Katherine is one of those lovely, rare woman with beauty exuding inside and out, awe inspiring. A compassionate heart with a passion for serving others and the coolest style. Combo is Tres Beau!

ps check out Katherine’s chic blog Bullet with Butterfly Wings.

“I am a proprietor of eccentricities, oddities and taste. Also a stylist and writer and maker of things.”

How did you arrive at your Style Statement?

I was fortunate enough to work with Carrie on a photoshoot and we immediately connected. My Style Statement session was an interesting experience as we both work in the “style” field. But the approach and process was much more intuitive and organic than what I’m used to in my practice.

What was the first experience that reflected your Style Statement?

I think it was a thought rather than an experience, and something very pure and simple. But it was reflecting upon my words and realizing that in Modern Feminine, I am drawn towards simplicity and clean lines. Although I understand my style very well, I always thought I was drawn to things more elaborate and interesting, yet in my closet and day to day what I feel best in is the luxurious basics I own.

Is there a specific event, goal, or desire you’re applying your Style Statement to?

I wouldn’t say an event, the part of my Style Statement that is most important is to integrate Modern Feminine into my life and trust my own intuition. It is a essential part of me, and I want to embrace it.

What does your Style Statement mean to you?

It was very interesting receiving my two words. Carrie told me one’s second is often more challenging, and for me oh so true. I always had this marked idea of what “Feminine” was, and I suppose in some ways avoided that. Yet, rephrasing what feminine is was an interesting experience in challenging my own set of beliefs and reformulating them. That was the most meaningful part to my Style Statement.

How has your Style Statement been useful to you? How do you apply it to your life?

I have been able to focus in on what “style” means to me, and maintain a clearer picture of  this what looks like for me. Be it based on my clothes – wearing jeans and a tee or out for a day of shopping. Not getting lured into all the glitz and amusement my head might be tempted by. More than anything it’s another level of awareness and a  different perspective I think is great to explore.

What do you like to be noticed and appreciated for?

I like to be noticed most for my artistry and chic-ness. My brain and my generosity.

What inspires you? How do you know when you’re inspired?

I’m inspired if I DO. Suddenly life happen with a little more ease. Anything really has the possibility to inspire me. It can be a smell, a color, a thought.

If you could only wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Now this is very challenging, but I think if I were to only be able to wear one outfit it would be a great pair of jeans, Ann Demeulemeester boots, a Raquel Allegra tee and a blazer.

Describe your dream home?

Just one?! There are different dream homes floating in my head. Different ones for different ocassions. Most definitely is a tropical beach house where all the windows remain open and I can hear the ocean and the wind.

How do you play?

How do I play…hmm I think probably gathering my friends. Feasting, laughing. And my dog Sarge. These are all my play. Oh, and dance parties in my living room. I’m the only guest.

Three Books That Have Inspired You?

I could never narrow down my list. Books are my input , I read so much,  they all contribute to my being me.

10 Things that you love…

• Music specifically the classics. (by classics I mean rock)
• I love juxtaposition of soft with an edge, in everything
• Amazing smelling things
• Books!
• Oddities…
• Pasta
• Naps
• Water
• Sun
• Laughter

You have $500 to spend on whatever you want. What would it be?

Right now….French lessons for my venture to Paris!

________

* So True!

Don’t we all grumble and complain?

Consider under every complaint you have a wish, a desire for goodness and joy.What if you paused before you declared a complaint and asked yourself, “What do I want?” Imagine how it would be see your whining as a powerful request.

“I feel fat.” I wish I felt light and sexy.

“I can’t stand Monday’s.” I wish my job was fulfilling.

“I feel overwhelmed and tired.” I want to learn to meditate.

“I need a break.” This is my constant complaint. My husband is away a lot – I miss our family time and my solitude.

Try it and let me know it feels.

C

Photo via Keri

We tend to think of decorating as adding things, but one of the best ways to get started on your living-space autobiography is by subtracting – ridding your home of objects that make you feel bad.

Martha Beck

Thanks to Chris Gilmour

How did you arrive at your Style Statement?

I loved the experience of my Style Statement session, I loved answering probing questions. I was surprisingly moved with the end result: Elegant Invitation. I cried!

Is there a specific event, goal, or desire you’re applying your Style Statement to?

We just bought a new house. I’m using it to create the mood of my home. I want people to feel welcome (invited) in my house but I also like a certain level of minimalism.

What does your Style Statement mean to you?

I think I am more elegant than I thought. I certainly have elegant taste! I also know I am more inviting than I think, certainly in conversation, in social settings. But I also cherish privacy and alone time. I am rarely alone with a husband, 2 teenagers and 2 cats in my home. In work I want everything I present to the public to be elegant but always an invitation to work with me as well. Often, the 2 words seem to be opposites of each other.

How has your Style Statement been useful to you? How do you apply it to your life?

• I use it in branding myself as a realtor, from photos of me in a classic white shirt and silver earrings to my web site which has elegant font and the invitation to visit and learn about all things real estate.
• I drive a 1999 Mercedes (not too new and flashy but always an elegant brand!)
• I favour clothes in neutral colours and classic lines, styles that are everlasting, like high waisted trousers that Katherine Hepburn always wore. If only I could find a pair!!

What do you like to be noticed and appreciated for?

I like to be noticed for a beautiful garden. I like to be appreciated for caring for my clients.

What inspires you?

I am inspired by wonderful writing. I know I am inspired when I say “WOW” or I cry. Total opposites I know.

If you could only wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?

The one outfit I would wear for the rest of my life would be super comfy, really flattering jeans, a tight white T-shirt and ked runners, no socks.

Describe your dream home?

My dream home is on the ocean with a huge deck on the front and a beautiful garden in the back. It would be post and beam with windows all across the front. And it would be LEED certified with solar panels and water barrels and all the other attributes that make it super energy efficient.

How do you play?

I don’t know if I do. At least not lately. I work, I work out, I work at home cleaning up. A week away is playful. Shopping with my girl friends mid week, mid day is play because I feel like I am playing hookie!

Three Books That Have Inspired You?

1. Harriet The Spy
2. Any Annie Liebowitz book of photography
3. The Power of Now, Eckhart Tolle

Six  Things you love…

1. A new white t-shirt
2. My wedding ring
3. An unread new book
4. An early spring walk though my garden looking at new shoots
5. An oil painting – self portrait by my daughter done at age five
6. Coffee Haagen-daz ice cream

Carol is proud to be a daughter, sister, mother, wife, friend, designer, and entrepreneur. She lives on the east coast of Vancouver Island overlooking the Hunt Valley. Her Style Statement is Genuine Serenity.

How did you arrive at your Style Statement?

Style Statement kept coming up for me. I heard about it through a friend, who heard about it from her friend’s friend. Sounded great but I didn’t have enough information to explore further. Then six months later, I received Carrie’s book, Style Statement as a gift from my best friend, she knew I would love it and I did. A year later, I gifted a session for a friend who was in the process of healing. Finally, a gift for myself and what a wonderful phone session I had with Carrie.

After narrowing down all my “possible words” from the workbook, I could have “self talked” myself out of my picks. My session with Carrie confirmed my words Genuine & Serenity, I was confident and excited to view the world through my new lenses.

What was the first experience that reflected your Style Statement?

My ahah moment occured when I heard myself say, “I needed to escape” some times to balance out the demands in my busy life. I always felt guilty sneaking into my claw foot tub for a blissful soak and hiding Epsom salts and my favourite body lotion under my robe. I loved that Serenity was exactly what I needed to keep the two-headed monster at-bay.

Is there a specific event, goal, or desire you’re applying your Style Statement to?

Yes – we have just purchased a smallholding in the Hunt Valley and have this wonderful opportunity to renovate according to Genuine Serenity (sorry, Honey!). Our new home has great “bones” with solid wood beams, hardwood floors and local stone feature walls and fireplace, Genuine. Positioned in a pastoral setting with room to grow my dream garden, Serenity.

What inspires you?

People inspire me. I love learning about other’s hopes and dreams. I am so fortunate as a graphic designer and entrepreneur to collaborate with authentic and amazing people helping turn dreams into reality.

If you could only wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I love my suits but forever? I have to say, my gardening clothes: jeans and a black v-neck tee with my defunct hiking boots (worn with a pair of my husbands work socks because my own pair are never as comfy), my rubber finger coated cotton gloves and my “washed out of shape” purple baseball cap.

How do you play?

I love to “play” in the kitchen and garden. As a family, we go on long bicycle trips Sunday afternoons. I play by myself by stealing away into the back corners of second hand bookstores.

Three Books That Have Inspired You

1) The Style Statement – of course!

2) Living a Beautiful Life Together by Alexandra Stoddard

3) The Not So Big Life by Sarah Susanka.

10 Things you love…

1. Hand made wooden products
2. Worn-in leather chairs
3. Vintage dress forms
4. My cast iron frying pans
5. people who can laugh at themselves,
6. Things woven or knitted
7. Top stitching.
8. Red leather gloves
9. The smell of pink grapefruit
10. 10. Black & White photograph

You have $500 to spend on whatever you want. What would it be?

Definitely goes toward my new heated floor budget.

BOHEMIAN

Spirit: Bohemian is the ultimate champion and devotee of the arts, taking a stand for self-expression and creative liberty. Bohemian derives soul-deep satisfaction from generating their own creative momentum and helping others to be seen, heard, and rewarded for what they do. Bohemian adores the unconventional, quirky, avant-garde, and slightly or outrageously offbeat. Truly, Bohemians have attitude fortitude! They put very little stock in what other people think of them, and when strict convention or pettiness encroaches, they rail with protest or hit the road without a second thought. Bucking the system makes them giddy with delight, but because they are so culturally informed and current, they can navigate with social ease whenever they wish. However, Bohemian can become prey to its own rebellious nature, and must consciously juggle self-determination with compassion. Bohemian is a free spirit, free thinker, a traveler of the world and of the mind.
Look & Feel: Bohemian loves to be up-to-date with design and often combine what’s current with an eclectic collection of art, trinkets, and keepsakes. Culturally sophisticated: from high art to street punk. Wild, modern, edgy, offbeat, unconventional.

avant-garde, beatnik, contemporary, cool, deep, eccentric, extremist, groovy, far-out, flower child, hippie, liberal, maverick, mod, modernistic, natural, New Age traveler, nonconformist, original, out of this world, radical, way-out

GET THE LOOK

Anthrpology

Raben Saloner

Soul Bird

via Robert Holden

Carla is in search of all things beautiful, here to form meaningful connections, and always on on the look- out for those yummy moments where love rushes in.

How did you arrive at your Style Statement?

I was so impressed with my session! As much as I was excited to find out what my two words were, I totally enjoyed the process of getting there. The questions were great, I mean how often do you get the chance to consider what you’re drawn to, and what feels right for you. Getting your Style Statement creates the perfect opportunity to be truly honest and to dig deep.

What was the first experience that reflected your Style Statement?

I had pulled together my wedding look before I had my Style Statement done but in retrospect, it’s the perfect example of “Tailored Ease.” The shape of my dress is well defined and tightly constructed –  but I also knew that I wanted to complete the look with something different, something more playful. For jewelry, I selected a long chain with a heart pendant crafted in a brushed metal finish. It seemed like a more ‘relaxed’, fun choice, more whimsical to go with a very classic look.

Is there a specific event,  goal, or desire you’re applying your Style Statement to?

My business partner and I are currently working on a business concept and plan. She had her Style Statement done so we’re looking at ways where we can apply our Style Statements in the decisions we make. It’s also helped me learn more about her- what motivates and inspires her.

What does your Style Statement mean to you? How do you interpret your first and second words?

I think of my Style Statement as a snap shot or headline representing the essence of me. It serves as both a reminder and a guidepost – helping me stay true to who I am and also acting as a guide in day to day living.

Tailored-   classic, detailed, exclusive, innovative, perfectly fitted, precise, refined, strategic, quality.

Ease - calm, comforting, happiness, beauty, playful, quietness, spirit.

How has your Style Statement been useful to you?

It’s been useful from guiding major career decisions/direction to planning my wedding, to building my wardrobe.

What do you like to be noticed and appreciated for?

For being strategic, for being calm and for staying focused on the things that matter like cultivating compassion and kindness.

What inspires you?

Agents of change, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, cultural learning and exchanges, great conversations, books, art, film, travel, my four legged sage Elliot, my parents and anyone who is truly open minded and open hearted.

If you could only wear one outfit for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Comfy old jeans, a cashmere knit, sandals and chunky jewelry.  (or anything the lovely Carolyn Bessett Kennedy wore)

Describe your dream home?

By the ocean, high ceilings, minimalistic, walls full of photographs of family, friends, travels and loads of bookshelves with loads of books.

How do you play?

Games night with the girls, play dates with my David & my Elliot and dancing, dancing, dancing.

Five Books That Have Inspired You?

1. The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
2. Eat, Pray, Love
3. The Art of Happiness
4. The Prophet
5. Race Against Time

10 Things that you love…

Kenya, sweets, the amalfi coast, tuberose, cheese, ballet flats, shades of pink, old churches, warm milk, traveling, and examples of humanity at its best.

You have $500 to spend on whatever you want?

Sponsoring another girl to go to school in Kenya- it only costs $500/year!