Nana & Diane: A Style Story That Crossed Oceans

There are endless rewards to being a wardrobe stylist—but one of my favorites is meeting the most incredible humans. Often, after working with one person, I get the privilege of styling their partner too. That’s exactly what happened with Nana and Diane—and their story is too good not to share.

Meeting Nana

“Style isn’t just what you wear—it’s how you celebrate yourself.”

Back in 2018, I got a call from a woman in Corvallis. She wasn’t loving her wardrobe—except for a handful of colorful, meaningful pieces—and she wanted to make the trip to Portland to work with me.

That woman was Dr. Nana Osei-Kofi, Professor of Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies and Director of the Difference, Power, and Discrimination Program at Oregon State University. Yes, she’s as accomplished and fascinating as that sounds. Nana loved bold, bright earrings—perfectly paired with her radiant, magnetic smile.

During our shopping session, I realized she had a gorgeous figure she wasn’t fully celebrating. So we focused on shapes that flattered her while still fitting her academic role. Watching her discover which silhouettes and colors brought her style to life was pure magic.

And here’s the best part: we did such a good job that for years afterward, whenever I’d check in, she’d tell me, “Sara, I haven’t needed to shop—I’m still set!” That’s the stylist’s dream.

Later, Nana shared that she and her partner were getting married, and I had the honor of helping her with some wedding gown validation.

Enter Diane

Fast forward to this summer. I got a message from Nana’s wife, Dr. Diane Kendall. She and Nana had retired, sold most of their belongings, and were moving to Sweden. Diane wanted to know what would best flatter her post-menopausal body—and she needed to fit her entire wardrobe in a carry-on.

Challenge accepted.

“A capsule wardrobe is freedom—style that travels with you.”

Dr. Diane Kendall is brilliant in her own right. A decorated scholar in speech and communication, she greets you with such warmth and openness that you instantly feel at ease. Within minutes, I understood why she and Nana make such a powerful pair.

Shopping with Diane

“The Perfect 10 Outfit: Add. Layer. Subtract. Repeat until you feel that Perfect 10 fit.”

Here’s the thing about my work: clients don’t always know what they truly need from me—and sometimes, neither do I until we get started. My process isn’t linear; it’s relational. The magic happens when clients stay open and allow me to dig into who they are. That’s when I can connect their essence to their style.

With Diane, I sensed she already had a natural eye. What she needed was clarity—a system to create her “Perfect 10” outfits. So I took her to a boutique that would push her just enough outside her comfort zone. I pulled a very edited selection of modern, minimal, unique pieces.

As we worked, I showed her how to layer, add, or subtract until she landed on that Perfect 10 look. It’s a feeling—and for her, that was the lightbulb moment. The repeatable equation she could take anywhere.

Once she had that formula, we went consignment shopping to unleash her creativity. We found five more pieces that played beautifully with her capsule, plus a killer pair of shoes. By the end of the day, Diane was ready for Sweden—with a personalized, packable wardrobe that expressed exactly who she is.

A Stylish Partnership

“When your wardrobe reflects who you are, it becomes transformational.”

Working with Nana and Diane has been one of the great joys of my career. Styling them wasn’t just about clothes—it was about honoring their brilliance, energy, and individuality.

And the best part? Word has it Diane’s capsule wardrobe is so good… Nana’s been sneaking pieces from her wife’s closet. Now that’s a marriage perk.