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Mind Your Words!!!
Let's normalise not making (negative) comments on what people are wearing on or doing with their own bodies
Vanessa Puli
3 hours ago2 min read
First impressions count (and last...)
Why the clothes you wear matter to how you make first impressions, and why dressing authentically matters.
Vanessa Puli
5 days ago2 min read
What's Our Why?!
Plumbers and dripping taps… when I am engaged by a new communications client I ‘start with the ‘Why’ (as Simon Sinek would say). To be more accurate, I start with the ‘Who, What, How and Why’. That process gets all of us, and the company’s clients/potential clients, on the same page. Did I do that with my styling business? No, of course I didn’t!!! Like any other founder, I ‘just started’. To be fair, there was an articulation of what I was doing. And to be even more fair, my
Vanessa Puli
Feb 32 min read
Winter Holiday 'Capsule'
Want to finally learn how not to take the kitchen sink with you on holiday, but don’t want to feel boring and that you ‘look like a tourist’? In June I travelled with one bag, for one month, with no repeat outfits! I learnt some really good lessons, which I am going to use for my winter trip back to London, and France and Madrid. Yes, it will be cold, but do the same rules apply whatever the weather? Lessons learnt: #1 it was more than enough! #2 colour theme is the key
Vanessa Puli
Dec 23, 20253 min read
Wardrobe Restyle: Sequins!
This Zara jacket was one of my first purchases in 2025. A sequin jacket is on the ‘Trinny List’ and I really wanted to give it a go. I like it. It gives real light to my face. But, I have only really felt good in it with high waist jeans. The ‘classic’ look with black is too formal and a little boring for me. I want to wear it more. But how? 🤔 So I experimented, and took some pictures. Looking at yourself ‘in abstract’ helps. And it makes it easier to use my stylist skills.
Vanessa Puli
Dec 21, 20251 min read
Wardrobe Restyle: Beach Dress
Spoiler Alert: This dress isn't going anywhere, it has serious sentimental attachments. But, I want to actually wear it! This dress was a sarong, bought for $10 in Bali in about 1996 on holiday with my parents! I had it made up into a dress in 2018, to wear it more, but because its black it is a bit ‘formal’ and at the same time the style is too ‘casual’ for every day. I do wear it of an evening on a beach holiday. It’s totally backless, so a bikini top goes underneath. I wan
Vanessa Puli
Dec 16, 20251 min read
Round up of 2025 purchases
I have always told myself the story that I don’t spend that much on clothes. At the start of the year, just as I was starting to think about styling seriously, I decided to track what I spent and see if that was actually true. The outcome – I spent $2497 this year. That is an average of $208 a month. I bought 28 items of clothing or shoes, plus a selection of accessories (jewellery, bag and ties). Only two things are excluded from this: my annual running shoe purchase (
Vanessa Puli
Dec 15, 20253 min read
Wardrobe Restyle: Work Dress
Restyling a burgundy dress. Will it stay in the wardrobe?
Vanessa Puli
Dec 10, 20251 min read
Holiday Capsule Packing
Want to finally learn how not to take the kitchen sink with you on holiday, but don’t want to feel boring and that you ‘look like a tourist’. This is how I travelled with one bag, for one month, with no repeat outfits! I had June in the UK and Paris. I wanted to feel good (stylish). I needed to be able to put my bag overhead on trains. So, that meant carry on-sized bag only. To challenge my stylist skills I also set myself the goal of not repeating an outfit (a very ‘me’ thi
Vanessa Puli
Dec 3, 20252 min read
Wardrobe Restyle: Kaftan
Colour is our #1 draw card when buying clothes, this ‘Camilla-eque’ kaftan I bought in Bali in 2016 is a very good example. It is also a good example of ‘holiday you’ buying things that may not work for 'real’ you! It is ALL my favourite colours in one garment. I love seeing it in my wardrobe, but it makes me sad that it rarely gets worn. It's too beautiful to be worn only once a year on a holiday night out, or as a beach cover up. I have tried wearing it a few ways. In the
Vanessa Puli
Dec 3, 20252 min read
Wardrobe Restyle: The Classic Trench
Do you have something in your wardrobe that is on every 'must have' list, but it has never made you feel great? Yep. For me it's this classic trench. A ‘Columbo’ trench is a classic and versatile piece that is very practical for the Sydney climate. However, beige makes me look like a corpse. I have owned this one for about ten years. It has been in and out of the charity bag a number of times. Trying it on and looking at it as an #asistylist what should I do 🤔 - 👍 or 🚮
Vanessa Puli
Nov 25, 20252 min read
Wardrobe Restyle: Purple
Wardrobe Restyle - purple outfits - the colour works but the outfit doesn't fit well.
Vanessa Puli
Nov 19, 20252 min read
Wardrobe Restyle: The LBD
I have learnt so much this year about styling and particularly my style. I have also started to realise that one of my core tenants as a stylist is about making clothes work harder. Mostly importantly, that is because clarity of message is increased by fewer, but well chosen, clothes - the same as it is in words in the other side of my business! Of course, with clothes that is also economical in $$$, time and effort to dress each day, and in wardrobe space! Reveal Styling is
Vanessa Puli
Nov 14, 20252 min read
Recovery is the new exercise plan
POV: As a PT and nutrition coach, I believe that your recovery plan (or lack of) is your biggest fitness mistake
Vanessa Puli
Nov 10, 20253 min read
Media: Dating in your 50s
Inspired by The Golden Bachelor, Mamamia asked me what it’s like dating as a woman in her 50s! https://www.mamamia.com.au/dating-over-50/ Short answer: there are some nice guys out there, but it is a shallow and murky pool! Australia has some disturbing cultural norms, but younger men seem to be more ‘evolved’! If you are a man or a woman in the dating scene and want my help with your date night style, and writing your profile, DM me for package details!
Vanessa Puli
Oct 29, 20251 min read
POV: Yoga, only it's a date!
Want to look good after your exercise class but don't want to change your outfit. Here's how.
Vanessa Puli
Oct 29, 20251 min read
Which diet is the best?
In the world of paleo, vegan, intermittent fasting, low carb, keto, FOMAP etc etc etc who would be king? Simple. The one that works consistently for you. If you find one of these structures works for you, go for your life. But recognise that, excepting the philosophical reasons for not eating animals or wanting to reduce your carbon footprint, all these ‘diets’ are trying to achieve the same thing. They are trying to manipulate your energy intake vs your energy expenditure to
Vanessa Puli
Oct 27, 20254 min read
Dress codes for the races!
T-2 weeks until the Melbourne Cup - what to wear? 🤔 Heading to the races in the next few weeks and want to keep up appearances?! There is so much amazing spring fashion in stores right now. To ‘be safe’ though, these are two good places to look at the actual dress codes for your racecourse visits: Victoria Racing Club (which includes The Melbourne Cup): https://www.vrc.com.au/visit-us/plan-your-visit/what-to-wear/ And the Australian Turf Club, which covers Royal Randwick and
Vanessa Puli
Oct 21, 20251 min read
Want a spring wardrobe without breaking the bank?
Want to be Goldilocks (not too hot, not too cold), and freshen up the wardrobe, but the weather is all over the place and you don’t want to buy too many new clothes? The trick with ‘trans-seasonal’ dressing is that the shoulder seasons don’t truly have a singular identity. Colours particularly are fading out of the winter palette and into the summer one, or vice versa (I see you chocolate and powder pink). So, layering your current wardrobe and summer favourites is the answer
Vanessa Puli
Oct 15, 20251 min read
The joy of learning!
Rediscovering the joy of learning! I’m loving the ’style stuff’! I’m loving being on a learning journey even more!!! Last week I supported the latest Australian Style Institute in person training. It was amazing to sit through the content again, now having a different perspective and with fewer ‘conversations’ going on in my head - I have already decided I can and I will bloody do this! The styling skills and perspective have unleashed a creative side I didn’t know I ha
Vanessa Puli
Oct 15, 20252 min read
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