A LOT with Audra

Ep12
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Audra Dinell: [00:00:00] Hey there. Today on a lot with Audra, we're diving into a topic that blends creativity, confidence, and self-expression. We are talking about the art of style. Jessica branding is here with me, and she is a style curator who understands that fashion isn't just about what we wear, it's about how we show up in the world.

With a keen eye for aesthetics and a deep understanding of personal branding. Jessica is currently serving as the general manager of Bradley Fair, a Ws property, and her previous roles include PR Manager for Neiman Marcus, director of Retail and Curation for Universal Standard and More [00:01:00] as we gear up for our upcoming event.

This is her the Art of Personal Style. Jessica's here to share her insights on how style influences confidence, the stories our clothing tells. And how we can each cultivate a look that truly represents who we are. Jessica, welcome to the show.

Thank you for having me.

Oh my gosh, you're so welcome. You are our first official podcast guest.

Jessica Branning: Oh my gosh.

Audra Dinell: Pressure is on. I know. I didn't tell you that until now.

Jessica Branning: No.

Audra Dinell: Yay. Okay, so I just read your bio, but tell us a little bit about your background from your words.

Jessica Branning: Yeah, so I, I mean, from a young age have been so interested in the world of fashion.

I love everything about shopping. As a kid, as a teenager, you couldn't tear me away from the mall. And so when I was looking into going to college, I wanted to stay in that world. Of retail and fashion, but I wasn't a designer, I wasn't a seamstress, so I found merchandising. And so I've been able to stay in fashion.

I got my degree in fashion merchandising and then started [00:02:00] my career with Neiman Marcus. I did fashion shows and events and it was so much fun to kind of see a different aspect of fashion, but still being in it. And now I am here in Wichita, Kansas, I am. The general manager of Bradley Fair, and it's even a different side of retail and fashion that I'm still a part of.

Audra Dinell: That's so fun. It sounds so glamorous.

Jessica Branning: It's a lot of work. But yes, there are glamorous sides, but there's also a lot of, you know, grit that goes into fashion shows and things behind the scenes that you don't see.

Audra Dinell: Thinking about what you've said, being a little girl and always being drawn to fashion, what do you think was like deeper under there?

Was there anything that was just like the creativity or art or anything that was a little bit deeper?

Jessica Branning: I think seeing my mom and my grandma, they were always very stylish, so having them as role models and the art of it. My mom was an artist, so seeing things. A little differently in visiting art [00:03:00] museums.

So I look at fashion as an art form and it's so exciting 'cause it's always changing and it's how you interpret it. Mm. And it's just like if you walk through an art museum, how you get inspired. That's how I feel Walking through a store or a boutique and seeing how. They put together looks and what they find to be on trend.

I think it's just, it's inspiring.

Audra Dinell: Mm.

That's so fun. I always think, like, when I think about the end of my life, I think, you know, I want people to remember that I was just styled and put together, and it's not about like a look or like checking a box. It's just about you have that memory, like I'm listening to you talk about your mom and your grandma, and I'm like, oh, I want my kids to talk about me like that.

Jessica Branning: Yeah, I think style, it's all about confidence. It's not a trend. It's how you carry yourself and I think finding that thing that makes you, you and that little trend that you can [00:04:00] carry throughout your style, it's what makes you special and memorable, and that's what your kids will feel.

Think of as they get older or people will say, she's so stylish. How does she do it? It's about the confidence.

Audra Dinell: Okay, so how does one actually find that thing, that thing that is like their thing

Jessica Branning: I have been a fan of animal prints of all kinds since I was a teenager. So, I was nicknamed the Cheetah Diva in high school because I love, love that, I love all leopard prints.

I don't wanna go head to toe in all animal print, but I always find some way to incorporate it in my looks, whether it's a handbag, today I am wearing leopard shoes. I think it's always just finding that thing that you love. And having a little bit of it in your style, and some people, have the confidence to go overboard and wear it all, and that's fantastic.

But it's what makes you happy. That's. What you should be aiming for.

Audra Dinell: Oh, I love that so much because I think especially with like the social [00:05:00] media society that we're in, we can tend to look at trends of like, oh, what should I be wearing?

Especially as I'm talking to women as they enter New Decades. That's the thing I'm hearing a lot from our community as they. Into New Decades. They're like, what I've been wearing in this past decade doesn't really feel like me anymore, but I don't know what to do for this new decade. And oftentimes we go, you know, look where it's easiest social media.

But really what you're saying is the art of style is not about that. It's not about trends. It's about finding, kind of like using that intuition to figure out what look makes you happy and feels like you.

Jessica Branning: Absolutely. I think social media is a great tool and we should use it as a tool to find inspiration.

If there's things that resonate with you, with certain influencers, really thinking what is it about their style that resonates with me. And so many times we kind of go down that rabbit hole and then our inner saboteur comes [00:06:00] out saying, oh, I don't look like them. I need to look like them. And that's when you need to start curating your feed a little bit better. I think again, using it as inspiration, finding what these stylists or influencers are wearing and how you can incorporate it. A lot of times we need to realize these stylists and influencers have a team of people that are putting together their looks, and many of us don't have that, so we have to realize like, how can we take.

They're what they're showing us and how can I wear that in everyday life?

Audra Dinell: Mm. I love that. And I love that question specifically that you asked. Like, it's not about copying someone else's style because we're no one else, and our body shapes are all different and our budgets are all different, and our resources, having a team of stylists, you know, that's different.

But I love that question of like trying to find that common thread of like, what do I like about their style? That's the question, I think. Mm-hmm. Okay, so tell us, [00:07:00] who are your favorite? Style icons or influencers?

Jessica Branning: Oh my gosh. I was really thinking hard about this because I am a fan, still a fan of magazines.

I love getting my Harper's Bazaar and my Vogue and going through and just seeing, you know, who the top models are right now. But I think always I have been inspired. I'm loving. Michelle Obama's style. She's one of my favorite style icons. Also because she's very tall and I'm a tall woman as well. And how she carries herself in these outfits that she just looks like a boss and it's so inspiring.

But yet, I have style icons like Dita Von Teese. I love her vintage style, and she is in it 100%. That is her style. And of course David Bowie, he's always my icon and he's a rock star. And his style, if you look through the ages, has evolved and it's so artistic and it's so interesting. And I think the common thread between all of them is their confidence.

Mm. They [00:08:00] wear their looks the best, and just seeing how confident they are in their style, that's inspiring to me. Oh, I love that. I see all of that in you. Little bit of rockstar, a little bit of fashion, a little bit of boss. Yeah. Love. Oh my gosh.

Audra Dinell: Okay, so, we talked a lot about confidence already. So how more specifically can embracing our personal style help us reflect like who we are on the inside so that we're feeling like ourself and our confidence just blossoms.

Jessica Branning: Have you ever had those days where you're looking in your closet, you have nothing to wear, you put something on and that affects your entire mood for the day? 100%. Yeah. So it's really also curating your closet and stepping back and taking time for yourself. This is almost a self care moment because.

You want to define who you are to the world, and if you're looking in your closet and none of that screams [00:09:00] you, there's a problem. So I think it's really digging through the pieces you have, thinking about how you wanna project yourself to the world, because that's what style is. Style is confidence

it's the little touches that you put on yourself that make you memorable. It's a way also for you to just slow down in such a busy world, to take time for yourself to realize this is how I wanna look to others. And it makes me feel good.

Audra Dinell: Oh, that's beautiful. Do you have a practice where you do this?

Jessica Branning: Like seasonally or a, a yearly or what's your cadence?

I'm not a winter summer wardrobe person. I throw it all in and I mix it up. I try and do it at least every spring and fall, just because that's also when the new trends come out, and I love shopping and adding new things to my wardrobe, but I think it's important to take a look.

Jessica Branning: And really deep dive into your closet to find things that don't fit anymore. Mm. Things I [00:10:00] put that I need to fix that I haven't fixed. Mm-hmm. And just purge. And it's so much easier to look at a well curated closet and get dressed every morning and not feel stressed out. 'cause we already have very stressful lives.

The first thing in the morning to get dressed should not be as stressful. ~A stressful thing to do? ~

Audra Dinell: ~Yeah. Okay. ~So you have your whole closet on display all year round, and you about twice a year go through and purge and find items that need to be fixed, and you just wanna make sure all the items in your closet still feel like you.

Jessica Branning: I love that. I need to do that. I

used to be a personal stylist too, and I tell people, you have to divorce your closet. I have work clothes and I have not work clothes and they don't ever play together. And that really limits what you can wear. So I tell everybody, just let it all play together and you're gonna find more looks that you didn't think you had, and it prevents you from shopping and adding more to your closet.

You should [00:11:00] definitely shop the looks and the clothes that you have right now. Mm-hmm. You'll be surprised at what you've got in there.

Audra Dinell: Mm. So Purge first, and then Shop. Where are your favorite places to shop right now?

Jessica Branning: Ooh. I, well, of course Bradley Fair. I do love Nordstrom Rack. J. Crew Factory just opened.

It's great for basics, but we've got amazing boutiques like the LBD has some really fun pieces. I love adding pops of color, especially when it's winter and it's dreary. Adding a bright color to anything will cheer you up. Linden's has some amazing jewelry pieces that I'm obsessed with right now. And shoes, love shoes.

~I could go on for days about shopping. I ~

Audra Dinell: ~won't. ~Well, and it sounds like you really mix between local and the larger department stores like Nordstrom J. Crew.

Jessica Branning: Yeah, absolutely. I think visiting local boutiques, you're gonna find things that aren't available everywhere. And to me, that's what gives you a little extra style because I don't wanna look like everybody [00:12:00] else.

I wanna make sure that I stand out and my style shines through. And adding those special little pieces helps do that. And I think you can really find those when you shop local. Plus you're helping your local community in that. That's the most important.

Audra Dinell: Yeah, I love that. You know, one time when I was in my early twenties, I had a couple of girlfriends compliment an outfit and they said something to me that I'll never forget.

They said, you always pick these pieces that I think are so ugly on the rack and they look so good when you put them together. And we were mostly, shopping at boutiques when they were saying that. And I just thought, that's such a compliment because I don't know, you can find some really great, unique pieces at local stores.

Jessica Branning: Totally. And I think you, you know them looking at you, you are an inspiration to them because you see these things on a rack and you just, you're not quite sure. You're a little scared to try it out, but that's what social media does. It helps us see it in person. That's what magazines do.

It's helps bring these looks to life and then gives us the opportunity to think, how can I [00:13:00] incorporate that into my life? How is that gonna look on me? And I always say, just, just try it. It doesn't hurt to try new things.

Audra Dinell: Yeah, I also love magazines. It's just, I don't even wanna say it's a lost art form because it's not lost.

I, but it's not, you know, as easy and as accessible as social media. But man, getting a good magazine in the mail mm-hmm. That you're looking forward to is just such a treat.

Jessica Branning: Especially in September when that September issue comes out.

Audra Dinell: Oh my gosh.

Jessica Branning: It's like Christmas day.

Audra Dinell: Okay, let's go back to the purge.

When you purge your closet, do

Jessica Branning: you try on everything. So what I would have my clients do, and what I do is kind of come up with three separate. Piles. So you've got your do not fit, do not like you've got your goodwill pile. Those are things that have rips or holes or things that just need to go away. And then you have your pile of, I love these, but I don't know what to do with it.

And so you can kind of. Evaluate, why [00:14:00] do I wear this piece all the time? And then you look at the other pile, why am I not wearing this? Is it because I don't have a pan that goes with it? Is it, it just doesn't work with me anymore. And then you can start purging from there and realizing maybe this just doesn't suit my needs anymore.

I think we hold onto a lot of stuff in our closets because it was expensive. Or it has that sentimental. Feeling of like, well, I wore this in my twenties and it just might not work anymore, and it's okay to purge and let go. So those are the key things that I start with, with my clients. And then I will mix and match those pieces that we've pulled.

So if you've got the shirt you love all the time, let's try and pair it with this pant you thought you couldn't wear with anything. And start finding new looks within your closet.

Audra Dinell: It sounds so much fun and I can completely see why you say this is a form of self-care because this is not quick.

This is not a drive-through solution. This is not pile 10 things in your [00:15:00] cart for spraying and they'll be delivered in two days. This is taking time and being thoughtful about each piece in your closet and maybe not each piece. But the pieces you're considering absolutely purging. Absolutely.

Jessica Branning: Yeah. And it's fun.

Pour yourself a glass of wine, put on some good music, and it's, you are away from your phone. You are dedicated to taking time for yourself and making sure that you've got a closet that when you walk into every day, you're excited to get dressed.

Audra Dinell: Yeah, because that's, that's the best when you walk out of the door and you're in an outfit that just feels good, feels like you.

I agree. It just makes your whole day. Okay, so. To play off the name of the podcast, this sounds like it takes a lot of time. How much time do you spend on a purge? Like thinking about the women who are listening to this podcast who have full lives, lots of different things going on. I'm like, I want to do this.

How much time do you actually spend doing this?

Jessica Branning: It depends on how much is in your closet, [00:16:00] first of all. It does take a bit of time. It also takes commitment because once you pull everything out of your closet, it takes a lot to then put it all back.

I would plan an afternoon if you're doing it on a weekend, and just know, depending on how much you have in your closet, it will take time. But once you've done that, the next time you go into purge, it's not gonna take as much time because you've really curated it down. And so every time you've put something into your closet, think about, is there something I can take out you know, we all have that spot in our closet of I'm gonna fit into this someday.

Get rid of that, you're not gonna fit into it. It's done, fit into what fits you now.

Audra Dinell: Yeah. Oh, I love that. And I also, I will admit, I'm a person, if I've spent more money on something, I am much less likely to get rid of it than if it's from Target.

Jessica Branning: Exactly, and it's okay to hire a stylist. It's okay to hire somebody who does this professionally.

If this intimidates you, that's what they're there for. And they're [00:17:00] also, I think, stylists and you know, people who clean out closets, they can help you see things differently that you might not have seen on your own. 'cause you stare at your clothes every day. So it's okay to ask

Audra Dinell: for help. Do you document your outfits or do you just keep 'em all in your head like you're talking about?

You know, those pants that you don't think will work with anything and you're about to give them away, but you love them, and so you're trying to get creative and chop your closet. How do you remember that stuff? Do you write it down? Do you

Jessica Branning: take a picture? I

don't do any of those things. I should, but I take a mental note.

I have a closet in my brain. Okay. I know exactly what's hanging up.

Audra Dinell: Your brain is a closet. My brain is a closet. My brain is a messy playroom.

Jessica Branning: Yeah.

Audra Dinell: That, that's a, that's a good like illustration of where we're, okay, so thinking about. Over time. Going back to that question where especially if we're entering a new season of life, whether it be we're entering motherhood or we're entering empty nest, or we're going from 30 to 40, 40 to 50, maybe we got a corporate job for the first time, or [00:18:00] maybe we are leaving our corporate job and going out on our own and trying to find like style for this new season of life.

Do you have any thoughts or advice on transitions and how like. We can allow our style to transition over time depending on our season. I

Jessica Branning: think the biggest thing when you're transitioning your style, especially as we get older, is really invest in quality pieces. Quality over quantity. Investing in versatile pieces. So again, I think a lot of times when we shop and find things on sale, we're more inclined to buy it, even though it goes with nothing in our closet.

So, shop with a purpose that's the. Biggest thing, I think I would give advice if I was styling someone, especially as you start evolving into a different phase in your life and creating a capsule wardrobe. So getting the pants that fit well fit is huge. Making sure that your [00:19:00] clothes are tailored to you.

They look. Nice and neat. Getting a good jacket, blouse shoe. So just starting with that capsule wardrobe of things that fit you well, things you feel great in. And then you can start adding in those little elements of like pops of color or accessories that make you, you and, you know, as we get older, it's okay that our style changes.

I don't wanna look like I did when I was 20. So it's, and that's the fun part about fashion and shopping, is you can change and it is such an art form and there's. So many options out there, you might as well have fun with it.

Audra Dinell: Mm. And I do think it's a great way to express like that interchange externally.

Like if you, if you, it's kind of like when you would go through a breakup, you'd cut your hair or something like that, right? Mm-hmm. Like this is a less permanent way to do that. Absolutely. Like this is me now. Yeah. Oh, I love that so much. So you mentioned Goodwill earlier. I'm wondering [00:20:00] how, if at all, do you incorporate vintage fines or.

Jessica Branning: Oh yes, I haven't been as much, but I do love thrift shopping. I love finding just quirky pieces that are one of a kind that I love statement, as you can see, well, podcast, sorry you can't see, but I'm wearing a very bold necklace that I got at the Wichita Art Museum and so I love having conversation pieces.

So if people ask me, oh, that's so cool, I can tell a story about it. That's what makes my style me. And I think everyone should find that thing that makes them you. But also with Goodwill. Think about local charities like Dress for Success. Mm-hmm. So if I know when, especially since COVID, our workforce has gotten very casual.

And you know, jeans are more accepted in the workforce and tennis shoes, you know, cool sneakers. And I had so many sheath dresses and blazers and things that just didn't work anymore. [00:21:00] And there are organizations like Dress for Success that need those pieces. So when you're purging your closet, think about different organizations that may benefit from your close.

~So at least you feel good giving back to your community. ~

Audra Dinell: ~Mm. ~So one thing I am doing recently is. Making sure I take the time to get dressed almost every day on the weekends. Sometimes, or even maybe once during the week I'll rock athleisure. And I think athleisure is so great. It's not necessarily my favorite look, but sometimes, you know, it's just nice to be able to wake up and get moving and.

Throw on your Lululemon leggings and get out the door. Right. But I'm trying this year to just be a little bit more intentional with getting dressed. I think especially if you're a work from home person mm-hmm. It can be easy to slip into that routine of absolutely. Leggings every day. And thinking about covid, how many of us did that?

And I think it's really made a difference in just my creative mind sparking early in the morning and the way I show up in the [00:22:00] world. How do you feel like. You are able to show up in the world given your love of style and your process.

Jessica Branning: Well, I always think about this quote from Tom Ford and he said, dressing well is a form of good manners.

Mm. So even if. It's a weekend and you're feeling athleisure, just putting on a little something to show the world. I took time to look nice for you. And I think that boosts your con confidence immediately.

I love comfort. Don't get me wrong, we all wanna be comfortable, but there is a way you can do it and still look put together.

Audra Dinell: That's where a stylist could come in and help you.

Mm-hmm. Because if you are a person who highly values comfort, which, and I do think as we thinking of transitioning to decades as we. Get older. We care about that so much more. In my twenties, I loved wearing heels every day. Mm-hmm. Now, [00:23:00] as a mom running after two feral children, like I'm not gonna do that as much.

But also I feel great in, like today I'm wearing these ballet flats with little flowers on them, or tennis shoes are so cool now. So I think a stylist could really help you pull things together if you're struggling to like. Want to elevate your look, but also, you know, maybe wanna stick with athleisure or, or you are a more casual person.

I feel like that's great and if that feels like you, you should rock that. But perhaps a stylist is someone who could come in and help.

Jessica Branning: Absolutely. And I think stylists too, also share new brands you may have never heard of before or different pieces that you've never seen. So it's, it's a great perspective just to get a new look at things. And they also push you, which is great because I think we get caught in that same rut of like, I'm gonna wear this. And you get bored. And so stylists help mix that up. It's good to try new things, have fun with [00:24:00] fashion.

Audra Dinell: Mm-hmm.

Jessica Branning: It'll

Audra Dinell: influence your confidence. Absolutely love.

Okay, so as we are wrapping up our conversation, what final thoughts would you give to anyone listening who is. Considering the art of their style, maybe from a different perspective from the first time considering maybe taking it more seriously, considering using it as a form of self-care. Just looking at it totally different maybe than they entered this podcast.

What would you say is like a final tip?

Jessica Branning: I would say style is about you. It's not a fashion trend, and so often we. Get caught up in these fashion rules and there really are no rules in fashion. If you feel good wearing it, wear it. And I would say to anybody, find the thing that makes you you.

What do you put on every day? What do you do every day that makes you happy? And play off [00:25:00] of that, because at the end of the day, they're not gonna remember what brands you're wearing. They're gonna remember you as a person. And so that is the biggest takeaway I would get, is that style is you.

Audra Dinell: And that feels so accessible to everyone at every level, on every budget, with every.

Amount of time or lack thereof. Absolutely. Yay. Thank you for being here today. Oh my gosh. Thank you for having me. I loved our conversation. Me too. And if you are local to the Wichita area, I want to share, we spoke about it a few times, but we are having an event at Bradley Fair. It's called, this is Her.

And we've had this event about five times in the past, four times we've hosted at Bradley Fair. And this time we are talking about the art of style. So we're gonna be hosted at Lululemon, at a local boutique. We are gonna bring in a stylist to talk about. In depth about the things that Jessica and I discuss today on this podcast.

So the event is Thursday, March 27th from five to seven. As of this recording, we have about 20 tickets left, so [00:26:00] we'll link a link to the tickets in the show notes, and we would love to see you here.