PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: THE BEST SWIMWEAR FOR EVERY BODY SHAPE

With the summer bringing up the heat and holidays on the horizon, you may be wondering how to style your outfits to keep you cool and confident!

For some of us, the warmer weather can be a difficult time to be inspired for our outfits. The addition of swimwear potentially causing difficulties with confidence, means that we can get overwhelmed.

In this blog, I share my essential swimwear guide for all body types.

My biggest tip for you is to embrace this gorgeous weather and show off your style through your fashion. No matter the "fashion rules" we have been brought up on, the biggest thing to remember is that you deserve to feel your best. I hope this guide helps you pick a few ways to boost your confidence during this time of year and if you would like to have some extra help, please get in touch.

Top swimwear styles for pear shapes

A very good style to use is a bandeau bikini, which brings the eye up. You could also look for a frilled or mono-shoulder top. For the bottoms, you'll feel your best in a pair that sit higher on the hips as they elongate your gorgeous legs!

A one-piece that has a defined waist and higher legs, as well as those with little extras at the shoulders or one-shoulder, will help you feel your best.

Swimwear for hourglass body shapes

The best swimwear pieces are those that show off your waist. For a bikini, consider pieces that stop and start at your waist. You may want to find a set that has support on your top half, to ensure everything is held in place as your jump in to the sea!

For a swimsuit, look for pieces that have a definition at the waist or details that show off your smaller waist.

Best swimwear for inverted triangles

When looking for your bikini, you may want to mix and match. Look for bottoms that have prints, bolder colours, details, while minimizing details and volumes on the top. Classic triangle bikinis are good, as they are suited to your body shape.

Whether in a bikini style or a one-piece, you may want to look for styles with halter and square necks, you'll want to avoid floral patterns.

Swimwear for oval shapes

For ovals you can show off your gorgeous legs and arms. I recommend playing with patterns such as florals when it comes to your swimwear. I also find this denim-look swimming costume, which works as a sort of camouflage, with the neckline and back drop are curvilinear and opened, complementing curves and optically elongating the bust.

Try a tankini, that has details on the shoulders or around the neckline, will be a great option to draw the eyes to your sunkissed face.

Best swimwear for rectangles

When looking for your two pieces for the beach, you may want to look for trikini. When it comes to general patterns, look for swimsuits with geometric patterns to complement your shape.

On a one-piece, a central panel in a darker shade or with panelling throughout the piece, as this gives the illusion of a slimmer shape, or find a suit that has a square neckline. As a final tip, it's best to avoid high-waisted bikini bottoms for you.

Will you be investing in a new bikini or swimsuit this year? If the thought of getting new summer outfits for your wardrobe is a daunting task, I’d love to help.

Top 5 Reasons Why You Should Use a Personal Stylist

Personal Stylists are often thought to be just for those who are attending galas, Oscars, and red carpets. With the idea that Personal Stylists are for the rich and famous only, they actually offer support to a variety of people.

Whether you are a business owner, professional, Mum, or someone who is looking for a way to feel more confident and comfortable, a personal stylist can help you.

1. Give yourself confidence

The biggest reason to use a personal stylist is to help you feel confident each day. You deserve to feel great no matter the occasion, and sometimes fashion or outfit choices can help or hinder this feeling. So often, clients come to our Style Masterclasses or Personal Shopping Sessions because they just don’t feel confident in their outfits.

Getting to understand your shape, colours, and personal style will mean your wardrobe feels more approachable, you know what to purchase at the shops, and you confidently select the outfits you know you’ll feel great in no matter the event.

One of the biggest rewards we see when we work with people who come to us for this reason is seeing their attitude change completely. Thanks to knowing and understanding the right styles for their personality, and how to create outfits that feel great, they walk a little taller!

2. Save yourself time

Do you spend a long time in the morning trying to figure out what to wear?

Perhaps you change outfits several times before seeing friends or attending events?

This is precious time wasted that a personal stylist can help you bring back! A personal stylist will work with you to help you curate a selection of outfits that you feel great with, and have a wardrobe that you can utilise to chop and change between so it doesn’t feel like you’re repeating the same look.

A personal stylist will also save you time when you go shopping for new pieces to add to your wardrobe as you’ll know exactly what to look for. From shapes and styles, to colours and patterns that help you shine. Understanding your personal style will go even further than the colours and shapes as you’ll know the shops that create the pieces that you will love.

3. Save yourself money

Alongside the time saved when shopping and dressing, you’ll actually begin to save money when you utilise the skills that personal stylists can bring to you.

With the knowledge of your personal style and colours, you’ll stop purchasing items that just don’t get used in your wardrobe. Often people purchase garments that they love in the store, and then wonder why they just don’t feel “right” with any of their outfits – this can often be because they aren’t the right colour, fabric, or style for them.

With a wardrobe that reflects what you feel great in, you’ll want to re-wear outfits more and more, because you know you feel fabulous in them, too. This may stop you panic buying for pieces that you think you need, when you actually have all you love right there!

4. Create a wardrobe that reflects your personality

A personal stylist will be able to curate a wardrobe with you that reflects your own personal style. At One of a Style we go through a unique process to discover what style (or styles) you gravitate towards the most. With this in hand, we then work together to make outfits and get inspiration that feels truly you. With the knowledge of what styles reflect your own personality beautifully, you can then start to curate a wardrobe that feels like yours.

Rather than filling a wardrobe with the current trends, you will have a collection of pieces that will last throughout many years to come, and you’ll know when to invest and when to walk away from trends!

5. Fashion and style will feel more approachable

Some people just know how to style themselves from the start, and for others, we need a little help. If you have an accounting question, you don’t expect yourself to just know it unless you’ve done some training – the same goes for styling!

When you have an expert who has worked with you, to help train you in the best ways to dress for your own confidence, for your body, for your needs, your work life and your personal life, you’ll then have the tools at hand to make fashion more approachable and appealing.

A personal stylist is an expert that works with people who want to have outfits that bring confidence to their day. They want to stop the dreaded morning outfit change, the feeling of “nothing to wear”, or simply to celebrate a milestone and curating a wardrobe that appropriately reflects that.

Fashion and style should work for you, not against you, and a personal stylist can do this for you.

If you are spending too much money on clothes that you don’t wear, want to feel confident each day, and want to save time when dressing no matter the occasion, we can help. Our stylists understand how to make you feel your best, and utilise fashion, colours, and style to do so. Please get in touch to find out more about how we can help.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: BACK TO THE OFFICE - 3 COMFY SHOES AND HOW TO WEAR THEM

Often my clients struggle to match shoes with their outfits. Now that the priority seems to be comfort, particularly after such a long time at home in slippers.

However, when we go back to the office, we often expect ourselves to put on those heels and begin to relive the aches of stilettos and work shoes, but what if I told you there were work appropriate shoes that won’t feel uncomfortable from the first minute? Well, there are shoes that work for the office and for your feet, so in this article I wanted to share 3 comfy shoes you can wear to the office, and how to style them.

Loafers for women, and how to style them

Loafers were often a men’s-only shoe, but now that shoemakers have moved into a more androgynous flow for their offerings, loafers have become incredibly popular for women. They’re not only comfortable, but can be matched with a multitude of outfits, here are a few of my favourite ways to style loafers, specifically for the workplace.

Loafers with tapered trousers

When you’re wearing a beautiful pair of loafers, why not show them off with a pair of tapered trousers that are cut above the ankle? You can match a stunning pair of red trousers with a gold pair of slip on loafers as a funky stand-out look, or keep your look monotone with black trousers and black leather loafers that have a little detail in them to keep some style in the outfit.

Loafers with a midi skirt

If you are more into skirts at work over trousers, then as with the tapered trousers, a midi skirt is a great option to match with your loafers, throw on a turtleneck and a belt and you’re ready to take on the office with style! You can go completely flat, or you can find a pair with a small heel, depending on your preference. A quirky pair with a fabulous pattern, like these bumble bee pattered Gucci loafers are a fabulous and fun addition to your wardrobe, and work well if you want to showcase personality, but can’t do so in your full outfit – match them with a black midi skirt, simple shirt and blazer and you are ready to take on the office! 

Pumps for work and how to style them

Now, bear with me here, ballet pumps have come a long way from our classic school-wearing pump days! You can get some incredible elegant women’s pumps that are both comfortable and work-wear ready.

There are an incredible array of options when it comes to pumps, you can have flat options that are perfect for sheer comfort. They usually have a very minimal heel as this can help those with flatter feet who need a little uplift for comfort, or just prefer shoes that have a heel and feel better to wear them for work.

Pumps with a dress for work

The beauty of ballet pumps is because they are often very decorative, which means they can be paired with a minimal outfit such as a classic office dress. Look for a pair with a scalloped pattern to bring a little edge to your look without having to go all out with a pattern!

You can also wear a pair of ballet pumps that have a stiletto-like toe, without the heel, and I love finding these pumps without the rounded toe, as they really do match the expectation of a stiletto, without causing aches in the heels.

Pumps with flared trousers

I love seeing trousers that hit just a few millimetres above the floor (we all know winter can mean puddles so be careful not to go for trousers that are too long!) and pumps can be a great option to match with flares that work really well for those of us with larger his to balance us out. Throw on a colourful pair of pumps, match them with a dark pair of work wear flares, and then match with a flowy blouse on top.

Boots and how to wear them for work

As I am writing this in the colder Autumn month of October, boots are on my mind! While we can play with fun boots for casual wear, such as combat boots, some of us have steered clear from wearing boots to the office, but they can work beautifully, and they can be very comfortable! Now, I may not be suggesting combat boots for the office (unless you have a more casual workplace that is), but there are some great options that I wanted to share with you. 

High boots with tights and a skirt

Skirts can work really well at the office, when they are paired well with the right accessories and footwear. When at the office, skirts may not be as favourable, but when Autumn comes along, you can pop on some thicker tights to feel more appropriate for the office. Pair with some black high boots that have a small heel, in black leather and you will feel on top of the world. I highly recommend investing in a pair of boots like this, as they will last year on year, and will look much more appropriate for work when they are of a higher quality. I would also recommend a pair that fall just below the knee, as over the knee can feel a little less appropriate for work. Try a mini skirt with a blouse; or an a-line skirt that cuts just below the knee so you have no gap between the boot and the fabric.

Ankle boots with an a-line dress or skirt

Another option when it comes to boots at the office is the classic ankle boot! One way to wear them is with an a-line skirt or dress as they will graze below the knee with enough space for the boots to not cut you off. Ankle boots can be a little trickier to pair with garments at the office, so styling with a skirt is often the best option in my experience. You could also try a pair of cowboy-esque leather boots with a pair of flared trousers as they are more comfortable than classic heels, but have a slight heel so you feel uplifted yet cool with the western style.

I hope these options for more comfortable work-appropriate shoes have inspired you for your next visit to the office. If you would like the support of someone by your side to help create a wardrobe that works for your day to day life, then please get in touch about my personal styling or personal shopping experiences.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: 10 WAYS TO WEAR A BLAZER

After the announcement by Boris, you may be getting incredibly excited about the future of potentially going outside with friends, or heading into the office. Even if you aren’t planning on going out, but need some ideas to freshen up your Zoom meeting looks, I wanted to share with you a few ways to style up one of my favourite crossover pieces – the blazer!

Why I love the blazer

Let me first share with you why I love wearing a blazer, and recommend at least 1 or 2 in my clients wardrobes.

They can upgrade a look without having to feel stuffy or overdressed; they come in a fantastic range of shapes, colours, styles & patterns; and they can add a dash of style to a casual look or personality to a traditional office outfit.

So, let’s see some ways you can wear your blazer…

Traditional Blazer Styling – with your suit

This is where the blazer was born – to be put over your suit. Whether it’s your tailored suit trousers and a shirt, or a pencil skirt, your blazer works perfectly over a suit and is the optimum meetings/professional outfit.

Over a dress

For those of you who love to wear your dresses to meetings or on Zoom calls (or like me, are dressing up once a week during this lockdown with a lovely dress!) you can always add a fabulous blazer to finish off the look and keep yourself a little warmer in the cooler months. Try to add a pop of colour or statement patterns if your dress is a neutral or simple style.

Draped over the shoulder

Ahh, the gorgeous and ever-sophisticated “over the shoulder” look and one that can work fantastically to add a touch of warmth without the restriction of arms. Pair with a hand held clutch, your favourite pencil dress, or suit, and you are heading for French-girl chique. For a more relaxed way to wear this, I recommend platform sneakers, a pair of your favourite wide-legged trousers, and a casual tee tucked in.

Over your favourite t-shirt

That brings me perfectly onto one of my favourite ways to wear the blazer – over your favourite casual t-shirt. Instantly you will upgrade your outfit to a  more professional one, and can work really well for brunch, or networking social events where you can be a little more smart/casual with your look. I recommend a graphic t-shirt to add a touch of style, but you could also have a plain white tee and have your blazer do all the talking.

With jeans

Time to get a little more casual with your outfit, and this can work really well for seeing friends or going for drinks (when we are able to do so!). Pop your blazer with a shirt or simple top, and then pop on your pair of jeans to help make the outfit a little less formal. You could wear this with heels or trainers, depending on the type of event you are heading to.

Make it sexy…

If you are planning to go on a “date night” indoors, or even to a restaurant when they are open, you can go really sexy with your double or single-buttoned blazer, and wear a beautiful piece of lingerie and nothing else. This isn’t for the faint-hearted so if this feels a little too much, try starting with a deep v-neck top underneath and see how you feel. Pair with a statement necklace or earrings to really finish off the date-night look.

Clashing prints

If you have a few suits, with blazers and trousers or skirts, and they have clashing prints, this modern and quirky look can be a fun way to add a little personality to your outfit. Pop on your blazer that is in one pattern, and clash it with the trousers or skirt. This can be a difficult look to try out, but once you find the pairing you love, you’ll definitely stand out from the crowd.

Keep it monochromatic

If clashing prints feels a little too much, then you can keep your fresh look to a monochromatic style – which means in the same colour or similar colour shades. This is a simple and easy to throw together look, especially if you know your colours that are already in your wardrobe.

Wear your blazer over a slip dress or maxi-cami dress

With the warmer weather coming, you will probably be getting out your spring/summer wardrobe – with that, comes your slip dress or maxi cami dresses which continue to be in-fashion. This can be a great way to feel a little more comfortable in this body-skimming style of dress, as well as add a touch of warmth. Pair with colourful stilettos, and you’re ready to go out for a party or a gorgeous date.

Layer over your comfortable trousers

While we have all been living in our comfy tracksuit bottoms or loungewear, this is actually a style that can work (with the right bottoms, of course!). Pop your sophisticated blazer over your comfortable lounge items for a way to Segway into the more professional styling of being back outside.

To make sure you feel more professional (if you need to) pop on a pair of heels which can elevate the look.

So, will you be trying out some of these blazer outfits? If you’d like to know the ways to make your wardrobe work for you, rather than against you, I’d love to chat. Arrange a free call, and we can see how I can help.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: TOP AUTUMN COATS FOR YOUR WARDROBE TO SUIT YOUR SHAPE

As the cooler months set in, and we begin to take out more jumpers and put away the summer dresses, you may be looking to find an autumn coat. Coats can be an incredibly personal thing – I know of one client who tried on 10 coats and just didn’t feel any were “right”. The outer wear in any outfit needs to be comfortable, reflective of your style, and also, importantly for this time of year, warm! There are some go-to classics that will work each and every year, so I wanted to start the Autumn with the top three classic coats I love, with a few modernised versions for the trend-setters among you!

The Trench Coat 

This is a pure classic, and one we have seen throughout the years. Often in a camel tone, it can be an effortlessly chic option to layer on top of your clothes. Usually with a large belt to bring in the waist, this style can work incredibly well for many body shapes. If you are more curvaceous I recommend utilising the belt to show off your waist, whereas if you are tall and slender, keep it open to add more dimension to your shape.

For a similar shape and military style, but with a more elegant look, you could invest in this Danielle Frankel Allegra corded lace-trimmed organza and tulle trench coat – it is definitely an investment, so make sure you truly love the style. If you’re more colourful, you can try out a colourful trench coat, like this Topshop piece in mustard, which are becoming more and more popular and are a great way to add some colour to the darker days.

 (Bottega Veneta – convertible crinkled glossed-leather trench coat)

The trench coat really is the most classic of all coats, it can be worn in a chic way with all black underlayers, all the way to a modern take with a casual t-shirt and maxi skirt underneath.

The Aviator Jacket

An Aviator jacket is a true classic, vintage, boyfriend-esque vibe, while also being super comfortable and most importantly, warm! There are a range of new styles being brought to the fashion world this year, with oversized options by Pieces, to this classic shearling zip-up black jacket by REISS as well as their reversable version which means you have 2 jackets in one!

With most aviators, no matter whether they have the added belt at the base or a shearling interior, the style works perfectly for hourglasses due to the way they are shaped and often tapered in at the waist with their classic pockets. You can also style this jacket as a pear shape as long as the coat is more cropped in style, and finishes above your hips.

Teddy bear coats

You may have seen these blasting across the fashion world last year and they are here to stay again. A warm, luxurious, and comfortable overcoat, the teddy bear coat can come in a range of lengths. The classic teddy bear coat is by Max Mara, and comes in a range of colours to suit your preference.

The great thing about a teddy bear jacket is that it can work for every body shape. I suggest that if you are petite then look for a version that is specifically catered for your height, or a cropped option like this mint green teddy coat by ASOS Design. If you are an hourglass or pear shape, as with many oversized styles, you may loose your shape, so if you can get a belted version or wear it open rather than buttoned, you can still bring in your waist.

If you’re looking for a colourful option, rather than the neutral version, this baby blue Reclaimed Vintage option is a unique choice. You could also invest in this Stand Studio midnight blue faux fur option, that follows the similar styling as a teddy coat, this is another very easy coat that can be good for every body shape, although hourglasses and pear shapes might lose their waist definition by wearing this. It is still considerably cheaper than the Max Mara Teddy, but feels very similar with potentially a more mature fabric.

Double breasted coats

Military has such a wonderfully androgynous styling, and if this is your go to look, or you are looking for a coat that can toughen up your more girly style, then a double breasted jacket can be a great option for the autumn. Keep yourself warmer with a coat that is woollen, like this Balmain option.

A double-breasted coat is perfect for people with a more rectangular shape, who need to define their waist as the shape of the buttons, particularly on the Balmain option, create an optical illusion of a narrower waist. It also works incredibly well on hourglasses, as your naturally defined waist will fit perfectly within this coat. Tommy Hilfiger have also created a checked double blazer that is great if you love a professional pattern that is always a classic.

The belted jacket

If you like a coat that is truly a waist definer, then you can’t go wrong with a coat that has a belt! For added warmth, you can go for a quilted option as with this olive green creation by Alexa Chung – if you choose a similar style to this, be cautious of the quilted style if you are a more oval shape, as the belt may not do your shape justice.

If you are looking for a more classic option, perhaps without the quilted pattern, then & Other Stories are well known for their fabulous belted coats, such as this neutral alpaca option which also has buttons, as often just a belt on a jacket can still let the chill in! 

TIPS FOR WEARING YOUR FACE MASK WITH STYLE

Perhaps not everyone is wearing a face mask each and every day, but they have become an essential item to wear. However, with these safety measures that are keeping us all safe and allowing us to finally get out to the office, to shops, and to see friends at a safe distance, I have heard that people are struggling with certain aspects.

Here are my top tips to help you wear your face mask, without having the issues I have heard my clients share with me.

Make-up tips when wearing a face mask:

1. Focus on your eyes. As wearing lipstick is pretty useless when wearing a face mask as it can smudge, or people just aren’t going to see it, now is a great time to bring focus onto our eyes.

2. Use fun colours to help bring some joy into your and other people’s days, by showing off your personality through your eye make-up!

3.  Use concealer to help cover any redness or dark circles[Stefania 1] , so that your eyes can remain the focus of your face, whilst making you feel your most confident.  

Tips for choosing your face mask:

1.  Choose a mask in one of your best colours. What colours go best with your personality, your skin tone, your eye colour, and your wardrobe? With so many face mask options out there, you can be spoiled for choice, so make sure it is working for you.

2. Make your face mask a part of your accessories. Sequins, patterns, different shapes – these are all elements that are now being added to face masks by designers, so you really can have fun with your face mask, and make it a real accessory.

3. Consider eco-friendly, and washable options. There are some great designers out there who are giving back through the sale of their face masks – which can be a great way to give back to the community, whilst also caring for one another through wearing this essential safety item.

Where to buy your eco-friendly and washable face masks, in the UK:

To help you find some more fun, colourful, and eco-friendly face masks here are a list of shops I have found.

Pucker Masks

These colourful masks are all created by UK seamstresses who have been out of work due to Covid and are paid a living wage. They also have an adjustable nose bridge and a pocket for a filter, should you wish to add one. Added onto this, they also give 25% of their profits to charity.

NotJustClothing

This UK brand is offering a truly bespoke experience with customisable face masks. You can have a UK tube station, a word, or initials added to these minimal face masks. They are also made in the UK, are carbon neutral, with 50% of their profits from their face masks (and their t-shirts) going to Masks for NHS Heroes.

Isabel Manns

This UK-based womenswear company create their face masks, as well as all of their clothes, with fabric cut to minimise waste. Each of their face masks are reversible, and profits from their sale goes to the NHS. With an incredible range of patterns and colours, you really can let your personality shine with these masks.

Migrate Art

The charity, based in the UK, have created a range of reversible, reusable, and washable face masks in collaboration with 10 artists. They have a campaign called #masksformeals which has been set up so that 100% of the profits from sales of their masks will go to Refugee Community Kitchen to help them feed the homeless in the UK.

During these uncertain times, it can be worrying to consider what to do next, and you are not alone. I hope with these tips, you will feel more confident prior to your next shopping trip, and will have a face mask that truly reflects your personality. If you would like assistance with a personal shopper who can maximise your time, and make your experience less stressful, then please get in touch.