225 | LIVE Q&A from Inside HER Style Collective

Summary

HER Style Podcast | Episode 225 | LIVE Q&A from Inside HER Style Collective Summary

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Introduction to the Episode

In Episode 225 of the HER Style Podcast, host Heather Riggs offers listeners an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into her highly acclaimed 90-day group coaching program, Her Style Collective. This special bonus episode, recorded on March 20, 2025, provides valuable insights into the dynamic interactions and personalized coaching that members receive each week. As Heather explains, this episode is designed to "empower you to show up and get dressed every day with confidence" by sharing real-time coaching scenarios and expert advice.

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Special Announcements

Heather Riggs kicks off the episode with not one, but two exciting announcements:

1. Bonus Episode Surprise

   • [00:00] Heather reveals the surprise bonus episode, emphasizing that while regular Q&A episodes are moving to a monthly schedule, special content like this live session will occasionally be offered to provide additional value to listeners.

2. International Color Day Celebration and Exclusive Offer

   • [02:36] To celebrate International Color Day on March 21st, Heather announces the opening of 10 exclusive spots for her standalone personal color palette service. Originally available only within Her Style Collective, this service is now accessible to a broader audience for a limited time.
   • Heather states, "knowing and embracing your best colors is the biggest game changer for your personal style and confidence." [00:00]
   • Interested individuals are encouraged to visit herstylellc.com/color to secure their spot before the offer ends on Sunday, March 23 or once all spots are filled.

This personal color palette service includes a comprehensive assessment of skin tone, contrast levels, a personalized PDF guide with color recommendations, the psychology behind each color, and tailored wardrobe piece suggestions. Heather emphasizes the uniqueness of the service: "I do not take a cookie cutter approach, you are not going to receive a generic color season or preset assortment of swatches. I personally hand select every single hue just for you." [02:37]

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Live Q&A Session Overview

Transitioning into the heart of the episode, Heather conducts a live Q&A session with members of Her Style Collective. This interactive segment addresses real-time questions from participants, offering tailored advice and actionable strategies to enhance their personal style. The session is moderated by Heather and her coaching assistant, ensuring a supportive and engaging environment for all members.

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Key Questions and Discussions

1. Chloe's Style Dilemma: Mixing Bohemian and Gothic Styles

   • [04:38] Chloe expresses her struggle with blending two distinct personal styles: bohemian and gothic. She worries that alternating between these styles might come across as inauthentic or confusing to others.

   • Heather's Coaching Assistant reassures Chloe by embracing her creative style type, highlighting the importance of unpredictability and versatility. [05:48]

     • Quote: "It's like exactly creative because it's always... a little bit unpredictable." [05:34]

   • Solutions offered include:

     • Seasonal Styling: Adapting styles based on seasons, such as more bohemian looks in spring and summer, and gothic styles in fall and winter.
     • Perfect Blend: Encouraging Chloe to experiment with combining elements from both styles to create unique, personalized outfits.
     • Expanding the Mood Board: Incorporating inspirations beyond fashion, such as art and interior design, to enrich her style narrative.

   • Chloe feels validated and excited about the possibility of exploring her dual styles without feeling inauthentic. [07:44]

2. Lisa's Closet Audit and Strategic Shopping

   • [10:07] Lisa shares her progress in auditing her wardrobe, noting significant findings and expressing uncertainty about where to shop next. She mentions a desire for soft fabrics and struggles with identifying suitable online brands.

   • Heather's Coaching Assistant advises:

     • Local Research: Visiting local boutiques and department stores like Macy's or Nordstrom to understand different brands, cuts, and styles.
     • Shopping Strategy: Encouraging Lisa to take notes on preferred brands and styles during in-person visits without making immediate purchases.
     • Online Transition: Once familiar with preferred styles, Lisa can transition to online shopping with a more informed and strategic approach.

   • Emphasis is placed on not rushing into purchases, especially as Lisa is in the process of losing weight, ensuring that her shopping aligns with her evolving wardrobe needs. [12:11]

   • Quote: "Making sure we line up your budget to allocate your funds in a savvy way." [15:26]

3. Emily's Long Blouses: Styling Solutions

   • [17:25] Emily seeks advice on styling her long blouses, which she feels may not flatter her body shape when tucked in.

   • Heather's Coaching Assistant suggests several solutions:

     • Belt Usage: Adding a belt to define the waist and create more flattering proportions.
     • Layering: Pairing long blouses with fitted jackets or shorter tops to balance the silhouette.
     • Fitted Bottoms: Combining long tops with skinny jeans, slim-fit pants, or knee-length skirts to enhance overall outfit appeal.

   • Additionally, Emily is encouraged to share photos of her blouses in the Facebook group for more personalized feedback. [19:19]

   • Quote: "A belt is sort of an easy go-to." [18:14]

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Insights and Takeaways

• Personalized Styling: Heather emphasizes the importance of a tailored approach to personal style, moving away from one-size-fits-all solutions. Her methods focus on individual preferences, body types, and unique personalities.

• Color Psychology: Understanding and embracing personal color palettes can significantly enhance confidence and style coherence. Heather’s exclusive color palette service is a testament to the transformative power of color in personal styling.

• Strategic Shopping: Effective wardrobe building involves strategic shopping, prioritizing needs over impulsive purchases, and being mindful of budget allocations. Researching and understanding preferred brands and styles plays a crucial role in this process.

• Flexible Style Integration: Balancing multiple personal styles is achievable through creativity and flexibility. Seasonal adaptations and blending different style elements can result in a versatile and authentic wardrobe.

• Community Support: The interactive Q&A format highlights the value of community support and shared experiences in achieving personal style goals. Members benefit from collective wisdom and personalized coaching within Her Style Collective.

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Conclusion and Next Steps

Heather concludes the episode by encouraging listeners to engage further with the HER Style community and take actionable steps towards refining their personal style:

• Take the Free 5-Minute Personal Style Quiz: herstylellc.com/quiz

• Submit Questions for Q&A Thursday: herstylellc.com/podcast

• Join HER Style Collective: herstylellc.com/collective

• Visit the Website: herstylellc.com

• Email Support: [e-mail]

Heather invites listeners to rate, review, and subscribe to the HER Style Podcast to stay updated with future episodes. Additionally, she encourages direct engagement through Instagram (@heatherriggstyle) for personalized support on individual style journeys.

Quote: "If you've enjoyed our time together, please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to HER Style Podcast so you never miss an episode. Finally, I invite you to make this a two-way conversation and send me a DM over on Instagram @heatherriggstyle to let me know how I can best support you on your style journey." [21:12]

Listeners are reminded that transforming their wardrobe and style is a journey that Heather is dedicated to guiding them through with expertise, humor, and genuine support.

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Final Thoughts

Episode 225 of the HER Style Podcast stands out as an insightful and actionable session, blending expert advice with real-life coaching scenarios. Whether you're grappling with defining your style, overcoming wardrobe frustrations, or seeking strategic shopping tips, Heather Riggs provides the tools and encouragement needed to build a dream wardrobe and exude confidence every day.

Transcript

[Heather Riggs]

Surprise. I know I said we're moving to monthly Q and A episodes, but that doesn't mean I can't throw in a bonus episode for you every now and then. Today. I'm very excited to take you behind the scenes of my 90 day group coaching program, Her Style Collective. I meet with our members for lifestyle coaching every single week and in this podcast episode you get to be a fly on the wall and listen in. Stick around as I coach these incredible women on an array of topics like navigating two very different personal style types, figuring out where shop, and how to find style inspiration when Pinterest just isn't cutting it. I know you're going to love this special sneak peek at what really goes down inside the collective. Plus, as promised, I have a very big announcement related to International Color Day tomorrow right after this. Welcome to Her Style Podcast where we're all about empowering you to show up and get dressed every day with confidence. I'm your host Heather Riggs, a 15 year and counting certified image consultant and color specialist ready to build a wardrobe and a personal style you love. Let's get started. That's right, I don't have just one surprise for you today, I have two. Not only am I serving up a surprise bonus episode for you, but we are doing something very special to celebrate International Color Day which is Friday, March 21st. This is a day to recognize the role color plays in art, design, culture and our everyday lives. And you probably know by now that color is my specialization. It's my favorite thing to talk about on the podcast and to support you with and knowing and embracing your best colors is the biggest game changer for your personal style and confidence. So this weekend only, I've decided to open up just 10 spots for my standalone personal color palette service. This is something that I've only been offering Inside Her Style Collective for the past five or six months, but I had a lot of people reach out to me during our free boot camp back in January to ask if they could get just the color palette service. And so friend, this is your chance. If you want a fully custom one of a kind personal color palette based not only on your personal coloring but catered to your preferences and designed to reflect your unique personality, then you are.

[Coaching Assistant]

Going to want to scoop up one.

[Heather Riggs]

Of these spots fast. You can head to herstylellc.com color right now because I'm only offering this as a standalone service through Sunday, March 23, which also happens to be my parents anniversary. So happy Anniversary mom and dad. Or until Spots are gone. Once the 10 color palette spots are sold, that's it. You're gonna just have to join us inside Her Style Collective. So if you want color palette service, go ahead and grab your spot. You're going to fill out a survey for me so I can get to know your color and style preferences and your personality. And you can share any special questions or requests that you might have for your palette. And then I will give you very specific requirements and examples for the two photos that I'll need you to send me. This service is 100% virtual, but I have perfected the process over the past three years and you are going to love the results. You're going to find out your skin tone type, your personal contrast levels. You'll get a personalized PDF guide that has the color names, the psychology behind wearing each one, so you can choose the right one for every occasion. You're going to find out which wardrobe pieces I recommend in each color. This is an incredibly comprehensive service. It's going to answer all of your color questions and make shopping and getting dressed immensely easier. This is the number one resource I recommend. If you are in the process of up leveling your wardrobe and you need to know I do not take a cookie cutter approach, you are not going to receive a generic color season or preset assortment of swatches. I personally hand select every single hue just for you. Again, you can grab your spot for a limited [e-mail] color and you will see a message once all 10 spots are gone. There will be some instructions if you want to join a wait list in case I decide to do this again, but I don't have any plans to. So go, go, go. Get your personal color palette locked down right now while you can. And now onto today's live Q and A from Insight inside Her Style Collective. Enjoy.

[Chloe]

Hi. So, okay, I'm still, like, contemplating step one and like, digesting everything in step one. And I'm having trouble with, like, my two styles. I would say I have bohemian and gothic, and I. I feel like it's really hard to mix them because I'm not getting enough of, like, one or the other. So. And I know the point of, like, dressing in our authentic style is so that we come across trustworthy and authentic. So would it be weird or bad if I did, like, one day I dressed head to toe gothic, and then another day I dressed head to toe bohemian. Like, is that coming across as inauthentic or untrustworthy?

[Coaching Assistant]

Do you is creative one of your style types? Yes. Yeah. Then no, that's like exactly creative because it's always. I mean, I think one of the key characteristics of a creative style type is you're a little bit unpredictable.

[Chloe]

Okay.

[Coaching Assistant]

In that way. So yeah, lean into that. Like, that is the one where I say this all the time. It's like anything goes.

[Chloe]

Yep.

[Coaching Assistant]

And that is your style because it's not like you have a cookie cutter look. You want to be a little bit more playful and try things that are unexpected or maybe offbeat in a way or a little bit more artistic. And so that for me is like one of the most fun things to play with because it doesn't have to look any certain way. And so what I would ask or challenge now, of course you could kind of lean into either side of your style depending on maybe the occasion or the season. That kind of thing is sort of a no brainer. Like sometimes maybe you want to feel more bohemian in the spring and summer and a little bit more gothic or edgy. Like fall, winter would be kind of a logical way to go with it. Now the other thing is maybe you do want to find your perfect blend. And if you're not seeing outfits that really fit that on Pinterest, we can make it up ourselves. Right. Like, you don't have to copy what other people are doing. We can find a way to bring those two together. If that feels like something you would want to play.

[Chloe]

I think. I think so. Because I'm really having a hard time and like I said, when I try to mix them, it's like not enough of one or the other and it just looks like it's not the vibe I'm going for.

[Coaching Assistant]

Yeah.

[Chloe]

So I don't know. I think this is going to be a question that I'm going to have to like brainstorm throughout the entire process and maybe it's not something we can answer today. And it's. My answer is going to evolve. So this is just where my thought process has brought me today. I was like, can I just like cosplay one one day and then another the next day? And it's. Yeah. So that's cool that you like, you giving me permission to do that makes me feel that I'm. It makes me feel better and that I'm not being inauthentic.

[Coaching Assistant]

Yeah. And my goal for you is by the end of the collective, you are giving yourself the permission to do whatever it is that you want to do when you get dressed. But yes, that's what I'm here for right now is to Give you that reassur and to help you build your confidence around trusting your style intuition. So, yes, you can absolutely lean into one or the other, but I would love to also. Let's see if we can come up with the perfect blend for you that I don't want you to feel like you have two separate wardrobes. Let's find right for you to be able to make it versatile and kind of bring all the different elements together in a way that feels creative and fun and inspiring for you when you're getting dressed. And it might be. I don't normally say this. I usually say when you're doing your style mood board, come up with, like, overall outfits so we can get that bird's eye view and look for recurring themes. Maybe for you right now you want to start adding some individual elements. And especially because you have a creative side to your style, maybe look beyond fashion too and say, okay, I really like this piece of art. Or these. And this is true for anyone. I mentioned this on another call. Like, your mood board does not have to just be clothing and accessories. Maybe there's a fabric or, you know, an interior space that really inspires you, especially if we're trying to hone in on what's going to be perfect for you.

[Chloe]

Let's.

[Coaching Assistant]

Let's expand that step a little bit and add lots of different things in. And then if you can just trust me through the process, especially as we get into actually styling your outfits and looking at what's in your current wardrobe, I think we can really hone it in even further as we continue forward. Like you said, it might not be something that it's step one. Check. We'll probably have to keep going back to refine it a little bit.

[Chloe]

Definitely. It's definitely been a head scratcher.

[Coaching Assistant]

So thank you. Yeah, yeah.

[Heather Riggs]

Have fun.

[Coaching Assistant]

And there's no limitations. There's no right and wrong. All of this is really to give you lots of information so that you can all make the most informed decisions for your outfits, for your shopping, for your style. But at the end of the day, you all write your own rules, and I will always encourage you in doing what feels good for you. So, yes, let's play and. And have fun with that.

[Chloe]

I'm excited. I also have one really quick question. I think you said in the boot camp when we did our style quiz, if we had another match, it might not have shown up way. Because I'm kind of wondering if my third one is feminine or alluring.

[Coaching Assistant]

I'm not sure I'm going to have to look into that after the call because I'll have to go in and check your answers for that. Yeah, let me look. And exactly how they tallied up. And if there was something that was tied, if one feels off, it could definitely be another one because it.

[Heather Riggs]

That's the only problem with the quiz.

[Coaching Assistant]

Like, it's so robust. But then with the third result, sometimes if something's tied by default, it's just going to show you whichever one was listed first.

[Chloe]

Right. Yeah.

[Coaching Assistant]

Did you get feminine and you're not sure if that's it?

[Chloe]

Yes.

[Coaching Assistant]

Yeah. It could be alluring. It could be dramatic.

[Chloe]

Right.

[Coaching Assistant]

Okay, so let me check for you, Chloe, and we'll. We'll make sure that it's spot on.

[Chloe]

Okay, perfect.

[Coaching Assistant]

Okay. I'm gonna write a note for that, too. All right, so we got through the whole queue of questions, and we have time. I would love to check in with everybody else that's on the call, so feel free. Again, you're welcome to raise your hand. You can just unmute and start talking and everyone will give you your space. Or if you want, you can post questions in the chat too. If you're unable to unmute today, I'll go. Hi. Hi. Long time no see. I know we had a little one on one earlier.

[Lisa]

Yeah. And so I went after that, I went into my closet and I got through my shirts and sweaters and my replace. My replace is almost as big as my current closet. And then half of that is giveaway, so.

[Coaching Assistant]

But it's like in thirds.

[Lisa]

Yeah.

[Coaching Assistant]

Okay. All right. Are you freaking out about that, or does it feel good? Too much. Eliminate things.

[Lisa]

Not too much. Because I'm excited to get stuff that actually looks better. But I'm still. I know you said boutiques, you know, just start going and trying clothes on in stores around, but where I don't really. Yeah, I've never really shopped online. I don't even know what brands to buy.

[Coaching Assistant]

Yeah. So right now, at this stage in the process, because you're doing your audit, you're kind of starting to think about what you might need to fill in the gaps. I would encourage you to go locally just for the sole purpose of research. And I would. I. My suggestion would be try not to buy anything just yet. If you see pieces that you like, you know, you could ask to put them on hold or. Or make note, remember where you found them. But I think it would be really great. And the only reason I suggest that you go in person right now is just so that you can get a Feel for some of the different brands, different cuts and styles and what feels good for you before you start shopping online. Because it's kind of overwhelming to shop online if you don't have any. Go to's right now. And once you get into step six, like there's a whole shopping director we, we can kind of sort through based on your personal style, your budget. If you're interested in shopping more sustainable brands, everything you can kind of sort in that directory. So that will give you some other ways to expand your list. But right now I think there's nothing like going and actually trying some things on and seeing what feels good for you. Especially because we talked today about you looking for some really nice soft fabrics. And so I, I'm such a tactile person. I love when I can go and actually feel the materials and try things on and make sure things are comfortable. And then you could start to say, okay, I really like this cut of denim. Really like the way this cut looks on me or this brand. Seems like it's really nice quality. This is one that I maybe want to write down. And then you can go look online at what else they have on their direct website. So if you go to a boutique, for example, you'll find tons of different designers and brands. But then you could, if you pinpoint a couple that really resonate for you, you could go on their websites and see what else is in their collection. You can look for other or brands, you could even type into Google brands, like whatever ones you happen to see in store. So that's just a great starting point. And again, I think it would be really nice for you to just kind of go keep an open mind and just play and experiment a little bit and then see what you like and then we can kind of bring that to the table and hone it in a little bit more.

[Lisa]

Okay, great, thanks.

[Coaching Assistant]

Yeah, so I don't. Again, I know, I know where you live and I can kind of look and see what you have available. But even if you have like a department store, like a Macy's or Nordstrom or Lord and Taylor, I that would be great just because they're going to have lots of different things. And then the sales associates can also help you. And if you try something on and you like it or don't like it and give them some feedback, they can say, okay, well why don't you try this other thing? And they can also help introduce you to some other stuff based on what they have in store. So. And you could go to other shops as well, if you wanted to check out a J. Crew Banana Republic or other, you know, anthropology, like, whatever, feel free to just kind of look around and browse a little bit. But I just don't want you to start doing a ton of shopping yet, because I think we want to be a little bit more strategic about what's on your shopping list. Making sure we line up your budget to allocate your funds in a savvy way, and then we can kind of hone in on specifically what you want to look for.

[Lisa]

That's great. I'm not ready to really buy yet anyway. I'm still losing some weight, so.

[Coaching Assistant]

Okay. So, yeah. But my goal for you is whether you want to shop during this three month stint of the collective or not, I really want you to have, like, your full shopping list, prioritized, budgeted, ready to go and know exactly what you're looking for. And that's the other thing, too, to keep in mind. Lisa, is like, you might realize in a couple of weeks, once you get through the dream capsule step, that you want a pair of linen trousers in an olive green color, and then you can go online and search for that and get a whole bunch of ideas. So once you have some specifics on your list, it'll make shopping a lot easier because you're not just looking at all the pants in the whole world. It's like, no, I know. I want this type of pan in this general color at this price point. And then we can start finding some specific options for you to try from there.

[Lisa]

Okay, that actually, that makes it sound easier.

[Heather Riggs]

It is.

[Coaching Assistant]

Yeah. So we're going to kind of baby step your way to online shopping. But right now, if you have some time to just go look around for research purposes and to start trying some things on and getting a sense of what you like, to take the intellectual concepts from steps one through three and start seeing how it feels on you. I think that would be a really powerful exercise to start playing around with.

[Lisa]

Okay, thanks.

[Coaching Assistant]

Yeah, you're welcome. And I know not all retailers are created equal, and sometimes associates are more inclined to help you than others, are more knowledgeable about products than others. But if you go with low expectations and just with the goal of trying things on, hopefully it'll be fun and not frustrating. I know sometimes shopping in person can be hit or miss, but if you're not planning to buy anything, that makes it really low pressure. Who else has questions or just wants to talk about where you're at in the program and give me a little update on Your goals maybe for the week.

[Emily]

Hi.

[Coaching Assistant]

Hi.

[Emily]

Thank you for helping me and kind of guiding me as far as my body shape and that. That was super helpful.

[Coaching Assistant]

Absolutely.

[Emily]

But one of the questions I have is what I'm finding is a number of my blouses are super long. Like.

[Coaching Assistant]

Yeah, yeah.

[Emily]

And so I'm thinking with my shape that it's better to have more of a defined waist than to have something that's kind of, you know, drapey and boxy. And my waist are there different? Like if it's super long and I'm trying to tuck it in, it ends up being not comfortable. So do I say goodbye to those that. Or are there other ideas on how you can. How I could style some of those things?

[Coaching Assistant]

Yeah, I mean, I would love to look at the individual pieces, so I can really best advise around all of them because some things might work better depending on the style of the tops. Now, you could do what we were just showing with crystal and you could put a belt around it. That's a really easy way just to define your waist. It can also help to create more flattering proportions for some of those longer tops. That typically works. Well, if it's a button down shirt. Yeah, a lot of those kind of styles. Yeah, that should work really nicely to just add a belt and then do maybe a more fitted bottom, either like a skinny jean or, you know, a slim fit pant or even like a knee length skirt, depending on, you know, the styling of the top and how the lengths work out with everything. So lots of different things that you could do. But a belt is sort of an easy go to. You could also pair a more fitted jacket over top. So if you have any jackets that have like a cinched waist waist or.

[Emily]

I have a lot of cardigans that hit. Well, they're a little bit long. They're like a little longer than my waist, not right at my waist.

[Coaching Assistant]

Okay, so that might work. Again, if they're a button down shirt, one thing that you could do is to layer a shorter top overneath. Oh, overneath over top. And have the longer shirt sticking out underneath. That could be a cute look too. And that, again, could help bring some nicer definition to your waist, especially if it is a more fitted top layer. So since you're doing all the work to build your closet inventory, I would love for you to maybe drop links to those pieces in the Facebook group from Pinterest so we could take a look at more of the specifics and give you recommendations. And I, I think I had asked via email if you've worked on a style mood board too. I would love to see did you step area?

[Emily]

I. I've been trying to look but I keep getting like the same pictures keep showing up and I feel like I'm just so. I'm like, well yeah, I already have something with jeans and a top like that, but I'm not able to find dresses or I don't know, I'm having a hard time finding things. And so then I oh, that's okay.

[Coaching Assistant]

Well, one thing that you could do is instead of browsing on Pinterest, you could look at some of your favorite retailer websites for inspiration. You know, as they are rolling things out for the spring. You can find lots of, you know, almost catalog type of images on a lot of websites or even if you just look at individual products, if you kind of like the way that they have things styled and put together, you could save images from there. As long as you have the pin it extension on your browser, you can save pictures from anywhere. It doesn't have to be on Pinterest.

[Emily]

Okay, that's fantastic. I appreciate it.

[Coaching Assistant]

Oh yeah, you're welcome. All right ladies, any last stuff? We all good? It has been so fun to see you all making amazing progress and I love how engaged everybody is in the group. So please keep it going.

[Heather Riggs]

We love your questions and we're 100%.

[Coaching Assistant]

Here to support you.

[Heather Riggs]

Thank you for listening to today's episode. If you want to stop copying everyone else's style and start dialing in your own spoon worthy signature look, head over to take my free 5 minute personal style quiz which you can find at the link in the show notes. If you've enjoyed our time together, please be sure to rate, review and subscribe to her style podcast so you never miss an episode. Finally, I invite you to make this a two way conversation and send me a DM over on Instagram @heatherriggstyle to let me know how I can best support you on your style journey. I'm always here for you in style and service. Until next.