PERSONAL STYLIST ADVICE: ARE TRAINERS THE NEW HEELS?

You may have seen the recent trend for fashionable trainers, where trainers are bringing  a new, comfortable yet stylish option to our wardrobes. Can these replace heels, or are they still a faux pas? Let’s get into some of the options, and how you can work those comfy shoes into your workwear, where appropriate!

The Classic White Trainer

We all know and love our trainers, and we probably have all had or currently have a pair, but if you’re wondering how to pair your trainers with more than just jeans and a t-shirt then start to dip your toe with a classic white style. These pair with so many outfits, and can work in the office or whilst running between meetings. I think they work beautifully with a jumpsuit, mid-length skirt, or even with a suit – trust me, you’ll appreciate the clean look of your white trainers matched with a power suit!

These style of trainers, when you are looking for work-appropriate look, work best with a touch of colour on the outfit, as they then pair less outlandishly than with a black outfit. You could also test out the monochrome look by pairing your white trainers with an all-white outfit for a clean, fresh style option.

The Dad Sneaker Trend

Now, this is one of the “trendy” options, but one that many of us may be cringing about! The “Dad Trainer” or “Ugly Trainer” trend is one we have seen many millennials add to their shoe collections, but it is a tricky trend for us to add to our workwear. 

With chunky accents, and oftentimes with colourful accents, the dad shoes feel more like a running shoe with an edge. You can pair these with a range of outfits, including the midi skirt trend (as worn above), or even with a classic LBD to keep your elegant styling on the top and the comfortable shoes on the bottom.

These silver Dad style shoes keep their cool with the space-age feel and pair excellently with a mini or midi dress.

Now you have seen the hardest of the sneakers to add, I promise you the rest are slightly more easy to implement!

Colourful Trainers

Now, colourful trainers are much more useable in your workwear wardrobe and are a great way to add a touch of colour!

From the beautiful blush tones of these Nike trainers, to the primary colours of these Vans, you can find a huge range of colourful trainers across different styles.  Colourful trainers are just as user friendly as your colourful stilettos, they work well with a black pair of capris, as well as pulling the colours in your shoes to match your outfit for a monotone style that is always a classic.

For a less “in your face” look, why not start with a little bit of a pattern with clean white trainers and a patterned tongue, styled with a knitted black skirt and warm jumper – perfect for brunch, or at a more relaxed workplace. Great for the cooler months to help you feel cosy, comfortable, yet stylish.

Platform Trainers

If you are one who loves the height your heels give to you, then platform trainers are a great go-to. There are so many ranging options, from the smart platforms that can be found in places such as Office and ASOS, to the more quirky patterned options that can add a little bit of personality to your footwear. One of my clients has a fantastic pair of white platform trainers she found with sequined pineapples – they show off the pineapple only when she is wearing cropped trousers or a skirt, whilst adding the height she loves to get.

Pairing your trainers with a dress may feel out of your comfort zone, but with the right dress, you can truly let your style do the talking. The t-shirt dress trend is a quick and comfortable way to create an outfit with your platforms, or you can dress up your LBD with a pair of platform trainers, and statement accessories for a day to night look in a flash.

They also work beautifully with a suit, particularly when you pick the colours from the suit and make sure they are in the trainers too, whether you go for a cropped trouser or for longer lengths with the bottom of the platform just peeking through, you can truly give this style a go with whichever styling you feel confident in.

With the huge range of option available, you can truly match your personal style with the shoes that suit your needs best, whilst adding the wonderful comfort they bring. Now, you may be a heels aficionado, but if your feet are crying for a comfortable yet work-suitable option, then why not give yourself a chance to try out this new trend, your commute may thank you for it!

If you are feeling unsure on where to start, or are looking for support with your work wardrobe, I’d love to help! I provide a personal styling service, which includes personal shopping that sings true to your personal style, as well as your needs.

PERSONAL SHOPPER TIP: TIME TO WEAR SPARKLES - FIND YOUR PERFECT PARTY DRESS

It’s the party season and this may mean you’re looking for the perfect party dress! There’s no greater time than the festive season to add a little sparkle to your wardrobe, but which one is best for your personality? I wanted to share a few pieces that suit a range of different personal styles, that may put you just a toe out of your comfort zone, whilst still feeling truly you!

The Sparkly Little Black Dress

I recently wrote a post on the “perfect LBD” for your wardrobe, and this staple item can cross into the party wear wardrobe too!

This Damsel in a Dress piece from Damir is a fantastic foray into sparkles. With its illusion v-neck, and knee-length cut it can work perfectly for your party whether you are in a central London bar, or a work do in a restaurant, it goes a long way to have festive flair but without feeling too over the top. I’d recommend black stilettos, or for a more comfortable feel, wear some black flats with your tights so you can party with your colleagues.

For a slightly more impactful piece, this incredible PVC and chain dress with stars from Paco Rabanne will surely steal the show. On the styling side, you can go for a truly eccentric style with cowboy boots as shown on the model, or for a more elegant styling, wear with black stilettos and add some jewellery to top it all off!

If you have a smaller budget, then this sequinned LBD from Zara is an excellent choice. Whether you choose to pair it with chunky heels, as with the model, or pop on a pair of trainers and a long jacket, the dress will truly steal the show at your festive event. For those of you looking for a more cinched style, add a belt to draw you in at the waist, if required.

The Sequined Suit

Yes, this is an article about party dresses, but I didn’t want to leave out those of you who love a perfect suit to wear. There are so many options for us out there with amazing tailoring suited to women that you can turn up to the party (or the office!) in a fantastic suit. The perfect suit depends on your style, whether you are looking for a colourful addition to your wardrobe or a sparkle-covered option that is perfect for nighttime.

I love this suit from & Other Stories, which incorporates the festive feel with a suit that can work with just the blazer or the full-on ensemble!

As the model wears it with strappy shoes and a black top, you can see that this can keep the piece in a more workwear appropriate feel, but you can go to a more colourful top should you feel a need for colour in your outfit, or wearing a bright pair of heels. The jacket and trousers are in velvet, so they are more suited for this colder time of year, so I wouldn’t recommend it for Spring or Summer! There’s also this amazing gold sequined long lined blazer from Dundas for those of you looking to stand out at the party. You could wear it over a little black dress, or with black trousers and a shirt for a muted option when you remove the blazer!

Another option is to add the sparkle with a spectacular gold sequinned top and pair it with black wide leg trousers to keep the statement at the top. This gold sequinned top from Alice & Olivia is sure to be a top that is perfect for a party or an evening dinner for the festive season. I love the way this has been styled with trousers and heeled strappy shoes, but you can add a touch of gold to pair with the top on the shoes or with your accessories such as earrings or bracelets. If you choose to wear your hair up, which I think is a great way to wear a high neck piece, add more detailing with your earrings too.

For the elegant sparkle top look, I love this deep blue cropped top from Zara, it works well with high waisted trousers or even a skirt, depending on the occasion. The v-neck back is a lovely detail, and helps to keep you feeling work-appropriate but with a little sexiness too. The variety of night sky colourings are truly beautiful.

The Metallic Dress

If sequins just aren’t your thing, then metallic is a great sparkly option without the sequins. There are lovely range of options out there, including this long ruffle dress in metallic gold by Modern Rarity from John Lewis which is a comfortable yet party-ready option. For a classic style and shape, this metallic dress from John Lewis still shows off your figure and fashion, with a fun party feel whilst still working for non-parties too when dressed right!

The muted tones with the touch of silver works perfectly for the festive party.

For a sexier look, this gold metallic slip style dress  from Zara is a great date night option, perhaps not quite as appropriate for a works do! You could, however, pair it with a pair of patterned tights to keep you warmer for this time of year.

For a gala or black-tie event, you cannot go wrong with a metallic dress, and this one shouldered statement piece by Dundas is the perfect option. It may feel a little over the top, but it’s Christmas party season after all, and if you can’t wear it now, then when?! Let the dress do all the talking and pair with a black shoe, with your hair up to show off your shoulder.

Patterns Perfect for Parties

And my last foray into the perfect party dress is using a festive or fun print on your dress. Stars, stripes, and a multitude of different patterns can be such fun for your outfit.

For a quirky option, you can try out a pattern that may be more suited for a fun and eventful evening! This mini dress with suki tiger pattern by De La Vali is best for a night event, rather than a lunch with colleague, and I love the shine the gold gives to this piece without the need for sequins. If you are looking for a casual option, wear your favourite pumps or even sneakers, but you can dress it up with a pair of black or burgundy heels.

Another patterned option is this black and silver sequinned high neck dress from Warehouse, which can work for a festive party, or even throughout the year for date nights and evening events. The line at the waist works really well to draw you in at the waist and can be paired with tights should it be a chilly evening.

If you prefer a longer length, then a maxi or midi dress can be the right choice for your party. This patterned silk dress by Sandro can be great for any event, and will work well throughout the year, not just for December. The ruffling on the waist helps to accentuate your curves, whilst also making sure you feel confident even after a three-course sit-down dinner!

Whatever the event, you can dress up in something that truly feels “you” without worrying about it making you feel uncomfortable. Whether it is sparkles, metallics, or a pattern that stands out amongst the crowd, I hope you find the piece that you love.

TRANSFORMATIONS IN MINUTES - BUSINESS PHOTOSHOOT CASE STUDIES - SALLIE STONE-BEARNE

In this series, I wanted to showcase the amazing women I recently worked with in a mini-styling and photoshoot session I co-hosted with a photographer in London. We worked together to help women in business use styling, make-up, and professional headshots for their companies.

Today I am sharing how I helped Sallie Stone-Bearne, who is a property finder for disabled clients, during our consultation prior to the make-up and photography session, we went through a few of her thoughts and current preferences. She said she mainly wears formal clothes with a leaning towards grey, blue, black and white. For work she likes to wear skirts with blouses and jackets, but not suits. This more formal requirements is because her day-to-day work means meeting with Directors and CEO’s of companies, and solicitors, with a need to look professional and successful; with the need to look approachable for her disabled clients.

She stated that she wanted to give across a message of professionalism, experience, and approachability through her look.  

What I suggested:

Prior to the session, I had a look through each of the women’s business websites, and shared suggestions for their upcoming photoshoot and make-up session, for Sallie, I suggested that khaki would be an excellent colour for her.

She would be able to use this colour in her blazer on top of a white shirt or blouse.

Why Khaki? Khaki is a half way between green - that symbolize balance, safety, stability and endurance; and brown – which is a friendly yet serious colour, that evokes security, protection, and comfort. It also enhances her eye colour beautifully.

As an underlying reason, it would be an excellent recall with her business name, "branch properties", and the colour would be harmonic with her logo, which is green and brown.

After the session, I was delighted to receive this testimonial from Sallie - “I really enjoyed your styling session, all your support and guidance and you were a fantastic host as well.  I came away feeling confident and happy so thank you both so much for that.”  

When you run a business, you need to be able to portray your personality and brand values within moments, as I hope you can see, these little changes in colour and styling can make a huge difference to the image we give off. I loved being able to help Sallie during this mini-corporate styling session and love the look of her final photo, what do you think?

WHAT IS A WARDROBE EDIT AND PERSONAL SHOPPING EXPERIENCE LIKE?

In this guest post from a client of mine, Hannah Liversidge, she shares her experience of her wardrobe edit and personal styling session with me.

It all started when I was at the realisation that I was hitting a particular age – 30. This year is when I believed I should really start upping my game when it came to having the right style for the occasions I was getting the opportunity to attend. As an entrepreneur, and someone who mainly works from home, I don’t tend to require outfits that are of a corporate style, but with clients I had started to look after, I was heading to their offices on a regular basis, or attending events with them, and found that I was changing my outfit each morning at least 5 times, with the extra stress and hassle that comes with self-confidence and a desired “look” to uphold.

I have struggled with self-confidence issues throughout most of my life, the joys of media and general personal self-doubts, has already plagued my outfit wearing existence, to the extent that I had sometimes just cancelled going to an event due to the worry and stress of dressing for the occasion. This is just not good, I thought, and it had to change.

Upon meeting Stefania in 2018 at a mutual networking event, I was delighted to see a stylist that had real style, flair, and a personal attitude that synergised with me. She used style to show her own personal brand, and I loved it. After considering the need to have a bit of an upheaval and mainly support in knowing how to create outfits that aligned with my own alternative and sometimes quirky style, I decided this was the time to invest in myself, and save myself the daily morning struggle of finding (and ultimately changing) outfits for meetings & networking.

It started with organising the sessions, which was quick and simple, with her organising to come to me directly one week and then us to meet in Oxford Circus the week after. For the wardrobe edit, Stefania turned up with her clothes rack and we ploughed through all my “work appropriate” clothes, trying everything on, with Stefania helping to showcase new ways to wear some items, as well as getting rid of items that just didn’t serve me. This was such a relaxing and eye-opening experience, as I had not seen some of the ways these items could be used and felt they had to be donated!

Throughout the week before the edit and after the edit, we combined forces and style inspiration on a secret Pinterest board, with Stefania taking the lead sharing outfit and item ideas for me to comment on. It was a great way to get inspiration for us both before the personal shopping experience.

The shopping experience started (thankfully) with coffee in John Lewis in Oxford street – and then Stefania got to it! Letting me have the chance to veto items, as well as pushing a few items I would not have ever thought would suit me. It was fantastic as with her style insights and knowledge of which shops would be best for my style personality we went through an array of pieces! We selected the key items that I really loved, including 3 blouses, 2 jumpers, a coat, a pair of leather trousers, and a velvet blazer. I knew these would be investment pieces that not only could I work with one another, but also with the clothes I already had in my now organised wardrobe.

Then came a few extra stores with some accessories and a pair of sustainable jeans from a store I hadn’t heard of before, but actually fit my pear shape! It was a denim dream come true. I can honestly say that the day was an enjoyable experience (and this is not something I usually say about shopping, particularly in London) and it helped me to broaden my mindset for when I go on future shopping trips alone.

People have already complimented me on the outfits I am wearing, and I have completely relaxed into knowing what to wear each day thanks to an organised and useful wardrobe. I highly recommend booking a session with Stefania if, like me, you want to stop starting your day with worry about what the heck to wear, and start feeling like your true self in outfits that not only feel good, but sing your personality too.

PERSONAL STYLIST ADVICE: 4 WAYS TO MAKE A SUSTAINABLE CAPSULE WARDROBE

We could all benefit from making a few environmental changes here and there, including our fashion choices. Here, Steve Cochrane, Managing Director at designer clothing retailer Psyche, gives us his top tips for creating a more sustainable wardrobe.

As Britain becomes more environmentally conscious, consumers have started altering their buying behaviour and investing in more eco-friendly fashion. This year, Pinterest named sustainable fashion as one of the biggest trends of 2019, and clothing companies have followed the demand by encouraging consumers to move away from fast fashion and take a more environmental approach to their clothing. That's why more and more people are deciding to collect a few staple pieces to form a capsule wardrobe that can last for years.

What is fast fashion?

Fast fashion is a term used to describe clothing that's made quickly in order to cater to changing fashion trends. Demand for these pieces is usually high so, in order to manufacture a large volume in a short space of time, they are frequently made cheaply and poorly. This means that they can often become damaged after a few wears, or the trend changes and the pieces soon become unfashionable. So, they're then thrown away, resulting in them being sent to landfill or burned, releasing harmful gases into the atmosphere.

But, how do you go about creating a more sustainable capsule wardrobe? I'll be talking you through the things you'll need to bear in mind when choosing your pieces.

Pick stylish staples

When creating your sustainable wardrobe, stay away from pieces that adhere to fleeting trends. Although they may look great now, in a few months' time something else might be fashionable and you'll stop wearing it. Instead, try to pick out a few stylish staples that you can wear with a number of outfits for years to come. Over time, you'll then be able to create a capsule wardrobe that includes basic pieces that you can mix and match to wear for any occasion.

For men, your staples should include:

·       A crisp white shirt;

·       A well-tailored suit;

·       A pair of smart dress trousers;

·       A white T-shirt;

·       A simple jumper;

·       Jeans in your preferred cut;

·       Smart dress shoes like a pair of brogues or Oxford shoes;

·       A pair of trainers.

For women, your capsule wardrobe should include:

·       A little black dress;

·       A white button-down shirt;

·       Jeans in your preferred cut;

·       A white T-shirt;

·       A smart knee-length skirt;

·       A pair of smart, black trousers;

·       Smart, flat ballet pumps;

·       Minimalistic heels;

·       A pair of ankle or knee-length boots.

Choose eco-friendly materials

When you're on the hunt for a new outfit, you might not think about the materials your clothing is made from, but some are more sustainable than others. Nylon and polyester are man-made and non-biodegradable, so are often considered unsustainable. Instead, look for items made from natural materials like cotton, wool or, even bamboo — extra points if you can find organic versions.

Opt for environmentally-friendly brands

When deciding which brands to go for, you might want to look into their manufacturing processes. Some brands take a more ethical and eco-friendly approach to creating their clothing and, at Psyche, we try to stock names that are doing their bit for the environment.

For example, Hugo Boss has released a range of sportswear that's made from recycled coffee grounds, while Tommy Hilfiger often makes T-shirts from organic or recycled cotton. Popular jeans brand Levi's use their WaterLess manufacturing technique to reuse the water from their production methods, and Nudi Jeans use 100% organic cotton and have replaced their leather patches for paper alternatives. These are just some of the brands that have taken steps towards becoming more sustainable, so it's wise to research companies and their ethics before making a purchase.

Take care of your pieces

When it comes to making your garments last as long as possible, you should be thinking about how you store and care for them. For large pieces like suits, keeping them in a garment bag will help protect them from any dust and wear during storage. For other pieces, hanging them on padded clothes hangers will keep everything in great condition, without stretching out the shoulders. Boots and shoes can be kept as good as new using boot shapers or shoe trees.

Make sure you always wash your clothing according to the label's instructions, especially if a particular piece is dry-clean only. Washing at a lower temperature and hanging your clothes out on the line can not only help prevent damage to your garments, but it'll also mean you use less energy when washing your clothes.

It's clear that consumers are trying to alter their habits to be a little more environmentally-friendly. By following the tips in this guide to pick eco-friendly, staple pieces, you can create a more sustainable wardrobe and help save the planet, and if you’d like some support to get started to creating your sustainable wardrobe, why not book a Wardrobe Edit and Personal Shopping Session with me? It’s a great gift to yourself or someone you love before the Christmas rush!

CASE STUDY – PERSONAL STYLING SESSIONS AND PHOTOSHOOTS FOR BUSINESSWOMEN -HUELAN TRACY CHAU

We had the amazing opportunity once again to assist local businesswomen to create a fully styled business portrait in London, and I wanted to share with you some insights into how I helped reflexologist and therapist, HueLan Tracy Chau.

When she first booked her session, she was sent a full questionnaire, in which I was able to request certain details to help me suggest styling options for her photoshoot, this included requesting her logo, her current favourite styles and colours for clothing, as well as what message she wanted to convey to her clients through her photos.

After receiving her logo, I saw how vibrant and bright it was and to use these dominant colours used throughout her website and logo to help show-off her brand through her styling. The colours she had were magenta, yellow, and light blue, and, by knowing her complexion from having her photo, I suggested that a blue blazer with a white top beneath would be perfect. This is because blue is a colour that evokes trust in people, and her business needs to showcase that she is a trustworthy person from the offset. At the same time she needed to look approachable and professional, which is why I suggested the blue be in her blazer, and her white would be the more relaxed tone within the portrait.

A blazer enabled her to show-off her professionalism, without feeling too formal, with the option to have more casual options such as jersey or wrapped-sleeved blazers which would create a more relaxed look. The blue, I suggested, could be one of two options – either to go for a more sober/serious style and opt for a dark blue; or to use a brighter/lighter shade to be more friendly or empowering, and I left this part up to HueLan Tracy to decide for – it’s always good to have little bits of your own thought process in these sessions to feel most comfortable!

I also suggested a few blazers and tops that would work in her colouring and with a relaxed yet professional style that she could invest in for the shoot.

We didn’t want anything to be too baggy on her, so we used rather more fitted shapes, due to her proportions, and we kept with plain colours so she could stand out in her photo, rather than the clothes taking stage.

After receiving these ideas and fashion advice, HueLan came to a professional photoshoot and met with me prior to the photographer for support in the styling of her outfit and we had a mini-makeup session, in which I helped her understand the best make up for her Deep Winter colouring.

Here is the final look:

It’s always such a pleasure to be able to assist people in business to feel more confident before their headshots. These images are often showcased around multiple locations, not just their own website and Social Media, but when interviews are requested and in other areas of their business life, so they truly need to feel confident and know that the image they are showing to the world really reflects them and their brand.

If you are looking for a little extra support in making sure you reflect your company in the right light prior to a photo session, or would like more in-depth support with styling, please do get in touch.

Personal shopper advice: Princess Diana – Jewellery trends inspired by the people's princess

Princess Diana drove change, and inspired people with her out of the box thinking. And, she started fashion trends that were relatable and accessible to the public. Here, Sarah Buck from pre-owned watch and jewellery retailer Est1897 discusses the jewellery trends led by the princess, and how to wear them.

Princess Diana was an icon in many ways — for example, she did lots of charity work and inspired diverse thinking on a number of topics. But, as well as being loved for her positive impact on society, she was also known for starting trends, particularly with the jewellery she wore.

From her engagement ring that was picked from a catalogue, to her beloved statement chokers, her jewellery was typically unconventional for a princess of the time. But, that's why she was so good at sparking accessory trends, many of which are still around today. In this article, I'll be covering some of the key trends led by the princess, and explaining how you can incorporate these into your modern day looks.

Choose chunky jewellery
Diana commonly wore accessories that weren't expected of her, and her love for chunky jewellery mirrored this perfectly. One of the princess' most-loved pieces was a stunning chunky gold bangle that was versatile enough to be incorporated into her everyday looks, while being loud enough to make a statement when paired with her formal outfits.

But, it's not just wrist accessories that Diana wore in a chunky style. Her enlarged button-back earrings were a hallmark of 80s style and have been revived by those looking for investment pieces.

So, if you're looking to be inspired by the People's Princess' jewellery collection, look for oversized styles that will add a touch of personality to your outfits. This could include large birthstone rings or statement earrings. If you're looking for a unique and high-quality quality jewellery, I would suggest buying from pre-owned retailers, as they seldom have more than one of each product in stock, meaning you'll have a special piece. Or why not see what pieces have a special meaning in your family, such as the bold rings below – one of which was my Mother’s, which brings lovely memories to me each time I wear it.

With chunky jewellery driving accessory trends for Autumn 2019, as reported by VOGUE, you won't struggle to find the perfect pieces to satisfy this trend.

Pick the princess' pearls
Pearls were a signature part of Princess Diana's jewellery collection, making them popular among the public at the time. But, while pearls may typically have been considered old-fashioned, 2019 has brought them back in a big way, meaning you can now add a touch of royalty to your looks very easily.

One of Diana's most iconic pieces was the pearl choker she received as an 18th birthday gift and, during her lifetime, she was spotted with pearl bracelets and earrings, too. But, there are no rules when it comes to merging the princess' style with your own.

Instead of going with simple and classic pearl accessories, you could try picking pieces that combine both modern and traditional influences, like rings or earrings that are decorated with both pearls and other gemstones for an updated take on the princess' style. Look at the set I am wearing in this picture - by vb jewellery design (www.vbjewellerydesign.com) - realised with a mix of pearls, silk threads and horn..it’s modern, original and classy at the same time. It’s a real statement!

Incorporate precious gemstones
It wasn't all diamonds and pearls for the princess. Diana loved getting inventive with her existing pieces, which she tended to repurpose to make completely unique accessories to suit her style. And, this was especially prominent in the chokers she wore, which were usually made from a mixture of elements including diamonds and pearls, as well as coloured gemstones like sapphires and emeralds.

The princess loved to make a statement, and her collection included plenty of gemstones, which are still widely loved today. For example, her dazzling aquamarine ring completed Meghan Markle's second wedding outfit and added the perfect statement style to an otherwise classic look. Similarly, her sapphire engagement ring sparked controversy as it was chosen from a catalogue, but it is now arguably the most famous sapphire ring in the world.

To get the look, opt for oversized gemstone pieces that will get heads turning. This could include sapphires, emeralds, rubies and other precious stones.

Princess Diana was a fashion icon, and many of the jewellery trends she inspired live on with her legacy. Incorporate a touch of luxury timelessness into your jewellery collection with my top three tips — you'll soon have a collection fit for a royal!

If you would like to make a statement with your wardrobe, or would like support in how to create your own style statement, I offer a personal shopping service that will walk you through advice and support with finding the perfect shops and fashion accessories tailored to you.

PERSONAL STYLIST ADVICE - THE PERFECT LITTLE BLACK DRESS FOR EVERY BODY SHAPE

An Autumn/Winter 2019 style update for finding your perfect dress!

Chanel said that a woman must have at least one little black dress in her wardrobe, and I completely agree. I truly believe that a little black dress is, indeed, a staple piece in every woman’s wardrobe.

As the cooler weather sets in, new fashion trends are displayed into the stores! Now we have so many new designs and fabrics to choose from, you may feel a little overwhelmed with the choices you can make for this staple piece. Also, for so many of us, we believe that dresses are for evenings and special occasions only, but what if I tell you that this Autumn you can find the perfect Little Black Dress to suit your lifestyle and your body shape?

If you are looking to find some inspiration for a special event coming up, looking for a stunning piece to wear for date night, or need some inspiration for how to make your Little Black Dress work for more than just special events, then read on for some go-to looks. I’ve been inspired myself by the recent Venice Film Festival and the looks of the stars.

Take the LBD to a whole new level

Hourglass shapes

I love the idea of adding a little toughness to your dress, so this beautiful leather dress from Yves Salomon is a fantastic option for a more casual look for hourglass body shapes. Style it with biker boots and a jacket for a true biker-chic look, and then dress it up with long earrings, stilettos and tights to suit a special occasion. It works perfectly for hourglasses as it accentuates your beautiful small waist and shows off your balanced curves in a great way.

For a more evening-wear ready piece, we can take inspiration by Lady Kitty Spencer, who shows off her curves at the Venice Film Festivals in an elegant yet totally sexy dress – the body-con style mixed with the beautiful overlapping of the fabrics truly draws the eye into her waist with the skirt just becoming a-line after skimming her hips. She has paired it with stunning emerald jewellery, but you can add a statement necklace or earrings to show off your shoulders and bring the eyes to your face.

Triangles (more often known as Pear Shapes)

This beautiful one-shoulder black dress by REISS is perfect for special events, or go all-out, like Barbara Palvin at the Venice Film Festival in this strapless full-length gown– it draws her in at the waist and enhances her natural curves perfectly. You can add a pop of colour with a clutch bag, matching stilettos and, why not a colourful belt to accentuate your waistline even more? You can also turn this into a more casual style with your hair up and flats, pairing it with a pair of jeans or leather jacket. This dress is great for pear shaped women also because the one-shoulder design will add some extra detail to their shoulders and skims across the hips.

Rectangular shapes

The shift dress is taking on a whole new style and this beautiful Ponte dress by John Lewis & Partners is an excellent choice for ladies with a more rectangular (straight waist) shape as it skims the body beautifully. With its little panel details that you can just see in the image below, it adds some definition to your body shape, creating an almost hourglass with the eye. This piece is a great staple as you can dress it up with the right accessories such as gold or silver statement earrings and a clutch; or dress it down with beautiful on-trend trainers and a denim jacket to take it to a more casual style. Its boat-shaped neckline will also pair magnificently with a long detailed (and why not colourful?!) necklace.

For a more demure look, this dress worn by Kate Upton is a great classic style, and one I often recommend. With its wrap-style it accentuates the waist, and has a very sexy slit at the legs!

For oval bodies

If you are looking for a great casual looking black dress for your wardrobe, as an oval shape, this stunning piece from AllSaints, is a great go-to style as it’s added layers skim across your tummy and add a little definition to your top and lower halves. I love the addition of extra detailing on the arms which creates a more casual styling. With this LBD you can style it up with high heels and statement necklace; whilst you can rock it up with leather boots and a classic leather jacket.

To truly stand out, take a leaf from Eliza Scanlen and her beaded dress by Prada, that creates waist definition and complements the body’s natural curves, giving an overall look of class and elegance.

Inverted Triangles

A great day-to-day dress for those of us with an inverted triangle shape is this multiway dress by Boden, particularly in a halter style, as they have styled it on the website, is great. The halterneck style is a go-to for inverted triangles as this particular neckline creates the optical illusion of smaller shoulders, that are typically wider than the hips.

With this dress it would be perfect for date night with the right accessories of high heeled boots or stilettos (whichever you prefer!) all the way to casual days out with trainers and a brightly coloured belt to really cinch in your waist!

If you are looking for more impact and in search of a real occasion dress, this dress worn by Chiara Ferragni is wonderful for inverted triangles as it adds volume to the bottom, balancing the body, it also elongates the top and define the waist. With this dress I’d let it speak for itself with its sparkle and wonderful design, add a pair of black heels and, if you want to truly shine, a statement pair of earrings and your hair up (or on the side as the beautiful Chiara did) to show off your shoulders.

Adding some colour

If black just isn’t your thing, and that’s totally fine – many of us do not actually have the skintone for black – then finding a dress in a colour that suits you is the right way to boost your confidence and have a dress you’ll never want to slip out of! You can also do this with your accessories to brighten up the look, you can never go wrong with a colourful scarf, especially as the weather is cooling down, or create some colour blocking with colourful necklaces, shoes and bags.

If you’re inspired to try out a new LBD for your wardrobe, and would love some help to tackling this staple item, I’d love to help. I offer personal stylist services such as personal shopping, and wardrobe edits to help you take on your day to day activities with confidence.

Transformations in minutes – Business Photoshoot Case Studies – Angela Jarvis

In this series, I wanted to showcase the amazing women I recently worked with in a mini-styling and photoshoot session I co-hosted with a photographer in London. We worked together to help women in business use styling, make-up, and professional headshots for their companies.

Today I am sharing how I helped Angela Jarvis, who is a financial advisor who works in an office, with her environment requiring a formal dress code. To enable her to keep her style formal but workable, she tends to wear dresses or skirts and shirts, but no blazers, in either black or navy, with an aversion to yellow, orange and red. During our pre-session consultation, she stated the message she wanted to give at first sight would be approachable, friendly, and trustworthy.

What I suggested:

Prior to the session, I had a look through each of the women’s business websites, and shared suggestions for their upcoming photoshoot and make-up session, for Angela I suggested she wear something blue. Blue is the colour that evokes calm, trust and also suggests loyalty and integrity. As she advises people on their finances, I believed this would be the best colour for her headshot. I suggested she wear a blue dress, in a quite formal cut, as this is what she usually wears, and the picture needed to reflect this.

She shared pics of a few dresses and I asked her to take a couple with her to the photo session, she brought a casual and a more formal style. 

I also asked her to wear something that, on the contrary, doesn't look right for her: a red top and a white blazer. On the day we took a few shots and here you can see how the right clothes have a huge impact on our attitude, and so the final results.

Where she feels more confident, she has a natural smile and expressions that are just lovely, in the red and white blazer, below, she looks too severe and tense.

In the more casual dress she just doesn't look as professional as she wants to, though the colour is still looking good on her.

  And once again the directions of the photographer have been super important!

When you run a business, or have a team that see clients, you need to be able to portray their personality and brand values within moments, as I hope you can see, these little changes in colour and styling can make a huge difference to the image we give off. I loved being able to help Angela during this mini-corporate styling session and love the look of her final photo, what do you think?

PERSONAL SHOPPER ADVICE: ONLINE SHOPPING VS INSTORE SHOPPING - EXPERIENTIAL RETAIL

As our time becomes more and more precious, many of us are moving to more online shopping, whether it’s for our home, office, or for our clothes, the benefits and perceived ease of shopping online have made a huge shift in customer experience, but what are the benefits?

I wanted to share a few of the pros and cons to taking ourselves out to a store, versus shopping through online sites and apps, as well as the new trends coming through to stores to make the in-store shopping experience completely different to what we may be used to.

Online shopping

The Benefits of Shopping Online:

With online shopping, it can be a huge benefit to your time when you are able to just pick and choose from a huge range of options. The likes of Asos, Jacamo, and other app-based retail stores can be truly enticing to those of us who have very busy lives. These online stores even have options like “next day delivery” and recommended items based on previous purchases you have made, which makes it almost feel like a personalised experience.

The Downfalls of Online Shopping:

Now, as a personal stylist, I see these benefits as an excellent source for my clients who need a specific item that they need urgently (such as for a last minute invitation to a dinner party), or for basic items they know fit and look great. That’s where the big shift happens – you cannot try these items on!

When you are purchasing from online stores you aren’t able to pick up a couple of sizes and try them on to see which one fits best, you just have to hope that the style will work to your figure and not let you down when the package arrives and you try on the purchases in your home. You may feel like trying on at home is a more comfortable option, and I completely understand this, but then you have to go through the returns process, adding more time-sapping excursions to your seemingly time-saving experience.

Shopping in-store

I have some good news for you - the old days of feeling caged in a tiny changing room, heating up as you go in and out of items you have picked up whilst walking through the store, have gone!

The Benefits of Shopping In-Store:

When you head to a retail store, you will not only be able to pick and choose from a great selection of items, but you will also be able to check if an item truly fits, and suits your figure. It also is a great place to be able to find new styles you may not have thought work on you, as you are seeing them hung on a hanger, rather than on a model that may have been photoshopped, when you see it online. Retail stores have a host of different sizing for you to choose from, and you can always ask an assistant for their support if you need to go up or down a size when trying on, rather than having to return an item and hope to receive another in a few days!

If you are going to a retail store, you will also usually have the benefit of being able to visit other stores nearby, as most shops in London are located on high streets with other alternative shops nearby, thus creating an experience that if you can’t find what you are looking for in one shop, there will be plenty of other options that you can try on. Then, when you are all shopped-out, you can visit your favourite café for some time out to enjoy lunch – one of my other favourite things to do!

The Downfalls of Shopping In-Store:

Although I have shared a good number of benefits of shopping in-store, there are, of course, some downfalls. The biggest is that we have to get to the shop to be able to get the clothes, whether you are heading to central London on a train, or have to drive and pay for parking, it does take out time from your day that you may not have had to spend shopping from your living room. Sometimes we need time out of the house, but if you are just not feeling going out to try on clothes and bringing bags back, then online shopping can be the answer, if you are in need of an item for a particular event.

One of the common misconceptions that I hear about shopping in-store is that they are not inviting, and this brings me onto…

Fashion trends – Experiential Retail

Technology and experience are coming a long way when it comes to retail shopping, and the new trend of experiential retail shopping is one I can truly get on board with. From retail stores using virtual mirrors that enable you to “try on” a multitude of items without ever getting changed, to cafes and art being an integral part of retail stores to create a better experience for your shopping trip – shops are working hard to ensure you are relaxed, taken care of, and your shopping experience is one you will want to take your time with.

I love seeing how stores are working to create a new vibe within their stores – The House of Vans in London has created a location space within 30,000 square feet, which houses art, music, BMX, street culture and fashion together in one space that has a skate park, cinema, café, live music venue and an art gallery. The space was designed by skaters, the Vans’ ultimate target audience, and they have truly let the space speak for its fans. They host sessions for BMX riders, and customers are actively encouraged to walk in on the day. This space truly highlights how experiential retail is working to help retail brands and their customers have more than “just a shop”.  

Image via Skateparks

It’s not to say that we should expect skate parks or Afternoon Tea to be available in every shop we enter, but we can begin to see that our experiences when shopping are becoming more and more enjoyable. Retailers see that we want more from the stores we visit, no more warm changing rooms, terrible lighting, and terrible customer service. We want to be understood as customers, and when we enter our favourite store, we should not want to leave.

What do you prefer? Are you an online shop lover, or do you enjoy going to shops and trying on in-person? I’d love to hear from you! If you are worried about where to shop, or are having a wardrobe meltdown, I’d love to help build your confidence with a personal shopping session, this is a step into the world of shopping for yourself that will give you the knowledge and insight into shopping for your style and body shape.

PERSONAL STYLIST ADVICE: THE JEANS - A CROSSOVER PIECE IN EVERYONE'S WARDROBE - FROM LEISURE TO BUSINESS

When you find that perfect pair, you just don’t want to ever take them off. You go out and buy them in every colour, and you keep them until they simply can’t be worn again. You got it, it’s jeans. But can they be more than just a casual wardrobe essential, they can be a fantastic crossover piece to take you from leisure to business.

Quietly laughing from behind your screen? Let me share with you some stylist tips that might change your mind, and enable you to wear those jeans in new ways!  

It’s all about the material

Jeans can have an array of different levels of lycra and cotton to make them less or more stiff. Now, if you are simply looking for comfortable lounge around jeans, then ones with higher lycra can be perfect, however, for the office, a higher cotton content or denim content will help to create a sturdier jean, enabling your jeans to not only look more high end, but also last longer.

If you are just getting used to the transition to stiffer jeans, make sure to wear them a few times before taking them to the office, particularly if you are using high-waisted jeans, that may get uncomfortable if you sit at a desk for a long time.

Colour!

Jeans come in a huge amount of colours, and these can make a big difference to not only on how they look on certain body types, but also how appropriate they are for the office. A deeper colour can definitely bring about a more corporate style to them, with a dark wash or even black jeans being my personal go-to for meetings. If you have a more relaxed work environment, then you can go lighter, but I do advise if you wish to wear your jeans at the office, then don’t go to light wash jeans, they are perfect for more casual outfits.

The shoes can make a big difference

A perfect pair of shoes can make a huge difference to how your jeans look with your outfit. If you have a beautiful pair of white trainers, a stiletto heel, laced up men’s shoes, or a classic brogue, your jeans can be elevated to work perfectly from work to socialising!

Add a suit jacket or blazer

Adding a suit jacket or blazer can work wonders for a pair of denim jeans, and it can truly upgrade an outfit to more suitable for the office. If your office is more casual, but you have meetings to attend, keeping a selection of jackets at the office can be an excellent pre-curser for the need to make your outfit more suitable for business appropriate.

I hope some of these options have inspired you to potentially take your favourite pair of jeans to the office, and if you are looking for more tips on how to style yourself appropriately for a promotion, or new job role, I’d love to help with my corporate styling service.  Many offices nowadays have less of an imposed formal attire requirement for employees, so keep an eye open for what others are wearing around the office and pull this as inspiration if you are worried about what is appropriate for the office.

Transformations in minutes – Business Photoshoot Case Studies – Arantxa De Dios

In this series, I wanted to showcase the amazing women I recently worked with in a mini-styling and photoshoot session I co-hosted with a photographer in London. We worked together to help women in business use styling, colours, and professional headshots for their companies.

Today I am sharing the wonderful Arantxa De Dios, she is a hypnotherapist, NLP Practitioner and Life Coach, who likes to wear smart/casual clothes for work.  Within the catch-up session, I found out that she wanted to give an approachable, professional, warm, empathetic and inspirational feel when she meets people. She found she was mostly drawn to black clothes, but was open to colours that would suit her.

What I suggested:

Prior to the session, I had a look through each of the women’s business websites, and shared suggestions for their upcoming photoshoot and colour analysis session, for Arantxa I suggested wearing something turquoise or emerald green, as she was making a great use of these colours on her website and logo too, this showed to me that she tended to pick them by instinct. Also, they are bright colours that reflect the optimism she wished to evoke in people. 

It is also a half-way between blue - that evokes calm, trust and also suggests loyalty and integrity, and makes people who wear it look approachable; and green - a colour that symbolises harmony, stability, confidence and evokes safety - a winning mix for what she does!

Moreover, I could see that it would really enhance her eye colour, and help them to stand out in the photos.

Depending on the style of her existing items, I suggested to add a necklace or a small foulard, in order to keep her smart-casual but stylish and professional look.

We also took her a photo in an outfit that was far too casual and also strong, and would have "scared" her patients, even if she looks good in it. I wanted to highlight how the choice of our clothes is really important.

When you run your own business, you want to be able to be seen in the light that works best for your clientele, whether it’s a relaxed and inviting energy, or a professional and educated feeling, the styling of your business photos can make a huge difference to the overall look. I loved being able to help Arantxa during this mini-corporate styling session and love the look of her final photo, what do you think?

Transformations in minutes – Business Photoshoot Case Studies – Alison Graham

In this series, I wanted to showcase the amazing women I recently worked with in a mini-styling and photoshoot session I co-hosted with a photographer in London, Cemanthe McKenzie. We worked together to help women in business use styling, colour analysis, and professional headshots for their companies.

Today I am sharing how I helped Personal Trainer for women over 40, Alison Graham. During a consultation prior to the headshot session, we communicated about what she wanted to evoke through her business headshots. She said she wanted to give a message of approachability, professionalism, expertise, and that she was personable. She mentioned she liked wearing pink, and that it was even on her logo, and being able to use this in her photo would be helpful to keep the branding in line.

What I suggested:

Prior to the session, I had a look through each of the women’s business websites, and shared suggestions for their upcoming photoshoot and make-up session, for Alison I suggest wearing something Magenta - not too bright nor too baby pink – this was taken from her logo. Pink in general is a very feminine colour and as she  works with women, it was a great colour to help her promote this part of her business in a gentle way. It also is a colour that evokes harmony and emotional balance, it is a spiritual but also practical colour, which is in line with her business too!

 As she is a personal trainer, we were conscious of being able to show a professional look, but that she is providing a personal training solution – I suggested a magenta blouse to help create this look for her business photo.

Before and After

When you run your own business, you want to be able to be seen in the light that works best for your clientele, whether it’s a relaxed and inviting energy, or a professional and educated feeling, the styling of your business photos can make a huge difference to the overall look. I loved being able to help Alison during this mini-corporate styling session and love the look of her final photo, what do you think?

Transformations in minutes – Business Photoshoot Case Studies – Wendy Johnstone

In this series, I wanted to showcase the amazing women I recently worked with in a mini-styling and photoshoot session I co-hosted with Cemanthe McKenzie, a photographer in London. We worked together to help women in business use styling, colour, and professional headshots for their companies.

Today I am sharing how I helped Wendy Johnstone with our corporate styling and colour sessions. Wendy is a virtual operations manager who works from home and sometimes visits clients at their offices. When she meets with clients, or attends networking events, she said she liked to wear smart/casual attire, but still remain comfortable.

We spoke about the message she wanted to portray through her business photos, and she said she wanted to be approachable, supportive, professional, warm and confident. She mentioned “I do tend to feel a little lost with what looks good both style and colour. My safe colour is black, though I know this may not be the best option for me”.

What I suggested:

Prior to the session, I had a look through each of the women’s business websites, and shared suggestions for their upcoming photoshoot and make-up session, for Wendy, I looked at her green and white logo which gave me inspiration for assistance with her business headshots. I thought a white shirt and colourful necklace would be the best option for Wendy, as she wanted to look professional but not too formal. A classic white shirt is professional, indeed, and wearing it with a necklace would make it more casual and less formal. Also, it would match her logo and if she thought her professional picture will appear close to her logo, on her social media and website, it'd be important to create a harmony between colours.

I looked deeper into the colours and with white being a neutral colour, which expresses approachability, it is also pure, and It creates a sense of order and efficiency, which reflects the basics of her work. It could be a warmer shade, like ivory or creamy white. 

The addition of a colourful necklace, in the autumn warm colours she likes to wear, would add the "confidence" look she was searching for, and also the warmth detail that is missing in a white shirt.

She sent pics of a creamy blouse that I thought would be perfect, then she asked to wear something on top to cover her arms, and we agreed on a beige/brown blazer to ensure her comfort. As for the necklace, I suggested to buy one from Oliver Bonas, which she wore in the final shot.

Obviously, when she arrived she was wearing black (as this is her safe colour, like she explained) and we took a photo of her before in black, and after, wearing what I suggested.

I love seeing the before and after looks, and you can see how the photographer’s placement makes a huge difference too!  

When you run your own business, you want to be able to showcase your personal brand to your clients in the right way, and styling within your business photos is essential to the final look. I loved being able to help Wendy during this mini-corporate styling session and love the look of her final photo, what do you think?

LIFE OF A PERSONAL STYLIST: MY INTERVIEW PUBLISHED IN XEL MAGAZINE

XEL Magazine just published my interview and I am very excited to share it here

Stefania Bartolomei and her journey to tailor-made success with One of a Style

At XEL Magazine we are celebrating independent business owners with our very own Independence Week. Issue #3 is all about recognising the success of independent business owners on their journey to entrepreneurial success.

We chatted with Stefania Bartolomei who is the business owner of One of a Style, a company based in London which recognises the customer's needs when tailoring fashion to their own individual style and needs.

How do you plan on taking your company forward? Have you got any exciting plans?

I have many exciting plans, like workshops and events! I prefer to keep the details secret for now, but I can tell you that one of my upcoming project is to write a book, that will be very different from all the styling books written so far!

What inspired the name of your company?

My business name plays with the words “one of a kind” and “style”. I believe that everyone is unique, so their style can be unique as well. I wanted to give a clear message, that I really work for clients and that my consultations are truly based on clients' personality, lifestyle and look, and not on fashion trends or on my own style.

What is your backstory? What inspired you to start your own company?

I have a background in fashion. I studied at University of Fashion in Florence (Italy) to start working straightforward in fashion companies, from textile to apparel. I loved fashion for its creativity, and the infinite combinations that can be created with fabrics, colours and shapes! The fashion world is very complicate, though, and very often you are judge for what you wear, how you look and even what you eat, rather than for your abilities.

So, after a while I started feeling that I wasn't fitting in that world any more, and that I wanted to start working on the customers' side! Besides, I always had a natural attitude to help people with their look and shopping choices, and after some researches I found out that I could make a real profession out of it! So in 2011 I attended a first course in personal fashion styling, at the London college of Fashion, yet it took me 5 years to take the courage to quit my job, move to London and start my own business.

Has it been a long journey to get to where you are today?

Well, not really, if you consider that when I moved to London I didn't know anybody and that, in the meantime, I've also become mom! Running a business is difficult, it requires great determination, original ideas and, of course, knowledge (while many believe with just passion you can go everywhere!), but play the cards well, the results can arrive very soon. This is what happened to me, thankfully!

What advice could you give to aspiring entrepreneurs?

Well, I see many people giving up at the first difficulties, so my greatest advice for them is: If you really have passion for something, do everything you can to make it happen! It is very important to do what we love, and to love what we do in life! But you need to be prepared and ready for a journey that is not going be easy.

How would you say your business is different compared to other’s in the same sector?

I have a strong background in fashion and a great understanding of fabrics and garments, and with my consultations I offer true valuable advice to my clients, that not everyone has the chance to give. Also, I believe that my Italian origin gives me a natural sense of style and good taste. So combinations that are very easy for me to create, for instance, are absolutely surprising for my clients..

What has been the highlight of your business career so far?

Well I have to say I've had many important and rewarding moments, but one that I remember with great fulfilment is when, as new mom, and still breastfeeding, I accepted a request from a client. I was feeling nervous at first, after months of maternity leave and also because I had to take the baby with me (surprised? This is London and that's possible!) but she insisted on working with me and I thought it could have been the opportunity for me to slowly get back to work.

Not only I've been able to manage the sessions, the whole experience went incredibly well and after just a few weeks the client texted me saying that she was feeling much more confident, she was getting many compliments on her look and also finally was dating someone (what she wanted to achieve with my consultation)! The incredible thing is that, while usually I help clients to feel more confident thanks to my advice, that time I felt more confident myself and, even if challenging, it gave me a great push to get back to do what I love!

Where do you plan on taking your business?

I most certainly will get to train aspiring stylists one day, maybe I'll set up an agency in collaborations with other professionals..who knows? But at the moment I am happy to work with clients myself, I still feel like I want to be in first line.

It's looking to be an exciting time for Stefenia and we look forward to seeing what's next on her fashion journey to tailor-made success.

PERSONAL STYLIST ADVICE: THE MILLINERY - FROM ROYAL ASCOT TO WEDDINGS - A WAY TO COMPLETE YOUR OUTFITS TO PERFECTION

Royal Ascot and Wedding Season are in full swing, and if you are anything like me, you will have seen countless fantastic outfits for the big occasions, but you may be wondering how to top off the whole ensemble and considering one of the stunning fascinators you have seen, but how can you make them work for you?

A fascinator is an eclectic headpiece that can be worn with a hair clip or comb and can work to replace a hat or headband to truly create an elegant and demure look. They can work for long and short-hair and come in array of wonderful statement or more minimal styles. I am delighted to showcase a few inspiring pieces that have been created by the amazing milliner, Vivien Sheriff.

Add some colour

One way a fascinator can be used is to add a pop of colour to your outfit. Often, we are requested to follow a certain styling when attending special events such as Royal Ascot, and to keep within this style you do not want to go too over the top with your styling. A fascinator, such as the one below, can be an excellent choice to keep a minimal look, whilst still standing out with a one-of-a-kind style. I love this colour, and it can work beautifully with cream, white, or black outfits, and for the brave dresser, it would work well with purple, too.

This style is perfect for long and short hair, and I love how it has been styled with a ponytail and off-shoulder top, as it enables the skin to be shown, whilst the face is slightly covered with the beading.

Incorporate some height!

For my petite clients, they love to be able to add height in any area, and that can be wonderfully done by a piece that adds height through structure and feathers.

The asymmetry of this stunning fascinator is perfect for a side-fringe or side-ponytail look, and its colours can work beautifully with most outfits. You must, of course, consider if the white and cream is appropriate for a wedding, as not all brides are welcome to the same colour, but I am finding that more and more couples are open to white being worn by other guests, and even seeing brides going for full colour gowns! I think this style is perfect for women who are looking to add some height to their body, and I love the rose-gold accents!

Go all-out

With a fascinator, you can go all out with a fantastic look, and this is a piece that will definitely turn heads. It makes me think of the wonderful scene in Pretty Woman, where Julia Roberts wears a stunning sun-hat and takes to the races in a bubbly and yet still elegant way. I think the styling shown here with this hat is perfect – keeping a monotone style, a deep v-neck long sleeved dress, and keeping the outfit truly minimal, so the hat can steal the show.

This piece may be slightly more difficult if you are attending a sit-down wedding, so do be conscious of those behind you! It is truly perfect for women who know that a black dress is an essential item for a formal event.

Garden Party Chic

If you are attending an outdoor wedding, then a floral touch will never go amiss! Elegant creams and light pink tones are perfect for the British spring and summertime, especially if you know you are attending a wedding or special occasion in the stunning countryside.

Again, the way in which this has been styled helps to create a beautiful demure look, with the monochromatic styling, pink colour on the lips and matching pink high neck dress, helps to keep the look fresh and young. If you are a younger woman, looking to take your first foray into wearing these exceptional hats, then I highly recommend something floral and fun, such as this one from Vivien Sheriff – it’s approachable, fresh, and not too over the top to make it difficult to dress.

I hope these pieces from Vivien Sheriff, help inspire you on how to style a head-piece such as a fascinator, and if you need any inspiration or support, please do get in touch.  I offer a range of services to help men and women prepare their outfits for such events, to help you create a look that you will feel amazing in.

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: THE WAISTCOAT – A STAPLE IN ANY MAN’S WARDROBE?

I recently was helping a couple plan their outfits for their wedding day, and they were sharing that they wanted a slightly more relaxed feel to the occasion, and were looking for a way to make sure the groom looked smart, but not over dressed, so he could still feel like himself. After a little bit of discussion, I recommended the use of a waistcoat and suit trousers, rather than a full suit, and we decided this was the perfect solution. This got me thinking – are there more ways to use a waistcoat in your day to day life? Perhaps it’s an item that men nowadays steer clear of, apart from on special occasions?

I like to think that the waistcoat can be a staple in any man’s wardrobe, as it not only helps elevate any outfit, but bridges the gap between casual and formal. But how can you start using this item in your everyday life?

Consider the fabric

Fabric is a key element in helping make a waistcoat turn from highly formal, to more casual and approachable. Often, we only look at the matching suit pieces when it comes to a waistcoat, but there are so many other options in terms of colour, fabric, and style out there to help create a more relaxed feel to your outfit. If you take a brightly coloured waistcoat, with a suit jacket, it can make your outfit feel brighter and filled with personality.

Other excellent options for helping make the waistcoat more approachable are knit or tweed, as well as patterned styles or more muted tones to help make the waistcoat more versatile within your wardrobe.

The shirt can make a huge difference

If you’re looking at your whole ensemble, you may not be thinking about how the shirt you wear under your waistcoat can completely change the way your waistcoat looks on you. I have seen some excellent examples of dressing down the waistcoat with a fun shirt. I love the idea of mixing a denim shirt under an open waistcoat, as below, which helps to upscale the shirt, but keep the whole look more laid back.

The same goes for a patterned shirt, bringing some personality to your outfit with florals, stripes, or an unexpected pattern to help elevate the whole look!

The trousers

As with the shirt, your trousers can make a big difference to the way in which you dress your waistcoat. If you are going for the formal look, you can’t go wrong with a pair of suit trousers, perfectly tailored to fit you. However, you can dress down the outfit with a pair of slacks or jeans, where the waistcoat helps to ensure your look is not too casual! I love the idea of having a waistcoat with jeans and trainers, bringing a gentleman’s look up to just the right level of formality to work for meetings with long-term clients, and casual enough for drinks with friends. Another great way to help dress down the suited and booted look, is to use a different colour for your suit trousers, perhaps a lighter colour to the waistcoat.

The shoes

Finally, another part of the outfit which can be overseen is the shoes! Whether it’s for the wedding crew, or for yourself on a day out and about, your shoes can totally transform the look of your outfit. Consider dress shoes for totally upgrading your outfit to a fully formal style, but then changing to a brown boot or even trainers, and you have completely transformed the style of the look, helping to dress down your look.

I hope this has shown you the great versatility that the waistcoat can have, and helps to inspire you to perhaps add one (or maybe a few!) to your staple wardrobe, helping you to dress up or down to suit any occasion, whilst truly transforming your look!

If you are wondering how to take your first steps into using this key item, or would like assistance in how to help you upgrade your wardrobe, I would love to help, with my personal styling consultations or personal shopping service, to give you the confidence to dress comfortably and with your true self.

PERSONAL STYLIST ADVICE: BACK TO WORK - HOW TO CREATE AN EFFICIENT CAPSULE WARDROBE AND SAVE TIME TO DRESS UP EVERY DAY

You may have heard the term “Capsule Wardrobe” and thought that it was an unachievable minimalist idea, with only a handful of people that can keep to the same options whilst mixing up the styling? Well, what if I told you, having this type of capsule wardrobe (or multiple capsules you rotate, for those of us who love to pick new items each season), can save you time, stress and hassle in the morning, which is something I treasure now I am a working Mum!

If you are going back to work, then now is a great time to start working on a capsule wardrobe for your day to day workwear. As you will have seen in a previous blog, a blazer is my go to item which can work hard to upgrade any outfit, so I advise having a few of these for you to easily be drawn to in the morning. I find that for the most important work meetings, brands such as Distinctively Me Clothing are a perfect brand, as they create made-to-measure pieces that work to suit your unique body.

How to save yourself time in the morning: Plan Ahead

As a personal stylist what I'd suggest to do is to divide your wardrobe in different sections (workwear/leisure/eveningwear) and then take photos of the different outfits, starting with the clothes for work, creating all the possible combinations – this can be a great fun exercise to do, as you’ll be surprised by the amount of combinations you can have! Photos can be archived in a folder or on Pinterest, as having them saved in a place with easy access can really make life easier when deciding what to wear, in the morning rush. It may feel like this can take a lot of time in the beginning, but the great thing is all the time you save each morning wondering what to wear, stressing about the outfit combination for the day.

During this process I also suggest you identify the so-called cross over pieces (those pieces with a multi-function, that can be worn on more occasions), that can be considered for "multi packs" purchases, maybe in different colours. This really helps to make both shopping and wardrobe organisation easier.

I, for instance, buy all my basic t-shirt from INTIMISSIMI. I have exactly the same style in different colours. I feel comfortable, they fit me well, they last ages, so there's no point for me to waste time going around in search for other basic t-shirts now I have my perfect staple tee. Then I change the different combinations to make my outfits different every day. I apply the same process with my jeans - mine are all from the same brand, LIU-JO, but in different styles and colours. Once you find a brand or brands that fit you perfectly, I always suggest visiting these shops throughout the seasons to find and invest in the key pieces you need for your outfits, as you know straight away that their fit is perfect for your body type.

Keep it seasonal

One of the best ways to keep your wardrobe out of the stress and into the more organised and inviting world, is to seasonally organise your clothes. As Summer comes along, I have put all of my thick woollen clothes, and heavy jackets in vacuum pack bags and put them away, to help keep me focused on the clothes that are more weather appropriate (of course, I keep a few of my favourite jumpers in the wardrobe, as in London, we will always have some rain!). When we head into Autumn, my Spring and Summer wear will all have the same treatment, as I repopulate my wardrobe with warmer items. This is a great time to take stock and remove any pieces which you didn’t wear, didn’t love, or just don’t fit any more. Being a new Mum, I have come to realise that my body will change thanks to the wonder of having my child, so there is no need to keep old clothes which don’t fit me, and which don’t make me feel confident, strong, empowered, and a little sexy!

Don’t forget your accessories

You may feel that having a wardrobe with less clothes, means less options for your workwear outfits, but accessories make a huge difference to an outfit. Invest in some key pieces of jewellery, scarves, bags, and wonderful shoes that work with your workwear, to help keep a freshness to your wardrobe. You can also use things like mismatching blazer and bottom sets, co-ords, and even use a dress as a shirt where you feel comfortable!

If, like me, you are lucky enough to have an amazing nursery, then dropping of my child there means I can have a smaller bag than I need on days out with him, however, if you take your child to work with you, a big backpack or a couple of bags for work and for childcare can be an effective solution!

Most of all, when it comes to creating any outfits, you need to stay true to yourself. If you feel empowered and comfortable whilst wearing a 2 piece suit, or feel fantastic in a dress, work your workwear wardrobe around what you feel best in – your mornings are busy enough as it is, so I hope these tips help you create a capsule wardrobe and save time in the mornings as you get back into the swing of going to work, and if you’d love to have some extra help, I offer a selection of services, including my Mumhood Styling, as well as my Wardrobe Detox service which will take the stress away from your morning dressing routine.

The images in this article were kindly shared with me by the wonderful clothing brand Distinctively Me who specialise in creating made-to-measure workwear for women.

EVENTS: MET GALA 2019 - DRESSING FOR A THEME

It happened again, each year the stars come together for the fashion-forward event of the year – The Met Gala. Now, you may think this is just an event to get the most over-the-top looks photographed, but it is also a huge event for raising money for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York, which is an excellent reason for having such eccentric and quirky outfits.

How can we be inspired by events such as this? Well, if you are invited to attend special events, oftentimes they may add a theme to the event, this may only be that it is a black tie with a theme for the venue, but other times, a theme for the fashion may be implemented also. This can feel a little overwhelming for sure – how can you find the perfect outfit to suit the requirement, what can you wear to stand out for the right reasons - and much more, and many can feel the same in day to day life, as well as evening events.

When it came to this year’s Met Gala, the theme shared with the guests was “Camp – Notes on Fashion” and I loved how varied and colourful the outfits were. As always, there were fashion statements that the likes of those of us without relationships with high-end designers who can donate their clothing, would not be able to invest in, but it did show-off some of the amazing changes in the fashion world.

One thing I truly loved was the way many of the men dressed – showing off the androgynous way fashion can be taken, for example, Ezra Miller wore a bejewelled under-bust corset under a pinstripe suit, with a stunning bold red lip, and incredible multi-eye look! The way he truly embraced the male and female fashion styling was so on point for not only the theme, but also a style many men can now have a dip into. I’m not saying you have to go all out and add a bustier to your wardrobe (but you could if the event called for it!) but do not feel that your gender defines what you must wear.

via @Plastik on Instagram

Another trend I noticed within the Met Gala attendees was the glamorous eyelash trend which was best shown by Lady Gaga, with her gold 3D eyelashes and rhinestone under-eye jewellery. This trend isn’t an everyday item, of course, but it can be a fun way to add jewellery in a new way! If you want to be a little more demure with your face jewels, you could opt for your favourite metal in a quirky earring or necklace, a metallic eye-liner, or start with fake eyelashes to open up the eye.

via @Gaganetwork on Instagram

If you feel this may still be a little too far, then you could take inspiration from the beautiful look of Lucy Boynton, who not only used little jewels around her eyes to imitate the large eyelash trend, but also added very cute bejewelling to her nails and fingers. This is a great way to upgrade your look without feeling like you are taking too much attention on yourself – nails are easy to update, as well as help to upgrade your overall outfit, without committing to too much of an investment. I think her entire outfit was beautiful, with a more hippy take on the Camp theme. She looked comfortable, appropriate, and polished, whilst staying true to her own personal style – something to remember for any event you attend – stay true to your own style, do not feel you have to change!

Image via @LucysBoynton on instagram

If you are feeling overwhelmed by a theme for an upcoming event, or are unsure how to keep to your personal style and be suitable for a special occasion, then I do hope this has shown to you that you can continue to stand out and be true to yourself, without detracting from the theme or your own style. If you would like any help to prepare, and plan out your whole look, I would love to help.