Testimonials

Megan LaRussa has been our style expert here at Birmingham magazine since May 2010, and we can’t imagine producing an issue, fashion-related event, or style blog without her. She began as a regular columnist but quickly moved into something of a style director, overseeing not only her monthly department, but regular fashion features, fashion shows, video posts, and advice columns as well. We’ve relied on her to style photoshoots and even outfit staff members for speaking engagements. Her unique ability to push trends while remaining down-to-earth and accessible to local readers makes her a true gem of a contributor. She understands our reader perfectly and encourages them to try new things while not abandoning their personal style and preferences, or pricing them out of their budget. She also does a fantastic job of choosing pieces from local boutiques, national department stores, and even vintage shops. She’s always so positive and open to ideas–we absolutely love working with her.

Whenever I need styling for any of my projects, be it photography or video related, I always call Megan. With her knack for capturing the vision and her amazing eye for style, Megan always adds so much to my shoots and makes them look amazing. Not only is she great with style and always up with trends in fashion, but also with matching styles to specific people and integrating the looks into the shoots with our models. I am constantly impressed with her professional approach, thorough preparation and the amazing quality of her work.

I’ve been working with Megan on creating an effortlessly stylish life for myself since the fall of 2010. I made the decison to begin this process because I was in a rut with my style. My every day attire was simple, predictable, and boring. My outward appearance was not how I wanted to portray myself to others. Through this continued process, I have learned a lot about myself including the right clothing, accessories, make up, and hair for me, and even how to take a compliment! I have gained so much confidence. Megan makes you feel comfortable in every way, and you can work with her at your own pace and budget. My advice to anyone who wants to begin this process is just that– it’s a process and your transition is not going to happen over night. So if you are ready for a new you I encourage you to call Megan for your own effortlessly stylish life!

During the Christmas holidays I received an email from Southern Femme and read it aloud to my husband: “Do you have a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear? Do you think losing 5 pounds would make all the difference in the world about how clothes fit? Do you have a desire to be more stylish but don’t know where to start?” I answered yes to all the questions, and with Jay’s encouragement sent Megan an email requesting a consultation. I felt a bit embarrassed telling her that even though I was a professional investment consultant and managed millions of dollars, I was intimidated by retail sales folk and really wanted a more up-to-date, professional look. She kindly replied that while she couldn’t manage millions, she sure could shop. We met for coffee and I shared my goals, the most significant of which were to look less like a soccer mom and more stylish for work. She told me what a self confidence boost new clothes and time spent on me would be, but I could not have imagined the journey we would take over the next seven months. I cleaned out my closet before Megan came to help clean out my closet because I was embarrassed by the unworn clothes that were still there. I thought I had done a pretty good job, but four hours and 10 bags of donations for the YWCA later, I had to sit down and have a glass of wine. The experience of touching each item and answering questions like, “What do you like about this? When do you wear it? How long have you had it?” was a ride on an emotional rollercoaster. Megan had me try things on and assessed what styles fit. She understood I was a former preppy and then agreed to talk in a week or so about outfits and shopping. I was given a multipage list of work outfits including tops, bottoms, shoes, accessories. She asked about favorite stores and my budget, we came up with our hit list, and Megan went to four stores and pulled sizes and outfits for me to try. Just the act of being able to walk in a store and start trying things on was terrific. I was pushed way outside my fashion comfort zone, but in a good way, and Megan was there every step of the way (she was doing the pushing, after all!). With bags full of clothes, I went home and tried everything on for my fashionista sister-in-law and daughter. Their oohs and aahs were priceless. There were many more emails from Megan, magazine photos exchanged, shopping trips to be made, and wardrobe lookbooks to create and maintain. In the process I fell in love again with shopping, lost 10 pounds, had hair and makeup makeovers and, as Megan promised initially, a newfound confidence.

I absolutely loved all the time I spent with Megan! I took so much from each coaching session, and gained more confidence in my style and overall look. Megan showed me how to put outfits together with clothes I already had in my closet. Who would have thought I had some really cool pairings already? Then, I loved going shopping to find the pieces I was missing to complete my “looks.” I had a blast trying on clothes for the first time, and I enjoyed mixing and matching to make new outfits. Megan really helped me get rid of the clothes that desperately needed to go…which was hard for me! But I am SO glad I got rid of them– my closet is only filled with things I will REALLY wear, and that is comforting! The whole experience was one I will never forget– I now love clothes, shopping, etc, and more importantly, am able to hold my head up high and strut my stuff in my new outfits all over town!

I recently had to shop for a dress for my grandson’s wedding. I am petite and 70 years old, so I wanted a dress that would look good and be age appropriate for me and the wedding. It is so difficult for me to find dressy clothes in petite sizes. I had been looking for a couple of weeks with no success and getting quite discouraged, so I asked Megan to help me. She came up with a plan for places we would go to shop. After trying on a couple of pieces, she knew exactly what style dress would work for me and best of all she could envision a dress after alterations which in my case was important. She was aware of the color that would look good on me with my gray hair and even helped with accessories. In addition to my dress for the wedding she found a beautiful coral dress that I wore to the rehearsal dinner. I have to say, I also learned a lot about fashion and how to buy pieces that can be interchanged. Megan knows how to build a wardrobe, not just buy clothes. Shopping with Megan was the perfect prelude to a grand occasion and I was so pleased with my outfits. I could look in the mirror and feel confident in what I was wearing and as my role as the grandmother of the groom.

Megan has always had a great sense of style. The wonderful thing is that she is able to identify what great style works for others! Before we hit the stores, Megan first went through my closet. Although there were a few things that needed to go, she assessed what pieces I do have that are classic, showed me how to wear what I love by updating them with belts, jackets, etc…. and determined some key pieces I could use to fill in the rest and have a “current look”! We also talked about what new clothes I would like for some upcoming events, and for the season. Once shopping, Megan was able to quickly hone in on the things I wanted. She found the “perfect dress” for me for an upcoming wedding, and she picked out some stylish basics for the season. It was so much fun—like shopping with a good friend that will tell you honestly how you look, but a friend with lots of fashion savvy too!

When I turned 50 and was on the cusp of beginning a new teaching job, I knew I needed some coaching with my “look.” I was dealing with the typical body image issues many of us face as we shift through life’s stages. I decided to ask Megan for some help.

I was nervous when Megan, drove up to Chattanooga, TN to help me purge my closet. I did not need to feel such trepidation! She was honest and knowledgeable, but kind in her assessment of my wardrobe; plus, it felt great to let go of so many old clothes! We determined what I needed to update and round out my closet, and Megan left with a list for pre-shopping. I drove to Birmingham for our shopping day a few weeks later. Megan made it so easy! Within a few hours, we were done! As I tried on clothes, Megan coached me on the best styles for my body shape, hem lengths, shoe choice, etc… The experience with Megan gave me more confidence in understanding my style and body shape. A week later she emailed me a “look book” of all the pieces I purchased and how to wear each for different occasions.

It is a year later now, and I still find myself using my “look book” to put together an outfit. The clothes I bought remain stylish and make me feel confident. I think of my time with Megan, and the purchases I made, as an investment in me! Megan’s coaching helped me not only in revamping my wardrobe, but she helped me move into a new career and a new decade of life understanding myself with more compassion and confidence.