On a lazy summer evening in late June, Indy Maven’s CEO Leslie Bailey moderated a panel at Le Shoppe. Interior Designer, Tiffany Skilling, Wardrobe Stylist, Laura Walters, and Professional Organizer, Maria Baer shared their tips and tricks on investments, splurges, and shopping hacks.
Turns out, these three areas overlap, one informing in the other at every turn. When we declutter our wardrobe, we not only are left with clothes that make us feel like a thousand bucks, we also have more room in our closet to actually find the clothes. When we shop vintage-furniture and/ or clothes-we lessen our carbon footprint and elevate our style, embracing pieces that are one-of-a-kind. We walked away with a better grasp of how form and function are the ultimate pairing. Read on to learn more about these talented women, their businesses, and their suggestions.
Tiffany Skilling Interiors
Tiffany Skilling is the founder of Tiffany Skilling Interiors, a full-service interior design firm, and high-end retail store (Le Shoppe) that specializes in ‘storytelling through design.’ The TSI team is led by Tiffany and is comprised of experienced, detail-oriented professionals that provide personalized and high-end interior design services for whole home renovation, new construction, and custom design projects.
Where to invest? It differs depending on the product.
If it’s construction-high-quality lighting and having a designer size it correctly.
If it’s furnishing-curated antique and vintage furniture pieces to mix in.
If it’s styling-Original Art.
Where to splurge?
Cabinetry
Shopping tips:
Shop local, shop vintage, shop antique (all of which can be found in Le Shoppe, Mavens). You’re sure to find once-of-a-kind pieces at amazing prices.
Maria Baer is the Founder and Lead Organizer of The Baer Minimalist, focused on helping busy families Cut the Clutter, Donate + Do Good and Cue the Confetti. The Baer Minimalist helps breathe life into your space, highlight the things that matter most, and find a better system for being both organized and stylized – whether you’re prepping for a bundle of joy, settling into your dream home, or finally tackling that growing mystery pile in your closet. When she’s not organizing, you can generally find her dreaming up Halloween costumes or creating some sort of magical cardboard craft with her 4-year-old twins, Henrik and Luna.
Where to invest?
ExactMats-they help preserve cabinets and make it so easy to clean them, too.
A tape measure. Simply measuring before buying bins will 100% save us time and money.
Lastly, invest in time with a professional organizer to edit and review how best to your space and your stuff.
Where to splurge?
Editing, i.e. taking the time to really hone in on what you are holding onto and why. Oftentimes after a great editing session, we need less product (allowing us to explore different finishes and materials). Pro-tip, Mavens: when you edit, use TBM’s Donate + Do Good Guide.
Shopping tips:
Folden Lane’s vegan leather storage pieces.
Pottery Barn Teen has some funky pieces that we will pull into primary closets or office spaces.
Laura Walters is the Founder and lead stylist of Style Riot, a premiere personal and commercial fashion styling business that works with top-tier clients to provide an elevated, unique, and impactful style experience. Laura works with clients in all facets of fashion including color assessment, seasonal styling, closet curation, personal shopping, travel packing, and much more.
Where to invest?
A well-tailored black blazer (or a well-tailored suit – two pieces!)
A white button-down shirt (cotton or cream silk)
A cashmere coat.
Where to splurge?
Shoes.
Shopping tips:
Hire a stylist.
Shop consignment; it’s sustainable and curbs the negative impact fashion has on our planet. Laura has found gems at The Toggery Resale Boutique (and we have, too).
Maura Malloy is a writer, minimalist, TedX Talker, and Indy Maven’s Assistant Editor.
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