Style Speaks: Unlocking Confidence and Authentic Expression
Style Speaks: Unlocking Confidence and Authentic Expression
Your personal style speaks before you say a single word. Whether you’re walking into a business meeting, heading to a social event, or even joining a virtual call, your appearance can set the tone for how others perceive you. But beyond first impressions, style is a powerful tool to express your authenticity, boost your confidence, and align your outward appearance with your inner self. In a recent conversation with Edie O’Brien, a seasoned fashion stylist and image consultant, we explored how embracing your unique style can unlock a new level of confidence and clarity in how you show up in the world.
Style as a Reflection of Your Authentic Self
“Style is personal,” Edie shared during our discussion. “It’s about expressing who you are, not just following trends.” Trends come and go, but true style resonates deeply with your individuality. It’s not about trying to fit into a mold but about embracing what makes you unique.
For many of us, our style journey starts with self-discovery. In my early career, I gravitated toward muted tones and oversized pieces in an attempt to blend in and minimize attention. I thought this was the professional thing to do, but it didn’t reflect who I truly was. It wasn’t until I worked with a stylist that I began to understand the transformative power of clothing. Bold jewel tones and fitted silhouettes helped me feel confident and capable, reflecting the energy I wanted to bring into my work and life.
Edie emphasized that your wardrobe should align with who you are at your core. She noted, “If you’re not comfortable in what you’re wearing, you’re not going to feel confident, and that’s going to show up in your energy and interactions.” Confidence is contagious, and when your style aligns with your authenticity, it radiates.
When to Consider a Style Refresh
Major life transitions often signal the need for a style refresh. Whether it’s a career change, motherhood, or a shift in personal priorities, these moments can leave you feeling disconnected from your wardrobe. Edie highlighted that even internal shifts—like gaining a deeper understanding of yourself—can prompt the realization that your current style no longer fits.
She encouraged listeners to reflect on their wardrobes and ask:
Are you reaching for the same few pieces out of habit, not excitement?
Does your closet feel uninspiring?
Do you feel like your clothes no longer represent who you are?
If you answered yes to any of these, it might be time to connect with a stylist or take steps to reassess your wardrobe. A style refresh isn’t about replacing everything you own; it’s about curating pieces that work for your lifestyle and express your true self.
The Impact of Fit and Quality
One of the most significant takeaways from my conversation with Edie was the importance of fit. “Fit is everything,” she explained. “You can have the most expensive garment, but if it doesn’t fit, it’ll look sloppy. Conversely, a well-fitted, affordable piece can look high-end and polished.”
The same principle applies to quality over quantity. Instead of chasing sales or trends, Edie recommends investing in versatile pieces that can be styled multiple ways. A well-chosen blazer, for example, can elevate your look for professional settings or add a touch of structure to a casual outfit. It’s not about spending a fortune; it’s about making thoughtful decisions that reflect your needs and preferences.
Practical Steps to Elevate Your Style
If you’re ready to take your style to the next level, here are a few tips inspired by Edie’s expertise:
Audit Your Closet: Start by evaluating what you already own. Identify pieces you love and wear often, as well as items you haven’t touched in years. Pay attention to what these patterns reveal about your preferences and priorities.
Define Your Style Goals: Think about how you want to feel in your clothes. Confident? Powerful? Comfortable? Use these insights to guide your choices.
Invest in Key Pieces: Focus on adding versatile staples to your wardrobe. These might include tailored pants, a high-quality pair of shoes, or a statement accessory that reflects your personality.
Experiment with Colors and Textures: Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone. Try on colors, shapes, and fabrics you’ve never considered before. Sometimes, the right stylist or friend can introduce you to looks you wouldn’t have picked on your own.
Consider Professional Guidance: A stylist can help you refine your wardrobe and uncover your authentic style. Virtual consultations make this more accessible than ever, allowing you to connect with experts no matter where you live.
Authenticity and Confidence Go Hand in Hand
Style is more than just clothing—it’s a reflection of your energy, values, and goals. When your wardrobe aligns with who you are, it amplifies your confidence and helps you show up as your best self. As Edie put it, “Confidence is the number one shining thing anybody can wear.”
Whether you’re just starting your style journey or looking to refine your current approach, the key is to stay true to yourself. Embrace what makes you unique, invest in pieces that support your lifestyle, and let your personal style be a powerful form of self-expression.
If you’re ready to explore how style can transform your life, connect with Edie O’Brien and discover her expert guidance:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ediestylez/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ediestylez/
Website: https://ediestyles.com/
For more resources and conversations that empower you to thrive and scale, check out:
Thrive & Scale Expert Blueprint: https://thecoachesplaza.com/the-thrive-and-scale-blueprint
The Amanda Kaufman Show Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-amanda-kaufman-show/id1450993176
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theamandakaufman
Join The Coaches That Don’t Suck Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/thecoachsplaza
Let your style speak for you and unlock the confidence and authenticity that’s been waiting to shine.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Edie O'Brien
02:45 The Importance of Authenticity in Style
04:36 Finding the Right Stylist
06:43 Key Moments for Style Consultation
08:37 Common Style Mistakes
10:40 Understanding Personal Style vs. Trends
12:37 The Role of Confidence in Style
14:12 The Process of Working with a Stylist
16:48 The Value of Investing in Style
20:55 Mottos for Smart Shopping
22:32 What Makes a Coach Stand Out
26:01 Authenticity in Presentation
28:01 The Spectrum of Authenticity
30:21 Conclusion and Resources
Full Transcript
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (00:00)
Well, their style, obviously, is one of it. Let's put it this way. It speaks before we ever can. Honestly, it we all.
Amanda Kaufman (00:08)
Ooh, that's good. I love that.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (00:11)
Even the ones that say, I don't judge anybody. I'm not judgmental. is human nature to see somebody and we have a reaction. have a thought, you know, before they even open their mouth. Right. So what we're saying speaks volumes before we ever can. So we may not even have a chance on that business deal, on that date, on, you know, landing that client. If they're looking at us going, they look like a tragic mess. Like I don't want them guiding my life when, or giving me life advice when
Amanda Kaufman (00:20)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (00:41)
You know, they're wrinkled and crinkled and you know, and they just don't look like they have it together So that's really important. I think I mean, I really do think that style speaks speaks volumes.
Amanda Kaufman (01:11)
Well, hello and welcome back to the Amanda Kaufman show. I am so excited for this next segment. We're continuing our series on the coaches that don't suck. And I was so excited to get to meet Edie O'Brien and she's here with us today. Hello, Edie, how are you? Very good, very good. Welcome to the show.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (01:28)
Good, thanks. How are you Amanda?
Amanda Kaufman (01:33)
So, listener Edie O'Brien is a Texas-based fashion stylist and image consultant with over 15 years of experience, currently serving as the fashion editor for San Antonio Women magazine. Known for her work featured nationally and internationally, Edie brings expertise from roles in fashion editing, modeling, retail, and interior design. Formerly with Texas Lifestyle Magazine and represented by the Campbell Agency,
She combines her creative flair with a genuine passion for helping clients look and feel their best. Originally from Boston and seasoned by years in LA, Edie also dedicates herself to community causes, including dog rescue and sponsoring a child in Kenya. Edie, I'm so excited for this conversation. I just loved our first meeting when we got to know each other a little bit better. What?
What inspires you these days? mean, like you're you've got such great experience and you know, I think it's really powerful experience. A lot of my audience are entrepreneurs and coaches and I know they think about style and fashion. Like you've been in this for a while. How do you stay inspired?
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (02:45)
Gosh, well I'm inspired by people, I'm inspired by my clients, right? I'm inspired by authenticity and really helping people express that because I feel that if we're not comfortable in what we're wearing, we can't be comfortable. If we're not comfortable in our own skin and in what we're wearing, that reflects in our business, in our work, in our interactions, no matter what. So I'm really inspired to help people feel comfortable
confident in their own skin and in their own clothing. So my clients inspire me, people inspire me.
Amanda Kaufman (03:23)
really love this. I recall this from our previous discussion, that your commitment to this authenticity piece. I know for me, I wished when I was in like earlier phases of my career, I just did my best to blend in and
I know I was wearing all the wrong stuff, but like my goal was also not authentic expression. My goal was to try to shrink into the background somehow and not get noticed, hide my body, you know, things like that. And it took working with a stylist to recognize and sort of have a better appreciation for how beautiful a body can be no matter the size, the shape and to find that authentic expression and to learn like, you know, I would wear
like lots of grays and lots of blacks. And I try to kind of like, as I said, blend in and not be seen. But it turned out that like for me, bolder colors, more jewel tones, things like that did really, really well. So I'm curious, like if somebody is struggling with that expression piece and they're thinking, hmm, maybe maybe some style consultation might be the way to go. Where where should somebody start with that?
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (04:35)
Well, they should research, you know, a stylist around them or in today's day and age with virtual styling. Really, you can just go on the internet and Google, but you should definitely connect with some stylists and get some consultations and really talk to different ones and make sure that the one that you ultimately hire, if you do hire, understands who you are and what you're trying to express. I am very much against just copying the TikToks or the who-nots on the internet and what they're doing, because what's
working for someone may not be something that works for somebody else. So it's really about connecting with the stylist and telling them who you are and sharing with them who they are to make sure that, and hearing who the stylist is as well, like get an idea where they come from, what their values are and what they aim to do. It's a personal relationship. I'm a personal stylist. I'm in people's closets for crying out loud. I'm in some of their most intimate areas.
Amanda Kaufman (05:33)
Yeah
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (05:35)
So you really want to make sure that you get somebody who understands who you are and what you want to say stylistically. Like something that you said that stood out to me was you use to wear a lot of blacks and grays. You are such a vibrant, bright light that I mean, it's like that is not who you are at all. And I know that just from talking to you the couple of times that I've met you, you know, so.
Amanda Kaufman (05:57)
Yeah, yeah,
I completely appreciate that. you know, something that came up for me as well is the transitions of life, right? Like...
there was certainly a standard of attire that made sense when I was a corporate employee and I was flying to these company headquarters, et cetera. And then I changed careers completely. I went the entrepreneurial route. I'm more of a high-performance coach and a marketing coach. And part of the whole thing that I'm schlepping is this freedom, right? And so it really did affect my appearance in a lot of ways and was like an exercise of freedom.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (06:29)
Next.
Amanda Kaufman (06:36)
What would you say are like key moments that someone should like go, wait, I should probably talk to a personal stylist.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (06:43)
I think.
There are definitely many stages in life. And I know I myself as a stylist and as a 56 year old woman have had many stages of my style as well. Clearly things like, you know, motherhood, change of career, know, marriage, divorce, menopause for those of us who have, you know, entered into this lovely stage. Those are definitely key things like big changes, right? Graduating college, you know, starting a career, changing a career. Those are definitely times to
Reach out but if you don't have any of those aha moments when you look into your closet and you are completely uninspired and you pull out the same few things because What the heck they work? I know they work. I know they go together and you're you're uninspired That's a time to reach out as well because it means that you've maybe shifted maybe your style has shifted and What you're seeing in your closet does not reflect who you are and like our energy knows that I'm all about like energy like people can put things on and it's like energetically I know
Amanda Kaufman (07:32)
Hmm
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (07:43)
that that's them and sometimes they just need permission to change you know you know
Amanda Kaufman (07:48)
That's so good. That's so
good. And I really agree with what you're saying here, too, about the energy side of things, because there's definitely been chapters, even as an entrepreneur, where there wasn't like that outside circumstance necessarily that had shifted, but there was certainly an internal shift. And that internal shift might be because I kind of reached this critical mass of understanding a new concept differently, or maybe I've decided to
maybe make a tweak in how I'm showing up online or things like that that are just, it is more of an internal shift and then it's like you're meeting up with your closet and you're kind of going...
the vibe anymore. Maybe I don't even know what the new vibe is, but I know that there has been a shift and only you really know. Yeah, so what would you say is like some of the top mistakes you see a lot of maybe business owners and people online, coaches, what do you see them kind of making it in the way of faux pas or mistakes or things that you kind of wish it's like, I wish they just knew this about fashion and expression.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (08:32)
Right.
Yes.
Yes. Well, first of all, it is personal. It's personal. It's individual. is, you know, if it works for you and if it is who you are authentically, then it's going, that's going to show that's going to reflect. Right. So like I had clients say to me, are denim skirts in fashion or in style? I'm like, well, is it your style? Or, or is this in style? like, well, style and trending are two different things. Like style is who we are. Yeah. There's different things like fashion. use fashion and trends, you know, to define
Amanda Kaufman (09:02)
Mmm.
Mm-hmm.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (09:28)
develop
and to externalize our style. But style is an internal thing, right? So, you know, I think that it's really important for people to understand that fit. That's probably the biggest thing, the biggest issue I see out in the world.
are people's clothes aren't fitting them correctly, right? And that's also part of the fashion industry's issue because sizes are just all over the place, you know, but fit is really, really important. You can have, you know, a hugely expensive garment that doesn't fit well and it's going to look sloppy, or you can have a garment that is, you know, a good mid-range, most of us can afford garment that's fit beautifully and it looks gorgeous. So fit is a big thing. Colors, like understanding what colors really,
you know, help someone shine and show your best. And again, self-expression. Like if you feel uncomfortable in something physically and stylistically, you're going to look uncomfortable, regardless of how good it looks on you. For instance, I could pull off the, you know, 50s sort of vintage, the little nipped dress with the waist and the gloves and that whole 50s vibe. I could physically wear that.
Amanda Kaufman (10:26)
Mmm.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (10:39)
I would feel like a lobster without a shell. It's just not my personal style. So although I could carry it off and I could look good, it doesn't blend with who I am. So I think a lot of times I see people walking around with just clothes.
Amanda Kaufman (10:43)
Right.
Just close, yeah.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (10:56)
as opposed to a style,
if that makes sense. They're just putting on clothes, maybe kind of like you were back in the day where you sort of wanted to just blend in. Like I don't want to stand out. And we can still stand out when we're trying to blend in, if that makes sense. We can stand out for the wrong reasons. So.
Amanda Kaufman (11:11)
It makes so much sense. And I think
that that's that's what I unintentionally actually did, because it would be ill fitting clothes. It would be, you know, not not necessarily a well matched type of a haircut or, you know, don't even know what was happening with the makeup. You know, and it was just, you know, I'm sounding a little judgmental here. But what I'm really saying is, is that there was just such an incongruence with.
how I wanted to see myself and also this competing desire to hide and minimize. And I had to do a lot of work on that. And Silas played a huge role in that, actually. You said it earlier, that permission. And it was so fun to do the shopping and to go try these things on because she'd be handing me garments and colors and shapes that I, materials that I would never have ever done on my.
own and sometimes like this is the definition of coaching isn't it to like offer that perspective and to offer like here's another way you could do it and you know I didn't have to buy anything I didn't like I only bought things that you know I felt amazing in right and I wound up with a wardrobe that that really served me for many many years I still wear some of those pieces that that I did with that stylist that was a while ago so
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (12:21)
Mm-hmm.
Amanda Kaufman (12:30)
You know, you said something so interesting. said, you know, style is very different from trends. And you, you alluded to like style being an inner thing. Do you mind expanding on that?
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (12:37)
Thanks.
Well, know, trends are what they send down the runway multiple times a year. And...
Amanda Kaufman (12:48)
Mm.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (12:49)
All trends don't work on every body or it doesn't work or, and it doesn't work in everybody's lifestyle. Right? So, so trends don't necessarily, they don't fit into every lifestyle. They don't fit into every person's individual expression as to who they are. So, I've found, you know, over the years where, this was trending and this was in fashion and this was on TikTok and this was the next thing to have.
Amanda Kaufman (12:54)
Mm-hmm.
Mmm.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (13:19)
But if it doesn't fit who they are internally, I don't know how to explain it, but there's just this energy that I get by working with my clients one-on-one where there's just something shines and something is expressed, you know, energetically that you can't put the clothes on to get that out. It comes out and the clothes enhance it, if that makes sense. So that's sort of the difference.
Amanda Kaufman (13:32)
Hmm.
I love it. It's kind of like having
the TV antennas tuned in just right for our listeners that remember what TV antennas even are.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (13:52)
Yes,
mean, you know when you're feeling really good in something, you're like, you stand taller, you you present a little calmer, you're more confident. That, you're not thinking in the back of your head like, am I too much? Am I not enough? Am I dressed appropriately? It's just something that, that...
Amanda Kaufman (13:57)
Mm-hmm.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (14:12)
And you know it, it's like clients can put something on and I do invite them to try things like you said your former stylist had done for you that you may not have picked out on your own because our goal is to help you sort of step out of your comfort zone just a little bit to maybe introduce you to the you that you don't even know is there at that time.
Amanda Kaufman (14:33)
Exactly. Yeah, exactly. think I think that's the real power of all of this and kind of getting back to that whole theme of authentic expression is that when you know, you know, you know, right? Like when you you when you I love how you highlighted like, know, because you are standing a little taller, you know, because that judgy voice goes away. And I think that was one of the biggest things that I learned is I'm like, like
Investing in myself in this way really allowed me to explore more proactively. What do I like? What are my preferences? What are my preferences? Kind of regardless of anybody else's, the trends, what I'm told I'm supposed to like or supposed to do. And I think that is so liberating. It's so freeing to be able to do that. You're actually reminding me of my late grandmother. She always said when she didn't like something, she would say, it's not my style.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (15:14)
Yes.
Yes.
Yes, absolutely, absolutely. And it's like if we don't like a shoe, we don't try to change the shoe, we just get a different shoe. And I know that...
Amanda Kaufman (15:30)
Right? it's that alignment piece.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (15:43)
So many times, clients in the past, they've just tried to force themselves into somebody else's idea of what they should look like or how they should dress or what they should do. And we're always going to be stunted in that way. I don't know, I'm very passionate about authentic expression. And I don't really like...
So I don't believe in you should or shouldn't have or you should or shouldn't wear quite honestly I think there's a way to to make things work now are there certain things that You know look better on certain body types than others certain colors that look better than others sure does it mean you should or shouldn't know There's there's ways to make things work that feel
Amanda Kaufman (16:14)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, it's almost like a starting point, you know, to know those rules and to have those guidance. And I think that that was for sure one of the biggest pieces for me about experiencing a stylist was she knew all of those things. And so it relieved me of the burden of having to know what the starting points were. And I'm curious, like when you work with somebody.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (16:48)
Yes.
Amanda Kaufman (16:53)
Can you walk me through, like, well, what's the process you would take somebody through if they were deciding to work with you either virtually or in person? What would you actually do?
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (17:02)
Sure. Well, I have a bunch of different programs and it really depends on where they're at in their life and what it is they're looking to achieve, whether it's for like, you know, an engagement, a speaking engagement or like a special event, or if it's a sort of a life overhaul, I have all these different things. But they all start at one, you know, the first place is we need to have a conversation. We need to have a face-to-face. I need to see the human and experience the human that I'm going to help them express themselves, right?
start with a consultation and after we have the consultation, there's a bunch of different questions, qualifying questions that I ask and I find out which program would best suit them. Our next step is I got to kind of see where they're at to know where to take them, where they're gonna go. So we start by delving into the closet. I love the closet audit. Like literally going into the closet, looking at what's working, what's not working in their wardrobe and why. I'm really big on teaching my clients to fish instead of just giving them
I want to actually educate them and give them some tools to go out and be able to do it on their own So we start there we start with the what's working and what's not working and the education behind it And I'll tell you Amanda a lot of times there I have clients are like I love this. I've just never worn it I don't know what to do with it So it's just a styling issue or they don't like a piece and I'm like, well, why don't you like it? Well, it's long sleeve or a tie-knack or whatnot and we talk about simple simple alterations that can change the piece or sometimes it's not the piece
Amanda Kaufman (18:19)
Hmm.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (18:32)
that it's just how they're styling it. They just don't know how to style it to express themselves. So that's the first step is sort of the audit. We kind of look at what's working and what's not working. During that process, I'm making a little shopping list of items that I think that they could use to round out the wardrobe that works for their lifestyle and who they are. And so we go shopping, either in person or virtually. I do both. And then the last bit is the style.
Amanda Kaufman (18:38)
Mmm.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (19:02)
The though is when I go back to their home and we integrate the pieces that we purchased with the pieces that they already had and I create as many outfits for them as I possibly can to accomplish whatever it was we were set out to accomplish for that particular contract.
Amanda Kaufman (19:24)
You know, that that was actually a really surprising aspect of beginning to work with stylists because, know, like my dog, I'm like chick from the sticks, right? So for me to like go to consult with somebody on style was a big thing. But one of the things that actually surprised me and really appealed to my small town girl roots was that I actually ended up saving so much money because I wasn't buying ill fitting clothing. I wasn't buying things in the wrong color or the wrong fit. And
And that combination step? my word. You know, the number of outfits that became possible because I was willing to invest in a few key pieces.
That was transformative. was like, OK, I am sold on the value of this this this expertise. Not only does it give you the confidence, not only does it give you the the you know, the rules to start by, we'll say not live by but start by. But it also can save you so much in the long run because you end up with so many outfits that you get to enjoy. Yeah.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (20:18)
Mm-hmm.
Yes, I have a few mottos
that I use. You know, I have one that, you know, don't buy mistakes or stop buying mistakes, right? It's like, but it was on sale. I'm like, great. They're like, I got it at a good deal. Am I great? Have you ever worn it? No. Okay. So it really wasn't a great deal. It was kind of a waste of money if you bought something that was a great deal that you never wore. And then I also have a little motto of it doesn't cost a million dollars to look like it. And it doesn't, you don't have to spend. I mean, I've had people say, my gosh, you're a stylist. You just go to all the, you know, designer stores at Neiman market.
Amanda Kaufman (20:37)
You
that's good.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (20:55)
I shop wherever the client's budget is. You can look good and styled and well put together from anywhere. It's a matter of putting it together and authentically expressing yourself. Confidence is the number one shining thing that anybody can wear is confidence. But I also do, very...
Amanda Kaufman (21:14)
I love
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (21:17)
I believe in mixing and matching and the power of a valuable piece to me is a piece that can be used in a wardrobe five, six, seven, eight, 10 different ways. That's a valuable piece. And it doesn't mean it's super expensive. It just means it's valuable.
Amanda Kaufman (21:29)
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, I love that. It's so good. And you know, it's funny because you're making me think of like the parallels and building a business, you know, I think it's really easy to start.
spending and feeling like you have to have like all these different bells and whistles and a different software for every single little purpose and you know, you got a good deal on it or you got this one good monthly rate on it and you know, kind of that death by a thousand cuts of small decisions instead of just like taking a step back and saying, okay, but what do we really need to accomplish here?
All right, let's let's just do that. Let's be targeted and just do that. And again, it's like that slowdown to speed up of of understanding your energy, understanding that alignment and understanding that vision for what you want to actually accomplish. Edie, I love asking this question in this segment. What, in your opinion, helps a coach not to suck? What are three things, in fact, that you think are the most important to helping a coach or a stylist not suck?
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (22:32)
Well, their style, obviously, is one of it. Let's put it this way. It speaks before we ever can. Honestly, it we all.
Amanda Kaufman (22:40)
Ooh, that's good. I love that.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (22:44)
Even the ones that say, I don't judge anybody. I'm not judgmental. is human nature to see somebody and we have a reaction. have a thought, you know, before they even open their mouth. Right. So what we're saying speaks volumes before we ever can. So we may not even have a chance on that business deal, on that date, on, you know, landing that client. If they're looking at us going, they look like a tragic mess. Like I don't want them guiding my life when, or giving me life advice when
Amanda Kaufman (22:53)
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (23:14)
You know, they're wrinkled and crinkled and you know, and they just don't look like they have it together So that's really important. I think I mean, I really do think that style speaks speaks volumes.
So that's yes for three things I know that I think Gosh confidence, I mean honestly like being confident I
Amanda Kaufman (23:27)
Yeah, yeah. Do you have two more?
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (23:37)
I kind of grew up a scrapper, you know what I mean? Like I kind of like, I'm sure I can do it and then I'll figure out how to do it sort of, you know, so. So having the confidence to do it and being authentic, like under promising and over delivering, like being realistic, I think.
Amanda Kaufman (23:44)
Right
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (23:55)
are three things that I think could help coaches not suck. And I think about the coaches that I've hired. I still have coaches, I believe that, I mean, I'll always have coaches.
think that I mean Michael Jordan had a coach right the best of the best have coaches so I think yeah I think having the believability and the credibility in whatever it like I always say like I would not go to a hairstylist whose hair is you know crappy right I just I just wouldn't right
Amanda Kaufman (24:12)
It's so true.
Right, yeah, if it's fried,
they haven't taken that care. And it's so funny because I did not do this on purpose. But just this morning, I made a story on Instagram and I was a hot mess. But I did it on purpose to illustrate a point. And the point that I was making, and I think it really ties to your second thing, like style-wise, I had cute glasses, nothing else was cute going on. It was a mess because it was in the morning. And my point that I was making
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (24:29)
Yeah.
Amanda Kaufman (24:54)
at the time was, you know, I'm gonna get 50 views of this tip that you can go live without makeup on versus the one you didn't do because you're so scared of what everybody thinks of how you look, right? So in a sense, it was actually a stylistic choice, you know, that it's just like, hey, you know, hot mess express here.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (25:00)
Yes.
Sure.
Mm-hmm.
Amanda Kaufman (25:15)
because it's more important that you show up than you like sabotage yourself because you're not willing to be authentic in your expression. And yeah, so, but I do agree with you. Like I think that people do, I'm actually reading a book called Thinking Fast and Slow. It is dense, but just the gist of it is our brain has these two systems and system one is like snap judgment.
And we need that because otherwise our brains would fry from overload. And I think when we start virtue signaling on system two and we're just saying like, you I don't judge people by how they look. You're absolutely right. Like just biologically. Yeah, you do. So, you know, if you're if you're making the choice to show up like I did earlier today, you know, with that purpose, you know.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (26:01)
Yes.
Amanda Kaufman (26:02)
That's a reflection of style in a sense as well. And you're making me really think, I'm like, gosh, what kind of pictures do I have on my website and things like that? Or what am I choosing to wear the next time that I do a speech or even a podcast interview? You're really making me think about that.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (26:17)
Also, you know, I've done things before with no makeup on, literally in a t-shirt that had toothpaste on the front. Like, I believe in authenticity, right? I'm not gonna use that as my headshot to, you know, sell my brand, obviously. So.
Amanda Kaufman (26:25)
you
time and a place.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (26:33)
time and place, right? So believe me, I am a stylist. do not walk around dressed to the nines. I live on a horse ranch. I mean, I just don't, I don't go mucking in my, you know, Louboutins. Like that's just not going to happen. Right? So, you know, I mean, I literally am a realistic stylist and I, and I do believe that I'm glad that you brought that up. Time and place. No, I don't think that you have to be literally head to toe done, styled perfectly as if, you know, you're on the
runway every minute of every day and there are you know people that are and that's that's fine if that's their if that's true to them and that's authentic to who they are great but who's authentic to me on my days off often you'll find me in like a looks like a janitor's onesie outfit because i'm working out in the yard or i'm working out you know that kind of a thing so i think that's really important i think that's an important point that you brought up because i have been online with makeup without makeup styled not styled when i'm working a photo shoot
Amanda Kaufman (27:21)
Right.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (27:32)
I sometimes, you know, look like I don't look like the stylist. I look like the help, you know, that has been dragged in because that's realistic for what I'm doing at that time.
Amanda Kaufman (27:45)
And I think especially, you know, we're heading into 2025. This episode may actually be released in 2025. I think that the ability for somebody to see the full spectrum of who a person is.
is getting increasingly important. I think you're really keying onto something here that I'm like, dang, this might be some content. Because that time and the place of your website, for example, being curated, being polished, it shows that you care. But then the showing up in the PJs on Instagram stories, it's like that's in the moment. That's with the person. And it's real, exactly. And I think people just really are craving the truth of things.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (28:23)
and real. Yes. Yes.
Yes.
Amanda Kaufman (28:31)
more than they ever have. And I think this also really makes a really good case for style consultation as well, because if you are gonna be a person who throws on the PJs and like that's authentic to you, wouldn't it be nice if you're wearing PJs that you really enjoy too, right? and that just sort of strikes me as being kind of the point, you know, is that energy and that alignment. Super, super cool.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (28:48)
Yes.
Yes, absolutely. I mean, I
just think, you know, I've read all the, know, women over 40 shouldn't wear this or they should do this or you can't do that or why are they doing this? And I'm a prime example of, can't tell you how many times I've read women over, I think it was 40, shouldn't wear graphic tees. Well, I'm a big band tee fan. Like I have my about me picture on my website is a, you know.
tank top of a, I think it's Van Halen or something.
Amanda Kaufman (29:26)
That's awesome.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (29:26)
Like
it's just it's who I am though it authentically expressed and I'm comfortable in it and that's how I feel like me So I want people to understand when they hire me who they're getting right. I don't want my I mean and my website is Obviously curated. It's professional. It's curated and I Show up at clients to work in their closet, you know, sometimes in yoga pants because I'm getting down I'm getting dirty. I'm getting in their closet. I'm organizing things. So I'm not gonna do that in
Amanda Kaufman (29:38)
That's so good.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (29:56)
six inch heels. So I think that you said it. Yes, yes, yes. I you said there is a time and place for it.
Amanda Kaufman (29:58)
Right, chiffon's not the choice, right?
Well, perfect. Well, Edie, I have just absolutely enjoyed this conversation. I think we could go on for hours talking about authenticity and alignment and everything. But if anybody wanted to follow you and see more of what you're up to, what's the best way to do that?
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (30:21)
my Instagram which is at Edie Styles with a Z. It's pretty easy. Edie Styles with a Z. Awesome.
Amanda Kaufman (30:26)
I love it. And we'll make sure that we have that in the show notes, dear listener.
Yeah, so good. And hey, listener.
Take a moment and subscribe so you don't miss another episode and make sure that you leave Edie a five star review for this episode because she brought it. She was so authentic and amazing and just so good. And you know what? Go ahead and share this with at least three of your friends because they need to hear that style can be so accessible, so fun, so aligning. It can really activate that next level of your confidence. And if you found something inspiring in the episode, just tell
Tell your friend what you found was cool and share it with them by your favorite channel. Just grab the link and share, share, share. All right. I'm so glad that you came, Edie. Thank you so much for coming.
Edie O'Brien; Edie Styles, LLC (31:10)
That's it.
Thank you so much Amanda, I appreciate you having me.
Amanda Kaufman (31:17)
Yeah, I appreciate it. And we'll see you on the next episode, listener. Have a wonderful day.
