Client Stories

DANI’S STORY

MELANIE’S STORY

Before working with Ali, dealing with clothes and fashion felt like an unrewarding chore. I'm pretty practical, so spending lots of money on clothes never felt appealing and I was too concerned about the impact of my buying decisions to feel comfortable with fast fashion...but I had no idea how to shop smart at a thrift store! Working for myself enabled me to get away with wearing a uniform consisting of yoga pants, jeggings, and stretched out sweaters from LOFT.

I had no idea how much better I could look in my clothes. And I really didn't expect that shopping could be so fun, easy, and aligned with my values!

Ali has a way of understanding not just what will look best on you, but of seeing through to your essence as a person and helping you to find a way to express your essential self. (She honed right in on the fact that I'm drawn to a juxtaposition of fitted and draped. The fact that she figured that out when all I was wearing was athleisure is only a small example of her brilliance.)

She does NOT deal in cookie cutter outfits or prescriptive ideas that if you have one body type you must dress a certain way to "minimize your flaws." (You know those "makeover" shows where every woman comes out looking the same at the end? Ali's work is the opposite of that.) Sure, she's got an expert eye and can help you make the very most of your figure, but nobody gets excited about their clothes because of what they hide.

I'm thrilled with everything in my closet because it feels like me. And my heart feels easy because I know that my joy doesn't come at the expense of animal suffering, environmental damage, or human exploitation.

The whole process was much more fun than I expected. Going through my whole wardrobe gave me a clear sense of what I already had and what I was missing. (That awareness has already paid off; it stopped me from buying more yoga tops that I do not need!) Ali has a way of making everything feel celebratory, and she's a phenomenal teacher. When I tried on something that I wasn't sure about she gave me clear feedback and always explained exactly why she thought a piece worked or flopped. Her insightful feedback gave me the confidence to stretch out of my comfort zone enough to buy a very short dress with an open back that I literally laughed at when I first saw it on the hanger! Before long, I was honing in on the silhouettes that worked best for me even when she was on the opposite side of the thrift store looking through a different rack!

This experience came after a really tough year in my life. It was a big stretch for me as a person who thought she didn't care about fashion and hated having her picture taken but I couldn't be happier that I did it and I can't recommend Ali's work highly enough.

When I saw the photos of my Outfit Portfolio it was like seeing myself reborn. The pictures simultaneously made me feel like I couldn't believe that beautiful, stylish woman was really me AND that I was seeing my appearance reflect how I feel on the inside for the first time in my life.

Of course, a thing like that is highly personal and your experience will depend on where you're starting from...but what I know for sure is that you will get much more from working with Ali than just some gorgeous (ethical, affordable) clothes. If you're even slightly curious--please just hire her. You will be so glad that you did. 

-Melanie

TRICIA’S STORY

I've always been environmentally conscious, but I hadn't really dove into the clothing sector.  Never in a million years did I think I would for my wedding, the biggest day of my entire life that I've been dreaming about since I was a kid!  Well Ali certainly changed that, and I'm so grateful to her- she has THE BEST advice.  She opened my eyes–who would have thought preowned included new dresses and sample dresses?!  Why not try to save some money on a very expensive day for a dress you'll only wear once?  

Ali knew what I liked and what would look good on me.  She brought up points I didn't really think about. She was always very timely with responses.  My chosen dress ended up being designer, never worn, and never altered - at a fraction of the price!  Then Ali went to work creating a Pinterest board of shoe options for me with both comfort and height.  You really can have both!!  My shoes ended up being preowned but never worn!  They were in mint condition.  Everything was perfect.  I felt good about my purchases.  

What I really knew nothing about was alterations.  Ali's expertise was brilliant.  My dress was one single piece of lace with no sewn hem, but was a little long for me. One of Ali’s tricks helped me avoid an expensive alteration with my tailor. 

My key takeaway:  Not just one thing has to be 'something borrowed.' Oh, and you can really be comfortable on your wedding day without a dress change or shoe change!!

-Tricia

LEIGH’S STORY

Between reaching my late-30s, having a baby, and returning to a professional wardrobe post-pandemic, I found myself sitting on a huge collection of clothes that no longer fit my body, lifestyle, or current image of myself. I was disappointed with how I looked literally every time I got dressed but was too overwhelmed and unsure of how to revamp my wardrobe. Time for The Ethical Aesthete's Butterfly Effect! Ali and I discussed how I wanted a pared down capsule wardrobe that I would feel comfortable and confident in again. We talked through many of the previous "looks" I liked and Ali astutely identified that a 1970s inspired silhouette and style would work really well for me now. Ali helped me see a few of my old pieces in a new light, gave me the tough love needed to purge my closet of some of the items that were no longer doing me any favors, and did all of the combing through second-hand items online to find unique, fun, practical, and savvy pieces for me. In our Try-Athlete session, Ali also showed me how to wear and mix-and-match all of my new and old pieces together. For weeks now at work, I've been receiving daily compliments on my new outfits all of which have really come together to paint a picture of my new, intelligent style that makes me feel great when I walk out the door with my baby and then into the office every morning. Instead of a whole new me, it feels more like I have finally uncovered myself again. Thank you, thank you!

-Leigh