PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS FOR FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS

When it comes to transitioning from the corporate world to running your own business, there are a whole host of incredibly overwhelming and exciting things that need to be thought about. What to call your business, what to offer as a service or product, where and how to market yourself, and with this marketing comes the potential to refresh your personal branding. Out with the corporate world requirements of you, and in with the ability to truly express your own self! Goodness, that can be a very scary thing, especially if you have moved from a role that had a uniform, or felt like it had a uniform even if it was not set upon you!

In this article, I wanted to share some fantastic examples of how female entrepreneurs are showcasing their personality with fashion, and how you can remain yourself, but keep “professional” or as much as you need to when running your business. Now, these are just my personal tips, and I love the uniqueness that fashion can bring to us, alongside the independence that running our own businesses can bring to our wardrobe, so you can wear whatever you wish, these are simply some ideas to whet your appetite!

Ideas for the networking meeting

As a business owner, I find that the best form of marketing is word of mouth and recommendation, so I attend regular networking events with fellow business owners to help me extend my network of contacts that I can recommend to clients, and in return, they may also recommend my services to their contacts too! In these meetings, there is often a lot of sitting, as well as the potential to stand up and share insights into your business. They are not informal, but they are not as professional as, say, a corporate meeting with investors. So I recommend keeping an outfit that feels comfortable yet professional enough to not feel to informal!

Try a button down shirt and leather trousers for a funky look when attending these meetings – one of my clients, an early-30’s business owner, loves being able to turn up in her leather trousers, a pair of heeled boots, and a fun, colourful shirt at her networking meetings. It’s a great talking point, and one that works well for her business.

If you are in a more corporate feeling mood, you can never go wrong with a pencil dress, or skirt. These are still quite a feminine look, but you can pair it with trainers (see my recent article which shows the new ways trainers are taking over the heeled world!), for a less formal feeling. There’s also no harm in throwing on a pair of killer heels, should you feel more confident in them.

If you prefer a more casual look, you can go for a great pair of jeans, paired with a blouse – potentially a silk or smart white cotton blouse, as these can be a good option for the potential nerves that arise when networking!  To help elevate the look, I’d recommend pairing your jeans with a pair of heels, but it totally depends on your preference.

For the business meeting

As a business owner, you may be meeting with clients, investors, potential business partners, suppliers, the list goes on! So, when it comes to showcasing your business, this may require a slightly more elevated look than for the more informal networking events. I always recommend getting a colour analysis to my clients, particularly if they are looking to boost their confidence with their wardrobe, so these outfit ideas will be on the basis that you either know the colours that work well for you, or feel a certain love for specific colours or patterns!

The classic monochrome look is one that works incredibly effectively for a formal outfit. Layering is an excellent way to help build up the look, without feeling too “samey”. I love the use of black, beige, or cream, as these are classically elegant options, however, I have noticed many women on the street using fantastical monochrome coloured looks including pinks, greens, and purples, and they look fantastic! For the best options, I recommend finding similar tones in the colour you are looking to build your outfit with, as well as utilising different patterns and textures to help the outfit feel really put together.

Upgrading your outfit from day to day, to business meeting, can be transformed with a simple and elegant blazer. I love using a blazer to transform my outfits, they are a great way to help a look feel more business appropriate. There are a range of options out there, from simple black, to blue velvet, as well as the classic tweed and linen options. Find a few blazers that you find work in your wardrobe, add them to your coat rack, and use these in place of your coat when you head out for a business meeting, it can transform the feeling of your look! They work fantastically over a turtleneck, a blouse, or a casual tee.

Now is the time to invest in key items

When it comes to letting your wardrobe make you feel super confident, you can’t go wrong with investing in pieces that perhaps were higher than you used to spend in your corporate job. Trust me, the investment is so worth it. The reason I find investing in key items so important is that I will tend to take better care of them, they last longer, and I get more wears out of them. Shops like Reiss and & Other Stories are great places to find slightly higher end wardrobe items that can have your key items that elevate your look (& Other Stories also offers a 10% off voucher if you take them old textiles, which is an excellent way to support sustainable fashion).

Reiss is the place I recommend for an elegant, effortless yet modern style. & Other Stories is a younger, more boho style that is quite Parisian. They have excellent choices to add to your wardrobe and I tend to find well-made piece of knitwear or beautiful dress are items I can pick up easily in these stores. Reiss even offer a tailoring service, so your items can be made to fit you like a glove.

For my petite clients, I highly recommend visiting HOBBS, as they offer not only an excellent range of smart pieces, they also have a petite collection – perfect for female entrepreneurs who are under 5 foot 3. Their styles are classic, and have a huge range of dresses that are a great solution for a “grab and go” outfit. If you are looking for a more corporate look for your business styling, you can also take a look at L K Bennet. Their workwear collection has a range of excellent blouses, suits and classic styling that would work perfectly in most corporate offices & your business office!

As a new Mum myself, I know the importance of being able to have comfort and professionalism come together, so there are a few brands I love to get my jeans and blazers from. One brand I highly recommend, particularly for those of us with problems finding jeans that fit both our hips and our waists, are Liu Jo. As for blazers, my go to option is Pinko, they are fantastic!

You will often find that heading to new shops on the highstreet can be an excellent way to find your new “branding” and you may gravitate to certain styles, let your gut instinctively tell you, and go and try it. I do recommend heading to a department store to get to see a big range of options in one handy place, somewhere such as House of Fraser or John Lewis are a good place to start. Once you find a brand that really embraces your style and shape,  The great thing about being a woman entrepreneur is that you make the rules – be yourself, let yourself be confident, and bring your personal style to the forefront! If you are feeling nervous about where to start, I’d love to help you with a personal styling session.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIP: FIND THE PERFECT RED LIPSTICK

For some, lipstick is a daily essential, for others, it’s a sea of colours and confusion! Whether you are one or the other (or just dipping your toe into the world of lipsticks) I hope this piece will help you find the perfect shade for you, and hope to give you some red lipstick confidence boosting in preparation for International Women’s Day this month.

When I do a colour analysis with a client, we go through the colour wheel landing on the season that best suits their skin, which helps them to find the perfect colours to make them shine. In this article, I share a few tips on helping you to determine which season may be yours, but of course, would love to invite you to join me for a colour analysis should you want to have the benefit of knowing the best colours, fabrics, and make up for you!

Red Lipsticks For Summer Skin Tones

If you are cool-skin toned and naturally ash-blonde, you will probably be in the Summer category, and you are most likely to suit a more primary red with a blue undertone, such as the beautiful deep red shade from Pat McGrath in Elson with a touch of blue undertones, can work pretty well on all skin tones, but particularly works well on those with a Summer season.  

Red lipstick can work well on most cooler toned skin, from lighter to darker shades, as long as the undertone is correct with a hint of blue. You can try a sheer and pinkish red lipstick with Cover Girl’s Continuous Colour in Really Red, which is a lovely option for a less deep and bold colour.

Red Lipsticks For Autumn Skin Tones

Just like the season, Autumns have soft contrasts, and work best with the autumnal colours of the season - think aubergine purple, reds, and oranges. This means finding your perfect lipstick shade needs to be a warmer tone. Consider deep and warm lipstick hues for your selections. Brick reds, deep rich browns, or bright reds that have a brick-red undertone.

For even more of a statement, you could invest in something a little more unique with a deep rich brown lipstick, I know it isn’t in the “red lipstick” look, but I had to mention it as it is a shade that works so beautifully on the autumn skin tones!

Red Lipsticks For Winter Skin Tones

If you have fair skin with naturally dark hair, and eyes from very light and icy to very deep, or if your overall colours are dark with cool undertones, then you might fall into the Winter category, which means reds that work for you will be ones with deeper and cooler tones work beautifully for you. Consider scarlet red, such as Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution in Scarlet Spell, which is deep, luscious and perfect for your skin tone! 

You could also work with a beautiful fuscia pink, such as the Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine in Fuscia Stiletto which is a very bright pink, and is a great option for you to try if red is perhaps not your colour quite yet. If you're willing to try a vegan and cruelty free option, I suggest the Smoothed Over Lipstick - Peony from Arbonne. I advise steering clear from any reds which are almost brick red, as this will potentially wash you out.

Red Lipsticks For Spring Skin Tones

Warmer skin tones with golden blonde or red hair and eyes with green shades usually tend to be a Spring, which means warm bright reds, as well as coral pinks work perfectly for you. Deeper reds can drain you, so this is one option of red that you will want to step aside from. I love the Giorgio Armani Rouge d'Armani Matte Lipstick in shade 402 is a wonderful colour, with it’s bright hue, it may feel a little daunting, but practice with it and you will see how fantastic it looks on your skin tone, I promise!

Another option, if coral feels a little too bright for you, can be a bright brick red, then try the Becca lipstick in Rouge, this perhaps would be the darkest red hue that you can use without feeling a little too pale with it, so find the perfect one that makes you shine. If you want to keep a more natural look, still adding a touch of colour, and go vegan and cruelty free, my suggestion for you is the Glossed Over Lip Gloss, Mimosa by Arbonne. 

Whatever hue you choose to go for, preparation is key to making your lips feel lipstick ready! I recommend exfoliating and moisturising before you pop the lipstick on, as this will give it the right base for long wear. I also recommend you try a lot of shades on your own skin to find that perfect lipstick that will make you feel fantastic! If you would like some help to find the right make up to make you feel confident every day, then do get in touch, I’d love to help you with a colour analysis. 

PERSONAL SHOPPER ADVICE: GUIDE TO TIMELESS JEWELLERY - TRENDS THAT WILL NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE

Add to your capsule wardrobe some timeless jewellery staples. Here, Emily Tebbutt, Jewellery Commercial Manager at Ramsdens Jewellery, tells us which classic jewellery pieces we need in our collection.

You may have already started collecting some timeless essentials that you can wear for years to come, but the ideal capsule wardrobe shouldn’t stop at your clothing. Your jewellery can really complete your outfit and choosing classic staple pieces can ensure that you’re staying on-trend for years to come. In this article, I’ll be telling you which timeless jewellery trends you should be investing in, so you’ll never go out of style.

Diamonds and gemstones

Diamonds and gemstones are a continuous trend for jewellery. On Instagram, “#diamond” has seen huge amounts of engagement for years, with over 12,880,000 mentions. From simple diamond studs to gemstone rings, these pieces are perfect for dressing up any outfit, and their universal use is what makes them such a timeless accessory.

Gold and silver

When it comes to choosing the right jewellery to match your outfit, you probably ask yourself the same question each time: gold or silver? These materials are guaranteed on-trend colours and you can either decide to wear a mixture of both (if you are a real jewellery collector) or you could have a colour analysis and finally find out which one works best for you and your complexion.

Simple studs

The go-to for everyday earrings, simple studs aren’t going anywhere any time soon. With so many styles and shapes out there, from diamond studs to plain silver and gold pieces, they really can go with any outfit. Whether you match them to your necklace or wear them alone, these pieces are sure to give your outfit a touch of effortless glamour.

Hoop earrings

Perfect for framing your face, the classic hoop is a must-have for any earring lover. Whether you want to dress up your casual outfit or add a touch of glamour to your evening wear, the hoop earring is the ultimate choice. The best thing about hoops is that they come in different sizes, so you have the freedom to make a statement with big hoops or tone things down with a smaller set.

Charm bracelet

Charm bracelets are perfect for adding a touch of personalisation to your outfit and, because they can be so varied, they’re a classic staple that’s never going to go out of style. These pieces are perfect for passing down from generation to generation, and their timeless design means they’ll always be acceptable to wear. Why not mix and match your charms and metals to create a fresh and modern look? Then, as styles change, just swap your charms around to match.

Pendant necklace

No matter what style you choose, the classic pendant necklace is a timeless addition to your jewellery collection. You can choose from so many different styles, from simple gemstone pendants to traditional lockets and personalized pieces. So, whether you choose to stay subtle and only wear one, or make a statement by mixing more pieces, the pendant necklace will be perfect for every style.

Each of these classic pieces will make the perfect addition to your jewellery capsule collection. Wear them to dress up any outfit effortlessly and mix your styles to create something that’s unique to you. As with any fashion choice, as long as you feel good, you’re going to look good, too!

And if you need help to find the perfect timeless jewellery pieces for you and your style, why not to book a personal shopping session?

PERSONAL STYLIST ADVICE - NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION - TIME TO FEEL MORE CONFIDENT

We all deserve to feel confident within ourselves. Having a wardrobe that helps increase that confidence, so you can simply walk in, choose an outfit you know you’ll feel fantastic in, and go out is something that can not only be time-saving, but also truly life changing. As the new year sets in, I propose you have a resolution that you can stick to – make your wardrobe and clothes work for you, rather than against you. So often we spend our valuable time and energy going through wardrobes which don’t serve us or make us happy. I propose 2019 is the year you make a difference! Spend some time going through your own collection of clothes, and take the pieces that you don’t wear, or feel confident in, and giving them to a charity shop (or selling them, but I love handing pieces that will bring joy to others and help a charity close to my heart!). These pieces don’t serve you by being there, causing you to question yourself each time you get dressed, and are taking up valuable storage space for items that you do love!

You can start your 2019 with a fresh new start, a wardrobe that works for you, and helps you to feel ready to take on the year with confidence! Here are my tips to helping you get started on that all-important wardrobe edit.

1. Give yourself time – don’t rush through your wardrobe clean-up. Get yourself a cup of your favourite drink and make it an enjoyable, freeing experience.

2. Listen to your gut instinct – if an item of clothing makes you feel anything but positive, then it’s time to remove it from your wardrobe. If you are unsure, then place it in your wardrobe, with the hanger facing the opposite way to your other clothes, if in a month you haven’t worn it, that means it’s time to get rid of it.

3. Make it seasonal – unless you feel confident enough to match a summer dress with a lovely woollen jumper, you will probably have seasonal items taking up your wardrobe space. Take out any items that won’t suit the current climate, and place them neatly into a storage container, and put them away. A clean and seasonal wardrobe is a happy wardrobe! You can then go through these items before the new season comes in and take the same clear out process with these items before placing them into your wardrobe.

One of the toughest things my clients have when we go through the wardrobe edit is knowing what style most truly reflects them. This can often change throughout our lives, as we age, get new jobs, become parents, or simply feel a new personal style is more appropriate. Once we get to grips with the styles that not only suit our body, but more importantly suit what we want to project to the world, then our confidence can shine brightly. It makes it easy to shop and find new clothing that we will want to wear every day!

If this feels overwhelming to you, or you’d like some support and professional assistance in choosing the items in your closet which will look the best on you (as well as removing those which do not serve your personal style), then I’d love to chat. Please feel free to comment below if you’re hitting a roadblock, or have any questions, or call me to see how we can work together to make your confidence shine brightly.

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 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.

LIFE OF A LONDON STYLIST: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

For Mother's Day, Stefania is going to do a colour analysis for a mother and her two daughters! What a nice gift they have chosen to celebrate! It is nice to see daughters willing to make their mother feel special.. how did you celebrate your mother's day?

LIFE OF A LONDON STYLIST: BRIDAL PERSONAL STYLING SESSION

Stefania is ready to go to the second appointment with a bride to be for the research of her wedding dress, through her exclusive bridal personal styling service, and wishes her public a splendid Good Morning!

EVENTS: THE POWER OF COLOUR

"the best colour in the world is the colour that looks good on you" C.Chanel

Yesterday, Thursday the 12th, there have been a workshop organized by Stefania Bartolomei, about the colour as powerful styling tool!

Of all the styling tools, colour is maybe the most underestimated, yet it has the great power to affect not only our look but also our mood.

As the right colour can, in fact, confer us a healthy look, enhancing our features, making our eyes shine bright and our skin looks like porcelain, so the wrong colour can wash us out, highlighting the eye circles and the skin flaws. We perceive the effects that colours have on us, but most of the time we are not aware of it and we think that the causes of our look, whether it is good or not, are entirely of physical and mental status nature.

Being conscious of what our best colours are can really have an effect on our attitude. as I always say : when you look good, you feel good! And when you feel good, you have more self confidence, so you can be successful and get what you are aiming to, that in the social life as well as in business.

Let's go deeper now into the technical side of the workshop and its subject.

As you probably know, one of the services that Stefania offers to her clients is the colour analysis; the seasonal color analysis (to be precise) is a scientific way to determine's people best colours. 

As in nature, the seasonal colour analysis is based on the 4 seasons : spring, summer, autumn and winter.

These seasons recall the colours that we can find in nature, from spring, with its bright, powerful and warm colours , that become softer and lighter in summer, to autumn, with everything getting warmer and deeper, to the winter, with its crispy and sharp colours and its high contrasts. 

spring

summer

autumn

winter

The colour drapes, used for the colour analysis, recall the properties of the seasons in nature, reproducing the same general characteristics. 

spring

summer

autumn

winter

The same characteristics can then be found in our own features. So, generally speaking, people with light soft coloring would most likely belong to summer, while people with dark colours and high contrasts in their features would most likely belong to winter.

But it is not easy to recognize all this values in ourselves and there can be also exceptions. So it must be clear that this are general rules and that the only way to build up our palette of best colours, in the end, is to have a professional colour analysis.

During the workshop Stefania shown the effect of the colours on our features, whether they are good or wrong, explaining how to recognize our features through 3 values:

• temperature (warm vs cold)

• brightness (soft vs bright)

• light (light vs dark)

giving eventually practical examples on how to make the most of our colours through the use not only of clothes but also of accessories, make-up and hair colour choices. 

At the end of She also did a funny "celebrity game", where people were called to guess the properties, and so the season, of some star, among which Lucy-Liu, Amy Adams, Cate Blanchett, Julia Roberts and so on... this was lot of fun! 

The workshop has been a great success! The atmosphere was cozy and nice and seen the great enthusiasm shown by the public Stefania will surely plan another one very soon! 

In the meantime, if you want to find out more about the subject and discover what is your season and what are your best colours book your session with Stefania writing at stefania@oneofastyle.com 

Special thanks go to : Veronika Damiani for the make-up of the models; Laura & Kim for being my models.

BRIDAL STYLING: MY BRIDAL STYLE

I've previously written about how to choose the best shade of white and the best wedding dress style to enhance our features and personality, but recently someone suggested me to write about my own bridal style; I got married just last year, actually.

Well, usually I don't like to talk about myself in my articles, I'm not that kind of blogger who publishes pictures of herself and posts about her lifestyle, but I have to admit that probably the best way to explain the meaning of "personal bridal styling" and its effectiveness is by doing practical examples and that probably the best example I can report is...me!

I am a typical "spring", which in the personal styling world means I have light and warm features. I have actually fair skin,blonde hair with golden shades and blue eyes with some yellow/green hues inside, that make them warm as well (differently from the icy blue eyes, typical of the "cool-summer" featured people).

This on the left is a quite recent photo. Last year, when I got married, I had very long hair, but this does not affect the colours' matter at all.

The first time I went to a boutique to try some wedding dresses I had a clear idea in mind : I wanted a mermaid/trumpet style dress, in ivory or blush colour; my ideal wedding dress style and designer was Pronovias.  

Here below some examples of mermaid wedding dress style from 2016 Pronovias collection..beautiful, aren't they?

I went to the first boutique asking exclusively for this kind of dresses and I tried on some stunning samples indeed; I had to admit I was quite happy.. but not totally convinced. 

First of all because of the colour. Those styles were in fact all in pure white. 

Now, if you didn't read my previous article "50 shades of...white?!" you probably don't know that the pure white belongs to the cool colour category and that it is not really recommended to warm featured women like me.

I was aware of that, but in the meantime, I wanted to try them on because, you know, the pure white is the most classic colour for a wedding dress!

Well, I tried, but I wasn't convinced at all; my face wasn't illuminated, despite the sparkling decorative elements, and every flaw of my face like the eye circles and skin imperfections seemed to be highlighted. That's actually what happens when we put the "wrong" colour close to our face.. yet, apart from the colour I was still convinced about the mermaid shape. So I went to another boutique with exactly the same requests: mermaid cut and ivory/blush shade. They brought me several samples to try on, amazing these too, yet something wasn't really convincing me.. This time the problem wasn't the colour but I understood that it was probably the dress shape itself.

You must know that I am a "triangle" or so-called pear-shaped woman; it means I have narrower shoulder and wider hips. The typical triangle has small and quite slope shoulders while mine are angular and quite wide, yet my hips are wider and curvy! 

Here a typical "triangle" or "pear" body shape

I was attracted by those mermaid shapes because they were the trend of the moment and, being me a fashion lover and professional, I was looking for the most trendy wedding dress, forgetting two very important details: my body shape and my personality.

Despite those dresses weren't that bad on me, actually, they simply weren't enhancing nor evening my body. Certain kinds of dress cuts call the eye attention on all the body areas or, depending on the style, they can even highlight the hips area; so if you don't have perfect proportions between your top and your bottom and, above all, if you don't feel comfortable with the idea of getting the attention on your side B (like some celebrities) those dresses are not for you. So, well, they weren't totally wrong for me but they simply were not my best! And I bet every bride wish to be at her best on her big day...am I wrong? 

In the end I started to think more thoroughly to my body shape and finally I realized that probably my original idea wasn't the best for me and that I had to try something different; and then I spotted a dress in the boutique: it had a strapless sparkling corset and a smooth satin skirt, a dress with the so called "A-line" shape; the colour was a light pinkish ivory, warm , soft and delicate...I loved it at first sight!

I was only afraid that the skirt, a bit voluminous, would have made me shorter (I'm not that tall actually) but then I tried it on and, instead, everything seemed to work well: the colour, the shape, the style!

A picture of my wedding dress (picture by Alessandro Mayer)

I was feeling confident and comfortable in it (and trust me, that day you need to feel as much comfortable as possible in your dress!). I was feeling myself! That's what, most of all, made me go for it.

The shape was also perfect because it was drawing the attention on my bust and shoulders, rather than on my curvy bottom part, balancing this way my body figure; the skirt wasn't too wide, so it didn't make me shorter, and the soft fabric gently slips on my curves.

As for the style..well it was very feminine and romantic and of all the "styles" romantic is the one that represents me most!

Discover Your Bridal Style Now

That wedding dress seemed to have all the elements to make me feel a "perfect bride", enhancing my body, my complexion and my personality; so I bought it, without hesitations.

After that all the other details and choices came along quite naturally: the hairstyle, the accessories, the flowers for the bouquet.. the dress is, in fact, the most difficult and important choice for a bride-to-be; in my opinion is the dress, actually, that determines all the other features of a bride's style!

Well, I bet now you are curious to see the final result of my bridal style, and here I am

- pictures are by Alessandro Mayer www.photomayer.it -

So...what do you think? did I make the right choice?

I hope this article will help you for your wedding dress choice. But if you'll need some professional advice I'll be honoured to be your personal stylist for the big day! Basically I will help you to find your best dress in terms of colour, shape and style, as well as I've done for myself.

Find out more here

BRIDAL STYLING: WHAT IS YOUR (BRIDAL) STYLE?

As I always say, your clothes must suit not only your body and features but also your personality! As for the wedding dress it is probably the most important dress in every woman's life; so, when the time will come for you to choose your own, don't just look for the shape and the colour you'd like to get, but also ask yourself : "does it suit my personality"? If you think it does...that's it!! You've found your wedding dress!

How to recognize your bridal style and, consequently, your wedding dress' style? The only way to discover it is to wear that dress and see your reaction once it'll be up: if you'll feel confident, at ease, at the most of your energy and "girl power", if looking at the mirror you'll feel beautiful and magnetic or even emotional, I think you'll have just found your wedding dress or, at least, one of the best candidates!

Now I am going to talk about the different styles, so that you can already have an idea of which one represents you most, doing  practical examples through some beloved celebrities.

The first one of our style is : CREATIVE. 

You probably are a creative if you love to combine different items of clothing and accessories to get a unique and interesting look, if you rarely throw anything out, if your wardrobe is full of items from many different sources (even vintage mixed with High Street) collected over the years, if shopping for you is an art form and, again, if you like to make interesting purchases while on holiday and study fashion magazines to get new ideas.

Beyonce, as creative as she is, was wearing a creative dress at her wedding.

The second style is : DRAMATIC.

If you love to be noticed and often wear clothes with a "wow" factor you are probably a dramatic; you love parties and wear the last fashion items (even if they don’t particularly suit you) and shopping is one of your favorite pastimes. Probably your wardrobe consists of many different styles of clothes and one-off pieces that you have bought on impulse and you are not concerned with whether your clothes are practical or washable – they must simply make a statement.

Gwen Stefani surely chose a dramatic style for her wedding dress, designed by John Galliano for Christian Dior.

The third of our style category is : ROMANTIC.

If you, just like me, love details like bows, lace, ruffles, flounces, fringes and sparkling elements, if you like floral features (whether they are in patterned fabrics or as accessories and decorative details), pretty and feminine details and if you like to spend time for your self care (and money for skin and body care products) and you never go out without your perfume, you are undoubtedly a romantic.

Molly Sims was absolutely a romantic bride, in her Marchesa wedding dress.

Let's go on with the 4th style category : CLASSIC

You are a "classic" if you have a fairly formal wardrobe and you don't like to mix textures or wear daring colour combinations, if you like to appear well turned out and elegant and your tops are usually tucked in, or again if you don't love changes about your look (so you basically keep the same hairstyles and makeup) and if you are not a shopping nor a fashion victim at all! 

Princess Charlene is a perfect example of a classic bridal style, with her stunning wedding dress by Armani.

Then there are the NATURALs. 

You are a natural if the most important factor for you is to feel comfortable in your clothes and so you usually avoid anything that constricts, digs in or pinches. Also you are favor of a casual wear and in love with simple lines, while cluttered dresses are not done for you.

Megan Fox has been a natural bride, with her flowing chiffon silk dress by Armani prive’.

What do you think is your bridal style?

If you need help finding the best wedding dress for you, let’s have a chat! A special experience is waiting for you..

PERSONAL STYLING ADVICE: DOES SHORT HAIR SUIT YOU?

The new hairstyle trend is clear : short cuts!

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

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

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

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

FACE SHAPE :  

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

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

Kim Kardashian is a perfect examples of oblong face shape.

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

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

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

SHOULDER, NECK AND JAWS : 

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

BODY PROPORTIONS :

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

CURLY or THIN HAIR?

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

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

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

BRIDAL STYLING: 50 SHADES OF...WHITE!?

Nothing to do with the famous "GREY" , don't worry! But if you think that there is just one shade of white I am afraid you are wrong.  

If you are going to get married and you are looking for your Wedding dress then take into consideration this article, maybe you'll discover what your best shade of white and it'll help to identify the perfect dress and complements for your Big Day!

Like any other colour, actually, even white has several and different shades : there are indeed cool whites and warm whites, there is the pure white, the greyish white, the pearl white, the off-white, the champagne, the ivory (that can be yellowish or pinkish) and I could go on with the list.

Nowadays there is such a huge proposal of Wedding dress styles and colours that you can get lost! Maybe you have a clear idea of what you want : if you are a classic and a traditional bride you would probably go for a pure white dress, while if you are a fashion victim maybe you would go for the last trend colours (2016 for example is the year of blush for the wedding dresses!); but it's not just a matter of personal taste : the right white, like any other right hue, can make your eyes shine bright, can illuminate your face and make your skin looks like porcelain; while the wrong shade of white could make you paler, highlight the dark circles or simply it wouldn't enhance your characteristics enough. Honestly, it is not just the shade but the mix of colour and fabric (shiny, matt, plain, embroidered, embellished, and so on...) that can really make the difference! But let's go on talking about the colour now, that is our real subject.

Still confused about what I am saying? Maybe some pictures will help! 

Here below as first the more classic of all, the pure white! This is a splendid example, shown in a sateen gown by Elie Saab http://www.pronovias.com/wedding-dresses/2015-elie-by-elie-saab

style CALAMIAN_ Elie by Elie Saab, 2015 collection

I am quite sure you will notice how the same shade of white (pure in this case) has a different effect when applied on another fabric kind, like this chiffon gown by Maggie Sottero for example  https://www.maggiesottero.com

Style DELANIE_Sottero and Midgley collection

It seems even more icy, isn't it? See also how the gown is embellished with silver jewelry applications; it is undoubtedly a wise choice! Usually silver is the metal that work better with the pure/optical white! This can be a useful info for you to complement your dress with accessories (earrings, necklace, tiara, hair pins, and so on..). 

The pure (or optical) white is identified as "cool" colour and it is generally better for people with cool features themselves (black hair or ash blond hair for example) and/or deep contrasts (black hair+black eyes and pale skin)_and I can tell you that the model of this picture is not the best to wear this colour actually. The pure white is usually the best choice for Asian women as well (Chinese and Japanese for example). But be aware that pure white can make your teeth seem yellow! 

Now I want to show your the warm classical white : the ivory. Here below a fine example of an ivory wedding dress from Pronovias http://www.pronovias.com . It is a yellowish one actually. Can you see the yellow shades of the fabric? It is clearly visible on the bottom part of the skirt. 

style TAIR B_Pronovias collection

This warm shades are generally better for women with warm features in their natural colours (like golden or chocolate brown or honey blond hair). Anyway this gown the white lace on top makes this ivory gown a lighter,delicate and less yellowish ivory shade, generally a good compromise for "neutrals" as well (women who have both cool and warm elements in their natural colours); for sure it is not suitable for women with real black hair and pale-pinkish skin tone. 

As I said on the beginning, anyway, there is more than one ivory as well! Here below another example of ivory gown, again from Maggie Sottero collection.  https://www.maggiesottero.com

style RIVIERA_Maggie Sottero collection

This time they added golden elements as you can see, accordingly to the fabric's colour nature; this really makes this gown warm and intense, good for women who have themselves very warm charatteristics (beige to brown/bronze shin, red hair, hazelnut eyes, for example). Honestly, the model they choose for this photo shooting is not the best to wear this dress (obviously I am referring just to her colours, not to her body!).

It is not the rule, anyway, to complement the pure white with silver and the ivory with gold, sometimes silver can work on warm shades as well as gold can work on cool shades, creating nice contrasts, good above all for "neutrals" women;  here an example of silver+pinkish ivory in a gown by Allure Bridals http://www.allurebridals.com/

style 9300_ALLURE BRIDALS collection

And what do you think about this wedding dress from BHLDN? http://www.bhldn.com/

style JOSINA GOWN_BHLDN collection

This pinkish ivory is good again for ladies with warm characteristics, maybe better for the ones with lighter colours (honey blond, light golden brown or red hair) 'cause it is very delicate and it has white pearly applications on the top that make it a bit softer and delicate; it suggests, moreover, the use of pearly accessories and jewelry to complement your total look.

What about this one below,  again from Sottero and Midgley collection?  www.maggiesottero.com . It's still pinkish but more delicate. This seems to me the best pinkish-ivory shade because it is very soft and not totally warm, it can really be a jolly for most of the women and, in my opinion, it can be complemented both by silver and golden elements.

style SORRENTO_Sottero and Midgley collection

Totally different story for this one below from BLHDN collection http://www.bhldn.com/

style LORRAINE DRESS_BHLDN collection

This is another version of a pinkish white again, with grey shades that make it cool and quite muted. It is probably good for ash-blond or light-brown women with light eyes (icy blue or green). I always say "probably" because you can't really determine if a colour is good for you or not unless you put it close to your face and see the effect it has on you and your complexion. Moreover women generally alter their hair colour and sometimes it alter their category as well (whether it is warm, cool or neutral).

The last one is a greyish-white gown, an absolute icy shade of white, complemented by greenish and probably dark silver elements, good for women with cool features and very delicate characteristics, like ash blond hair, icy blue eyes, pale pinkish shin (and this time the model used for the photo shooting seems to be perfect!)

Here ends my article, but there would be more and more to show you! My advice, if you really want to get a perfect look on your Wedding day and find the best shade of white for your dress, is to ask for the help of an expert colour analysist/image consultant... it really worth to try! At least is your Big Day we are talking about and every detail is important and can really make the difference!

Below you can see all the dresses mentioned above, so that you can have and immediate comparison of all these different shades of white!

BRIDAL STYLING: HAIRSTYLE TRENDS FOR 2016!

6 HAIRSTYLES FOR THE 2016 BRIDAL DRESSES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PERSONAL STYLING ADVICE: HOW TO MIX-UP YOUR CLOTHES AND CREATE AN OUTFIT FOR EVERY OCCASION

You know, with your existing wardrobe you can create different combinations and build good and appropriate outfits for the various occasions and environments of your life (business, leisure or formal) , just by changing the accessories or the way to mix your clothes up. 

Learning how to mix your existing items is the key to build an efficient wardrobe! That means save money and time, cause you will get less items but more efficient and versatile and you won't need to go for shopping every time an important occasion will knock your door! Isn't it a smart solution?  

This is not an easy task anyway. That is why you should ask for a personal stylist help! Organising your wardrobe is the first important step to rebuild your image and change your attitude to dress and shop.

Here are some examples.  Assuming these are some stuffs from your wardrobe :

See how you can combine them and get different results : 

a business outfit

a casual outfit

just replacing some elements of your total look, in this case trousers, outwear and accessories,  your image and therefore your message to the outside world completely changes! 

a casual outfit

a formal outfit

and again :

business outfit

PERSONAL STYLING ADVICE: AN OUTFIT FOR EVERY AGE

3 casual look proposals for 20s, 40s and 60s men

3 casual look proposals for 20s, 40s and 60s ladies

Do you know how to build your perfect  look respecting the "rules" of your age?

Whether you are a lady or a man this is not an easy task! We are surrounded by lots of proposals and shops and it is not always easy to individuate the right product for us nor to understand our needs and changes in accordance to our growth, whether it is in our career or in our age.

We must always keep in mind that we give a clear message through our image to the outside world and it is crucial to find the proper "language" to express it properly; and it is not just a matter of colors and shapes.. so let a personal stylist help you find your own!