PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: TOP 3 WINTER HATS AND HOW TO STYLE THEM

When you see someone wearing a hat do you think "I wish I could do that"? I know a lot of my clients feel like the styles of hats available can be either the perfect fit for their style or, more often, can be out of reach for them to try!

Autumn and Winter are a great time to try adding this great accessory to your outfit, as the weather asks for an additional option to keep us warm and dry.

If you want to try out wearing a hat this season, then you’re in luck! In this article I will be sharing my top 3 stylish hats to add to your wardrobe, and how you can style them for Winter.

Beret

The classic French girl hat (created in 1889 for the Mountain Infantry!), and one that works beautifully any time of year, really! The beret is a round hat with a flat crown, with a bulb-like form when you wear it.

This hat can be worn dressed down, in a classic Parisian style, with a trench coat, jeans and a striped long-sleeved jumper, or why not change it up and wear it with a leather jacket and midi dress.

This style of hat can also work with many types of hair styling. Whether you have a low pony tail or bun; a cropped or bob-style, or a beachy waved long hair look. The beret can work beautifully for your outfit, particularly if you perhaps fall into the Classic, Dramatic, or Creative style personalities.

As it is available in so many colours and styles, you really can find a beret to suit your personality and colours. A simple cashmere beret in light blue or berry; or even an animal print beret to add a real eye-catching piece!

Fedora 

The fedora feels like the coolest of the cool hat options. With a wide rim, well-known shape, and coming in a selection of fabrics and styles, you can upgrade your look with a fedora. 

The caveats here are that a fedora can work for most face shapes, but you need to consider the rim and the height of the crown. The fedora is, in fact, a great hat if you have an oblong face.

For heart-shaped faces, look for smaller brims so you can complement your jawline.

Some of my favourite ways to make an outfit with a fedora as your accessory is by going full-on rock chick! A leather coat over a pair or black jeans (or a mini skirt and tights) with your combat boots, layered necklaces, and rings, topped off with your favourite belt.

If this is out of your personal style, then why not go romantic or bohemian? A floaty midi dress, with a brown or tan fedora, with knee high suede boots, and cross over body bag.

Baker boy 

If you want to work the androgenous look and mix that with an almost vintage feel, then the baker boy hat is a perfect option for you. 

With its small brim, and puffed out crown, this hat is best for those with an angular face such as a heart or square. 

These hats work beautifully with neutral suiting with a classic navy or black option and your hair down.

You could also style this hat with a thick roll neck knitted jumper tucked into a midi skirt with tights and knee high leather boots, with a belt to pull you in at the waist.

You can also add a little extra edge with a leather or even a velvet version, while this may not be best for the rain.

With these three hat options for your outfits, I hope I’ve inspired you to try out one of them if not all three! If you want to add new accessories or styling to your wardrobe, I specialise in helping people like you find their personal style and how to reflect this in their wardrobes. Find out more about my Style Masterclass for image consultancy to see how you can transform how you create confidence through your style.

PERSONAL STYLING ADVICE: DOES SHORT HAIR SUIT YOU?

The new hairstyle trend is clear : short cuts!

I myself am a "victim" of this new trend! I couldn't resist, I cut my hair just a few days ago, after years of high maintenance long hair I said: "let's cut"! The sensation of lightness and freedom after that is incredible! Yet it wasn't easy to take such a decision.. before going for a "bold" cut you must find a good hairdresser, someone you really trust in, then you need to find the best cut for you 'cause the wrong one would make you regret your decision in an instant! 

So, how to determine if short hair suit you? And, in case, which cut is better for you? Well, there are some general "rules" to know that might help your choice, apart from your personal style and taste, that depends on your face shape, shoulder line and hair texture. 

The first rule to know is something about math, applied to beauty of course! It is called the 2.25" rule and it was invented by Giles Robinson, Senior Stylist at John Frieda Salons UK and International Training Director of Color Wow. This simple measurement will indicate whether a face is suited to short or long hair through the help of a ruler and a pencil! Just place a ruler under your ear, vertically, and a pencil under your chin, horizontally, then check the measurements from the intersection of the pencil and the ruler. If it's less than 2.25" (or 5.5 cm) it means that a short haircut will be perfect for you! If it's anything more, maybe you will have to change your mind and leave your hair long.

 But that's not all! Here are some other useful rules and tips :

FACE SHAPE :  

the oval face shape is the best one for short hair, basically good with every kind of haircut. Charlize Theron has a perfect oval.

Oblong face should instead be aware of haircuts that add volume on top and create vertical illusions, like the so-called "spike" hairstyle; they should opt instead for haircuts that add volume on the sides, in order to create balance; the best hairstyle for oblong face are bobbed hair and possibly wavy or curly.

Kim Kardashian is a perfect examples of oblong face shape.

On the contrary rounded face should create vertical illusions through their hair, adding volume on top, and go for a tuft or a long fringe. Michelle Williams is a perfect example of rounded face shape.

The pixie haircut are instead better for triangular or diamond-shaped faces. 

Scarlett Johansson is a perfect example of diamond face shape, and in fact, she looks is great with a pixie haircut.

SHOULDER, NECK AND JAWS : 

You must be aware that when you go for a short haircut your face frame become more visible, as well as any eventual defect! So, if you think your neck, shoulder and jaws (or at least two of them) are not well balanced maybe it's better to leave your hair longer. Jennifer Lawrence has, for instance, perfect proportions between her neck, shoulders and jaws.

BODY PROPORTIONS :

Your body proportions may affect your hairstyle choices as well. Pixie haircuts, for instance, are surely good for petit women, 'cause they tend to elongate, while they could be a risk for tall women unless they are extremely proportioned; as for triangles women (hips wider than shoulder) or the inverted triangles (shoulder wider than hips) they must be aware that in both the cases a very short haircut could highlight their unbalance. A pixie haircut, for instance, helped Emma Watson (H. 165 cm) look taller.

CURLY or THIN HAIR?

Despite the opinion of some hairdressers, I believe that even curly-hair women can dare a short cut! Obviously the hairdresser choice is fundamental, they must be specialists in curly hair, but with the right hand and the right cut, even curly-women can change their look and get an amazing short cut.

As for women with smooth and thin hair, there is no problem at all in doing a short haircut, that would add the volume and the movement they need unless it is an extremely layered cut.

In the end, do you think short hair would suit you?

BRIDAL STYLING: HAIRSTYLE TRENDS FOR 2016!

6 HAIRSTYLES FOR THE 2016 BRIDAL DRESSES

For me the second most important choice for a Bride, after the dress, is the hairstyle. So, if you are going to choose one of the 6 top styles from the 2016 trends, which is the best combination between your dress and your hair? Obviously you'll have to deal with your hair kind : long, short, thick, thin, and so on... but this is my guide-line to get the perfect combination without being excessive or, on the contrary, "dull" on your Wedding day.

1. Hairstyle for a fairy tale dress : what's better then a fairy tale hairstyle for your fairy tale dress? The sample shown on the picture here reminds me of Elsa (frozen) but it could work for Cinderella or Aurora as well ;-) it is romantic, feminine and if you want to make it sparkling you can add some bright stones, even replacing the flowers. Since your bust will be already embellished enough, I'd suggest to leave your hair on the back, avoiding overwhelming elements on front; on the contrary this way you will balance your image giving importance to the back as well.

2. Hairstyle for a Cropped-top dress : being this, in my opinion, the most youthful of the dress styles proposed, I would have a "young" hairstyle as well, leaving them quite natural or gathered in a side braid. Since this kind of dress is quite simple, and since you must be anyway the protagonist of that day, I would enrich your hair adding flower crowns, for example, that would add color and freshness, or even sparkling elements, to be more sophisticated.

3. Hairstyle for a High-low dress:  Well, it should be clear now,  if you choose a high-low dress you know that you will be watched all-over and your hairstyle must be as much fascinating and attractive as your dress (actually you have to draw the attention on your face as well!). So what I suggest is a rich and voluminous high-gathered hairstyle, with the addition of tiaras if you wish. I'd not add flowers, you would risk to send contrasting messages.

4. Hairstyle for a 3D Flowers dress : Well, your dress will be decorated enough, so I wouldn't play hard with my hair if I were you. keep it simple.. sophisticated, bu simple. I would not even add flowers (cause you already have them all around your dress) nor sparkling elements (that wouldn't be in line with the rest of your look). You will be elegant and beautiful without need of add anything more, don't worry!

5. Hairstyle for a Blush Shaded dress:  In this case, being the color the key point of your look, I can't tell you how to gather your hair ('cause it depends mostly on the dress' shape) but I can tell you that I would recall somehow the blush of the dress in your hair, probably by adding blossoms. The blush is romantic, make your hairstyle being romantic as well.

6. Hairstyle for a Long Sleeved dress :  as I told, the long-sleeved dresses are maybe the most regal of all. To get an appropriate regal hairstyle the key-word is "simplicity". Go for a simple shape but enrich it with a precious veil (in lace like the sleeves maybe?!) or a fine tiara to add light.

Let your guests and the groom being fascinated by your look! Let them remember how perfect your were, not "too much" nor "not enough"...just PERFECT.