HER Style Podcast – Episode 292

Stress-Free Outfit Styling Strategies for Every Holiday Gathering
Host: Heather Riggs
Date: November 20, 2025

Episode Overview

In this actionable and encouraging episode, Heather Riggs, veteran stylist and image consultant, arms listeners with practical, stress-free strategies for planning and styling outfits for every holiday gathering—without panic shopping or morning-of meltdowns. Drawing from her 17 years of experience, Heather presents her “Three S’s of Stress-Free Holiday Style” to help women avoid the trap of impulse buying, discover how to use color and mood intentionally, and create repeatable outfit formulas using what’s already in their closets. The episode is filled with empathetic validation, step-by-step guidance, and a touch of humor, setting listeners up for more confident, enjoyable, and authentic dressing throughout the holiday season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Holiday Outfit Pressure Cycle

• Many women face the “I have nothing to wear” panic right before holiday events, defaulting to last-minute impulse shopping that ultimately leads to regret and an even more cluttered wardrobe.
• Heather assures listeners, “Those thoughts don’t mean there’s anything wrong with you or your wardrobe. It’s just a sign you’ve been approaching getting dressed in a way that doesn’t fully support you.” (06:24)
• The problem isn't a lack of options, but a lack of systems to make dressing for special events simple and aligned with personal style.

2. The Three S’s of Stress-Free Holiday Style

I. Set Your Scene

(Start: 10:22)

• Context comes before your closet. Heather emphasizes the importance of considering the event’s location, attendees, and level of formality before touching your clothes.
• Ask yourself:
  • "How do I want to feel?"
  • "How do I want to show up?"
• Heather explains, “Sometimes you want to feel comfortable, but appear elegant and refined—or maybe feel confident but look approachable.” (12:12)
• Clarity on both internal feelings and external impressions narrows down outfit choices and brings intention to your styling.

Memorable example:

“If you want to feel powerful at your company holiday party…but also appear relaxed and personable…[that] might translate to something structured like a blazer, but in a softer fabric or approachable color.” (13:25)

II. Set the Mood (with Color)

(Start: 17:00)

• Color is a core styling tool: the right shades project mood and confidence, but must also align with your personal coloring.
• Think about the emotional energy you want to embody at the event, then choose colors that both express that emotion and flatter your features.
• Shift away from defaulting to “holiday palettes” (like cliché red and green), and select unique tones or combinations that feel festive and true to you.

Practical advice:

“Color psychology is incredibly helpful…but it only works when the colors you choose also support your natural coloring and make you feel like your most confident self.” (18:32)

Examples of mood-driven color choices:

• Confident and grounded: deep, rich tones (olive, navy, espresso, merlot)
• Celebratory and eye-catching: statement metallics or accents in harmonious shades
• Elegant and soft: lighter or muted hues that align with your complexion

“Color is not about limiting yourself…[it’s about] freeing yourself of any limiting thoughts and choosing the versions that excite you and bring out your best features.” (20:45)

III. Style with Strategy

(Start: 25:40)

• This step moves you from chaos and last-minute stress to calm confidence.
• Pick one primary focal point for each outfit (e.g., a standout shoe, bold lip color, statement earring, or textured fabric).
• Let all other elements support that focal piece.
• Try on your planned outfits in advance and snap photos; this way, you can preview your look, adjust fit or styling details, and have a ready-to-go “holiday lookbook” in your phone.

Pro tip:

“Label each outfit by event in your phone, and boom—you’ve got your own holiday lookbook ready to go.” (27:11)

• Develop one outfit formula per event type (casual, business, formal), then tweak color or accessories for variety.

“You don’t have to reinvent the wheel every single time. Once you find what works, you can repeat it endlessly with small tweaks.” (28:50)

3. Behind the Framework: The Emotional Heart of Style

• Heather reiterates, “Style is emotional first. That’s why we begin by setting the scene.” (33:10)
• The process:
  1. Emotional clarity (scene/feeling)
  2. Visual expression (color/mood)
  3. Strategic action (plans, formulas, prep)
• The goal: make getting dressed intuitive and affirming rather than stressful or ruled by trends.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Heather (06:24):
  "Those thoughts don’t mean there’s anything wrong with you or your wardrobe. It’s just a sign you’ve been approaching getting dressed in a way that doesn’t fully support you."
• Heather’s son’s wisdom (03:12):
  "You get what you get and you don’t get upset." (A funny aside, mirroring Heather’s encouragement to let go of perfection and work with what you have)
• Heather (18:32):
  "Color psychology is incredibly helpful…but it only works when the colors you choose also support your natural coloring and make you feel like your most confident self."
• Heather (27:11):
  "Label each outfit by event in your phone, and boom—you’ve got your own holiday lookbook ready to go."
• Heather (33:10):
  "Style is emotional first. That’s why we begin by setting the scene…Then it’s visual second, and the last piece…is strategy."
• Heather (36:55):
  "Confidence isn’t about having more clothes—it’s about knowing which clothes work for you."

Actionable Steps & Takeaways

1. Reflect
   • Before you shop or style, get clear on the event’s vibe and how you want to feel/show up.
2. Curate Color
   • Choose colors for outfits intentionally, based on mood and personal coloring—don’t just default to typical holiday hues.
3. Strategize
   • Pick a focal style point per look, try on and photograph each outfit, and build a mini “lookbook” on your phone for easy access.
4. Repeat + Refine
   • Create simple “outfit formulas” and recycle with minor tweaks to avoid decision fatigue.
5. Release the Pressure
   • Empower yourself to show up authentically without new purchases—style is about expression, not accumulation.

Resources Promoted

• Her Style Collective Membership: Access to the live “Holiday Style SOS” Workshop and ongoing support (bonus offer deadline: Nov 23, 2025).
• 5-Minute Personal Style Quiz: herstylellc.com/quiz

Episode Flow & Timestamps

• [00:00] – Introduction & personal story about holiday busy-ness
• [03:12] – “You get what you get and you don’t get upset” anecdote
• [06:24] – The real reason wardrobe panic happens
• [10:22] – The Three S’s: Set Your Scene
• [17:00] – Set the Mood: The power of color
• [25:40] – Style with Strategy: Outfit formulas and pre-planning
• [33:10] – Emotional core of personal style
• [36:55] – Wrapping up & special membership promotion

Tone & Style

Heather’s voice is warm, relatable, and practical, blending empathy with humor (“you could put on a show with your outfit if you want, but what I meant was a statement shoe…”), and always focusing on empowerment rather than rules or perfectionism.

Final Encouragement

Heather closes by calling on women to “release the pressure, stop the panic shopping, and use systems instead of stress” to navigate their wardrobes with confidence—this holiday season, and beyond.

“You don’t need new things to feel like your best self. You just need a new approach.” (39:22)

This summary captures all the major themes, practical advice, and Heather Riggs’s signature motivational style from HER Style Podcast, Episode 292.