Personal Stylist Experience: One Woman’s Honest Closet Edit Story

I'm always talking about dressing for the life you actually live and not some aspirational version of it. So when my friend shared it with me, I knew I wanted to share it with you.

This was written by my friend Sharon. We're close in age, but we live on different coasts with different bodies, different lives, and different personal style aesthetics. She originally wrote it for another publication, but when that fell through, I thought: this is the kind of honest, relatable experience you may appreciate. Sharon is a fellow grown-ass woman figuring out who she is again through her closet and I thank her for sharing her story with us.

– Alison

When Your Closet Stops Feeling Like You

It started with one of those mornings — standing in front of a closet full of clothes with absolutely nothing to wear. I was in midlife and in a full-on fashion rut. Where was the stylish girl who was voted “best dressed” in 8th grade and “hippest dressed” in 12th (titles I now find hilariously optimistic, considering I’ve been living in the same black jeans for years). 

Every attempt to get dressed felt like a total identity crisis. Somewhere between perimenopause, working from home, and getting my oldest son into college, my style had vanished. It can be so hard to feel like yourself again after becoming a parent. And when my youngest turned 17, I realized—yikes—it had been a long time since I felt like myself.

So, I called in help: a personal stylist and closet editor. I figured she’d at least help me part with the items I was saving for some mythical future event and maybe get me out of my style rut. What I didn’t expect was how much the process would change my relationship with clothing itself. I started to see my wardrobe as functional support for my busy life—a tool that could make getting dressed feel effortless and help me feel more like myself again.

What a Closet Edit Actually Looks Like

The stylist I worked with, Terin Trudeau, came through a personal referral from a friend on Instagram. Terin is a mom of three with fantastic style who started helping other mom friends plan outfits and edit their closets and it turned into a real business. She just wants to help other moms feel good about themselves and it felt like she was the perfect fit for me. And her prices were reasonable compared to those of other stylists I had chatted with.  

When she arrived, she didn't start by judging my closet. She asked about my life. What do I do most days? Where do I go? What do I actually want to wear? It wasn't about trends, it was about how I live.

Then came the purge. She set up a rolling rack to help us organize, and we went through every single item in my closet. If it didn’t fit my current body or life, it went. For some pieces, letting go was easy. For anything we weren’t sure about, I tried it on and thought about it honestly. If we found another really similar item (apparently, there was such a thing as too many black t-shirts) we decided which we wanted to keep and said goodbye to the rest. 

We also created a small section of things that I didn’t know how to work into an outfit. We’d come back to these a bit later. 

Her biggest clean-out tips were surprisingly simple:

• Use matching thin hangers to create visual calm
• You shouldn't need to buy new pieces just to make something “work”
• If you're on the fence about an item, give it two months — then either wear it or let it go

By the time she left, I had seven bags to donate. And I still hadn’t gone through my shoes and accessories yet. 

Rediscovering Your Personal Style (Not Someone Else's)

I had secretly hoped she'd just tell me what to wear. Instead, she helped me figure out what I actually gravitated toward now, which turned out to be more useful.

She showed me how to recreate the easy, flowy vibe of my favorite kaftan-style dresses using pants and flowy tops. She helped me move beyond skinny jeans and showed me how to wear more modern styles that look great on my shape.

She never imposed her own style opinions. She'd ask why I wasn't in love with something, see if we could style it differently, and always let me come to my own conclusion. We circled back to the “maybe” pile and mixed and matched to see what made sense with my updated way of dressing. We touched on trends I might want to try and put together outfits for a few upcoming events.

How to Fill Wardrobe Gaps Intentionally

I nervously assumed a shopping spree was next. Instead, she had me shop my own closet first, mixing and matching pieces I already owned into combinations I'd never tried. Then she gave me a short, targeted list based on my actual pain points and the places I like to shop:

Immediate priorities:

• A quality white t-shirt with a lower neckline
• A black leather belt (brown leather to follow)
• Simple ballet flats for an easy pulled-together look
• Mules — a slip-on option that isn't a Birkenstock for every occasion (I love a Birkenstock, but there's a time and a place)
• New denim silhouettes: straight leg, barrel leg, and wide leg in a few washes to be acquired gradually, not all at once
• Pull-on pants for that easy, flowy vibe
• Linen button-downs that can transition into cooler months
• Tank tops with built-in bras for layering

Longer-term wish list:

• Army green pants — a great alternative to all-black, pairs well with leopard print and denim
• A cropped black cardigan and a sweater with a pop of color
• A classic black heeled sandal for work events — something comfortable that instantly elevates an outfit

It's true: you don't need more clothes. You need the right clothes.

What I'd Tell Anyone Considering a Personal Stylist

Suddenly, my closet had far fewer options but I had so many more outfits. Getting dressed felt easier. I felt lighter, more confident, more like myself.

I wasn't styled to the nines or straight off a magazine page. But I was completely myself — comfortable, put-together, with a little personality showing through.

The practical things I took away:

• When in doubt, add a belt. The transformation is genuinely shocking.
• Try different necklines. Showing a little more skin (nothing outrageous—I’m a pretty modest dresser) can help balance proportions and make a look feel “right.”
• Style the details. Tuck things in, push up sleeves, pop a collar. Small tweaks add a lot of interest.
• Finish with jewelry. A basic jeans-and-t-shirt look can look absolutely on point with a cute necklace stack and some rings. Jewelry makes an outfit feel intentional.
• Take outfit photos. You will absolutely thank yourself on rushed mornings.
• Your style isn't gone. It just needs a little editing.

Working with a personal stylist wasn’t about being fancy—it was about making life easier. And honestly? Finding myself again was worth the money. If you can’t find a reasonably priced stylist and organizer in your area, keep your eye out for a fashionable mom you know. Another set of eyes is always helpful! 

Frequently Asked Questions about Working with a Personal Stylist