Discover Your True Colors with Expert Wardrobe
Stylist Emily Burnette | By: Izzi Diaz Young | Photos By: Ashlee Glen
In so many ways, color defines our lives. From the indigos of an evening Lynchburg sky to the deep browns that make up our morning coffees, color is more, and can do more, than we often even realize. One of these methods in which a Pantone can unknowingly alter our days is through the clothing we adorn ourselves in. These shades can either complement us or clash with us, and sometimes, we don’t even know which is doing which.
Enter Emily Burnette, a luxury personal and wardrobe stylist. Excelling in the elevation of fashion, Burnette specializes in styling, image consulting, and color consulting. In aiding individuals with discovering their best looks, Burnette offers a transformative experience, from head to toe.
Growing up in Lynchburg, Burnette one day realized her dreams of fashion excellence were greater than what her quaint town could offer, so she decided to pack a suitcase and start her new life in New York City. In New York, she started her career in fashion, learning everything there was to know about the many levels of luxury retail and personal styling.
“I think we always want to go as far from home as possible to really get to know ourselves and discover what we want out of life,” Burnette said. After her dream took her to The Big Apple, then to Los Angeles, she explained, “Now, I split my time between Southern California, Central Virginia, and the Carolina coast.”
From a young age, Burnette discovered she loved color theory, and furthermore, color consultation; an experience in which any individual can discover the most flattering hues for their specific hair and skin tone. This process helps uncover what colors you not only will look your best in,
but also feel your best in.
“In college, I really enjoyed all of the art classes and color theory principles, so styling and color consulting just came naturally to me,” she explained. “When I recognized this gift—paired with a natural curiosity to experiment with clothing, everything clicked, and I realized it was a path.”
When meeting with Burnette for a consultation, clients can expect an experience hard to find elsewhere.
She noted, “Five minutes into a session clients say, ‘Wow I never would have picked that for myself!’
That right there is a testament to trying something new, and just the sheer transformation that clients experience during a color analysis or personal styling session.”
This session, which is offered virtually and in-person, begins with a personalized color analysis by Burnette herself. Here, she takes note of your unique colors, represented through the shades that shine through different complexions and hair strands within your appearance. This allows for the process to fully begin, experimenting with various hues to see what suits you most. The client will receive a personalized color card full of notes from the session to take home at the end, as well as professional styling advice on how to wear their custom colors and combine them to produce the best results.
Burnette recommends having your color analysis completed first, as it serves as an entry point into the greater investments to be made by her clients. The next step, styling, is where the color analysis truly comes to life.
“For styling, I offer a signature package where we start in your closet and analyze the foundation—think closet edits, identifying gaps and opportunities. This is followed by shopping a custom digital styling lookbook, then finally, an integration session where we combine new clothing pieces into your existing wardrobe and style outfits for you to reference well after I’ve left your closet,” she stated.
Though a study into your particular shades might seem unimportant initially, it serves as one of the most empowering and uplifting experiences to treat yourself with. Burnette’s clients don’t just gain a newfound, enlightened glimpse in the mirror or a different color introduced into their wardrobe, they gain a deep-rooted confidence in themselves; an opportunity to step into the world with a freshly discovered self-assurance.
“I see women hold their heads up higher, I witness them close their biggest deals yet, launch businesses, show up and stand up for themselves, and do it easefully. That’s what it’s all about. If I can play a small role in a woman earning more money and prioritizing herself, then my job was accomplished. A wardrobe that works for you can do just that,” Burnette beamed.
Even with the accessibility provided by Burnette’s business, fashion of any tier can seem ever-daunting to some, novices or not. Acting on the desire for a change is sometimes intimidating, and if you aren’t quite ready to make that jump into a full analysis, Burnette recommends starting by asking yourself a few questions that can help you become your best self, even on your own.
She recommends firstly starting with your own wardrobe evaluation, asking yourself, “What colors do you see reflected in your closet? What colors are missing?”
Then, go a bit deeper into why those colors are or are not the ones which you find yourself donning daily. She suggests contemplating, “What are you always gravitating toward? What are you shying away from? What do you feel most confident in?”
Once pondering those questions, you might feel ready to get started on revamping your closet on your terms, or you might realize you need a professional, like Burnette, to advise you on where to go next.
When she’s not doing her one-on-one sessions, Burnette can be found out-and-about doing what she does best: holding pop-ups in the local community.
She said, “I partner with local retailers and brands to offer mini color consultation pop-ups—an accessible price point that provides a broad yet impactful overview to help you get started on your style journey!”
As she notes on her business cards and websites, style is personal. It has meaning. It can represent not only the most optimal hues for you, but so much more. A color can be the connection between your best features and your best memories. A way to show others who you are, and what you’re passionate about. The reds in the shirt you bought last week? Not only does it make your eyes light up, but it showcases your inner passion for life. The yellow in the skirt you were gifted by a friend? It makes your smile shine brightly and exudes the joy you have inside.
“It’s about feeling seen, empowered, and at ease in your own skin. When you know what works for you—and why—you save time, gain clarity, and move through life with more confidence,” Burnette concluded. “That’s why it matters. Because how you dress isn’t superficial; it’s deeply personal.”
