Our monthly Partners in Design event series continued in October with a visit from Melinda Doyle from Ann Taylor in Eastwood Towne Center in Lansing. With our popular monthly event series, we welcome a wide range of design partners each month to our Lansing, MI showroom. Events are open to the local community and offer a unique opportunity to learn about the businesses, services, and organizations available in our area. Design partners share their background, expertise, business journey, and unique products and services they offer.
What is Partners in Design?
For several years, McDaniels Kitchen and Bath has become a champion of our local community, welcoming a wide range of the area’s best businesses, service providers, and voluntary organizations. Our monthly events let us connect with our local community and learn about what our area has to offer. Each Partner in Design event brings a unique perspective to our participants and offers a fun, educational, and engaging experience. Past design partners included art galleries, food establishments, gift shops, amazing volunteer organizations, and much more.
Who Was Our October Design Partner?
In October, Melinda Doyle from the local Ann Taylor store joined us to talk all things fashion! This American company was founded in 1954 and specializes in women’s wear, particularly sophisticated and classic workwear. Ann Taylor now also includes other top brands, like White House, Black Market, Loft, Talbots, and Lane Bryant. Melinda has been the Store Manager at our local Ann Taylor store for 10 ½ years. She presented on trends, selecting pieces for a coordinated wardrobe, and how to add in new pieces when needed.
What Happened at Our October Partners in Design Event?
Melinda gave us an amazing, informative, and detailed presentation on the background of Ann Taylor, the latest trends in clothing, and how to select the perfect wardrobe.
Ann Taylor started in 1954 as a husband-and-wife team to create shirt dresses similar to those being created for men’s shirts. In 1993, they launched a petite line, in 1998, they opened Loft, and they also launched a weekend collection. The follow the Pantone Color of the Year model, which this year included burgundy and red, as well as the 2025 Color of the Year, mocha mousse. Ann Taylor’s approach to fashion is that “fit is everything”.
Some of the current trends Melinda highlighted include plaid, knitwear, bold pieces, and boho chic (such as fringe and feathers). Melinda’s top fashion advice includes:
- There is no right or wrong way to wear denim, except for avoiding lots of frays and rips.
- Dark clothing is always an ideal choice for a dressier look.
- Vintage classics are timeless pieces for your wardrobe.
- Skinny legs are out! Instead, go for a straight leg with a flare at the bottom that balances out the figure.
- When assessing your closet, swap the hanger in the opposite direction after you have worn it to track what you actually wear from your wardrobe.
- When buying a new piece for your wardrobe, if you would not pay full price for it, then don’t buy it on sale.
- Statistics show women wear 20% of their clothes, while men wear 90%!
Melinda educated us on the seven types of fashion, including:
- Classic: timeless fashion, with a more conservative style for clothing and shoes (such as loafers and plain pumps).
- Natural: this style is unpretentious, outdoorsy, and unfussy. Think of people who like to play pickleball!
- Modernistic: a sleek, simple, understated style, such as suits, silk, sleek sweaters, and understated accessories.
- Romantic: this is a more traditional style, characterized by a simple strand of pearls, small prints, antique jewelry, and polished nails.
- Fashion Trend Tracker: someone who follows the latest trends and tends to be a risk-taker who goes with the trends that change every season, is fashion-obsessed, and likes to look in store windows for inspiration.
- Mood Dresser: this is more of a boho, artistic approach to fashion, which is constantly changing and focuses on more impulsive purchases.
- Dramatic: a dramatic dresser is always ready for their close-up, with more expensive jewelry, outstanding hair, and jackets and clothes with luxury details and designer logos.
Melinda also highlighted the key items everyone should have in their closet, including:
- A black dress,
- Two pairs of black pants,
- A crisp white shirt,
- A belt that does not go beyond the third hole,
- A great handbag,
- A leather jacket,
- A denim jacket,
- Polished shoes, and
- A strand of pearls.
Melinda’s presentation was so detailed and informative, and every participant learned a lot! We all took away helpful tips to improve our own wardrobes.
Here’s a Sneak Peek and Upcoming Events!
In November, we are hosting our second annual Holiday Craft Market. On November 8 from 10 am – 4 pm, we will welcome 27 local crafters and makers to our Lansing, MI showroom for what is sure to be the perfect opportunity to get in the holiday spirit and find the perfect, unique gift for family and friends. In December, we will welcome Nicole Raysin of Custom Cake Designs.