My Five Must-Have Items In My #DFSPowerPiece Collection
⌛ By Kaylin R. Staten ⌛
This GivingTuesday, Dress for Success is highlighting its #DFSPowerPiece initiative. Locally, Dress for Success River Cities is sharing local women’s stories and power pieces as it actively fundraises for women’s programs and other community needs.
What makes you feel the most confident in your skin? Which item makes a statement and is undoubtedly you? What is one thing you cannot live without?
It could be a favorite piece of jewelry, blouse, color or whatever floats your boat. When you put on this item, your mood could shift for the better. You could feel more confident and ready to tackle any challenge the day throws your way.
Chances are, you probably have at least one signature item that allows you to leave your mark on the world. As a sentimental individualist at heart, I have quite the fleet of objects to allow me to express myself. These may come as Easter eggs in my projects or a blatant representation of my personality. Regardless, when I have these items on, I feel an instant mood boost.
Here are five of my classic #DFSPowerPiece staples that will always have a place within my self-empowerment:
My wedding rings.
I never take them off, except to clean or to get them professionally inspected and cleaned. I spent the majority of my life wishing and hoping for a diamond on my left hand, and it’s still surreal to look down and see them every day. When I look at my rings, I’m automatically transported to an overarching feeling of love and contentment. I also wear things that remind me of my husband, like a J locket I found at a Dress for Success River Cities sale this year.
My Granny’s pin.
I misplaced this pin this fall, and I was hardcore devastated. While I am very fortunate to have many heirlooms that belonged to my Granny, this pin means a lot to me. After my Granny (my great-grandmother) passed away, I helped my Ninny (my grandmother) and my mom look through Granny’s belongings to find a dress and other items for the funeral. I stumbled upon Granny’s WVD monogram pin, and it called to me like a lightsaber (or the kyber crystal within the lightsaber). I’ve worn this pin on every important day in my life since then, including my wedding day.
My red lipstick.
I used to absolutely loathe red lipstick. Ten years ago, I would scoff at the idea of anything other than nude lipstick and lip gloss. I wanted to blend it and not stand out, and red lipstick has this way of instantly making you visible. While I have always loved makeup, I didn’t really start experimenting with it until my mid-20s. Now, red lipstick of every shade is part of my signature look. My go-to everyday favorite is Almay’s Lip Vibes lipstick in Love Yourself. (I recently accidentally washed this lipstick in my washing machine, and it remained in near perfect condition.) I also like Lipstick Queen’s Saint Lipstick.
My mantra bracelets.
As corny as this sounds, when I put these bracelets on one-by-one, I say the affirmations in my head. This allows me to focus on the positive aspects of life, and it honestly does help me to be more empowered. Consistency is Queen, am I right? I have the following mantras on my bracelets: Remember Who You Are, Live What You Love, Forever Together, La Vie Est Belle (Life Is Beautiful). and Mrs. Get your own here.
My nail polish.
I love having painted nails. When my nails aren’t painted or the polish is chipping, the perfectionist inside me goes crazy. I love matching the color of my nails to my overall mood, the vibe I want to achieve, and what inspires me seasonally. Whatever helps me to be more productive, am I right? I even won an opportunity to create my own nail polish color. (Thank you eternally, Orly.) My custom polish, Reverie, was inspired by the maroon nodes of a golden hour sunset and a daydreamy aura. For a close dupe of Reverie, you can purchase Orly’s Stronger Than Ever nail polish.
What’s your #DFSPowerPiece?
Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.
Watch the latest edition of “The Hourglass Chronicles” to learn more! Watch it below, too.
Kaylin R. Staten, APR, is an award-winning public relations practitioner and writer based in Huntington, WV with nearly 16 years of professional communications experience. As CEO and founder of Hourglass Media, she uses her compassionate spirit and expertise to delve into the heart of clients’ stories. She is a recovering perfectionist, mental health advocate, wife, cat mom and Leia Organa aficionado. Connect with Kaylin on LinkedIn.
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