I am so excited to present a new episode of my makeover show! (You can watch the whole thing above - just click to play! Or watch it on IzonOrlando here.) Lauren is a busy mother of two, who recently lost her baby weight and had a $1,000 budget to overhaul her closet. She hired me to shop with her, and halfway through our day I surprised her with an invitation to be on the show. She was such a good sport, and didn't even bat an eye when a few days later we took over her house with lights, cameras and equipment.
If you've watched the pilot, we have changed the format quite a bit. You'll see more than 20 complete outfits, and a rundown of everything she bought and what she is wearing is listed below. This project is more than just styling for me, though - the show concept is my baby (you guys know how passionate I am about realistic fashion journalism for women on a budget!), and beyond being the host, I wrote the script and co-executive produced. (Thankfully, Annette at InStyle Hair in Baldwin Park did my hair so that was one thing I didn't have to worry about that day!) There are several things I'd like to improve for the next episode, but ultimately I'm proud of our shopping results, and I think you are going to love Lauren - enjoy!
What Lauren Bought:
5 skirts
--- Printed: Anthropologie, $75 (similar, similar)
--- Blue striped: LOFT, $5 (similar)
--- Green: Ann Taylor, $51
--- Black: LOFT, $25 (similar)
--- Denim: Gap, $17 (similar)
2 shorts
--- Cobalt: Gap, $27
--- White: LOFT, $32
1 jeans
--- White: Gap, $54
8 tops
--- Mint: LOFT, $24
--- Beige: LOFT, $22 (similar)
--- Ivory: Banana Republic, $26 (similar)
--- Navy polka dot: Gap, $20 (similar, similar)
--- Pastel printed: Banana Republic, $17 (similar, similar)
--- Tribal: Banana Republic, $39
--- Pink halter: Banana Republic, $42 (similar, similar)
--- White: Banana Republic, $23 (similar)
2 cardigans
--- Citrus: Banana Republic, $39 (similar)
--- Orange: LOFT, $22 (similar)
1 dress
--- Military: Banana Republic, $64
4 belts
--- Brown: Gap, $23
--- Black, nude, yellow: H&M, $15 (similar, similar)
2 shoes
--- Brown wedges: LOFT, $63
--- Nude sandals: Macy's/BCBG, $75
1 necklace
--- LOFT, $20 (similar)
Grand Total = $920 (Lauren's budget was $1,000)
Lauren's Outfits, In Order of Appearance (left to right above):
Outfit 1
Purple tank - Lauren's own (similar)
Printed skirt- Anthropologie, $75 (similar, similar)
Brown belt - Gap, $23
Wedges - LOFT, $63
Outfit 2
Mint top - LOFT, $24
Printed skirt - Anthropologie, $75 (similar, similar)
Sandals - Macy's/BCBG, $75
Outfit 3
Beige top - LOFT, $22 (similar)
Printed skirt - Anthropologie, $75 (similar, similar)
Nude belt - H&M, $5
Nude shoes - Lauren's own (similar)
Outfit 4
Orange cardigan - LOFT, $22 (similar)
Ivory top - Banana Republic, $26 (similar)
Striped skirt - LOFT, $5 (similar)
Nude shoes - Lauren's own (similar)
Outfit 5
Green top - Lauren's own (similar)
Brown belt - Gap, $23
Striped skirt - LOFT, $5 (similar)
Wedges - LOFT, $63
Outfit 6
Polka dot top - Gap, $20 (similar, similar)
Green skirt - Ann Taylor, $51
Yellow belt - H&M, $5 (similar)
Sandals - Macy's/BCBG, $75
Outfit 7
Pastel print top - Banana Republic, $17 (similar, similar)
Green skirt - Ann Taylor, $51
Nude shoes - Lauren's own (similar)
Outfit 8
Citrus cardigan - Banana Republic, $39 (similar)
Ivory top - Lauren's own (similar)
Brown belt - Gap, $23
Green skirt - Ann Taylor, $51
Wedges - LOFT, $63
Outfit 9
Beige top - LOFT, $22 (similar)
Black skirt - LOFT, $25 (similar)
Necklace - LOFT, $20 (similar)
Black belt - H&M, $5 (similar)
Black shoes - Lauren's own (similar)
Outfit 10
White cardigan - Lauren's own (similar)
Striped shirt - Lauren's own (similar)
Belt - Lauren's own
Denim skirt - Gap, $17 (similar)
Wedges - LOFT, $63
Outfit 11
Citrus cardigan - Banana Republic, $39 (similar)
Red shirt - Lauren's own
Denim skirt - Gap, $17 (similar)
Wedges - LOFT, $63
Outfit 12
Mint shirt - LOFT, $24
Cobalt shorts - Gap, $27
Sandals - Macy's/BCBG, $75
Outfit 13
White shirt - Banana Republic, $23 (similar)
Cobalt shorts - Gap, $27
Sandals - Macy's/BCBG, $75
Outfit 14
Purple shirt - Lauren's own (similar)
Cobalt shorts - Gap, $27
Wedges - LOFT, $63
Outfit 15
Citrus cardigan - Banana Republic, $39 (similar)
Tribal shirt - Banana Republic, $39
Brown belt - Gap, $23
White shorts - LOFT, $32
Sandals - Macy's/BCBG, $75
Outfit 16
Polka dot top - Gap, $20 (similar, similar)
White shorts - LOFT, $32
Wedges - LOFT, $63
Outfit 17
Pink halter - Banana Republic, $42 (similar, similar)
Necklace - Lauren's own (similar, similar)
White jeans - Gap, $54
Sandals - Macy's/BCBG, $75
Outfit 18
Beige shirt - LOFT, $22 (similar)
Necklace - LOFT, $20 (similar)
Pink pants - LOFT, $43 (similar, similar)
Nude shoes - Lauren's own (similar)
Outfit 19
Ivory shirt - Lauren's own (similar)
Pink pants - LOFT, $43 (similar, similar)
Nude shoes - Macy's/BCBG, $75
Outfit 20
Blue shirt - Lauren's own (similar, similar)
Pink pants - LOFT, $43 (similar, similar)
Wedges - LOFT, $63
Outfit 21
Dress - Banana Republic, $64
Brown belt - Gap, $23
Wedges - LOFT, $63
WOW - I love, love, love this! You did such a great job...both with the show & finding her a new wardrobe. Looking forward to the next episode! :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the show! Awesome job!
ReplyDeleteMaria
www.daintyanddecadent.com
Love every outfit!
ReplyDeleteGreat job, J! I got some new ideas while watching. :)
ReplyDeletexo
Love this segment ..the pieces are amazing
ReplyDeleteThis was GREAT! I have a lot of similar pieces and it gave me some great ideas- Can't wait for school to start back in the fall to put them all together.
ReplyDeleteGreat job! I have really enjoyed reading and learning from your blog and look forward to more makeover shows!
ReplyDeleteWait... you came up with 21 outfits, AND came in $80 under budget??!! That's impressive! And so is your makeover show. Lauren looks so fun and refreshed in her new clothes! Every outfit has a pop of interest, whether it be a fun print, or contrasting jewelry. Now she has 21 new excuses to get out on the town!! Haha I love it, and I love how much you love your job. That's so great.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend J!
Ashley
www.pinkmargaritapearl.blogspot.com
That was awesome! The clothes you picked out made her look so much thinner than what she had been wearing!
ReplyDeleteAwesome job, J!! Def. your best one yet. It flowed well and both of you seemed very natural and comfortable in front of the camera. Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteThis was such a great post! Thank you. I learned so much in this last 13 minutes. Please let me know if you will ever be in Toronto! :)
ReplyDeleteawesome job J - love these makeover shows!!!
ReplyDeletesarahsavvystyle.com
She looks great!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, loved this!
ReplyDeleteWOW! This is awesome. I can't wait to watch more episodes.
ReplyDeleteWow, so great! So fun to watch and I learned so much!! I can't believe you found that blue/white striped skirt at loft for $5 dollars!!! I was just there, but maybe I will have to go back and see what I find! :)
ReplyDeleteawesome job J!! can't wait to see more : )
ReplyDeletehttp://allthingsprettyandlittle.blogspot.com/
It looks great J! What a great show :)
ReplyDeleteGreat show, I love the advise and she looked wonderful and happy at the end. That's always the best part!
ReplyDeleteLove love love the first skirt!! Definitely worth a splurge!
This was fabulous! The show was great and she looked awesome. Can't wait to see more.
ReplyDeleteJ you are so talented! It is amazing how your creativity inspires women of all ages from different backgrounds, I am 21 year old college student and I love your style. I wish you more success in your different endeavors.
ReplyDeleteJ this is AWESOME! the video is so professional and well made, and the outfits are perfect! You're a regular stacy london:)
ReplyDeleteJ, you did such a great job! I think you gave her (and the viewers) some great strategies for putting together outfits and having successful shopping trips. It's especially awesome how so many of the new items worked together! the Love the video!
ReplyDeletehttp://thephilosophicalfashionista.blogspot.com
I love this! Can you come to Kentucky???
ReplyDeleteEvery outfit looked absolutely beautiful on her! I love all of the vibrant colors! I also can't believe all of the things you bought with only $1000, way better than what not to wear! They hardly get the participant that much stuff! I do have a bit of a suggestion all of the graphics and sound effects when you are showing the outfits are a little distracting/ are too much. I hope to see more of these soon! I love your episodes!
ReplyDeleteAmazing job J! Great versatility with the pieces.
ReplyDeleteI really liked this video!
ReplyDeletewow! you did an amazing job!!! I can't believe all the deals you found for her and the great outfits you put together! I really liked all of them! you are so amazing and talented! I learn so much from you everyday! thanks so much for all the work you put into your videos and blogs! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the Banana Republic dress at the end. That's my favorite thing! And I loved how you showed how to wear the different pieces together and mix and match them.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on such an awesome project! You are very good at what you do! One thing (that I am positive I have mentioned before) that I absolutely love about your site and your mission is that you are all about being REAL! Real people, real situations, real budgets! Lauren looked amazing!
ReplyDeleteI need to learn how to mix unexpected things. You are so good at that! You really do inspire me to keep at it and to challenge myself beyond my comfort zone.
ReplyDeleteLovei it! Lauren looks so thin in all of the outfits! I love the belts around the cardigans! J you are so good at what you do! You inspire me everyday.
ReplyDeleteYou are awesome! She looked great! I loved all the oufits! I want you to go shopping with me! Ha!
ReplyDeleteLakelyn Hogan
Kristen
www.everydaywitharedhead.blogspot.com
Great work; I wish this was a weekly show on tv. You really have a niche (with everyday fashion, how to re-wear pieces) that most shows don't have.
ReplyDeleteYay, thank you so much! And I definitely appreciate the feedback on the graphics/sound, I will pass that onto my editor for next time!! :-)
ReplyDeleteI would love to be able to travel and do this someday! I'm dreaming big!! Kentucky, here I come! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Susan! I was at the LOFT today and saw the same skirt, different color and it was $59!! I was like "what?!" I don't know if we just lucked out that day or what, but hopefully you can find one near you for $5! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the show! Lauren looked really great in all the outfits you helped her with.
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned that before shopping you determined her ideal shorts length. How? I am 5'3" and feel like I look terrible in shorts and they just make me look like more of a midget.
ReplyDeleteGreat work! You did a good job of helping her find outfits that meet her personal style as well as he lifestyle. I
ReplyDeletealso like how everything can be worn multiple ways. I personally try not to buy anything unless I can think of at least 3 ways I'd wear it. I also like how you kept her existing pieces in mind. There are a few (okay, maybe more than a few) looks from this video I'd like in my closet. I enjoyed this and hope to see more! I loved that the audience gets to see all of the outfits together.
Congrats J, job well done! Lauren is adorable and looks great in all of her outfits! I love all the looks, but I have to say my favorite is the military style dress from Banana Republic. It is absolutely fabulous on her and compliments her figure well! Good luck with future episodes, I look forward to tuning in :)
ReplyDeleteGreat episode J! I wish I lived near you so you could help me shop! Can't wait to see more of these.
ReplyDeleteCongrats J!
ReplyDeleteYou did a great job and have a real talent for what you do!
ReplyDeleteWhere can I find the pieces that YOU wore while hosting this show? I adore that blue on blue combo!
You did such a great job.I wanted to say thanks to you for this
ReplyDeletegreat read!!
Wow, amazing job! You are such a natural on camera, BTW! All the pieces looked so slimming on her; I especially loved the first skirt and the military dress. I have learned so much from you and continue to every day. I love this show; hope to see more!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this! Your client is really beautiful and the new clothes were so flattering on her. Great job!!
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post... love
ReplyDeletethe clothing.. !
Even though my husband and I don't have children of our own----(#11 nieces and nephews, though!!)----this video is just so, *so gratifying* to me, J., in how it helps very busy, on-the-go young Moms to feel more CONFIDENT about their C.l.o.t.h.i.n.g. Choices On A Budget; and additionally, (in the process), this video encourages them to feel BETTER about t.h.e.m.s.e.l.v.e.s., too!! Lauren has a beautiful family; and her two sweet little daughters can probably see how their Mom not only works hard to take care of them, but how genuinely pretty AND also very fashionable----(thanks to you, J.!!)----their Mom now is, too!!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Christopher Hopkins, (i.e., aka "The Makeover Guy," with whom I have no connection), also helps young Moms with children at home~~among others~~to feel more confident and beautiful, too, e.g., as in this link: More Than A Mom Makeover
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gH8zzT2-_8&feature=em-share_video_user
All 12 minutes and 45 seconds of this new episode of your Makeover Show really HELD my attention; and............ I honestly can't *wait* until you do another video, J.!!
You did such a great job with Lauren's closet. Wish you could come to my house to do mine!!!
ReplyDeleteI really love your style and how you work with people to find what they like...not what you think they should wear. I think that really sets you apart from the other shows I've seen!
ReplyDeleteI wish you lived in Boston! I would hire you in a second to go shopping for a non-dorky maternity wardrobe!
Thank you! You can see my outfit details here: http://www.jseverydayfashion.com/2012/05/todays-everyday-fashion-luncheon.html The show filming was scheduled quickly, so in a pinch I repeated an outfit I had already worn! :-)
ReplyDeleteLove the mix-and-match component of this show. It's so helpful to see different ways to style the same piece.
ReplyDeleteI love this concept J! I missed the pilot, but now I'm looking forward to new episodes. Btw...your monochromatic blue outfit was fierce!
ReplyDeleteGreat episode!
ReplyDeleteHow long ago did you get that bib necklace? I love it!
I loved watching this!! I have become a regular follower and have definitely become more creative when choosing outfits. I get so many compliments in my "J-inspired" outfits! Thanks for pushing me out of my comfort zone :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I got the necklace two summers ago from H&M. J.Crew has a version right now: http://www.shopstyle.com/action/apiVisitRetailer?id=11653126&pid=uid625-6273025-11&utm_medium=widget&utm_source=Product+Widget Or you can try searching for "J.Crew bubble necklace" on eBay for an inexpensive version.
ReplyDeleteCrushed it!
ReplyDeleteI'm not positive, but I think J does do that.. check out her "Hire Me" page.
ReplyDeleteI love you!! I just bought it off Ebay for $15! You are simply the best!
ReplyDeleteJust watched the video-awesome! Loved what you got her to buy-a nice assortment of different styles and colors and she is so cute! ;-)
ReplyDeleteOMG . This is just what I need ,someone to help me get rid of my old clothes and help me get new ones....
ReplyDeleteGreat concept and execution! I love the real-style approach you have, and how you show readers how they can wear pieces again and again.
ReplyDeleteLOVED this whole episode!!! Great job. She's adorable! Love your skirt and top combo as well!
ReplyDeleteSimply amazing!! J - can you make it out to Seattle and make me over?!
ReplyDeleteThis was great! I loved seeing how to basically build a wardrobe from scratch and loved all the mix and match ideas.
ReplyDeleteHave you started working on more episodes? Do you know when the next one will be ready? I love your style, blog, and show! I check it everyday.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Amanda!! Yes, I am planning to shoot a few more in July and they will (fingers crossed) be ready to air in August and September!
ReplyDeleteHi J ! I love your style. I'm a mom of two kids. I've found a lot of inspiration in your style. I check your place every time I can to combine my pieces :) I wonder if you could give us tips to organize the closet (by color, kind of piece) ? I dream to have an organized wardarobe. Thanks so much !!!! Hazel
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Hazel! Check out this post with a video and photo tour of my old closet with some organization tips. I'm planning to update this soon with a tour of my new closet, and even more tips! :-) http://www.jseverydayfashion.com/2011/06/peek-inside-my-closet.html
ReplyDeleteThank you Sarah! Seattle would be awesome, I will keep you posted! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Tiffany! If you ever come to Orlando, check out my "Hire Me" tab and let's set up an afternoon to go shopping! (I also do Skype sessions if you like that option!)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Rosanna!! :-)
ReplyDeleteHow long did it take you to shop with her? How long did it take you to put together all the outfits after shopping?
ReplyDeleteThe bigger the budget, the longer it takes to shop. We stopped for lunch, but it took most of the day - I believe it was about 4-5 hours? And the outfits took me just a few minutes (less than an hour) to put together, but obviously longer for her to change in and out of all of them. ;-)
ReplyDeleteshopping was all in 1 day right?
ReplyDeleteYep!
ReplyDeleteI keep trying to watch this and it always tells me I can't connect to the server. Is this epsiode still available to be watched?
ReplyDeleteHolly, yep it is still available! Have you tried watching it on Izon's website yet? Try this and let me know if it doesn't work:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.izonorlando.com/2012/06/j’s-everyday-fashion-s01e01-lauren/