It’s great to be back after taking a much-needed blog hiatus. It’s also my 22nd year in business this month which, while exciting, is also bewildering. It’s unbelievable that I have been at this for this long. I started my business at 28 and now I am 50. But this isn’t what I find the most bewildering. It’s what is happening in workwear fashion that is, and this is coming from someone who has been in the fashion industry for over 30 years. Fashion has been going through monumental shifts in recent years that are not only due to the worldwide upheaval in 2020 that affected how, when, and where we work but also include things like Gen Z burgeoning on the work scene with their own ideas about not only how people should work but what they should wear when they do. There is also the added instability of an election year, financial confusion, and AI quickly becoming capable of doing just about anything for us.
As summer went on and I had extra time to think about all of this —which turned out to be the worst possible thing I could have done— I began to wonder about my place in all these changes, if I aged out of relevance as a stylist or if anyone really needed one any longer given how casual we’ve all become and how much more accessible fashion advice is. Instead of breadth of experience, expertise seems to be determined by follower count which, as a company, we haven’t even come close to cracking no matter how hard we try. Would I really have to compete for relevance against things like stylist subscriptions or influencers with rabid appetites for posting on social media? I also questioned whether blogging was a dusty way of communicating that made me look out of touch given that all most people have the attention span for these days are social media reels that are 30 seconds or less. Needless to say, with all this thinking, worrying, and fear that my career was going by way of the buggy whip factory right after cars were invented, I was a miserable, depressed, overthinking mess.
THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO PACK IT IN
Then one day it dawned on me, we’re all navigating these changing times together and if I found them dizzying, what must it be like for other women out there? Was now really the time I packed it in and bowed out when expertise like mine could be more helpful than ever? I’ve come this far and been a companion to so many women on their style journeys, now was not the time to quit. Quite the opposite. It was time to double down because if anyone can help women see themselves through these wildly rapid changes in fashion, it’s me. I dusted myself off, stopped worrying, shook my depressive fog off, got over feeling sorry for myself, rolled up my sleeves, and got back in the game.
Certainly, here at Bridgette Raes Style Group, we are questioning how being a stylist and expert on the topic shows up in this day and age. I asked many of my clients about their blog reading habits and instead of getting the answer I expected, that nobody reads them any longer, I found they read my posts because it helps them make sense of fashion and likened me to some sort of nerd they can count on. I love nerds. As it has always been my intention to answer the whys of fashion, because I believe that once you know them you can repeat successes and avoid failures, I was happy to get feedback that this is what readers look to in my blog. So will we continue to post? Yes. As long as it answers questions and provides information that can’t be found elsewhere.
WE HAVE WORK TO DO
We also know that our social media game needs work. We’ve been doing better but nobody would consider us to be anything even close to an influencer, and, to be honest, if I had my way, I wouldn’t care because I believe we should be judged by the work we do, not how well we can beat an algorithm. However, I realize this is a game we have to play, so we’ve been much better on Instagram, our Facebook Group has always been a popular place, and yes, we need to do better on LinkedIn because, for crying out loud, I mainly style women in professional leadership. We should be all over that site. We’re also utilizing our LTK shop more often and recommend you follow us there for quick consumption.
AS WE CONTINUE ON THIS JOURNEY TOGETHER
As we continue on this journey together, my friend, this is who I want to be for you, I want to show you how to meld working from home with in-office work needs, how to make things like wearing sneakers professionally easier, how to style separates, what the heck to do with athleisure in the workplace and all the other things I enjoy nerding out on, like color theory, wardrobe management, putting looks together, navigating dressing for work, fit, incorporating trends at any age, personal style, and more. You can hire me for a one-on-one consultation, and keep up with us here and on social media.
We also need your help to succeed. If you enjoy our posts, tell a friend about them or share them socially. If you or someone you know needs style help, reach out, and if there is content you are begging for, let us know about it. How can we do better, how can we help you, how can you help us continue to succeed? We always want to know and we always want to hear from you.
To a wonderful new season. Thank you for continuing to take this journey with us.
I find your writing essential. Your taste, your experience, that you are not hawking a brand…
Thank you so much, Laura! I appreciate you taking the time to let me know this.
I enjoy your posts, although I cannot afford outfits you feature, it gives me ideas. Budget friendly tips are helpful like shopping on Poshmark (although they don’t accept returns and re-poshing does not always work out).
Thank you, Lora. I always try to be as inclusive with pricing as I can, but I appreciate that the items still may not be in someone’s budget. That said, I am still happy to know you get value.
Hi Bridgette, welcome back! So sorry to hear you went through a mini-work-existential-crisis … but glad you seem to feel more secure in your relevance on the other end of it.
A few things –
1. first and foremost, welcome back! i missed your posts. I hope you had a relaxing (mini-crisis aside) break
2. I really liked the collection of old posts you put together this time – i know its not something you do every year, but i found it great to just click through (and then use the little widget thing to go down the rabbit hole
3. regarding the content of your posts. As you pointed out, the world be crazy right now – in this case, by crazy I mean it is unstable. everything feels like it is in in flux. I think helping to ground us during this time by staying true to ourselves, helping us muddle through dipping a toe in ephemeral trends, explaining how they work, or why they dont work so that we can decide if it is where we want to go or not… it’s like we’re little canoes being pulled by the (rapidly expanding and swirling) currents, and you’re offering us oars so that if we WANT to paddle and control our direction, we can.
Oh dear, I’m waxing metaphoric this morning.
But in any case, your work & blog is meaningful and appreciated.
An existential crisis is the perfect way to put it and while it was miserable it was really helpful. It’s really helpful to be reminded of what readers find valuable and that something as simple as linking old blog posts is appreciated. I will try to do that more often.
Little canoes is such an adorable visual. Happy to be your paddle.
Truly, thank you.
You have helped shape my wardrobe. You’ve helped me to purge. You’ve never tried to push me or others into a ’30 ideal pieces every single woman must have in their closet’. You’ve urged me to find my own style.
Thank you.
Wow. No. Thank you. I’m touched and flattered.
Welcome back. So sorry that your break was not as relaxing as you may have hoped, but you worked through a problem and resolved it. As a retired Catholic school English teacher, I would have been filling pages of a notebook with Venn diagrams to sort through the dilemma. That said, I love your posts and your anonymous creative names for your clients. I always study what you do for them. My budget has never been as generous (remember I said Catholic school; I loved it but my pay was more on a missionary level) , but I always learn a tidbit or two from you and adapt them to fulfill my dwindling needs. I am happy to hear that the blog will continue! You have much to offer.
Thank you, Debroah. Like my clients’ budgets, I try to vary the price points of what I feature so that everyone can shop if they want but completely understand, my mother spent a short period teaching in a Catholic school when I was a kid and the pay wasn’t great. But as you said, whether or not people can shop, my hope has always been that people can still take the information I share and make it there own. Thank you again for your support and loyal readership.
I’m glad you decided to stick with your process. Blogging is having a resurgence with the fashion people I follow on social media. It seems like anyone can pose in front of a wall and make videos telling us all about simple rules, but intelligent people (that’s your gang) still like deep analysis and discussion. Which is harder for you the producer, it takes time and effort. I appreciate it. Thank you.
Hi Linda, thanks! Yea, social media can only do so much and it has its place for quick consumption, which I participate in if I need to kill time or am procrastinating, but blogging never fully went away and I am happy to know it is making a comeback. I tend to keep my head down and do my own thing in an effort to not muddy the waters in my brain so I don’t usually pay attention to what other people are doing. Perhaps we are coming back to a time where people want more than a few sound bites? Anyway, thank you again for the kind and supportive words.
Your knowledge and experience are still needed! I stumbled upon your blog today when I “Googled” whether or not you should wear turtlenecks if you have a short waist. 🙂 You blogged about turtlenecks over a decade ago, but the information was so helpful! There were comments from readers thanking you for giving the “why” behind fashion choices. I’m in my forties, and I have spent the last month trying to figure out my body shape, how to dress it, how to figure out my style (or how to evolve it)… everything that you know how to do! But the best advice from the turtleneck post was that rules were made to be broken, including fashion rules. After I read that post, I wondered if you were still blogging, so I went to the Home page. I read this post and decided to thank you and encourage you. I will certainly be perusing all of your previous posts to soak in all of your expertise. I’m glad to read that you are going to stay on this path and continue to help others like me. 🙂
Wow, Shelly. Welcome and thank you! What you said is exactly why I started my business and stayed in it so long. I always believed that filter that could help women translate fashion specifically for them was necessary because I saw the disconnect first hand when I was a designer. I am so glad you found me and hope that my posts continue to help you.
Please, please, keep writing Bridgette! I read it, I enjoy it and I am moving away from social media because I can’t stand anymore the amount of garbage their AI algorithms shoot at me . Even LinkedIn-its too much like facebook nowadays. But I agree-if you keep social media, this is the one to do
Thank you, Inna. I greatly appreciate your supportive words.
Bridgette, it is lovely to have you back, although I’m sorry you spent part of your ‘time off’ stressing about your role. This surprises me, as I believe that, given “these wildly rapid changes in fashion,” you are the obvious expert. Your blog posts have taught me so much over the years, even though I’m not in the workforce anymore. I have always loved fashion, and still do. I want to stay in touch with current trends, shop intelligently and responsibly, look my best, and have some fun with what I wear. I’ve learned so much about style from you. I’ve learned so much from the great people in your Facebook group. Thank you for sticking with us!
Thank you so much, Cynthia. It is a good time for expertise like mine, so we’ll see where fashion lands after it is in flux. I appreciate your kind words to stay in the game along with your loyal readership!
i enjoy your blog. I live in California and dress casually. I find the posts where you feature the outfits you wear at home and on vacation the most useful. I try to adapt the work outfits you feature for your clients to my casual outfits and can usually find a way to apply your ideas. I appreciate your insights and experience. I’m glad you are considering the casual lifestyle many enjoy.
Hi Chris! Thank you so much for your kind words and readership! We’re definitely in a time where casual and work fashion co-mingled more than ever and it’s important to address that. Despite your casual wardrobe, I am glad you continue to get value. Thank you again for taking the time to comment!
First time commenter, relatively new reader. Please, please keep doing what you are doing! As a newly minted executive in a locally prominent role, your blog a place to learn as I try to look the part I know I’ve earned, and to make sure I feel ready every day for whatever my job may throw at me. I have no time and no patience for the fleeting and transactional nature of influencers. This blog is style AND substance. That’s rare. And special. Thank you!!
First of all, Emily, welcome! Thank you for your kind and supportive words. I am so happy to know that you have found value from these posts. If you ever need help beyond these posts, please don’t hesitate. Until then, thank you for your readership!
Bridgette, I don’t post often but I do read your blog all the time. I’m so glad you’ve decided to stay in the game. I find current fashion totally bewildering because these days it feels like All The Things are fair game (see, for instance, the huge range of ponte pants options on the Banana Republic website) but that doesn’t mean that if you just put random things together that you will end up looking stylish! I work in a super casual office and I think that makes it so much harder. Some of my coworkers look terrific and some of us look like a heap of laundry and yet we are all largely wearing the same clothes… but some people seem to know how to put them together to look very current, and others of us just don’t. We definitely still need your help! Maybe it’s all about keeping current with proportions as we combine pieces, rather than the individual items themselves? Aagh. I count on your blog to break it down for me. Thank you so much for all you do.
Thank you, Deborah, it’s so lovely of you to comment and keep up with my blog regularly. It’s so interesting that you made that comment about variety while I was right in the middle of writing a post for this week on this very topic. I think you bring up a great point, not just about navigating all the variety but what I have seen women go up against time and time again: knowing what to do with their clothing once they buy it. You are definitely not alone with this struggle and it has always been my goal to help clients and readers deal with this. Thank you again for taking the time and reminding me that the work I do has value.
I don’t know if it’s helpful, but I can tell you that if you offered a once-a-year Master Class in that year’s current trends (with special attention to the “what to do with your clothes once you’ve bought them” issue) I would pay money every single year to keep up with what’s changed and hear that kind of attention to the details — for instance, take a few of the outfits you post on your blog, show video of someone modeling the outfit (that will tell us a LOT that we can’t see in flat form), and explain to us why/how that combination of top, bottom, shoe (critical!) and jewelry works harmoniously together AND speaks to current trends. Lots of influencers (most of whom seem to be rank amateurs) do this but they don’t have your eye or your professional training. Just an idea from a fan. 😉
Bridgette – I get so much Ick from the influencers…even the ones who are less “haul of the day” focused and more style tips focused. YOU, OTOH are my fashion guiding light. You are thoughtful, practical, stylish and fun. Please don’t ever change!
Thank you, Lindi! I appreciate your support and loyal readership. I find it encouraging to know that among the noise of all those influencers out there my voice still comes through.
I have started a new job that is more casual than my previous roles – going to work in jeans is different from dresses and suits! Thank you for these tips so I can make this change easier