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 SHOPPING TIPS: 5 REASONS WHY YOU NEED A PERSONAL SHOPPER

In a world where time is of the essence, personal shopping has transcended its high-end, celebrity-exclusive image to become a more accessible and practical solution for individuals from all walks of life. Beyond the glitz and glamour, a personal shopper serves as an indispensable ally, providing support and expertise to streamline your shopping experience, saving you both time and stress.

If you’re wondering if a personal shopper is a solution that would work for you, here are some the main reasons our clients come to us.

1. Time Saver Extraordinaire

Let's be honest – scouring stores and online platforms for that perfect outfit or thoughtful gift can be an arduous and time-consuming task. Enter the personal shopper, your time-saving superhero. By delegating the search for ideal items to a professional, you reclaim precious moments in your busy schedule. Whether you're a career-driven professional, a busy parent, or someone with a hectic lifestyle, having a personal shopper means less time navigating crowded shops and more time for the things that truly matter.

2. Fashion expertise, at your fingertips

Navigating the ever-evolving landscape of fashion trends can be overwhelming. A personal shopper, armed with up-to-date knowledge of the latest styles, becomes your fashion oracle. They possess the expertise to curate a wardrobe tailored to your individual style, body type, and budget. Say goodbye to fashion faux pas and embrace a wardrobe that reflects your personality and keeps you on trend without the stress of keeping up with the ever-changing fashion scene.

3. Stress Reduction

Decision fatigue is a real concern in our modern, fast-paced lives. The constant barrage of choices, especially when it comes to shopping, can lead to stress and overwhelm. A personal shopper acts as your stress reduction guru by narrowing down options, presenting you with choices that align with your preferences. With their guidance, you can sidestep decision fatigue and enjoy a more relaxed and enjoyable shopping experience.

4. Special Occasions, Simplified

Have a big event on the horizon? The search for the perfect outfit can turn into a daunting task. Here's where a personal shopper truly shines. Whether it's a wedding, a gala, or a milestone celebration, your personal shopper will help you navigate the myriad of options to find the ideal attire for the occasion. No more last-minute panics or compromises – just the confidence that comes with knowing you look your absolute best.

5. Financial Wisdom

Contrary to popular belief, employing a personal shopper can actually be a cost-efficient choice. How? By preventing impulsive purchases and guiding you towards quality investments. Personal shoppers are adept at discerning between fleeting trends and timeless pieces, ensuring that every pound spent contributes to a wardrobe that stands the test of time. In the long run, this strategic approach to shopping can save you money while enhancing the overall quality of your wardrobe.

Ready to Elevate Your Shopping Experience?

Consider welcoming a personal shopper into your life and reap the benefits of convenience, style, and peace of mind. No longer reserved for the elite, personal shopping is a service designed to make your life easier and more enjoyable. Whether you're a fashion aficionado or someone who simply wants to streamline the shopping process, a personal shopper is the key to unlocking a stress-free and time-efficient way to curate your perfect wardrobe. Elevate your shopping experience – your time and sanity will thank you.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR DRESS STYLE

It’s spring here in the northern hemisphere, and with that, comes spring wear. For many, that can mean bringing dresses out from their wardrobes and putting away their thick jumpers.

If you want to bring more dresses to your wardrobe, but are unsure which styles will be best for your body shape, personal style, and requirements, then now is a great time to play with the options available. I have shared a guide below to help you choose your dress style, with some top tips to elevate your look & confidence.

What patterns & colours to choose for your dress:

Patterns and colours are a great place to start when selecting any garment, but in particular a dress. As a dress can usually be most of the outfit (unless you are covering it with something like a jumper or a t-shirt) the pattern tends to be all over. This means it can be a little overwhelming for those who are in the more natural or classical style personality – you can read more about the different personalities and find out which one you are in my blog, here.

If you do fall into the more pattern-averse personality, then I recommend a neutral colour to start with, and a simple pattern such as florals, small polka dots, or one with a minimal pattern repeat. Another option is look for a dress that has more than one pattern on it to break up the look, if you wish. If patterns are too much for you, then select a colour that is within your colour palette, and you can pair with neutrals from your season with your accessories.

If you are more dramatic or creative personal style, then you can look for more abstract or outstanding patterns that work within your colours. There are some fantastic patterns to look for with dresses on the high street, and let your creativity run wild! A patterned dress can also work well with a pattern clashing jacket or shoes, which will continue to showcase your style preferences. You could even pattern and colour clash with your accessories like your bag and shoes.

What dress shapes to look for

The shape of a dress can accentuate certain parts of your body, so depending on where you love to accentuate, you can look for a particular style. Often, I recommend styles based on body shape, as these can be the best options to highlight your shape, and these are general guides, but when you find a dress shape you feel your most confident in, I recommend trying out different lengths and colours to build your dress wardrobe!

With that in mind, here are some of the styles and body shapes they can look best on, to help you get started.

Pear shape (or Triangle) – Separates and Wrap dresses

Pear shapes are those with smaller shoulders compared to your hips. You go in at the waist but have wider thighs. This is why dresses that showcase your waist and glide over your hips can make you feel more confident.

Separates dresses come with a waist cut that will help highlight the waist (which is usually defined in this body type). I’d recommend looking for one that has a gentle flare that starts at the waist. I’d also recommend either looking for an all over print, or one that has no print on the bottom. A square neckline or sweetheart neckline can also bring the eyes upwards and showcase your waist and chest (if you wish). On the contrary, details on the top (such as frills, flounces, off shoulders) will help you accentuate the shoulders.

Wrap dresses work in a similar way, but focus even more on accentuating your waist. Look for a wrap dress that is patterned all over or in one colour, and with the additional v-neck shape, they are a great option for those who want to showcase their chest.

Hourglass - bodycon and belted dresses

An hourglass shape are those who go in at the waist and have similar shoulder and hip ratios. Most dresses that go in at the waist are best for this body type, in particular bodycon and belted. You want to highlight your smaller waist in any way, and using a belt can do this too.

With a bodycon dress, you will be highlighting your whole body, its curves and balanced proportions.

With a belted dress, depending on the length of your torso, you’ll want to look for a specific size of belt. Some of us have longer and some have shorter waists. But in general a slimmer belt can be a great option just to bring you in at your smallest point. Another option is to find a dress with a belt in the same fabric as the dress, so it highlights your waist but doesn’t detract from the style.

Apple or Oval - Empire & tunic

Apple shapes have broader shoulders than their hips, with a larger bust and waist compared to their, generally, slimmer legs. This means you’ll want to highlight your legs, and potentially have a dress shape where the waist is higher up, or glides over your waist.

Empire style dresses have a high up waistline, usually just under the bust. This is great for your shape as it will highlight your bust line, and then go out below the empire line. If you want to feel a little sexy in this style of dress, look for an empire dress that has a shorter hemline, or truly showcase your bust with a square necked style.

Tunic style dresses are great for the summer months and for a more relaxed style. They are currently very popular, and were also very popular in the 60’s – think Twiggy!

Rectangle – straight lines & shift

Rectangle shapes tend to have a minimally defined waistline, and are more athletic in their shape. This means the best looks can either work to create the illusion of a more defined waist or look for a dress that falls straight from the shoulders down.

Straight dresses are great for rectangle body types as they keep the details minimal at the waist, and they're also very versatile, so depending on the hem length, you can wear them for anything from work to dates.

Shift dresses can be a more comfortable style for you to wear, with it having less of a shape it can be a good option for running around, comfort, and feeling confident!

Inverted triangle shape – shift or a-line

Inverted triangle shapes are those who have broader shoulders than their hips. This means the best shapes are those that add volume to the lower half to balance out lines of the body.

A shift dress is a great option if you are an inverted triangle shape and want a comfortable, easy to wear dress. If you can find one with a defined or ruffled hem line, this is also a great solution!

Alternatively, an a-line dress with volume at the bottom will be a lovely dress for this time of year, and if you prefer a longer hemline this will be a great solution if you look for a midi or maxi dress. Patterns on the lower part of the dress, as well as ruffles can be another way to add definition to your lower body.

There are a lot of options out there, as you can see, when it comes to dresses. I hope this guide has helped inspire you to add a few new styles to your wardrobe to enjoy during the warmer months! If you are unsure which styles and colours work for you, and you want to boost your confidence every day with tools and insights that work for you and your personality, I’d love to help. I can support you with a Colour and Style Clinic where we’ll help you understand what shapes, colours and cuts work best for you, and share advice and inspiration on how to shop and dress with confidence.

PERSONAL SHOPPING TIPS: WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A PERSONAL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

Let’s be honest, shopping for clothes can either make or break our day. When you have a plan, find what you need, the temperature is just right, and you feel confident within the pieces you have selected, a clothes shopping experience can be amazing.

For many of my clients, they have less of a fabulous result when they go shopping. They don’t have time for it so rush through the shopping, ending up with clothes they don’t love, don’t work with their current wardrobe, and ultimately waste money on garments they won’t wear.

For some, the feeling of overwhelm from the multitude of options can consume them. They can either rush around the stores and feel there’s “nothing for them”, or they spend hours trying to find the right pieces, but just don’t know where to go.

Finally, the most often feeling is that they just don’t know what will suit them from the shops, and feel they don’t know what to buy.

A personal shopping experience brings a specialist by your side to help you transform these downward spirals when shopping, and make them enjoyable and cost effective. Gone will be the countless pieces in your wardrobe that you never wear, but don’t have time to return!

That’s why we love helping people who feel this way with our online or face to face shopping experiences.

When you come to One of a Style for a personal shopping experience, what can you expect? Great question, here’s what we do here.

Personal Shopping – what you can expect from face to face shopping experiences

A personal shopping experience is one that we go through together, in person. The experience gives you the opportunity to have a full day or half day with one of our style experts to discover the shops, styles, and pieces that work for you.

It starts with a consultation, we get together online or in person, to find out what your wardrobe delivers, and what you may need to complement the outfits you already have and love.

Our experts will create a list of inspirational styles and will browse brands and collections beforehand, so when we get together for the shopping experience, we have clear ideas of what you need and what to look for.

We use our insights, knowledge, and experience to recommend stores that align with your personal style, your wardrobe requirements, and your shape. Because we already understand and know what is on offer across a variety of stores and budgets, we don’t have to try out loads of options, we have them in place already, and can take you to them for a new and welcome experience.

We may guide you to try a few new things, so you can step out of your comfort zone, while remaining true to your personality. We will also enable you to try on pieces, play with outfits, and have a style expert to hand to give you feedback on looks as well as how to style those garments for future looks.

You will walk away knowing that the pieces you have purchased will not only feel and look great, but they will work for you within the wardrobe you already have.

A personal shopping experience will feel like you have an expert there to hold your hand, give you new discoveries, and make shopping a more pleasurable experience. You will also be given advice and feedback for future shopping when you go out on your own, so you won’t fall back into the overwhelming and costly experience it may have been before.

Online Personal Shopping – What to Expect from an online shopping experience with One of a Style

You may think that online personal shopping would mean you miss out on that personal aspect, but we make sure that our online and face to face experiences feel as personal and engaged as one another. There are some differences, of course, as we are not there with you in person during the experience, but we are able to give a guiding hand throughout your experience.

With our Curated Online Shopping Experience, you will still get a real, accountable stylist (and no AI) working for you! We are here to make sure your shopping experience will be enjoyable, so having someone there to help you makes it all the more easier.

After an initial briefing call to discuss your goal, budget and needs, we create a bespoke lookbook just for you!

You will see different outfit ideas with links to the places to buy those exact items, so you can quickly and easily get what you see and like, with an approachable example of how to style them. No longer will an online shopping experience of urgency for one garment mean it only works for one event or outfit!

If you perhaps don’t love an exact piece, we have multiple options within your lookbook to try out, such as different colours, and patterns that still align with your outfit preferences and personal style, based on the briefing we have together.

You can go out, with the informed decisions and items that work for you thanks to these elements, and to add on that personal experience, we can organise a Zoom Fit Call, to show off your pieces once you get them, and see how they fall, and get an expert insight into the looks.

While the one-off experience can be so beneficial for you moving forwards, we understand that the trends that come into play, and the seasons come around, which may mean you need further support. This is why we offer our curated online shopping sessions in a one-off, bi-annual, or quarterly option.

Shopping should ultimately be a joyful, useful experience that makes your wardrobe more fun and useable. If shopping for clothes feels like an overwhelming experience for you, and holds you back from enjoying your wardrobe, we can help.

Whether you choose to have someone by your side in person, or via an online experience, each option provides a personal and bespoke solution to your clothes shopping experiences.

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 SHOPPER TIPS: TOP SHOES TO WEAR AT THE OFFICE (that aren't high heels)

Let’s admit it, wearing high heels to and from the office, as well as in the office all day, aren’t the most comfortable option to have all day! While they are beautiful, are there other options that are appropriate for the office, while keeping our feet comfortable?

I actually have a close connection that works in Clarks, and I have had the privilege of getting to know more about how our feet and posture works. While you may think that completely flat shoes are the best option, they can actually also cause back and knee pain, as well as discomfort in our feet. So having some sort of insert to give our instep support, or a small heel, are the best options for our posture, particularly if we’re running around all day.

As a stylist, I have seen more and more people ask me about the appropriate footwear for their outfits, in particular, what footwear can work for the office, other than the go-to of stilettos. Gone are the days when offices expect stilettos or nothing, but this may feel alien to you! So, here’s my guide to help you discover the top shoes to wear to the office, that are professional, yet aren’t painful.

Wedges & platforms

Wedges and platforms are the most comfortable options for our feet, if we still want that added height, but without the discomfort of stilettos. 

Wedges are a great option for the workplace as they can come in a huge range of professional-looking varieties. 

They can sometimes come in a more "beach" appropriate style with their woven heels, so make sure to look for styles that feel more office ready. Consider suede or leather, rather than espadrille styles. 

For a platform, you can find some beautiful work-appropriate platforms from designer sneakers by Stella McCartney, to a pair of navy lace-ups.

Pumps with a kitten or block heel 

If you just love the shape of your classic pointed-toe stilettos, but want to have a smaller heel, look for pumps with a kitten heel. 

While this pointed heel is the least comfortable of my selections, you will still get a little elevation, and the pointed toe look, without going over the 2-inches! 

A classic nude or black pointed pump can be perfectly paired with your wide-leg work trousers or a pencil skirt for a full-on classic office look. 

If the kitten heel is not quite right for your comfort levels, you can find many pumps with the pointed toe that offer a block heel, for a touch of comfort, with classic styling.

Loafers with a small heel

Loafers have long been a business professional shoe, but mostly with a masculine wearer in mind. However, designers are now offering this beautiful style to the smaller, feminine foot! 

With the added comfort of being slip-on, they can work beautifully for a professional that is on the go. You can slip a pair of small-heeled loafers with your cropped trousers and a blouse for a very classical look.

For a more modern touch, try a pair of backless loafers with a chunky heel, and a pair of leather trousers, to make the trousers look more business-appropriate. 

Depending on your office, or your business personality, you could even try a pair of metallic or patterned loafers for a touch of creativity and drama for your look.

Platform Sneakers

Depending on the office you work in, or if you run your own business, you may want to consider the most comfortable of them all – sneakers!

Platform sneakers are all the rage, and offer a bit of height, while catering for the comfort of your feet. I love the new styles and designs that have come around over the last few years for those of us who want to look professional, yet stay comfortable when it comes to platform trainers. Even the likes of Stella McCartney has launched her iconic metallic platform sneakers that are exquisite, and definitely steer clear of the gym shoe!

If metallic with embellishment is a little too out there, you can find simple white or black platform trainers to pair with your wide leg work trousers, or smart jeans and a blazer. Grab an iced coffee, and your over the shoulder bag with your laptop and you’ll look like you just came off the catwalk.

So, do you think you’ll be walking away with a pair of comfortable office shoes this year? If you’re not sure where to start, I offer a personal shopping experience, so you have me by your side advising and recommending options to you for your needs.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: THREE COMMON STYLING MISTAKES (and how to avoid them)

When you want to feel your best in the clothes and outfits you put together, there are some fashion faux pas that I recommend steering clear of! So, what are the three biggest styling mistakes that we should keep out of our outfits?

Wearing mainly black – particularly if you think it makes you look slimmer

We have been told in the past, that black is “slimming”. Well, what if I told you this was actually a common styling mistake? Now, there's nothing wrong with wearing black per se, the problem is doing it with the wrong purpose: hiding and looking slimmer, as opposed to enhancing your look. Moreover, black is a very harsh colour that suits very few people, so while we CAN wear it, it is also important to understand HOW to.

If you love wearing black, or it is a colour that works with your skintone, here are some top tips to making it feel more fashion-forward.

• Add pops of colour with your accessories – such as jewellery, shoes, hair accessories, or even your layering.

• Wear Black in a print, mixed with your best colours.

• Keep black on your bottom half, and wear one of your colours on the top half.

Hiding under baggy clothes

Wearing clothes that hide the figure actually don’t help to enhance your shape – they can do the opposite! While baggy clothes can be “in fashion” it only tends to work on certain shapes, and this has to be done with intent. However, many of my clients feel they want to wear baggier clothes to hide their features, rather than accentuate their shape in the best way.

Baggy clothes can also work against you and make you “invisible”. As a personal stylist, I want to help people feel like they can shine in a room, and show off their personality in the best way. A few options to help you overcome this baggy look and show off your best features are can be:

• Understanding your body shape. When you know your body shape, you can invest in pieces and create outfits that build your confidence.

• Know where to go baggy, and where to add definition. While for some, a baggier bottom half can be a great option – perhaps with wide legged trousers, or with flares for pear shapes – this can be the completely wrong option for others. For example, apple shapes, having a fitted bottom half while having a baggier blouse or top is much better for them.

• Loose fitting layers are better than baggy clothing. Now, this is a mind-shift! Loose fitting overshirts, or perhaps looser fabrics can be a first dip into changing how you see your baggy clothing. Don’t hide under them, rather have them as your additional layer over the top of flattering fitted items.

Imitating other people’s style

Well, this is maybe the biggest mistake of all. First, everyone is different, both physically and personally; and your style should be a reflection and an extension of who you are, not an imitation of someone else. Besides, what suits someone else won't necessarily suit you.

While I ask my clients to share their style influencers in our personal styling session, we only take inspiration from them, rather than replicating their styles. You will want to show off your own personality through your fashion, and with this, you can curate your very own style. It's so important to feel yourself when it comes to walking out of the door in the outfits you create, so embrace your true personality!

What can you do to start discovering your personal style?

• Find the colours and shapes you love, and add them to your wardrobe. If you have a “uniform” you can add your personal touches with your accessories.

• Play with fashion, don’t let it stop you. Fashion should be something that works with you, not against you. Take time to discover the stores, styles, and outfits that you love to wear.

• Trends come and go, but your personal style will remain. So rather than going for the latest fashion trends in the stores, consider which styles you love to wear, and keep with them!

If any of these three styling mistakes feel like they resonate with you, I’d love to help you change how you feel about fashion. I can help you discover your best colours (and how to "fix" black, should you want to keep on wearing it!), the most suitable clothing lines for your body shape, scale and proportions. As well as recommended hairstyles and accessories for your face shape, and how to develop your unique personal style. This is all part of my Style Masterclass, available in London, Kent or online, to suit you!

I'm looking forward to helping you shine through your style...Because you are one of a kind ✨

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: UNDERSTAND BODY SHAPES AND HOW TO DRESS FOR CONFIDENCE

Understanding our body shape is crucial if we want to feel more confident with what we wear. Apart from the shape and the proportions of our body though, it is absolutely important to consider how to dress all the individual parts of your body, rather than the entire body all at once. One of the first thing I do with clients is to determine their features, so if they are angular or curvy, and some people might have a mix and so be interjacent.

This helps to point in the right direction for choosing the best clothes, and fabrics to complement and suit our body to the best. Crispy fabrics and structured shapes, but also geometric (popelin shirts, cottons, structured blazers and jackets, geometric patterns, etc..) will suit best angular body features, while deconstructed shapes, soft fabrics and patterns (jerseys, viscose and silk, blouses, and “romantic” patterns like paisley, dots and flowers) will complement best curvilinear body features.

In order to determine if our features are angular, curvilinear or interjacent, a little exercise to do is to stand in front of a mirror in clothes that show your shape off. Look at your shoulders, are they straight across or do they slope down? Then, stand sideways, still looking into the mirror: do you have a straight back and flat bottom; or do you have a curved back and curvy bottom? Once you have determined which bits of you are straighter or curvier, you need to consider the actual construction of your clothes. Angular bodies, or sections, need straighter constructions; curvier bodies need softer and more shaped constructions. Interjacent people, will have to choose different clothing lines and structures depending on the different sections of their body.

Now, let’s dig into the body shapes: there are 6 different kinds of body shapes:

TRIANGLE (or so-called pear), INVERTED TRIANGLE, RECTANGLE, OVAL (or so-called apple), NEAT HOURGLASS and FULL HOURGLASS.

The difference stands mainly in the proportions between shoulder, hips and waist: when shoulder and hips are balanced (same width) they can either have a defined waist or a non-defined waist. In the first case, most luckily we deal with an hourglass (that can be neat or full..will explain more later on) while a non-define waist means we have either an oval or a rectangle body shape.

When the shoulders are wider than the hips, we are in front of an inverted triangle, as opposed to the triangle, where the hips are wider than the shoulders.

Now, let’s see shape by shape what this means:

1. Neat Hourglass: is characterized by a defined bust a defined waist, a neat bottom, and neat hips and have a naturally balanced body and also a defined waist, and while they have a wide range of choice, in terms of clothing styles, they should always try to keep this balance and also, and show off their body by wearing clothes that define the waist, enhance the bust and highlight hips and bottom. While they should avoid wearing clothes that hide their body line. So anything with waist definition is a “go-to”, while buggy, boxy and shapeless clothes are not recommended. Neat Hourglasses can wear most fabrics and patterns, as long as they complement their features (angular, curvilinear, interjacent).

2. Full Hourglass: you don’t hear about this body type often, many just talk about the “hourglass” generically, but some women, still having balanced shoulders, hips and a defined waist, have a full bust, a rounded bottom, and rounded hips and for them, rules differ a bit from neat hourglasses, and it’s important to wear clothes that follow their body line and curves, instead of those that are straight and constricting. In this case, I recommend choosing fabrics carefully and avoiding heavy or stiff fabrics, but rather opt for fluid, soft fabrics and more deconstructed shapes, like waterfall jackets, cardigans (and knitwear in general), crossovers or wraps tops and dresses, in soft fabrics, and as for patterns it’s preferable to avoid geometric patterns, and instead opt for more fluid shapes (spots, florals, paisleys).

3. Oval: usually has rounded or sloping shoulder line, curved back, flattish bottom, fullness around the middle and indeed the critical area is the central torso. My best recommendations for oval body shapes are:

-Draw eye attention to the area above your bust and below your hips. In order to do that play with accessorise (scarves, necklaces, earrings, hats) so keep any detail above the bust line and below the hip line.

-Create the impression of a slimmer body, so create optical verticality through the use of shapes and clothing lines. Wearing coats/jackets or cardigans which are longer than the hips line is a great way to do this.

-Clothing lines need to be straight, and fabrics soft to avoid any unnecessary volume or bulkiness.

-Opt for deconstructed shapes, simple lines and plain colours on the bust.

-Choose soft, fluid fabrics that hang well and don’t cling or hug the figure, and go for muted and subtle patterns.

4. Rectangle: Once again, hips and shoulders are balanced, but the waist is straight and undefined. Rectangle body types usually have flat hips and a flat bottom, however, some Rectangles can have a fuller bust, which gives a softer edge to their shape. Their main aim is to soften those edges even more and create the appearance of curves. This body type is characterized by a straight shoulder line, straight hips and bottom, very little waist definition, straight ribcage. I recommend using details on hips and bottom to create shape while avoiding details at the waist (such as noticeable waistbands or belts) and keeping the clothing line straight and structured. Most Rectangles can wear crisp fabrics, but those with a full bust, need to opt for softer fabrics, and generally geometric patterns work best for them.

5. Inverted Triangle: in this case, shoulders are wider than hips, and the waist is not defined. The body type is characterized by a straight and squared shoulder line, with flattish hips and bottom. I recommend highlighting the hips and bottom, focusing all attention below the waist. Shoulders are generally straight and squared, while hips and bottom are quite flat. Inverted triangles need to minimize details on their shoulders and keep this area as simple as possible while focusing the attention on their legs through, shapes, colours and details. Clothing line needs to be straight, clean and sharp. Halter neck is their neckline! jackets should be constructed and shaped with angular lines (like revered collars) and with no belts, while skirts should be straight and trousers used to add details to the legs and bottom (classic jeans are a perfect style!). I also recommend crisp, constructed fabrics and geometric patterns (like stripes and checks)

6. Triangle: as the name suggests, the bottom part is wider than the top, so the shoulders (and the top half in general) appears smaller than hips and the bottom part of the body, and usually the waist is well defined while shoulders may be slope. As opposed to Inverted Triangles, Triangles need to focus the attention on the top part of their body, through shapes, volumes, details, patterns and colours, and create the optical illusion of wider shoulders, while enhancing their waist with belts and waist-cuts, and minimize details and volume at the bottom. Soft, fluid fabrics work best for the bottom half, while it is recommended to opt for more volume and structure on the top part, to create a balance.

These are general guidelines, but everyone has their own, unique body and features, and there might be differences between two or more people fitting into the same body shape category. So while these tips can help to understand the different body types, it is always preferable to ask the help of an expert that can give personalized and customised advice.

This is an extract from the article published on Pick Me Up! Magazine 3 March issue

Publication: Pick Me Up! Magazine (c: 55,608) - Your Style - Dressing for you. Date: 3 March 2022.

If you would love to help in discovering the best outfits for your body shape, I’d love to help. Get in touch to find out more about my personal style masterclass and personal styling services.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: VALENTINE'S DAY OUTFIT IDEAS 2022

For many of my clients, styling their outfits for date nights, events with close friends, or just to feel a little more sexy, can be tricky to create. Valentine’s day can be a great time of the year to be with a partner and feel “yourself” or to get dressed up and spend time with your closest friends for a special night out.

So, if you are feeling unsure on what to wear to help yourself feel a little more sexy with confidence, here are some outfit ideas!

Inspire your colour palette

The month of love is often inspired by a certain colour palette, and that is reds, pinks, and blacks! These can be great colours to help inspire your look for a special event. 

When you know the colours that make you feel your best, you can then include them into your outfits, and if reds, blacks, or pinks are within the colour wheel for you, then this is a great time to go all out.

You could have a full look inspired by the colours, for example a beautiful red dress, shoes, and lip. If you feel an all-red look is a little difficult to commit to, you can add flourishes of the colour to your look through the accessories. 

If you want to add pink rather than red, but still feel strong and powerful, you can look into investing in a deep pink suit, or tailored jumpsuit as the tailoring helps to create a stronger look.

However, if you love feeling more “cute” than strong, then baby pinks, softer pinks and sorbet pink are more approachable for this styling.

Black and red work really well together, so if you choose a Little Black Dress that you love and add the touch of sexy red for your date night, you will be sure to be feeling ready to take on the date! 

Feel romantic

Romantic looks are great for a night out with a loved one, and for boosting your energy. Romantic styles are floaty dresses and skirts, all the way to frills, floral patterns, and vintage-style collars. They’re perfect if you’re like me and prefer to feel feminine on a date night.

A maxi or midi length can be an easy to wear style that adds a touch of elegance to your look without feeling restricted on your evening out (which translates to enjoying your dinner without restriction!).

If you prefer to wear something a little less formal, or are going to a brunch date instead of an evening, this look can work beautifully with jeans and a blouse with puff sleeves or added texture. You could also make this feel sexy while romantic with a monochromatic formal look that has the silhouette of a romantic-style of puff sleeves and skirt together. 

You don't have to take this look all the way if you are more of an abstract style-lover, either, as you can dip your toe into the floaty silhouette, but add a touch of your style with block colours or patterns. You can also bring stronger elements to the look through your accessories with stilettos, strong jewellery pieces, and even your outer wear – think a leather jacket to bring a touch of toughness. 

Show off your favourite features

The best and easiest way to boost your feeling sexy is to feature your favourite asset – whether it’s your shoulders with an off the shoulder dress, your legs with a short skirt or Little Black Dress, or your booty with a pair of trousers that showcase your asset in the best way.

When we put on garments that help us feel our best, that’s often when we feel our sexiest. We can then put together the rest of the outfit to match how we are feeling. So, I highly recommend discovering a few key pieces in your wardrobe that you feel your best in and save them for those days when you need added confidence. When you know the garments you feel your best in, you can then know where to invest in new items to create outfits you’ll love to wear (so they don’t have to be saved for special occasions!).

You can also encourage even more confidence with a few added extras:

• Heels can transform your confidence – even if it’s only an inch or two, you will notice the change of how you walk, move, and that added height can boost confidence.

• Add a touch of lipstick – that final swish of colour to your lips can work their magic to bringing a boost of confidence that sometimes is needed to feel your best!

• Bring textures into your outfit that make you feel sexy. Whether you love soft comforting textures, or strong tailored looks, add these textures to your outfit so you can feel confident in a flash.

I believe we should all feel our best whether we are going for a date, out to an event, or spending the day at home, and fashion should help us feel this way when we get it right.

If you are feeling more stressed by your outfit choices, and would love to change that – please get in touch to discover how I can help.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: WHAT TO WEAR TO A GALA DINNER WITH BLACK TIE DRESS CODE?

This year I was so excited to have been nominated for the Best Business Women Awards in 2021, and had been asked to attend the black tie event where the announcements would be made.

But, even as a personal stylist, I was a little unsure on what to wear for this formal event. It had been a year of staying in, wearing smart tops and, admittedly, comfortable yoga pants on the bottom so I didn’t quite have any prepared items for such a formal event!

While I was excited to celebrate, I had to plan what to wear and make sure it was something I would wear again, or find in a sustainable way – bring on the wardrobe hunting in my Mother in Law’s vintage closet.

Once I had found the perfect piece, and accessories, I was ready to take on the “red carpet”, connect with fellow women in business, and even won 2 silver awards – to say I was delighted was an understatement.

While these sorts of events aren’t regular occurrences for me, and perhaps for you too, when you are invited to one you want to feel confident, comfortable and special. So, I wanted to share with you a few tips to help you feel your best at a gala dinner.

Practice your make up

Make-up, for me, is almost as important as the outfit. It can bring an added level of confidence and personality to a look, as well as being a great place to add colour should you be wearing all black. Often, at gala dinners or black tie events, there will be a photographer there, so you will want to make sure you feel your best if there are photos being shared publicly – without feeling you have to reapply your lipstick every five minutes!

When you are practicing your make up, try out how it looks in a flash mode from your camera, as well as in natural light, and lights indoors to see if it holds up, as well as how long it stays in place. If you haven’t already got a primer, and a finishing spray, I highly recommend investing in some – as they will make sure your make up stays all night long.

Another tip for making sure your make up is photo-ready is bringing a setting powder with you to blotch any shine if you have a more oily complexion (or if you are heading to a stage with lots of hot lights!).

Find the right accessories

Accessories can upgrade a look in a flash, and when you find the right pieces to add to your look, you will find it completes the outfit and you feel more pulled together.

Whether it’s a vintage 70’s bag, like I was lucky to find in my Mother-in-law’s wardrobe, a beautiful necklace, or statement earrings, find a few simple yet elegant accessories to bring to your outfit so you can create a more formal look.

The great thing is, when it comes to jewellery, you will hopefully continue to wear these items over and over again, as they can transition from formal to casual depending on the outfit you put together – so make sure you invest in pieces you’ll want to wear again, or rent pieces should it be an extravagant piece you may only wear once.

For jewellery for this event, I looked through my current collection of jewellery and decided that a pair of earrings I already had would work beautifully, as the dress I was wearing had a frilly neckline that did all of the work a necklace would have done!

Invest in little luxuries

The little things really can make a difference to our confidence, so invest in something that makes you feel special – whether it’s a facial the week before, perhaps getting your nails done the day before, having your hair cut by your favourite stylist, or getting a massage – treat yourself to something that will make you feel special for the event.

For me, I got my nails done in the same colour as my lipstick for the event, and I felt so fabulous. It was so lovely to have well looked after nails that were in a bright pink that added a dash of fun and personality to my look.

Add layers

Formal events often happen in the evening, so whether you’re attending in the Winter, Autumn, or even in the Spring/Summer, you will want to make sure you have an additional layer to keep you warm when you arrive and when you leave.

A jacket, blazer, or even a shawl can be a great option as they can be simple, neutral and easy to remove while indoors. I chose to have a cropped nude jacket that matched the almost nude lace areas in my 100% recycled dress – so it worked together with the outfit.

If you want to stay warm, and it’s going to be an event that is outdoors, but you don’t want to grab a big chunky coat, perhaps wear a pair of long boots to keep your feet warm, or a pair of tights – if you are wearing a full length dress, no-one will know!

Try on your full outfit in advance

This may seem silly, but leaving an outfit to the last minute will only cause you stress for the evening. Making sure you feel confident, comfortable and appropriate for the event is really important for these types of events. I recommend trying the full outfit together at least a week in advance, so if you need to change it up, need to get it tailored, or want to add a different accessory, you have enough time to do so.

Go all out – try on the full outfit with your make-up, shoes, accessories, and layering so you know how you feel and take a look in the mirror to see how great you really look!

After all – a gala dinner, is something to celebrate and feel special at. The outfit you wear isn’t as important as the people you connect with, and the evening together, but it can go a bit of a way to make sure you feel your best while you are there.

If you do have a black tie event coming up and you’re unsure on where to start with creating an outfit you’ll love, please do get in touch – I provide an online or face to face personal shopping service that can help you find the outfit that will work for you.

PERSONAL SHOPPING TIPS: HOW COVID-19 HAS CHANGED FASHION TRENDS

2020 has been a strange year for all of us, and as a personal shopper and stylist I have seen many changes within the world of fashion. From access to sustainability, and even the trends that reflect the mood of the world right now, we are seeing huge changes in the industry. Within this article, I wanted to share some of my findings as well as the winter trends that we have seen previously, versus the trends we are seeing right now.

2019 Winter Fashion Trends:

In 2019, fashion during the winter was all about sparkles, dresses, and formal wear with fun at their core. With many people having special events to attend and parties to go to, fashion during this year, as with many years previously, reflected these events within their clothing ranges.

You will have potentially invested in some party dresses, sparkly jumpers, a long beautiful coat or gorgeous shoes for a special occasion in the past and either re-used them with a few additional accessories to change up the look, and hoped to do the same this year with a diary of events with work colleagues, friends, or family. To say our diaries probably look a lot different now is an understatement, and fashion houses are showing these huge changes within their collections.

2020 Winter Fashion Trends.

The real puzzle, after working from home which, for many, was a completely new thing this year, as well as shops being closed, parties being a no-go (at least in person) and gatherings not on the cards for the near future, your plans will undoubtedly look different. The truth is that fashion trends adapt to times and people’s needs, and nothing has been seen more this year than the need for comfort, but with a twist. People are becoming fed up of wearing their yoga pants and pyjamas, the element of enjoyment and fun wearing these items seems to have tired, and people now want to dress up, if even for an online gathering, small social event outside, or a date with their loved one in the home.

Here are some trends I have seen for this winter, from head to toe, from high street to high end!

Comfortable & Luxurious Sweaters

Countless companies have been adding loungewear to their collections, and there is no difference for the Winter styles, however, a touch of sparkle is being brought in. From cosy jumpers with a touch of sparkle,  to luxurious yet comfortable loungewear sets, expect to make comfort & luxury a combination that will remain this month!

Upgraded Loungewear

Countless companies have been adding loungewear to their collections, and there is no difference for the Winter styles this year. Luxurious materials, unique colours, and comfort at the heart of each design, these loungewear designs have changed the way we can look at these comfortable styles. From luxurious yet comfortable loungewear sets, to a beautiful dusty pink set in soft cotton-jersey  expect to make comfort & luxury a combination that will remain this month.

Fun & inspiring words

I’ve seen the classic sayings on tops and jumpers for a few years now, and with 2020 being as it has been, we all need a little bit of positivity, if even on our clothing to remind us & bring a smile to our faces, and to those we connect with through VC or in person. From eco-cashmere jumpers by Alberta Ferretti with a range of positive quotes, to colourful rainbow sweatshirts that are more casual, clothing is working to bring a smile to your face during these colder months.

Leggings and Jogging bottoms get an upgrade

With many of us only needing to dress-up from the waist up, we are seeing many designers creating luxe-joggers and leggings. From suede effect joggers by Max Mara, to cream knitted joggers by Mint Velvet, expect your jogging bottoms to feel amazing, and perhaps even work outside of the home (if you so wish).

Keep your feet warm!

If you’re foregoing the stilettos this year, or perhaps having your work Christmas do online, then you’ll be pleased to hear that keeping snuggly and warm for your feet is top of the agenda. Whether it’s gorgeous shearling-lined slip-ons by Porte & Paire, or cosy knitted booties from Mint Velvet, expect the most comfortable year yet – at least for your feet!

Glam but Comfortable

If you are on the lookout for a party-ready look, then designers have a huge host of comfortable yet glamourous styles that have come to retailers across the globe. So for those of you looking to dress up this Christmas, why not try a beautiful lace shirt by Dolce and Gabbana or a more budget friendly version by  & Other Stories to add some drama to your look? If you love dresses, then there are countless comfortably glam styles to choose from. I think a knitted dress is  great way to feel comfortable and warm, yet stylish, and with the right care they can last for years, so when we are able to go out once again, you can re-wear them. From a casual-chic cashmere and wool-blend midi dress by Isabel Marant with balloon sleeves, to a zebra patterned jersey midi dress with turtleneck and A-line silhouette, there are some beautiful options to get dressed up while remaining comfortable this season.

So, will you be dressing to impress this season, or will you be investing in some comfortably chic items to add to your Working from Home looks?

PERSONAL SHOPPER ADVICE: HOW TO CREATE YOUR PERFECT WARDROBE

NO MORE WARDROBE MELTDOWNS is the title of the workshop I have handled on the 11th of May, in cooperation with Savio Los PT/Nutritionist and the Italian Fashion brand Liu Jo, at their flagship store in Marylebone, London.

The idea of this workshop came up from observing some of my clients. I have realized that more and more people, especially women, tend to buy lots of clothes and accessories every season, tempted by the millions of brands available in the high streets, by special offers, by the fashion trends of the moment and, sometimes, also by fashion bloggers.  As a result they usually end up with a wardrobe full of clothes and accessories, yet they feel they’ve got nothing to wear.

sounds familiar?! 

Well, Statistics show that the majority of people use a very little percentage of the items they own, and most of those items remain in their closet, sometimes still with the tags on.

I can tell you that most of the time having a minimal wardrobe can help us with our daily outfit choices and can turn out to be more functional than a full wardrobe! And the first step to get a functional wardrobe starts with our shopping choices. We need in fact to understand what to buy, to limit our purchases to what is really working for us: from the best cuts, shapes and combination to the best colours. It might seem difficult at the beginning but I can assure you that once you find your answers you will start shopping in a totally different way, more consciously and selectively and in the end you will find that this will also help you save money.

Another point that made me come up with the idea of this workshop is that most of my clients don’t just want to give a twist to their style, they actually want a dramatic change to their look and their image.  But, as I always say, while I can teach people how to enhance their features, I cannot change them.  So I thought to combine, in one single event, styling tips with fitness tips, thanks to the cooperation of Savio Los, an expert personal trainer and nutritionist.

Why have I chosen this particular store to host the event?! Liu Jo is an Italian fashion brand which is very popular in Italy and I’ve always been a fan. My opinion, as a stylist and a customer is that, apart from being original and different from other high street brands, their products have an incredible value for money, great quality and attention to details and great fit, especially for the denim, that is also their topic product, known above all for their exclusive BOTTOM UP formula. Yes...Bottom up! And it works!:-)

Anyway, fit and quality are, for me, essential elements for a good valuable shopping and a functional wardrobe.

Throughout the event we showed 5 models, each with a specific body shape and different proportions and colours. For every one of them I have created a personalized outfit, picking the best items to highlight their features; I called them one at a time, explained my choices to the audience. Savio could then give specific fitness and workout tips for every body shape we saw.

The first of the models was Benedetta

photo by Julia Andrzejewska

Benedetta is a typical inverted triangle, which means she has quite broad shoulders that are wider than hips; her point of strength, the one to be highlighted, is surely her bottom part (hips + legs) while she needs to be careful not to highlight even more her shoulders. This is why I created this outfit for her : the details are concentrated on the jeans, focusing the eye attention on what is her point of strength, while I chooses plain simple clothes in soft fabrics for the top. Benedetta has also very soft colours and contrasts, that is why I choose soft colours as well for her outfit, trying to respect her natural colouring; this way the colours can highlight and complement her features without prevailing or dragging her down.

Being her quite tall I dared a bottom fold at her jeans (not suggested for petit or for who has fuller or short legs instead); as for the accessories I went for a medium to big size handbag, good for her proportions, and high heels, but she can even decide to go for flat or small heels, as she doesn't really need to elongate the figure.

the second model was Maeva  another inverted triangle but this time with bright crispy colours and high natural contrasts 

photo by Julia Andrzejewska

To create her outfit I followed the same general rules as Benedetta, but I choose totally different colours and combinations, to highlight her features. For her, moreover, I choose a small sized handbag because she is a petit, and I also suggested (at least for her nights out) to wear always medium to high heels. 

To make targeted and right shopping choices, anyway, it is essential to know not only what works for us, but also what does not. For inverted triangles, like Maeva and Benedetta, here some clues of what to avoid: off the shoulders cuts, puffiness and volume on shoulders, stiff fabrics and horizontal stripes on top, specially if combined with plain darker trousers or skirts.

The third model was Crystel, this time a triangle, with deep colours and high contrasts.

photo by Julia Andrzejewska

Triangles have, typically, hips wider then shoulders and, generally, the bottom part of the body is curvy and full while the top is smaller, also shoulders are usually a bit slope. The rules for creating a perfect outfit for a triangle are exactly the opposite of the inverted triangle :-) So what it is working? ..Details and volume on top, puffed and padded shoulders, plain items and soft fabrics instead for the bottom; usually triangles are characterized also by a narrow waist, in that case it is also good to highlight the waist point with cuts and belts. 

What to avoid instead? Sheath and bottom clinging dresses, details on legs and hips, trousers with pleats and darts, stiff fabrics on bottom, patterns (especially bold) on legs and hips. For Crystel, besides, pastels or too bright colours are to avoid.

Then we saw Anna, a full hourglass with soft colours and light contrasts

photo by Julia Andrzejewska

We can say that someone is a hourglass when their shoulders and hips are even and they also have a narrow waist point; and when I talk about a "full hourglass" I mean someone with a quite curvy body. Basically hourglasses can wear any kind of clothes style, but generally speaking they need to pay attention to maintain their natural body balance with their outfits and full hourglasses in particular must take care to complement their natural curves with soft and fluid fabrics. They should also always try to highlight their waist through cuts and belts, being it a real point of strength. This is why I choose this dress for her, that gets all the elements to enhance her features. The outfit was then completed by a powder pink leather jacket (I am holing it in the picture) to create a nice soft contrast with the dress, high heels - good to elongate her legs - and a medium sized bag. 

What to avoid: stiff fabrics, sheath dresses, too much voluminous fabrics/shapes, horizontal stripes, stilettos (as their legs are usually quite full and needs to be elongated). For Anna, moreover, better to avoid bright or too dark colours and strong contrasts.

The 5th and last model was Giada, this time a neat hourglass with deep colours and soft contrasts.

Giada, with everyone's great envy (in the good sense of course), is the luckiest of the models and in general she represents the luckiest of the body shapes: naturally balanced and proportioned and, in her case, also tall! As I said before, anyway, hourglasses must always take care to maintain their natural body balance; so for Giada I tried to focus the attention on the whole figure, by choosing a quite detailed top, enriched by the belt that is highlighting her waistline, in soft deep colours and soft contrasts to complement her natural colouring, contrasted by a white slim fit jeans. For her I choose flat sandals, as she doesn't really need high heels to elongate her legs, and a big sized handbags. 

What to avoid: I suggested Giada to avoid small sized handbags and pastel or bright colours, specially if worn close to her face.

For all of the models and the body shapes they represented, our PT Savio Los gave then his workout tips 

There are, obviously, many other kind of body shapes and features, everyone is different and have their own characteristics; would have been impossible to speak about and show all of them in one single event. But people looked impressed by all the tips they were able to get all at once, and the hour after the demonstration they could practice, with my help for a shopping consultation in real time.

We are willing to do soon another event, seeing the great success of this first edition! 

Now enjoy the photo gallery, with shots also from the backstage :-) and don't miss the video too 

Gallery 

All photos by Julia Andrzejewska

Video

PERSONAL SHOPPER ADVICE: HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR WEDDING SUIT

After last blog post I realize I was addressing my 3 tips to women only, so I decided to release a new one giving this time 3 tips useful to men.  For who doesn't know yet I am, in fact, a personal stylist/shopper who works both with men and women; I've had male clients, indeed,  who were asking my help because their were struggling to find something appropriate (whether it was for budget, or quality, or simply in line with the event coming) , so why not to give them the some hints? 

I also realized that in my last blog post I was referring to Western weddings; always better to specify, as in the Eastern culture most of the habits and traditions (and the colour meanings) can be very different. 

Said that, here are my 3 tips for men, who are attending one or more weddings soon and need to find an appropriate suit, and the accessories of course, for the occasion/s: 

tip #1 is about the style of the wedding, where the location can be a big clue (villa or country house?! Castle or restaurant?!); this is a detail that can make the difference in the choice of the outfit's style!

tip #2 is about the accessories features, so bear in mind that shoes and belt must be always in the same colour, and knot tie/bow tie, handkerchief and cufflinks represent the accent to every men outfit, so it is high recommended to choose them carefully, coloured (not matching with the suit's colour) and, above all tie and handkerchief, must be coordinated. An outstanding outfit is not just done by the dress but by the whole set of elements and embellishment. So one of the key word to get an outstanding outfit (and so presence) is : coordination!

tip #3 is more than everything the answer to a question many clients asked her : can we wear white or black at a wedding? The answer is slightly different from the one I gave to my female public, but again If you wish to know the answer have a look to the video :-) We don't want to spoil you everything, do we?! 

So, enjoy the video, and for every question, or if you need a private consultation or personal shopping session with me, just contact me at stefania@onefoastyle.com.

PERSONAL SHOPPER ADVICE: HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR OUTFIT FOR A WEDDING?

Summer 2017 is approaching and so the Wedding Season (as most of the weddings are celebrated in summer indeed!).

Stefania, image consultant - founder of One of a Style - wants with this video share 3 tips for guests (women) who are attending one or more weddings in the coming season, to help them with their selection of dressed and outfits. 

This idea came after as she dealt with lots of clients in the past who asked her consultation to find dresses and accessories to attend weddings. It is clear that this is not an easy subject and that most people (especially women) get lost, and sometimes crazy, in their seeks of an appropriate outfit for the occasion.

1st tip Stefania gives is about the location and venue, and so the style, of the wedding (villa or country house?! Castle or restaurant?!) that can make the difference in the choice of the dress'style!

2nd tip is about the accessories features! An outstanding outfit is not just done by the dress but by the whole set of elements and embellishment. She suggests to find metallic accessories (gold / silver/ rose gold...) that can be easily matching between them and with all the colours of the spectrum for a dress! A smart choice above all if you have more than one wedding/even in a single season, so that you can change the dress but leave the same accessories (shoes, clutch, jewellery).

3rd tip is more than everything the answer to a question many clients asked her : can we wear white or black at a wedding? If you wish to know the answer have a look to the video :-) We don't want to spoil you everything, do we?! 

PERSONAL STYLIST ADVICE: WHAT TO WEAR FOR A JOB INTERVIEW / BUSINESS MEETING?

Probably you have asked yourself the same question many times! Image consultant Stefania wants to share 3 top tips with you through this brief video, to help you leading a successful performance also thanks to your image. 

If you need some specific styling tips for yourself contact Stefania at stefania@oneofastyle.com and ask her help to impress.

PERSONAL SHOPPER ADVICE: SALE TIME..HOW TO MAKE IT A REAL BARGAIN!

Christmas is yet to come but shops all around London have opened the sale season already!

Sales are tempting, aren’t they?! Everyone is waiting for the sales to get the chance to renew their wardrobe with new fashionable pieces; sales are the great opportunity we have, twice a year, to catch great “occasions”! Yet, it is so easy to make the bargain become a bad investment (not to say a waste of money)..

We are tempted by those tags reporting a 30%, a 40%, 50% discount on and even more, and most of the time we buy certain pieces just because of those numbers, thinking “I can’t let them go, that’s a real occasion”!! Yet, most of the time, once at home we realize we have nothing to wear with what we bought on sale, or that they do not fit us that well, and eventually we let them “age” in our wardrobe.

If we would count all the money we spent in one year on wrong purchases on sale, I bet it is quite a big amount! With the same money we could have bought something more valuable, really good for us, something truly useful to complement our existing wardrobe, or we could have simply them.tI am an image consultant and personal shopper and among my services there is the wardrobe edit. My words come for a reason.. through this services to my clients' I’ve seen so many of these situations, new items still with the tag on, never worn, bought ages before, and the answer to the question “why did you buy it?” is quite often the same: “it was an occasion!”... was it?!

Do not misunderstand me, sales can really be a bargain, but we need to understand how to shop wisely and avoid compulsive choices that would make them become only a "trick".

So here are some shopping tips, simple advice that can really help you to save your money, time and energy during the sale time: 

Ask yourself “would I pay for the whole price”?

Despite the discount, asking yourself this question will help you to understand the real value of an item and your real need of it. If the answer to this question will be "no, I wouldn't" , then leave it where it is.. it means you don't really love or need it and that you are tempted by the price and the discount = it would become a trick not a bargain.

Write down a list

It's always good to know what your wardrobe gaps are, but especially during sales time! Having your list with you during your shopping tour will help you doing a first important selection.

Go beyond that list just if you really fall in love with something, even if it is not mentioned in the list (but never forget point 1).

Stick to your style

Despite the fashion trends of the moment, despite the percentage of discount and the sales assistant persuasion, before buying something ask yourself if it really reflects your style and if you are really going to use it and wear it the next season! Sometimes we are tempted by celebrities or fashion bloggers, we want to wear what they wear and sales are just the perfect time to buy something extra to emulate our style icons. Very well, but what suits them won’t necessarily suit you, so always think if what you are trying on is really reflecting your personality and matching your lifestyle, otherwise it will last the time of the journey back home to become eventually another “untouched” piece in your closet.

Stick to your size

If it’s not your size leave it where it is. Be honest with yourself..If it’s smaller don’t think you are going to loose weight just to wear it. If it’s bigger you know you are never going to wear it, cause you won’t like yourself in it, as it is not going to enhance you and I don’t think you would rather put on weight, at least not on purpose, to make it fitting you. Save your money for what fits you perfectly.

Go to your favourite shops first

Rather than going randomly from a shop to another in the High Streets, make a list of your favourite brands/shops and start with them in your shopping tours. What usually work for you or what usually makes you satisfied throughout the year rarely will let you down on sale time either. After that, if you still have time, money and energy, or if you won't feel totally satisfied by your purchases, go have a look to other stores/brands..there can always be room for new favourites to add to your list!

Be on your favourite store's mailing list

The problem with the sales is that shops run out of sizes and stocks very quickly, so being late means having less chances to find items that suit us, for size, shape and colours, with an inevitable sense of frustration. Being on the mailing list of your favourite brands will allow you to be there at the very beginning of the sales time , getting more chances of finding the most suitable pieces for you.

Plan your shopping time wisely

Avoiding weekends and afternoons in general will give you a better assistants in store, better services in general, tidier stores and so more chances to find what you are looking for, in a nicer and quieter atmosphere. Too crowded places can make the shopping experience become stressful and unsatisfying, while we want to enjoy it, don't we!?

Dress comfortably

You are supposed to try on lots of things or, anyway, more than usual, so having comfortable clothes and shoes, easy to put on and take off, will help you to do less efforts and waste less energies. Being fresh will make you take good choices.

Stick to your colours

One of the services I do in a personal styling package is the colour analysis. If you have been my client in the past or you ever had a colour analysis in your life you should know what your best colours are. During sale time be carefull not to be tempted by the price, buying something in colours that you know will drag you down or will overpower your features. Once at home you won’t wear it anymore. Not to mention that, if you followed your palette to build up your wardrobe, something completely different in shades would most likely not match all the rest of your wardrobe with a consequent abandon of purchases on sale. 

Well, these tips should be enough to prevent wrong and compulsive purchases from now on.

I hope you did enjoy my article and, more than everything, that you will find it useful for your next shopping tours.

Merry Christmas to you all