Stylist Tiffany Wendel's Three Vibe Rule for a Closet That Fits Your Changing Life
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Show Snapshot:
Your body changed, your life changed, and your closet never got the memo. Tiffany Wendel, personal stylist, watched menopause reshape her body almost overnight at 52 and responded by selling off two-thirds of her own wardrobe. Now she helps other women do the same: edit, resell, and rebuild a closet that fits who they are now, not who they were a decade ago.
In this episode:
Tiffany's Three Vibe Rule, a no-fail formula for outfits that actually feel like you
The one color move that takes an outfit from "fine" to "wait, where'd you get that?"
Where to resell old clothes for real cash, not pennies
The fall pieces genuinely worth investing in this season
About Tiffany Wendel: Tiffany Wendel is a personal stylist who has worked with celebrities, CEOs, and top retailers, running an online styling practice that helps women find their vibe and rebuild their closets. Her expertise spans editing, reselling, and curating wardrobes that fit who her clients are now.
Show Links:
Follow Tiffany:
Links from the show:
The Refind: Luxury Consignment
Quotable:
"We're holding on to mistakes and purchases we still have the tag on that we'd feel bad letting go of. We're looking at things that used to fit and don't fit any longer."
Transcript:
Katie Fogarty [00:00]
Welcome to A Certain Age, a show for women who are unafraid to age out loud. I'm your host, Katie Fogarty.
Beauties, summer is fading, fall temps are creeping in, and you are probably staring into your closet thinking, I need a new sweater. You may even be thinking, nothing fits. Nothing fits who I am right now. And I'm not just talking about your body; I'm talking about your life. That instinct to refresh your wardrobe when the seasons change is the same instinct behind midlife reinvention.
We shed what no longer serves us. We make room for who we're becoming. And today's guest believes your closet is where that shift starts. There's a reason fall hits different. It's not just pumpkin spice and crisp temps. Fall has back-to-school energy, with its new notebook, new energy vibes, and it offers a real excuse to ask: Does what's hanging in my closet st— Okay, I knew I was going to screw this up. Okay, never mind. All right.
Tiffany Wendel is a celebrity and personal stylist, trend forecaster, and founder of The Vibe, her online shop built around exactly the philosophy we're diving into today. She's built relationships with Bergdorf's, Net-a-Porter, Chanel, Dior, the works. But today she's boiling all of that down into something you can use tomorrow morning. We're talking about her viral concept, the Three Vibe Rule, a shockingly simple formula for building any outfit on any day with zero decision fatigue.
We'll get into how to pick your three vibes, why editing your closet down can give you more outfits and more peace, and the color rule most women get backwards. And Tiffany's going to help us figure out exactly what's worth adding to our closets this fall. Welcome to A Certain Age, Tiffany.
Tiffany Wendel [01:39]
Hi, I'm so excited to be here.
Katie Fogarty [01:41]
I am very excited as well. I got to read a little snippet of your work when I read our mutual friend Christine Morrison's wonderful memoir, Close Minded. And I know you shared one of the essays in that. So I feel connected to you. Christine is such a fabulous force of nature and a wonderful friend, and I love that we're connected through her.
Tiffany Wendel [02:03]
Gosh, me too, and I feel exactly the same way.
Katie Fogarty [02:06]
So I am excited for this conversation because I spent, I guess, last year having to edit my closet down. We downsized our home. We moved into a New York City apartment. And I'm pretty proud that when I open my much smaller closet today, in it are things that I love and actually want to wear. Because I have had the experience of looking at my closet, seeing it stuffed with clothes, and feeling like I have nothing to wear.
So we are going to get into your framework for getting dressed with style and confidence. But before we do that, what do you think's going on when a woman is standing at a stuffed closet thinking, I have no idea how to get dressed today? Is it really about the clothes, or is it about something else?
Tiffany Wendel [02:48]
You know, a lot of it is about what we're holding on to in that closet. We are holding on to possible mistakes, and purchases that we still have the tag on that we feel bad if we let go of. We're looking at things that used to fit and don't fit any longer. And we're looking at items that no longer fit our lifestyle. And so we're looking at this closet and it's not making us feel good. Part of it is the amount of items in that closet that are not working for us now. And so the first step, I feel, is to take a real, hard look at the closet and think about your lifestyle, your size, and what fits you now.
I've been in fashion for 35 years, and this is my art. This is what I've collected. And the pieces that I have, I'm so emotionally connected to. But as much as I love looking at them, I realized I couldn't wear them because I have gained weight. I'm 52 and in menopause, and it's hard to look at them and not be able to wear them. So I went through my closet with a real eye of: Is it easeful? Does it fit me? Does it feel good? I gained weight across my shoulders, my feet got bigger, my waist... my body is just a completely different size, and it truly happened overnight. As much as that shocked me, it shocked me to try on the clothes and realize I'm not wearing that leather jacket because I can't drive in it. I can't move my arms.
Katie Fogarty [04:16]
Oh my gosh. The can't-move-your-arms-in-a-jacket situation is so real, Tiffany. I was like, what happened? Oh my God. I have stuff that I feel so constricted in that I've had to just make peace with and give away. And speaking of making peace, you did this yourself. You wrote a wonderful article for your Substack, which I dove into. The title of that is "I Sold Two-Thirds of My Closet and Bought a Bag." And I was like, she had me at "bought a bag." And you really identified pieces in your closet that no longer work for you. So how do you take that knowledge now and help other women translate it to themselves when you work with them? How do you help them edit, say goodbye, and let go of things that truly no longer fit who they are today?
Tiffany Wendel [05:04]
Yeah, you know, I think if you have a friend, someone who can be there with you, it really is going through every piece of your closet. And if you're on the fence, if you love the piece, try it on and see how it feels. Because our bodies change; we gain weight in our chest and our backs. Because of the changes that happen overnight, you really need to put the items on. And then think about that item. I have a daughter who I passed items down to. I saved a few pieces in case they fit one day.
But for the most part, it's like, I want this item that I love to have a new life. So I'm going to resell it so that somebody else can use it and it doesn't just sit in my closet collecting dust. It's gorgeous, it's killer, it's awesome, but I'm not wearing it, so I am going to let go. And in letting go, it allows me to fill that piece back in. But it also allows me to see other pieces in my closet I may not have seen because it's just overstuffed.
Katie Fogarty [06:02]
Yeah, it's so smart to whittle things down. And I love that you gifted some things to your daughter. I've done that myself. I donated a lot of clothes. I sold a few items as well. We're going to explore your very fun framework for getting dressed now that we've got a maybe more edited closet. But before we move on to the Three Vibe formula, I want to hear about that fabulous bag you bought.
Tiffany Wendel [06:24]
Oh my gosh, okay. Growing up, I really wasn't in a designer family. It was like, you get $250 for back-to-school clothes, and that felt like it was for the whole year. Which I feel lucky for, but I didn't have designer things growing up. And so as I have been in fashion and accumulated some things, I still have some guilt about getting myself really nice things. So what I did was I decided that in selling this accumulation from my closet, I was not going to just go in and buy a thing here, a thing there. What I did was I sold it all, and I let it build up, and I let it build up. I don't look per item, because that'll just take the wind out of a girl's sails. I mean, if you look at how much you bought it for, how much do we get... I sell everything at Refined. It's in Seattle.
Katie Fogarty [07:13]
And Tiffany, where are you selling these things? Loop us into that.
Tiffany Wendel [07:20]
It has been amazing for me. They'll send you a label, you send your things, and you have an account where you can watch things selling and see how much you're getting. They also have lives every day, so you can know what to keep your eye on. They do live selling, so you can watch it online. Refined is a consignment store in Seattle, but it does several lives throughout the day where you can actually shop, through their lives.
Katie Fogarty [07:38]
How fun. So is Refined a consignment store? It sounds like—
Tiffany Wendel [07:49]
It is a consignment store, but really the audience is worldwide. And she's a college friend, and it's insane. It's amazing. And I've cut, you know—
Katie Fogarty [07:58]
Ugh, fabulous. I'm going to check that out. Ugh, I'm going to put that in the show notes. I think that's really fun for people to know because you can sell stuff on The RealReal or Poshmark, and there are tons of other ways too. My daughter shops on things I can't even remember because they're selling young people's stuff. But this sounds like a really fun thing for women to know. So, okay, you did this with your college friend.
Tiffany Wendel [08:24]
And it's a women-owned business. She started it in her fifties. So it's like, you know, all the things. Yes.
Katie Fogarty [08:33]
Yes, I need to know more about this. I love it. And then you were able to buy yourself something special.
Tiffany Wendel [08:41]
So then I actually bought myself a Birkin from 2000, which is kind of when my fashion career really began. I started my own store, and that's really where it all began. And so it's got some wear and tear, it's got some scratches, because somebody else loved it, and then I was able to get it. I've had some trouble getting used to carrying it because of feeling guilty, or maybe not worth it. And then I think about how hard I've worked and what I sold and how I've really invested in moving on to the next phase. And so now I'm carrying it.
Katie Fogarty [09:15]
Yeah, no, I love that. It's a fewer-better-things story. And it's like saying goodbye to things to maybe have one choice item that really represents something meaningful to you. I absolutely adore that. Okay, so let's talk about this framework that you've built over the years. You've had a 30-plus-year career in fashion. You've done everything from being a stylist to owning a brick-and-mortar retail store at one point. Now you have an online store called The Vibe, and in a few minutes you're going to tell our listeners how they can come shop The Vibe. But before we do that, I want to talk about your framework, because you really help people solve the problem of getting dressed on a Tuesday, right? Sometimes we know what we want to wear when we're going out, or you're going to a wedding and you've thought about it for six months and planned it. But we've got to get dressed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. That's a lot of days. So walk us through how we do that easily. You have something you call the Three Vibe Rule. Tell us what that is.
Tiffany Wendel [10:11]
Okay, so yes, I'm really excited about this. It's the Three Vibe Rule, and it is the art of wearing three vibes all at once and owning it. Where I came up with this was in my sessions with my clients. As we're putting together outfits and having so much fun, they're saying, "I would have never thought of that." And I'm thinking to myself, this is what I'm doing intuitively, these mixes, and making you feel good as you're heading to the grocery store. But how can I give clients the tools to do this on their own? I thought about it for a while, and it came to me that what we're doing here is creating tension. We're creating tension in our everyday looks, and that's what makes it feel artful. That's what makes it feel good. That's what makes it feel intentional.
The Three Vibe Rule is thinking of your closet in a whole different way. It's thinking of your closet in vibes. And by vibes, I mean: what kind of energy does that piece bring? Is it a menswear vibe? Is it a feminine vibe? Is it a Western vibe? A tomboy vibe, a structured vibe, an edgy vibe? And then thinking to yourself, I have a wheel, and I am going to wear three of the vibes on this wheel. If the vibes are close together on the wheel, then my outfit is pretty subtle, but it still looks intentional. And if I really want to make a statement, I'm going to make my vibes far apart on the wheel.
An example of this: let's say you want to start your day. Now, the idea behind this is that we're not defining ourselves and putting ourselves in a box of "this is who you are." We're really going day by day and saying, you know what? Today I want to wear this masculine trouser. So how do I work that into the Three Vibe Rule? You could roll your vibes or you could choose your vibes, and then you would say, okay, I want high tension today, so I'm going to mix this masculine trouser with a feminine top. So I'm going to look in my closet, find a feminine blouse, and then pick my third vibe, and it's going to be sporty. I'm going to wear a sneaker. And we also have a color layer that integrates into this. But then it's like, my gosh, this is that outfit that woman is wearing in that street-style pic. I wondered, how did she get that? What did she do? It's like she's wearing the rule of threes in three different vibes. And it's artful, it's intentional, and it's also fun. I'm at an age where I want to start thinking out of the box, and I want to start really being creative about how I'm dressing.
Katie Fogarty [12:54]
I love it. And people are going to hop over to Tiffany's website, because she's literally got the wheel on it. You can take the Three Vibe quiz. There's also a color wheel, where you help people create tension and friction with colors, right? Because I think a lot of people are afraid. So talk to us a little bit about how colors intersect with this.
Tiffany Wendel [13:15]
Well, that's so important, because I think color is a lot of times where we get stopped up. And there's an app too on the website where you can put your own items in and save your closet by vibe, category, and color. Once you roll your vibes and decide on your vibe tension, then we decide on your colors. Based on the tension in your outfit, if you have high tension in your outfit, we're going to go with chill colors.
Katie Fogarty [13:41]
So what's high tension in an outfit? Help us understand that visually. Is it like a menswear blazer and a pink frothy skirt? Is that okay?
Tiffany Wendel [13:43]
Ha, yeah, I know. It's—
Tiffany Wendel [13:49]
Yep, yep, a pink frothy top. So high tension in your outfit is when your vibes are really different. So if you choose a menswear vibe and you look across the wheel, you see the feminine. And then you go straight across from there and it's sporty. Those are all very far apart on the wheel, and that's high tension. So then you want to go a little more subtle with your colors. If you add color to the outfit, we roll you colors that, based on color theory, the rule of threes, and the fashion wheel, come together, and you see, okay, those three colors work.
And if your outfit is more subtle, like feminine, classic, girly, and it's all kind of similar, then we talk about the pop of color. So you roll your colors and it gives you something really fun, a combination that works to the eye, and it's rolling it for you. So you're also learning some new outfit combinations. You can save these rolls; you can save these combinations. You can roll items from your closet or look to shop. It's a whole new way of shopping as well, because you're looking to fill in colors and vibes.
Katie Fogarty [15:08]
It's so wonderfully immersive and interactive. And I know that everyone who's joining us for this conversation is listening over audio, but I am seeing Tiffany as we record, and she's wearing this beautiful bubblegum-pink top. I can't see what she's wearing on her bottom. So I'm curious: what are you pairing with this very beautiful, joyful color?
Tiffany Wendel [15:29]
This beautiful, joyful color I am wearing with what I would call tomboy pants, almost that pajama-boxer feel. And then with that, a ballet flat. So it's got the feminine in there also. The shirt is preppy, the pant is comfy, and then I'm wearing a ballet flat, which is not what you would expect, but it's the feminine in the outfit. It's adding the unexpected and having a little bit of fun with it that makes you feel like you brought it. If you're going to the grocery store and you're wearing sweats, throw on a trench and a ballet flat, and instantly you feel like, okay, I did something here. Throw on a cat-eye sunglass, you know.
Katie Fogarty [16:15]
More polished. It adds a little bit of polish to something that otherwise, if the vibe was all sweats, then maybe you don't feel quite as glamorous when you're heading out, or as pulled together. So for a woman who's never done this before, who's listening, who's thinking, okay, I need to get my hands on those wheels on Tiffany's website, how would you walk her through where she might start? If somebody's saying to you, I really feel like I need to push myself out of my comfort zone (and my comfort zone, whatever it is, because everyone's got kind of one lane that they're in), but they're dying to stretch themselves. How do you recommend that they begin to create that tension, in baby steps?
Tiffany Wendel [16:54]
Okay, so the first thing is you can just go to my site, TiffanyWendel.com, and play with the wheels. You can choose a vibe and roll, and then add colors and roll. That will bring up options that give you examples, and you can start playing around with that. And if you decide you want to do the app, the app lets you load a few items, either items that you're thinking you might want or that are in your closet, and then roll around them. It will give you inspiration. It will actually do the work for you. You can re-roll and re-roll until you find something that you like. By loading three items from your closet or that you might want, even one item, it lets you roll around it and gives you these options. It also lets you save your wants, save your closet, and even just roll from items that you own.
Katie Fogarty [17:51]
Which is so important, because we all need to really shop our closets. When I did it myself, I found I had some things I needed to replace, but I had a lot of stuff in my closet that was just being neglected. And I've been really challenging myself to layer things. The other day I was going off to a birthday party. I've got this brown slip dress that I've been wearing a lot, but I did a boxy blue shirt over it, almost like a little cape. And I was so proud of myself. I'm like, I took these two things and I put them together in a way that I would not have done if I wasn't really trying to make my closet work harder. And I think it's such a fun, joyful way of experimenting. It was just an evolution for me. This is obviously something that comes so naturally to you, but for people who are listening to this show who are thinking, I'm not even sure what my style is, or maybe they've just been in that one lane that we talked about, how do we change and evolve our style when we're not sure where to start? Yes, we could use your color wheel, but if you were talking to people about pushing themselves out of their comfort zone, how would you encourage them to begin?
Tiffany Wendel [18:58]
Well, I love your story, because you started with a piece that you really like, this brown slip. You could have just gone with a cardigan, but you thought to yourself, what would be slightly off? And I think you listened to yourself in that moment. You started with a piece that you really like. And I think that sometimes we even lose sight of what we really like. So it's really about looking in our closet and finding something that we really resonate with and then building from there. What you did was make a choice to do feminine with a structured top. So I think a big part of it is boiling it down to yourself, to a few pieces that you really like. You don't need to know the full picture. You just need to figure out some pieces that you like. And sometimes those are pieces that we find when we travel, because when we travel, our minds are more open and we feel a bit more free.
As you think about building your wardrobe, first of all, we've cleansed, so we've got fewer pieces to look at. And then as you're looking at your wardrobe, you're thinking about getting dressed and thinking about maybe pieces that we used to love that we want to find that version of now.
Katie Fogarty [20:22]
That's smart, because we might rely on things. Denim has become a staple of my wardrobe, but denim is something that changes all the time. So we want to take a look and make sure that we're not... My friend Netta Jones calls it "date-stamping yourself," where all of a sudden you're in a pair of jeans that... And I'm not talking about a beloved Levi's 501 that you're going to wear for 30 years and that's going to work forever, but sometimes you're wearing a pair in a style, a certain thing, that's got a cut that's sort of awkward, or the wash is different. How do you advise women on updating their denim today?
Tiffany Wendel [20:59]
You know, it's interesting, because the denim market has just blown wide open. So right now every style of denim is out there. I would say the fabrics are different. If it's in your heart, steer away from that stretchy jegging. But slim jeans are coming back. It's more of a straight leg that doesn't dart in at the bottom. But there are high-rise flares. There's the barrel jean or balloon jean. And baggy is really big for this season, this more oversized baggy look, which of course I love because I'm all about comfort right now. That makes me really happy. I would wear this baggy jean with a structured blazer just to bring in the pop. But really, as you're looking at your jeans, first of all, look at fit and think about how this jean fits me now, because that's a big part of it. If you're uncomfortable at dinner and you're sitting there and it's digging in, that is not going to make you happy. You're not going to have a good night.
Katie Fogarty [22:07]
Oh my gosh, I am cracking up, because my daughter has this one pair of fabulous jeans and she's like, "These are the jeans I can't eat in when I wear them." And I'm thinking, I could never do that. But we've all been there in our twenties. Exactly. This is the beautiful thing about getting to fifty-six. I'm like, I'm not wearing those jeans anymore. I've done that. Forget it. That is out the door with you. We are moving on.
Tiffany Wendel [22:15]
Yeah, I call them standing room only. I'm like, I can go to a cocktail party, but I can't... if I have to unbutton it to sit in the car, it's not happening. And yes.
Katie Fogarty [22:33]
So help a short girl out, because I'm a shorty and I love a barrel jean, but most of them make me look like I'm in clown pants.
Tiffany Wendel [22:40]
Well, Katie, you know what's so exciting is that brands are starting to make petite. Frame, and I believe AG, possibly Mother, they all make a petite barrel. So when you are shopping and searching, always put "petite" into the search bar of the site. It is unreal how many of the denim brands are now doing jeans in petite, for this same reason.
Katie Fogarty [22:51]
Okay, I need to go click over.
Tiffany Wendel [23:08]
If I'm going to alter a flare jean and I lose the flare, and the knee-wear is down at my shin, that doesn't work. So definitely search in the petites. And another thing for you to think about as a petite: when you're wearing a barrel jean, cuff it at the bottom and show a little ankle, so that it shows this jean is not wearing you, you're wearing the jean. And do that same thing with your shirts: show a little bit of wrist, a little bit of an open neckline, so that it really shows, I'm in here. I'm in this oversized outfit.
Katie Fogarty [23:47]
Yeah, I think that's such important advice too, because any woman who looks fabulous walking down the street looks comfortable and looks like she's wearing the clothes and not vice versa. I think that really resonates. And I have no idea how you feel about this, but I picked up this hack from Instagram and I bought these things. They're a little weird, but they're bracelet sleeves. I use them to help me keep my blazer sleeves cuffed, because again, I'm a shorty and I don't have endless limbs. So I use these... I guess they're blazer bracelets. I don't know. You put them up and you...
Tiffany Wendel [24:19]
Yeah, it's almost like the rubber band thing that goes on your... It's like an elastic kind of situation.
Katie Fogarty [24:24]
Exactly. And I think I bought them on Amazon for like six dollars. And you hide them under the sleeve because they're ugly, but they hold the sleeve up for you. And I'm like, this is the smartest thing I've ever purchased for six dollars.
Tiffany Wendel [24:34]
It is. And I stand behind this decision, because I really believe in those little things. Like that little bracelet sleeve, you can also put it on the bottom of a pant and make it a balloon pant. I always suggest, when somebody puts on a blazer, I'm like, okay, now relax and make it your own. Push up the sleeves, pop the collar, wear it. And that bracelet sleeve enables you to do that without futzing with it all day. Part of looking easeful...
Katie Fogarty [25:01]
Yeah, and it just makes it work. Being at ease is feeling at ease, right? And not constantly adjusting. I'm not doing fussy clothes either. Fussy clothes, out the door with you.
Tiffany Wendel [25:04]
...is not fussing. Yeah, and there's also collar stays that keep your collar up. And there's something called a stitch fix, which I use all the time, which lets you wear your shirt more unbuttoned, but you stitch it right in the middle. So it's unbuttoned, but you're not worried about it flying open. It's called a Micro Stitch, and it enables you to hold your cuff up, take up pants at the last minute, or even fix that button.
Katie Fogarty [25:33]
I don't know anything about that. Do you add that to shirts?
Tiffany Wendel [25:44]
It's not quite in your shirt. Like, I want to be a little sexier than that, but I don't want to be hanging out. It lets you go and stitch it right in the middle. So, yeah. Yes, you buy it. You buy it on Amazon. Micro Stitch.
Katie Fogarty [25:52]
Wow. Do we buy this, or do you add it with, like... Okay. All right, that's Micro Stitch. Okay, cool. Learn something new every day. You know, it's funny, because I don't have to worry about shirts gaping and exposing too much because I don't have a lot to expose. But I think that's a really good tip for people who are, particularly if you're walking into work and you don't want to be flashing people. So I love that. I'm so happy I learned that. Okay. What are other hacks and tips like that that you pass along to clients all the time? Is there something you turn to again and again, a gold standard that you encourage every client to add to their closet?
Tiffany Wendel [26:36]
You know, that's such an interesting question, because, I know this isn't the easiest answer, but every client is so different. But I really am a sneaker girl, and I love a statement sneaker. I do think that, especially for my executive clients and clients who want to even be on a sports field, having that signature sneaker really does something for a girl. It picks up your spirit. And when you're wearing a dress, if you put on that signature sneaker, you feel more urban, you feel more New York, you feel more fun. So a lot of times when I have my meetings with my clients, I'm like, okay, what is your signature sneaker? And then we come up with a fun one. Of course, I love an Adidas, and the Sambas just took off. But there's also the Tokyo, and there's also...
Katie Fogarty [27:20]
And what if they don't have an answer? What are the brands that you like?
Tiffany Wendel [27:34]
...the Japan, and these other Adidas that are so cool, and they come out... Even if we think back, a lot of times I tell my clients, what sneaker did you wear when you were growing up? For me, it's a Stan Smith. It's a Rod Laver. It's an old-school Adidas tennis sneaker. And that's what I bought, because it makes me feel like myself. For some people, it's, I only wore Vans. I'm like, well, let's get you into a Van. And now they have leopard and animal and all these fun prints. A lot of times it's going back to, what if it was a Tretorn or something like that? And now there are also new brands. There's a brand called Oncept, which makes a beautiful sneaker that nobody else has. There's Coolway, which makes sneakers that nobody else has. And so a lot of it is going back to, when you look into yourself, and this is with the closet in general: What do you love? What do you resonate with? A lot of times people are like, well, I used to love wearing my checkered Vans with this and this. I'm like, okay, let's do it now. How are we going to do it now? It's going to look a little different, but how are we going to do it now?
Katie Fogarty [28:51]
I love this idea that a female executive could be wearing a stylish sneaker as part of her wardrobe. Even though we want to hearken back to things that feel comfortable and resonant to us in our closets, fashion really has changed. It's become so much more casual than when you and I were growing up, Tiffany. I'm a little older than you; I'm 56. When I was growing up, I went to an all-girls school, and you were horrified if your bra strap showed. Now people are walking around in bra tops. It's just complete... And I'm fine with it too. I have a sheer shirt with a bra underneath it. That would not have happened. My brain would have melted had I known at the age of 56 I'd be doing that. So things truly, truly do change.
And so, for a woman who's listening to this, let's pick two examples. Let's pick somebody who works in a professional setting but wants to feel modern, and wants to feel like she is showing up with style and presence. She's had a long, great career and she has really earned her expertise and her wisdom. How is she showing up at work feeling powerful? I know it's case by case because everyone's different, but what are a few things you would encourage? Is it color, is it texture, is it one or two items? How do you encourage that woman to step into her most powerful self at work?
Tiffany Wendel [30:14]
Yes, and I think this is such a great question. With so many high-power CEOs and executives, we really talk a lot about having to stand in our power, but also having to relate to the generations that are now working for us and feel relevant. So we talk a lot about those pieces that we want to bring in. A lot of it comes down to shoes. When you're on stage, if you have that killer shoe, and you're sitting in a director's chair and crossing your legs, it's like, bam, she gets it. The other thing is just a great blazer. And I'm not talking about... I'm talking about a structured, cool, powerful blazer. And then wearing that with, like you said, you can always do a vintage jean, but at work you might not be able to have that distressing. So wearing it with a styled jean, like a barrel, taking some risks, wearing it with maybe a high-rise jean that you really love and looking at new shapes. I also recommend a midi skirt or a midi dress that you can wear either with a heel or with a sneaker, all of these different combinations.
One of my clients was just doing a big tour on air, and the stylist for the event gave her her outfit, and she's like, "This doesn't feel like me." I'm like, it's not. You're edgy. You've got to bring some edge into this outfit. So we brought her a more structured blouse. We brought her some earrings. You can always bring that in with your accessories too. So, yeah.
Katie Fogarty [31:56]
Those are all great tips. It doesn't have to be an entire new outfit. It could be just fabulous shoes. It could be statement earrings that brighten up your face in a color that you love. Those are great choices for work. And fit, yes.
Tiffany Wendel [32:09]
And fit. At this point, when we're bringing power and we are at this level in our lives, we want a little bit of structure. We want the outfit to make a statement. So fit is just so important, and cut and structure in our pieces. It's huge.
Katie Fogarty [32:32]
Yeah. I think a tailor is also a woman's best friend. And I don't want to keep knocking the shorties out there in the world. I'm five-four and not that big, and I've had to tailor many, many things in my life just because the pants are too long or the sleeves are too long. It truly does make a difference, and it doesn't have to be expensive. So I'm going to bang that drum for anyone, because it really does make a difference.
Let's talk about the woman who's had maybe a big change in her life. Maybe she was an executive but she's now working at a nonprofit. Or maybe she worked professionally but is sort of easing into a different chapter of her life. How do you counsel a woman who's like, my God, I look in my closet and it's all these suits for my work days, and now I'm at a startup where it's jeans and T-shirts? Or a mom who's moving into a new phase as her kids leave the nest, and she's looking to get herself back out there doing different things. How is she rejuvenating her wardrobe? What are you recommending to the woman who is truly in transition and thinks, nothing in my closet fits my current life?
Tiffany Wendel [33:45]
Yes. Well, the first thing I suggest is getting those pieces out that no longer serve you. Now, we can mix. You can sometimes use those work pieces and put them into this tension wheel and play with them. You can wear the blazer with a more relaxed jean, or whatever, in your daily life. But I think the key is to get those pieces out that are speaking to the place you were. Do you need to get rid of them right away? Not necessarily. Just get them out of your view, out of the closet view.
And then really think about it: if you're doing a nonprofit, okay, well, now I can't do any blingy, [unclear] branding. Now I need to walk a different line. But if you're going into a place where you have worked and now you are not working, or you are doing your own thing, now's the time you get to dress for yourself. Now's the time you get to present yourself on a daily basis however you want. So get those pieces out that were have-tos because of a past life and start thinking about bringing in items that are more you now. A lot of times that's a stylish outer piece, because the only thing people see nine months out of the year is what you're wearing on the outside. It's a killer jacket or a killer boot or a fantastic purse, because people are really seeing you when you're out and about. You're at home a lot. Those are the pieces that are really getting seen. So invest in those cost-per-wear pieces, which are so big, and really you don't need as much, because you can repeat quite a bit when you're not going into the office five days a week. So, investing.
Katie Fogarty [35:17]
Yeah, I'm a huge outfit repeater. But to my point from earlier, my closet has to work harder. It's a lot smaller, and so everything in it has to be able to be worn in multiple ways. I have found that it's created new possibilities and new arrangements for me, because I'm being forced to be creative in ways that maybe I wasn't before, when it was just, I could wear that one thing that I wear once a year. That dress is no longer in the closet. So they're more like workhorse products, which I think is great.
Tiffany Wendel [35:54]
Yeah. And a lot of people are moving to warm weather and have always lived in cold weather, and now it's like, what do I wear on a daily basis? I don't even know what to wear now, because I'm a winter girl. So you're looking at your new life and you are getting more creative. One thing I really recommend to people is that we get so serious, and everything needs to be a lifetime piece. It's like, how are we going to get to those lifetime pieces if we don't experiment and if we don't have fun? So I do recommend going out on a limb, trying things, being in an experimental phase until you land. Because how are we going to land if we don't try different things?
Katie Fogarty [36:38]
Absolutely. That's such great advice, and you could apply it to any area of your life, not just your clothing. You have to try new things to figure out if you like them: new exercise classes, new hobbies, new cities, new restaurants, new food. You're not going to learn you love something until you actually do it. So I love that advice.
So for somebody who's thinking, Tiffany's gotten me excited about the idea, I can experiment, what are a few things that you would encourage her to think about adding to her wardrobe for fall? I'm going to say one thing that I noticed on your website that I was really like, ooh, that might come home with me. You had a great velvet tassel purse with a very, very long tassel on the bottom. And it's in this wonderful... What would you even call the color? It's kind of like...
Tiffany Wendel [37:20]
Like an ochre? Or was it the one that was almost a beautiful orangey yellow? Like a Celadon, almost.
Katie Fogarty [37:32]
Yes, it's like a bitter green-yellow, which sounds like a... Yes, but a gorgeous color. And you could see, if you were just wearing a black turtleneck and a pair of black pants and had this slung over your arm, it makes your outfit. You could carry it with anything. And I'm like, that's such...
Tiffany Wendel [37:46]
White T-shirt and jeans and heels, or white T-shirt, jeans, and sandals.
Katie Fogarty [37:52]
Right, and this knockout purse. So for somebody who's like, I'm up for fun, walk us through a few concrete items that you would love to see people think about adding to their fall wardrobe.
Tiffany Wendel [38:02]
Yes. So on my website I have curated all of it. I feel like it's so confusing to shop right now because we're getting inundated with information. So I have curated pre-fall, and what I really believe in for pre-fall at our stage, all these pieces. And what I'm loving about this season is color. So much color, and I'm a fan of color. So I think adding in a purple, which is a new color that has really emerged, and I think adding in pinks, even going back to teals, those are also big. Pink, teal, purple, beautiful, like you said, Celadon greens. All of those colors are really coming out for fall, and that really excites me. I'm seeing... Yeah, sorry, I didn't mean to cut you off. It's a habit of mine. I love to talk about fashion. Don't even get me started. We'll have a five-hour podcast.
Katie Fogarty [38:47]
Those are all my colors. I love all those colors. No, no, no, I cut you off. I just jumped in.
Tiffany Wendel [39:03]
We are seeing the ricochet from quiet luxury. People are like, no, I want human, I want fun, I want to be wearing clothes that make me feel good. So we're seeing color. And the other trend I'm seeing is animal print. Leopard and zebra are everywhere. And I love a leopard ballet flat, because if you're just wearing a camel sweater and a cute pair of jeans, that leopard ballet flat tells the story and gives you that pop. I put a leopard tote on there that is a really good price point, and it's made well, in different places. A leopard tote added to even your workout wear takes it to the next level. And zebra too. Like I said, those zebra Vans, those are going to bring people joy. You're going to wear those and people are going to be like, "That's the cutest sneaker," and you're like, "Yeah, I know, it's the cutest sneaker."
Katie Fogarty [40:04]
I love leopard print as well. I have a leopard-print jersey dress that is probably twenty years old and made the cut. It's still hanging in my closet. In the spring I wear it with gladiator sandals, over the summer, rather. And in the winter I wear it with black tights and little booties and a black Uniqlo turtleneck over it. It is a year-round dress. I wear it constantly.
Tiffany Wendel [40:16]
Yeah. And even when you said booties, I would think tall boot, because I think tall boots are powerful. I think they make a statement, and they make every outfit rad. A little tall kitten-heel boot will just take that leopard dress into the stratosphere.
Katie Fogarty [40:47]
And who are some of the boot brands that you like?
Tiffany Wendel [40:49]
You know, I love everything. Of course, we've got our classics, and we've got Kate and these different brands, but really, Sam Edelman makes a beautiful tall boot. Also, they're kind of out there, we have Stuart Weitzman, and Veronica Beard makes a great one. I mean, a really good boot. And then as we get into more expensive, we have the Kates and the Manolos and all of those. But this little kitten-heel tall boot takes every single summer and spring dress and brings it into fall, and then just add a blazer and you're doing things. You're out there.
Katie Fogarty [41:31]
Yeah, I love a boot myself, and...
Tiffany Wendel [41:35]
So transfer that bootie into a tall boot with a dress.
Katie Fogarty [41:38]
Yeah. I bought a pair of these sort of maroon ones last year. They're block heel but not kitten heel, so maybe I need to think about that. And I wear them all the time. I wear them under jeans, under culottes, under dresses. They're so versatile. But look, I'm in New York now, so we commute by foot. So everything has to... There are times when I get my car out of the garage and I'm like, my God, it's dusty. When was I last in this car? I'm in a walkable city, so I need a kitten heel or a stacked block heel to make my way around.
Tiffany Wendel [42:13]
Yeah, and sometimes a really good option for that walk, walk, walk is more of a cowboy boot heel, because it puts your foot at a really nice pitch, and if it's a good boot, it can sometimes be more comfortable than a flat.
Katie Fogarty [42:30]
Yeah, that's great advice, and it's so sturdy as well. So what's one piece in your own closet right now that captures your three vibes, and why does it work so well? And what are your three vibes? Or do you ping-pong through the whole vibe wheel?
Tiffany Wendel [42:44]
I ping-pong. But I would say, if I were going to say what I resonate with the most, it's probably vintage, feminine, sporty. I always like to add a little bit of patina to my outfit, and that's what I do with my vintage: I add that wear, that history. So I always go toward that. I also love menswear. I love a pleated men's trouser that I can wear, like I said, with a feminine blouse and a ballet slipper and then a big torn-up jean jacket. That's kind of where I sit. I also like a menswear blazer with vintage Levi's and a ballet flat. If I really am going to go back to "I just want to feel good today," it's usually a really good, structured, oversized blazer with vintage jeans and a boot or a ballet flat.
Katie Fogarty [43:38]
And what are you seeing for fall? We talked a little bit about some of the colors. We've seen the rise of athleisure over recent years, and it's hanging in strong; it's probably never going away. But people are also getting dressed again because people are returning to work. And I think there's kind of the pandemic boomerang, where we got shot out of a cannon and really wanted to dress, to take off our Zoom pants and stuff. So if you were to take out your crystal ball, what's happening for fall? What do you think people are thinking about when they're getting dressed?
Tiffany Wendel [44:09]
I think people are thinking about bringing it a little bit more. As we leave summer, where we can't wear layers, and move into fall, we get to wear more layers, I think people are going to be excited. I think scarves are really important: a little cashmere triangle scarf that you can tie around your neck, or a bigger scarf that you can drape over your shoulders. I think people are layering in ways like that. And I think big trench coats, big outerwear pieces, because we weren't leaving the house and now we are. There are some colors in those that are really fun. I think having more fun with outerwear is something we're going to see in the fall, with really bright anoraks. I don't know if you saw on the site, a Damson Madder plaid raincoat. It's like, I want to have more fun with my raincoat. No more of "I want something with a hood and that's waterproof," but I also want to, you know...
Katie Fogarty [44:56]
Yes, it was adorable.
Tiffany Wendel [45:07]
...express myself with my outerwear. And I think people are going to do that more. And also, like I said, sunglasses, scarves, sneakers, killer boots. Boom, boom, boom.
Katie Fogarty [45:17]
Easy ways to make your current wardrobe work a little harder with just some new accessories, maybe new colors. And I love a little triangle scarf myself. I feel like I'm a fifty-six-year-old French girl, even though I'm not. I feel like a little French schoolgirl, even though I'm a fifty-six-year-old New Yorker.
Tiffany Wendel [45:31]
I love it. I love it. And that's what your true essence is. So when you're getting dressed, you're like, I'm going to add this little red triangle scarf because this outfit doesn't have that French girl in me. So I'm going to add it.
Katie Fogarty [45:47]
Yes. I'm going to add it. I'm going to bring it. I'm going to create it for myself. I love that. Love it, love it, love it. So this has been so much fun. I love learning about your vibe check philosophy. Everyone needs to hop over, because it's so much easier to see and understand in person. Tiffany's site is beautiful; it's very visual. As you heard from her, you can upload some of your own images into her app and play around with your own closets, spin the wheel, and see these different options to maybe add things to your closet as well. She's done a wonderful job on her website of curating things that women over 40 really want to wear. Because sometimes you walk into a department store and you're like, who is this clothing for? It can make you feel left out of the fashion equation, which is not what we want.
Tiffany Wendel [46:31]
Yeah, and very overwhelmed, and the quality has decreased. So it's like someone who's gone out there and... I built the site, I built the app, I did it all by myself. So it's all me. I didn't have any help on this. I just built it, and because of that I feel really personally invested in the joy that it's bringing people.
Katie Fogarty [46:52]
Well, thank you so much for being with us today. It's been so much fun hanging out with you. Tell listeners where they can find your Vibe Check tool and where they can shop The Vibe.
Tiffany Wendel [47:00]
Yes, just TiffanyWendel, T-I-F-F-A-N-Y, Wendel, W-E-N-D-E-L, dot com. I don't have it on the app stores because I haven't figured that out yet, but it is on my website and you can download it. It'll be just like any other app on your phone. And yeah, I hope you love it.
Katie Fogarty [47:18]
Yeah, Tiffany, thank you so much. This was such a pleasure.
Tiffany Wendel [47:20]
Thank you for having me. It means a lot.
Katie Fogarty [47:24]
We did it.
