PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: WARDROBE ESSENTIALS - BUILDING A TIMELESS AND VERSATILE CLOSET

Many of my clients come to me unsure on how to create a wardrobe that reflects their personality, works for their body, and is easy to create outfits from. 

For some, it’s the “I have nothing to wear” problem. Most of the time this can be due to an overwhelming amount of garments in their wardrobe, that, in fact, do not work well together to create a collection of outfits. While some feel that the outfits they can create don’t work for their day to day lives or reflect their personality.

The most important part of making your wardrobe work for you is picking garments that are versatile and timeless. This can feel a little daunting, particularly if you have been following trends and building a wardrobe for years! 

If you’d love to have a wardrobe that feels accessible and that works for your needs, here’s my guide to help you create a versatile and timeless wardrobe! 

Assess your needs

The first thing you need to do when creating a wardrobe that works for you, is knowing what you need each day. 

Ask yourself: 

• What does my professional working life look like? 

• What does my free time look like? 

• Do I attend many special occasions? 

• Do I need to change after the school run?

When you know what outfits you need, you can know what type of clothing you will require. For example, if you attend lots of special events, your wardrobe will need far more black tie and formal wear than someone who doesn’t. In the same vain, if you have a corporate job that requires suiting, your requirements will be different to someone who works in a creative company where you can wear more casual attire. 

If you're a mum, your priority is probably practicality (but this doesn't mean you have to give up on style!).

Understanding your daily needs will help you have a strategy when you assess your current wardrobe and when you go shopping in the future. 

Declutter your wardrobe

Now you know what you need, you want to make sure your current wardrobe works for you. If you have the “overfilled” wardrobe problem, the best way to work on this is to take out everything and go through the items one by one. When I work with a client, we work through the items and question whether the pieces either bring them joy, or work well across multiple other pieces to create outfits. If it doesn’t do this, it can be put to the side to be donated or sold. 

When you have the pieces that work together, and work with your daily needs, your wardrobe will already begin to feel more approachable. 

Keep your wardrobe curated and minimal, and get rid of what doesn’t work for you, especially before buying anything new. Only keep what suits you and your lifestyle and what makes you feel good. A minimal wardrobe will truly simplify your life.

Curate a wardrobe of versatility 

Versatile pieces are the ones that can be mixed and matched across one another in unique ways. They should be able to be worn in different situations, without compromising on your style, personality and comfort. 

Here are a few of my top pieces for versatility: 

• Denim – a pair (or two) of jeans are an essential for any wardrobe. They can be dressed up with a blouse, or down with a vest/tee. They are great for running around and doing errands, or can even work for a date night with heels. 

• Blazer – essential for a professional look, but can also work for more casual looks that you want to elevate. You may be amazed at how many ways you can style a blazer.

• White (or neutral) shirt / Tee -  depending on your personal style, you can’t go wrong with a plain white t-shirt or shirt. It can be paired with countless bottoms, and can balance out a statement piece that you have in your outfit. 

• Body suit or fitted tank top – I love a body suit, because it can be worn as a layering piece, and can be a clean, smooth garment that doesn’t require tucking in. If you don’t like a bodysuit, a fitted tank top is a great alternative. 

• A neutral dress – the little black dress is beloved for a reason – it works! Black can, however, be a colour that doesn’t work for many skin tones, so finding a neutral shade in your colour palette can be a great alternative. Depending on your style, you could opt for a maxi dress, mini dress, a-line – there are lots of options. Adding layers and hosiery, as well as accessories can transform the dress effectively making it work as multiple outfits in one. 

• Knitwear – I know this is a broad term, but, you need a few pieces of knitwear that you can throw on as the weather gets cooler. I like a cropped cardigan, a longline cardigan, and a couple of heavier jumpers in my wardrobe. 

• Formal trousers – even if you don’t go to the office regularly, a pair of more professional trousers can work across a multitude of events. Depending on your body shape you may want to look for wide legged, straight leg, or cigarette style. 

• A selection of skirts – Midi skirts have stayed in style for several years, and this is because they are so versatile! Pair with a white tee, a blouse, or a body suit to complement the day ahead. 

For more ideas on how to create a wardrobe that works for you, you may want to consider creating a capsule wardrobe. View my recent article on how to do this, here. 

Let your wardrobe reflect your personal style

Finally, the most important thing to consider is your own personal style. A timeless wardrobe works when you have pieces you feel confident in. Staying away from fast fashion and trends that don’t work for your personal style will ensure you have a wardrobe that lasts. 

Too often we fill our wardrobes with garments that are currently in style, rather than pieces that reflect our personality. When you understand the personal style that is inherent to you, you will feel more confident when dressing and when shopping. 

And it's rather simple, it's about understanding what works for you on the outside (from colours, shapes and styles) and on the inside (helping you express your personality and feel your most confident)with.

One of a Style team is here to help you create a wardrobe that truly works for you and simplify your life!

PERSONAL STYLIST TIP: WHAT IS A CAPSULE STYLE WARDROBE AND HOW TO CREATE YOURS

You may have heard of a capsule wardrobe and wondered what does it actually mean, and how to create your own?!

Capsule wardrobes are a great option for saving time, stress, and money in getting dressed on your day to day life (while looking your best, obviously!)

While some may say you have to stick to certain numbers of particular garments, I believe that our capsule wardrobes should be as unique as we are, reflecting our own personality and lifestyle.

For some, you may need several trousers but minimal dresses, and vice versa, depending on your personal style, preferences, and needs as a professional, mum, business owner, or all of the above!

What is a capsule wardrobe?

Starting with the basics, a capsule wardrobe in essence, is a wardrobe that has your requirements for your day to day life, as well as a few key items that can be worn in multiple occasions. A capsule wardrobe holds interchangeable pieces that work with one another in a complementary way so you know whatever you pick and choose will work for your day.

For my clients, I often speak with them to discover if they are someone that would have one capsule wardrobe throughout the year, or some that may have seasonal capsule wardrobes that they can rotate to keep them feeling fresh, and enable them to play with trends they love. This is particularly preferable for my clients that are dramatic or creative style personality types (you can find out more about the different personality types and which you may fit into, in my blog, here).

A capsule wardrobe should take away the morning stress of what to wear, and work with your needs, rather than against them.

Now we know what a capsule wardrobe should be for you, we can look at how to create one for yourself.

This is something that I can help you with in more detail in a colour and style clinic, so this blog is a general approach to getting yourself started with a capsule wardrobe. If you’d like to create your own with a little professional help, then feel free to speak to me.

Start with clearing out your wardrobe

My first piece of advice for getting started on a capsule wardrobe would be to go through your own wardrobe now and clear out items that don’t align with your personal style, don’t fit you, or don’t work with any others in your closet.

If there are pieces in your wardrobe that you love, but you just can’t make more than one outfit with them, you may want to either reconsider the garment, or look at investing in further pieces that can make them more useable.

Now you have a clearer view of the pieces in your wardrobe that create outfits that you love, you can look at where you may need to invest or accessorise.

Create your outfits

Creating a selection of outfits from the capsule pieces you currently have will help you mindfully create a more suitable wardrobe for your needs.

For example, if you tend to wear dresses for work, but you feel you are unable to change up the outfit with your current selection, you can look at accessories and layers that make each dress feel like it can be changed up. For example, a belt can be worn to transform the shape of the dress. You can also look at cardigans, blazers, and shoes that elevate the look and change one dress into several outfits.

If you prefer two pieces, and prefer wearing jeans and a blouse, take a look at the options you have with regards to your tops and bottoms. Do you have enough blouses to give you the variety you crave, without filling your wardrobe to capacity? Do you have a favourite pair of jeans, but perhaps would prefer to have them in a different colour? These can be questions you ask while your wardrobe is being reworked.

If you are someone that would prefer a rotating capsule wardrobe based on the seasons, as we are now in spring, you may wish to take out heavy knits and replace them with lighter layers. Cardigans, blazers, and lighter knitwear are great for this time of year.

Remember your shoes and accessories!

For many of my clients, while having the new outfits in their capsule wardrobe being more approachable and easy to create, they find the shoes are where they can get a little stuck.

I recommend making your shoes and accessories a part of your capsule wardrobe update. If you go to work and need to wear an appropriate heel, then you will want to make sure you have one or two pairs that work with this requirement. You may also want to have a pair of comfortable yet professional flats to commute in.

If your work permits, and you prefer to wear them, platform trainers or wedges can be a funky and more approachable alternative to stilettoes and heeled shoes.

If you are a business owner or professional that works from home, shoes are not as important to your work-life, but will be a requirement for your day to day and special occasions. Sandals, flats, and trainers are all great options, while the special occasion wear may only mean you have one or two special shoes for those needs.

Take a look at the outfits you have created within your capsule wardrobe and make sure there are a selection of shoes that work with your outfits, so you don’t get caught at the last moment!

Bags can also be a fantastic way to add a dash of personality and function to your outfit, particularly if you need to take a lot of things with you as you head out. As a mum, I know I have a “mum bag” which can carry all the snacks and essentials, while my business-owner bag is a little smaller and colourful.

Understand your needs

As I have said, each capsule wardrobe is unique to the person who needs it. Your capsule wardrobe may be completely different to your colleague’s, and again different to your best friend’s. Each person has a different set of needs to get from their clothes, so while you may get inspiration for “the perfect capsule wardrobe” from the internet, it is best to really think about your needs.

Before you eradicate all of your garments from your collection, make sure you have the pieces you need to create the outfits you feel great in. Your wardrobe can be a reflection of you – so let it be just that. If a capsule wardrobe for one person is a collection of 20 pieces, yours may be 40, or even 50. A number is not what you need to aim for, a wardrobe that works for you each day is the goal of a capsule wardrobe.

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.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: NEW YEAR, NEW WARDROBE?

As we head into a new year, often we may feel refreshed and invigorated to stick to goals we have set ourselves! If one of your resolutions is to feel more stylish, confident, or even work on making new connections, get a new job, or build your business – one way to start can be understanding your wardrobe and style in a better way.

Where to start with a new personal style

The first step to discovering your new style, is to understand what you want to portray through your fashion. A few questions I always ask my styling clients are:

• What are the first few words you’d like people to think of when they see you?

• Who are your style icons or inspirations?

• Do you feel a certain way in particular colours?

When you know these, it can help you start developing a sort of style mood board, which is what I create with my personal styling clients on Pinterest, to help you see a selection of options in one space that will help you with future purchases.

Remove items for your wardrobe that don’t fit within your style

When you know the type of style you want to portray through your clothes, that you feel confident in and showcases the personality you’d like to convey, you can then start to edit your current wardrobe.

Having a wardrobe detox helps with several things when it comes to developing your personal style:

• It will save you time each day – no more wondering what will go with what!

• Your wardrobe will work smoothly together as full outfits that you can mix and match easily.

• You’ll no longer have any clothes that you don’t feel comfortable in – removing items that don’t fit you is one of the most important parts of this process, as well as the ones you don’t love or feel confident in when you put them on.

Once you have a wardrobe of items you already own, that work within your style you can move onto the next step – finding new items that work with your current ones!

How to find clothes that work with your personal style

Now you have a wardrobe that you can maximise outfits from, that makes you feel your best, and you have a curated mood board for your style inspiration, you can begin your shopping journey!

As a personal shopper myself, I am sure you wouldn’t be surprised to hear that I think making a shopping experience fun, enjoyable and functional is the most important part of your shopping experiences! You’ll want to make sure you do a few things before heading to the shops (whether online or in person).

• Note which items you want to purchase to create outfits from your current pieces in your wardrobe.

• What new items do you want to get to create new outfits?

• What is your budget for this particular shop, or perhaps your quarterly shop? Knowing your finances that you are happy to spend each season for particular items will make sure you know what you can invest in and what you need to save for.

• What colours do you want to add to your wardrobe, if any?

• Which accessories would be a great addition to your collection to help develop fuller more diverse outfits? Whether it’s a belt, a bag, shoes, jewellery, or hair pieces, accessories can transform a look and finish an outfit!

When you have a plan, and an understanding of the style and messages you want to convey through your styling choices, your shopping experiences should be more economical and more useful for you. When we reactively buy because of new year’s sales, a sudden need for something quickly, and without thought, it can cause us to buy items that we ultimately don’t wear. Fast fashion, trends, and garments that don’t last cause us to spend our valuable money on pieces that don’t suit our style for the long term. Taking time to consider what you want your style to showcase, why you want to create that style for yourself – perhaps for your work wardrobe, your confidence, journeying into a new age bracket, or merely to feel great – can truly make a huge difference to how you feel.

Clothes and fashion should work for you – not against you. I hope you will walk into the new year with more confidence and joy each day, and if you’d love help to do this using fashion as one of the tools to manage this, please get in touch.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIP: THE CROSSOVER PIECES EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE IN THEIR WARDROBE

I love a tidy, organised, and season ready wardrobe, which you can learn about here, but there are often pieces that we call “crossover” pieces that can stay in our wardrobe during all seasons. They are items of clothing that you love, and can be timeless in your wardrobe.

Crossover clothing examples

I wanted to share with you a few of my favourite crossover pieces in my own wardrobe to help inspire you, and recommend some items you can add to your wardrobe that will work for Autumn, all the way to Summer!

Leather jackets

A leather jacket can be a staple in your wardrobe, and will always stand the test of time. I recommend investing in a really good jacket that you adore, if you are vegan there are countless faux-leather jacket options you can get nowadays, such as this Melrose vegan moto jacket, or this bright cobalt blue BB Dakota biker jacket, for those of you who just love a splash of colour! There are also the classic leather jackets that age with time and become softer and more classic with the years, such as this black All Saints moto jacket or this DOUBLE-FACED BIKER JACKET by Zara.

As someone who truly believes that eco fashion is something we really need to be conscious of, you can get some incredible vintage leather jackets from vintage shops in London or surrounding areas, so if you are able to visit a vintage clothes shop, I recommend having a browse for one that has been preloved and is much softer to use. You can also try out one of the online vintage stores such as Vestiare Collective, hardlyeverwornit.com, Thrift.plus, houseofvintageuk.com, or Vinted – which is an app you can use to sell or buy preloved items. Whichever place you go to, I truly love a leather jacket as it can last a remarkable number of years in your wardrobe as long as you take good care of it. You can wear these in the Winter as your top layer, or in the summer as outerwear over your shoulders to add a touch of protection for the evening.

Classic tee

A good t-shirt is hard to find, but when you have the go to shape and style that works for you, then you can utilise them as a great crossover piece in your wardrobe. I have a selection of white and black t-shirts that can just be thrown on in the summer, or added as an extra layer in the winter, that can I go to in my wardrobe when I need them. A cotton t-shirt is best for all weathers, like this one from & Other Stories, but if you are looking for something a little more trendy, you can look for a vintage band t-shirt, or a graphic tee with a cute design on it like this one from Lanvin that can add a little flair to your simple outfit of jeans and trainers, or keep some casual fun to your midi-skirt and heels.

One of my favourite t-shirt stores is Happyfern, a new sustainable brand launched by Gosha Doubtfire, that makes t-shirts and sweatshirts in recycled cotton, for women, men and kids. We’ve even collaborated to create a one of a style tee too!

Crossover dresses for all seasons

Dresses can be a really easy way to dress up or dress down in a flash, just using the right accessories. There are of course dresses that work specifically for summer or winter, but with the right additions you can change up your favourite dresses with a simple knitwear item over the top, or a long-sleeved top underneath. You could even add that excellent leather jacket or a blazer in autumn and winter to keep yourself warm. A simple strappy dress, such as this one from & Other Stories or this slip style dress from Envelope1976 can work beautifully for summer with a light blazer on top, as well as in winter with a lovely big high neck jumper over the top. If you prefer to keep your arms covered during the summer and winter, then this long sleeved polka dot midi dress can also work with a cardigan, or a cropped jumper to keep your waist the main focus while remaining warm.

If you like items that come as pairs, then this season, All Saints have already done all the hard work for you, with their jumper and dress combinations. I love this black feather print strappy dress with luxurious over jumper, both of which can be used separately or together so you truly have several outfits you can make with just 2 crossover items in your wardrobe!

I hope this has inspired you to not only see the benefit of having crossover items in your wardrobe for all seasons, but helped you know how to maximise those items already in your wardrobe. If you’re unsure on where to start when it comes to personal styling, then I’d love to chat with you.

PERSONAL STYLING TIPS: 3 STEPS TO STYLE SUCCESS

Style can feel a little overwhelming as an aspect – many of my clients feel they don’t know their own style before coming to me. They do know that they like certain fashions and styling, but are unsure where to start.

In this article, I wanted to share 3 steps you can take to help you start your journey to finding your own style, and make it a pleasure rather than stressful.

Step 1 – Colour can make all the difference!

Have you ever noticed there are certain colours you may gravitate to? Perhaps there are patterns and colours that make you feel your most confident? These are often the best colours for your wardrobe and for your skintone, which can be a great starting point to your style vision.

Look at your wardrobe and see which colour/s you see most of in there. Do these colours make you feel confident, beautiful, even sexy? These are the colours that you can go towards for the future investment pieces that you make.

I do suggest a more in-depth colour analysis to truly know the colours that work best for you, but to help you for the short-term, this step can be really helpful!

Step 2 – Consider what your day to day life looks like

Now that you know the colours you want to include in your style, you can think about the types of clothes that will work for your every day life.

What do you get up to each day? Are you running to the office and require professional looks to maximise your confidence and feel appropriate for the office?

Perhaps you are a business owner and head to meetings with clients, as well as needing comfortable clothes to work from home, but that can instantly swap out to work for the virtual meetings?

When you know what your daily needs are, then you can look at what can work for your wardrobe. Your style doesn’t have to follow the rules that others impose, but they do need to work for your needs. If you are a busy mother who runs your own business, 6 inch stilettos and pencil skirts may not be the most appropriate thing for your day to day style needs! However, you could have a pencil skirt and wedges, if that feels right for you.

This takes me onto step three!

Step 3 – Who are your style icons?

Something I often ask my clients in our Personal Style Masterclass, is who their style icons are. What makes them your icon?

Knowing who dresses in a way that you love can really help you find clothing that is similar, and can help you create a style that works for you. There can be several icons you can find that can have similar styles, so it can help you really drill down and see what styles are the ones you gravitate to. One of my clients I worked with recently shared that her style icon was Cate Blanchette, with an androgynous style and blazers that stand out, this helped her curate a wardrobe with outfits she loved.

When you feel your wardrobe sings your personality, and works towards building your daily confidence, dressing can be a pleasure each morning. If you are finding it difficult each day to plan an outfit, or go through clothes overwhelm, I’d love to help you with my Personal Styling Masterclass, where we will have 2 hours to create a style, learn your body and face shape to enable you to find the styles that work for you, and make you more confident each day.