PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: DRESSING IN A RECESSION – THE THREE MOST VERSATILE PIECES TO HAVE IN YOUR WARDROBE AND HOW TO STYLE THEM
When it comes to dressing for an occasion or a season, you may feel like you have to have a full wardrobe to accommodate. In the times we are in right now, going out and buying lots of pieces just isn’t effective for the environment, our wallets, or our sanity!
As a personal stylist, many people come to me with “I have nothing to wear”-itis. However, when I see their wardrobes, they are overfilled and a concoction of fast fashion items that don’t serve their needs.
So, what if I told you the secret to curing the daily struggle of what to wear, that not only helps you save money in the long run, but will create a more confident day to day is, in fact, less is truly more?
The importance of investing in good quality, versatile pieces that work across seasons and events, will save you time & money.
What are my three most important pieces to have in your wardrobe?
· A great pair of jeans that suit your body shape
· Two to three blazers
· Three to four dresses
Seems pretty simple, right? The thing is, many of us are buying with the trends and filling up our wardrobes with items that we don’t know how to use outside of the “norm”. So, while you may have these items already in your wardrobe, you may not be maximising the ways to use them.
I wanted to help you with this problem, so you can find the perfect pieces in your wardrobe and know how to reuse them without feeling like you’re re-wearing the same outfit over and over again.
Three different ways to style your jeans
Let’s start with a girls’ best friend (when she finds the perfect pair) – jeans! Now, you may be recoiling at the thought of jeans, but I promise you, when you know the shape for your body type, you will want to wear them day in and day out.
Here’s a whistlestop tour of the shapes I recommend, before we dive into the different ways to style them:
· Flares – for pear shapes and petites
· Mom jeans – for hourglass, rectangle, and pear shapes
· Boyfriend jeans – for inverted triangle, oval, and rectangle shapes
· Skinny jeans – don’t be surprised by this, but most body types can wear this style, you just need to be conscious of how skinny you go with them!
· Cropped jeans – for petites
Now you’re inspired to try out the right style for your body type, and I recommend trying out a variety of designers & high street stores to find the perfect fit for your unique body, let’s play with how to style them.
3 Casual outfit ideas for styling your jeans
Starting with the easiest option, casual outfit ideas. These are outfits you’d wear running out of the house but still wanting to feel confident and put together. They may also work for meeting up with friends during the day, or heading to the play park with your family.
1. Pair your jeans with a cotton tee, square toed shoes, a long line cardigan, and your favourite everyday earrings for a “I just threw this together” look. Add a touch of colour with your crossover body bag – as this can bring some definition to your look if your cardigan is a little oversized.
2. Another option, if you are more of an edgy style is popping on a leather jacket and combat boots or DMs with a slogan cotton tee or band t-shirt.
3. If you just don’t feel “right” in a cotton t-shirt, then you can invest in a silk blouse with a relaxed cut and add a pair of platform sneakers to still feel casual, yet chic.
If you are an hourglass shape or a pear shape, you’ll want to define your waist, so adding a belt will ensure you showcase your waist, while also averting the gap that can sometimes happen at the back.
For warmer months, a short sleeved body suit, a square-necked cotton or a linen vest can be an easy option too.
3 Work-appropriate outfit ideas for your jeans
Depending on the profession or space in which you work, jeans can be an appropriate option for you, it just depends on the pieces you pair them with!
1. Pairing a high quality, dark washed pair of jeans with a blazer and a blouse, with a pair of heels can be a powerful, professional look.
2. You can also pair your deep blue denim jeans with a silk shirt, a pair of dolly shoes, and an elegant blazer & handbag for an on-the-go professional look.
3. There’s also the option to make your personality shine by wearing your jeans with a pair of metallic sneakers (such as the iconic Vivienne Westwood shoes or similar inspired shoes available on the high street), a tunic top and a funky bag, should this work for your profession.
3 date-night looks for your jeans
Now we’re going from day, to night, and using those jeans in a different way yet again! If you’re heading out for a date, this gives us a few more options in terms of jewellery and fabrics.
1. Add a sparkly bag or sequinned top to your outfit to bring out a little more glam. Perhaps drape a blazer over your shoulders, pick up a shoulder bag, and pop on pair of stilettos to finish the look. I’d also recommend either wearing a necklace or earrings to really finish it off.
2. For an edgier date-night look, a mesh long-sleeved top over a beautiful piece of lingerie (or a vest), with a red lip, leather jacket, and block heels will help you feel ready to take on the night!
3. For a sexy option, the option to wear a “underwear as outerwear” look is a great way to boost your confidence and feel sexy. When you wear this option with a pair of jeans, it can feel a little more approachable as they add a more comfortable option on your bottom half. Pair with an oversized blazer or leather jacket to keep yourself warm and covered, should you wish to. I’d recommend a few key jewellery items to top off the look, an over shoulder bag, and a pair of your favourite heeled boots or shoes!
Now you’re ready with the jeans that work for all occasions, let’s move onto dresses!
How to style your dresses for the seasons
Dresses don’t have to just be for those who fall into the “romantic” personal style. Dresses come in many different patterns, colours, shapes, and cuts, so they can work across many different style personalities, when they are styled correctly.
The thing is, I often hear that the dresses we love for the warmer months, don’t get used during Autumn and Winter. There are lots of ways we can work with them to make them stay an integral part of our wardrobe, no matter the season.
How to style your dresses for Spring
This is often when most people get their dresses out from hibernation. They are fresh and inviting for a warmer season.
As Spring, particularly in London, can fluctuate in weather, I recommend popping a jacket, blazer, or light cardigan over the top, to keep you warm. You could also pair these with a pair of light dernier tights, and a pair of combat boots or sneakers.
How to style your dresses for Summer
Now the warmer month is welcomed, you can take off those tights and wear a pair of biker shorts to protect your thighs. Pop on a pair of strappy heels for a brunch with friends. Add a crossbody bag, or a shoulder bag for your essentials, and let your dress do all the talking.
If you want to define your waist further, adding a belt can help draw the eye to your waist.
A pair of sneakers, or platform wedges are a great casual, yet fun option for your shoes when you are welcoming the summer. Sandals can be a more casual option, too.
How to style your dresses for Autumn
Autumn can be the time when many put their dresses away, and head for the long-sleeved options, that are chunkier and warmer. While these can be great, I want to stay away from you feeling you can’t maximise the garments already in your wardrobe, just by rethinking how you see your dresses.
You can add a warm jumper over your dress, and roll up the jumper into your bra or with a hair tie for a comfortable option.
A long-line cardigan can also be an additional layer that works over most dresses – I’d recommend making it just a little longer than your hemline, unless the dress is a maxi dress, in which case flip that and have a cardigan that hits at your waist line.
For v-neck or strappy dresses, another option is to add a tee underneath for an added layer. This can feel a little more casual, so I find it’s more appropriate for daytime get togethers, or outside of the office. You can style this look up with the shoes, jewellery, and bag that you select, which go a long way to transforming a look!
Tights and boots also go a long way to keeping you warmer, while you wear your dress. Hosiery has come a long way from the 50 dernier classic black tights. You can find warm, yet patterned or high quality hosiery that won’t break as soon as you try to pull them on!
How to style your dresses for Winter
Swapping out the cardigan for a Winter jacket is one quick way to keep wearing your dresses into the Winter season.
You can also continue to wear your thicker jumpers over the dress, with a belt to keep them tucked in and defining your waist. If your dress is a v-neck, you could add a polo neck top or jumper (if the dress has a strappy sleeve) underneath for an additional layer, and add a necklace to draw the eye down.
Invest in a pair of great quality suede or leather knee high boots at this time of year, as they will work with your skirts, dresses, and even your skinny jeans. I’d recommend a pair with a block heel so you can stay comfortable, warm, and elegant.
Accessories such as a warm woollen hat, a scarf, and gloves also don’t go amiss at this time of year.
How to style your blazers for different occasions
Finally, one of my favourite essentials for any wardrobe, is the blazer. It’s a quick way to style up a look, add a pop of colour or pattern, and a great layer for the cooler months.
There are lots of different ways to style a blazer, but here I wanted to share just 3 to inspire you. The great thing is, if you haven’t got a blazer in your wardrobe yet, there are lots of charity shops that have a variety of options for you to try (you can even find some gorgeous men’s blazers, that you can get tailored to your shape for a unique option with a sustainable edge).
You will have seen above that I have mentioned the blazer in the jeans and dress styling options above, so already I have shared two ways to style your blazer, which I hope will inspire you.
Three ways to style your blazer
1. With a midi skirt.
When you style your skirt with a blazer, it’s a way to add definition at the waist and shoulders so can work really well for many body shapes. If you have a tee with your skirt, the blazer can transform the look to be more professional.
While if you have a patterned or colourful blazer, this can be the way to add your colours to a more monochromatic look that is underneath. I’d recommend a midi skirt as it can work across different occasions, but if you love showing a bit of leg, got all out and pop on a mini skirt, knowing your blazer brings a professional edge to the look.
2. With wide-legged trousers.
Wide-legged trousers are a beautiful, elegant option for any occasion, particularly suited for pear shapes or hourglass shapes, as they skim the legs and accentuate the hips. Pop on a belt under your blazer, a blouse, and a pair of block heels for a professional look. You can dress the look down by simply changing the blouse for a camisole or slogan tee.
Add a pair of platform sneakers to make the look even more comfortable, and pop on a bag for your essentials, and you’re ready to go.
3. With your knitwear.
Finally, adding your knitwear under your blazer, adds an additional warm layer, while also jazzing up your look.
A cashmere sweater, with your favourite jeans, and a pair of heeled brogues has an elegant yet cool outfit for Autumn. Whereas your chunky high neck knitted jumper, with a pair of tailored trousers and heels flips the script on professional dressing while remaining warm!
I hope this guide to dressing in a recession inspires you to continue to use your investment pieces in more ways. While we may be in a space to want to treat ourselves to more and more items for our wardrobe, I suggest you take a step back, consider what you already have, and perhaps invest in versatile pieces that you’ll wear over and over again.
If you’re unsure on where to start, or have a wardrobe that is spilling over, yet causing you more stress than pleasure, please get in touch. I can support you with a wardrobe edit, a style masterclass, or a personal shopping experience so you have someone there, by your side, to help you invest wisely for your future outfits.