised at the results. She thought she knew what her body shape was, and she was surprised at what she got. And our she already found it so enlightening. And I just am excited for our audience to get to have that experience with you as well.

Lindsey 34:21
Yes, and you’ll have to have Melanie share with the audience that it’s not scary.

Heidi 34:25
Yes.

Lindsey 34:25
Because that’s, you know, which I get. That’s another thing I, you know, my entire team, we are all very sensitive to. You know, especially when I was doing in-person personal shopping appointments, I was like, okay, these women are meeting a stranger at the Mall of America, inviting that stranger to go into a fitting room with them, to look at clothes that they’re trying on and tell them what’s wrong with the clothes. Like that is a super intimate and intimidating experience, and it is not lost on me. So you know, just the idea that you’re going to be sending in full body pictures of yourself, like in leggings and a tank top. It’s not lost on us that that can feel like a little bit intimidating. So I want you to know, like anybody out there, like, it’s not as scary as you think it’s gonna be, and we are so sensitive with what you’re sending to us.

Emily 35:20
Yes, yes. That’s pretty much what Melanie said. At first, she was like, she said she wanted to do it, we asked if she wanted to. And then she was like, wait, I have to send pictures? But then she said, like, no, it was fine. It was no big deal. And like, it was like, it was totally comfortable. She wasn’t even worried about it.

Emily 35:34
Yeah.

Emily 35:35
And Lindsey, we like to end our episodes with a Teacher Approved tip. So do you have a quick, actionable tip that you could share with our audience?

Lindsey 35:42
Oh, I sure do. Because do you know what I get from teachers all the time? School spirit days and having to wear school logoed apparel, and it may or may not be apparel that is like unisex cut, so the t-shirts are super long, or the sleeves are really long and boxy. Or the colors maybe aren’t ones that we love to wear for ourselves the most. So many times I’ve helped teachers navigate this, and let me give you my Teacher Approved tip for wearing your school spirit wear.

Lindsey 36:19
Number one, do not be afraid to cut or alter some of those t-shirts or sweatshirts, whether it’s cutting open the neckline or cutting a t-shirt shorter, you know, something like that. Because even if it has like a raw, that ends up having like an exposed or raw edge when you cut the shirt, you could do like a cute little front tuck in or something like that to make, you know, make it look different.

Lindsey 36:40
And then as far as colors, if your school offers, you know, obviously you have like your school colors, but if they offer any of the spirit apparel in like a neutral option, so sometimes they’ll do like a black and white or gray and white, or, you know, something kind of in a neutral option, like whatever that third neutral color is sometimes, for your your school, you know, opt into that. And then get, like, a fun pair of sneakers in one of the bolder colors, or like a fun pair of shorts or jeans. So that’s not like up against your face, but you’re still feeling very spirit-filled by wearing the team colors. Or do it in like a headband or hair accessory, like tie like a bandana around your ponytail, or a top knot, or something like that.

Lindsey 37:21
But if that’s not an option, and you still got to wear, like that royal blue t-shirt that isn’t quite great for your complexion, do a neutral layer over it that will tame it down, like a denim jacket, or any of your dark, like a dark neutral in your color palette that might work with that, like, I’m thinking royal blue. So if you do, like a gray or a black, or, you know, something like that, that might, you know, tone it down. So do a layer over it in one of your neutrals that might be more complimentary towards you.

Emily 37:50
Oh, I love that.

Heidi 37:50
So good.

Emily 37:51
Perfect. Lindsey, it was a pleasure having you, and we will have the link to learn more about you and your special offer for our audience in our show notes. And where else can they connect with you?

Lindsey 38:02
You can find us, all of our socials are at fashionfixmn, because I am based in Minnesota, so fashionfixmn, that’s going to be all of our social channels, and it’s going to be our website too. So if you look that up, you can find us anywhere.

Emily 38:17
Perfect. Thanks so much, Lindsey, it was great chatting with you.

Lindsey 38:21
Thanks for having me again, ladies.

Heidi 38:24
To wrap up the show, we are sharing what we’re giving extra credit to this week. Emily, what get your extra credit?

Emily 38:29
I’m giving extra credit to my new favorite mascara. So I prefer a tubing mascara, and the one I’m loving right now is the tartlet tubing mascara from Tarte, and I like the XL one, and I have been wearing brown, which I find looks nice with my eye color. So looks great, it doesn’t flake, and it washes off really easily. So it’s a win all around.

Heidi 38:52
Well it’s so funny that you’re saying this because, like, a half hour ago, I was just thinking, I have got to find a new mascara, because I don’t wear mascara every day because I work from home. But when we were doing Teacher Winter Talks, we were on camera every day for like, four days, and by the fourth day, my eyes were so irritated.

Emily 39:09
I remember.

Heidi 39:10
So I was looking up, like, best hypoallergenic mascara, and that was the one that came up. I was like, oh, I’m ordering that.

Emily 39:16
I love it. I love it. And I also try not to get, like, too close to my actual eyelid, too if, like, I find that I feel itchy, then I try to keep it more to the ends of the lashes, so that might help you, too.

Heidi 39:29
It’s too hard. It’s too hard.

Emily 39:30
What gets your extra credit, Heidi?

Heidi 39:32
Okay, well, my extra credit goes to the brain game sticker by number books.

Emily 39:36
Oh.

Heidi 39:37
This is not something I’ve ever considered doing because I just thought it was like something for kids, but I saw their Valentine book and it was so cute, so I just ordered it for myself, like the grown up I am, and I think of a fan. If you’re not familiar, it’s just like paint by number, but you’re putting stickers in little numbered boxes. It doesn’t take any skill, it’s minimal clutter, and unlike, you know, a hobby like crocheting, you know, I’m not left with some item at the end of it that’s like, well, everyone in my family already has hats. What am I doing with this one? You know, this can just get tossed or recycled or, you know, out of my hair.

Heidi 40:13
And the pictures are cute. I love that. It’s spiral bound so it stays open. And I noticed, you know, as someone who’s taught a lot of preschool over the years, I’ve become a connoisseur of stickers. These peel off really easily, and if I have to move them on the page, I can move them without them tearing. Like it’s really nice. And I’ve just loved having something to do in the evening instead of scrolling my phone.

Heidi 40:34
And as I guess, a bonus extra credit. So I have really bad arthritis in my thumbs, and so holding small things like stickers can be really painful.

Emily 40:43
Yeah.

Heidi 40:43
So I knew I needed something, and I found something called reverse tweezers. Now, normally tweezers, you have to pinch to close them and then you have to hold them shut, but these are the opposite. You pinch to open and then they hold themselves shut. It’s been a game changer for my poor thumbs. So I will link to the book and the tweezers in the show notes. It’s just been a really nice little side hobby.

Emily 41:06
I love it. I’m going to give it a try.

Heidi 41:09
That is it for today’s episode. Remember Lindsey’s tips for reclaiming your closet, and if you want to check out that special offer she has for our listeners, head to www.fashionfixmn.com/secondstorywindow, or follow the link in the show notes.

Heidi 41:28
We hope you enjoyed this episode of Teacher Approved. I’m Heidi.

Emily 41:31
And I’m Emily. Thank you for listening. Be sure to follow or subscribe in your podcast app so that you never miss an episode.

Heidi 41:38
You can connect with us and other teachers in the Teacher Approved Facebook group. We’ll see you here next week. Bye for now.

Emily 41:45
Bye.