Simples...

I'm sorry to quote a meerkat but there are times when it is too easy to over complicate and become wrapped up in making style (which is fundamentally different from fashion) more complicated than it needs to be.
Fashion is complicated there are allegiances, multi faceted looks with historical references to lines of the past, there are egos in play that must be satisfied and there is always the smallest feeling that whilst the Emperor may not be without clothes, the ones he does have, are well a bit weird.  Fashion is about trend and a fundamental understanding of what you should and should not wear, it's about magazines full of glossy girls and wind machines.  I have a deep seated and unshakeable love of fashion but it's not what I go to my wardrobe every morning to wear.
For this I look to style and that lives in the realm of elegant simplicity.  It is about balancing function and fashion, as well as to a certain extent knowing your limitations or putting the tools in place that ensure you're limitations are not only minimised but start to work to your advantage.  So with this in mind lets talk limitations and simple fixes.

1. I can't walk in heels
This is a skill and like all skills if you want to you can learn how, through trial and error, or through the time saving and sensible option - find someone to teach you. www.perfectlypoised.co.uk currently in Bristol but I'm pretty sure it's about to role out over the globe, this is one service that I absolutely say is worth jumping on the band wagon.  There is nothing less stylish than tottering and there is nothing more depressing than constantly trying to wear something that you can't.  How many pairs of shoes in your cupboard collect dust, rather than memories? However if you can't wear heels for medical reasons it's not a disaster, a flat shoe can be as, if not more beautiful than a heel, it's just about making the right choice for you and your feet.

2. I've put on/lost weight
Firstly you need to look at the hard truth, can you change the current state of affairs?  If your clothes are hanging off you, is that what you wanted to happen?  If your clothes are digging into you, do you have the time or the inclination to undertake the necessary steps to fix it?  If it is what it is, then you need to build yourself a new wardrobe that makes you feel comfortable in your skin again.  The key to feeling stylish is accepting who and indeed what you are.  If you do want to return to your previous size then do yourself a favour, buy 1 thing that truly fits you now and makes you feel great - to give you the confidence and impetus to get back to feeling as you should.  It will also work as a first step, everything has to have a start and I truly believe that starting on a treat or positive works.  Notice I didn't say feeling like you used to, that ship has sailed, even if you return to the same size you will feel differently about it.  Never try to go backwards, it's harder. (Anyone who's ever seen me reverse will tell you how hard)

3. I'm out of proportion
Rubbish!  You are perfectly proportioned you just need to teach yourself a few tricks.  The worst thing you can do is actively try to hide things, it never works out.  If you throw a tarp over an elephant, it still looks like an elephant.  But if you set off fireworks on the other side of the room, People ask, "What Elephant?"  Draw attention away from the things you don't like, to the things you do.  The art of illusion is your best friend.  Personally, I would prefer if no one noticed the fact that thanks to significant weight loss my lower stomach is comprised of the excess skin that used to cover my expansive torso (please excuse the graphic description), so I wear higher waisted jeans and have accepted that tight t shirts are not my friend.  I draw the audiences focus higher, I don't wear nothing but baggy tents that hang from the neck, so that my entire body is covered and then looks bigger.

4. I hate my legs/arms/boobs

See answer to number 3, oh and get over it!  There is nothing wrong with your body, it's yours.  I know,  I've gone too far in the keeping it simple.  There is not a person alive without a legitimate complaint but having said that there aren't many things that can't be overcome in some way and the first and easiest step is to stop hating what you can't change - it takes so much energy which could be used elsewhere, like finding a solution.

5. I don't know where to shop

A common complaint from every client I have ever had.  We go where we are comfortable and as a result miss so many opportunities.  Indulge me for a moment, if each shop has 500 different items of clothing in them and a single High Street has 5 shops that service your gender, that's 2500 options or possibilities.  "That sounds like a lot of effort to find something."  You're right but if you are reading this you have internet access, which means you can shop in your PJ's, which is no effort at all and there are a list of sites on here which have amazing clothes and easy return policies.  Go somewhere different!  It's the easiest way to get yourself out of a rut.

Think of your "limitations" as opportunities.  Style is at it's best when you choose your own, whatever it may be.  It is the act of making the choice that will help you achieve a style.

Getting it....

I've discovered the need for direction and as I've always said if you don't have a plan, hitting the wall becomes much more likely.  Obviously in my case due to the fact my spacial awareness can be a little off, it's almost a guarantee.  One of the things I've learnt in the last little while is that the mistakes we make tend to be general.  (However unique we all think we are.)  We might make them for different reasons but the outcome is the same.  That outcome is simply not reaching our potential.  So what is this big mistake that I'm referring too...

The Right Fit

In the last 6 months nearly every style report I have written started with the words, the size you should be wearing is... We get caught up in who we used to be and sometimes the last vestige of that is the tag in the back of your clothes.  Now this may sound unlikely but it's actually men who are the worst for this.  They'd rather have a suit jacket 4 inches wider than they are, than admit that the atlas like shoulders of their youth are now residing a little further south.  Not realising that the only person they are fooling is the man they see in the mirror.  I know boys it's a hassle to ask for help, but trust me when I tell you that clothes that fit will make you look taller, thinner and younger.  As far as I'm concerned a good fit is the magic elixir we all search for.

Have you ever gone on a diet or signed up with a trainer because it/they promised you'd lose 10 pounds in a week.  What if I told you, you could lose 10 pounds in an hour?  That is what the 'Right Size' will do.  I promise it is worth the ten extra minutes in a fitting room to check an alternative.  

Don't believe me?  Ask yourself this question, can you name one television presenter that wears baggy clothing?  I'll give you a little time to think about it....The only one I could think of was Sir Patrick Moore, and he's a lot of things but no one's style icon (honestly, follow the link and check if you are still doubting me).  

Fit is so important, more so than colour or fabric or cost.  Because if it doesn't fit, the best you can hope for is to feel that you have achieved the goal of ensuring you won't be arrested for indecent exposure.  For example, I recently told a client he needed some good quality t-shirts, he bought Tesco T-shirts 2 for £5, but the kicker is they fit him perfectly and as a result stand up next to a much more expensive brand choice.  I can't and won't argue with that (he expected me to) but how could I respond with anything but what a great buy.  No they aren't the softest cotton that was ever woven into fabric, but the point is to look good without bankrupting yourself, so Mission accomplished.

Focus on the fit, style will come naturally from there.

Cardigans aren't just for hangovers

At this time of year the weather changes faster than you can think, well lets be honest living in the UK that's the story all year round.  Conversely there is nothing more annoying than either carrying or sweltering inside a bulky jacket when the weather takes a turn for the better - a time to celebrate rather than be irritated in my opinion.  So this pre-season instead of just thinking of knitwear as a cosy jumper take a moment to remember the cardigan.

Historically when thinking of cardigans many people immediately think of hungover Sunday mornings, curled up on the Sofa watching a tv marathon, they tended to be oversized with a mystery stain and an unexplained hole or 2.  But cardigans seem to have gone through something of a regeneration, I would push you strongly to play with the lengths and fabric weights to find the right one that works for you.  The idea is to avoid adding unnecessary bulk, whilst having the opportunity to cover up a little more.  I tend to wear a cardigan if I'm feeling that my hips have become oversized as a way of splitting my sihouette, so that I create the illusion of a slimmer line.  I know models are all skinny but I hope the images help illustrate my point, the first image particularly shows what great camouflage a cardigan can be.

If you do want a bulkier weight cardigan so that you maintain the snuggling option, I would recommend something like the electric blue option as the de constructed nature of the lines will still create the illusion of a waist and feminine shape.  See how the lapel almost becomes an arrow, highlighting the smallest part of the model.  It's a nifty trick to use your clothes to create lines of sight to literally point at what you want people to look at so they are distracted from the things you would like them to ignore.

Noodling Around

I know it has been many days, some may say weeks but I have been noodling around and you know what happens when I do that I get ideas.  In this case big ones, it's a new season and there are some masterpieces out there just waiting to be discovered.  This season is all about Luxury, when isn't Winter about lush fabrics that warm the heart.

So I thought today I'd share with you a few of my motivations, not just for this season but really just how I feel about what I do and the best way to help my clients achieve there goals:

"It’s a new era in fashion - there are no rules. It’s all about the individual and personal style, wearing high-end, low-end, classic labels, and up-and-coming designers all together."

— Alexander McQueen

"Don’t be into trends. Don’t make fashion own you, but you decide what you are, what you want to express by the way you dress and the way you live."

— Gianni Versace

"I have always believed that fashion was not only to make women more beautiful, but also to reassure them, give them confidence."

— Yves Saint Laurent 

"While clothes may not make the woman, they certainly have a strong effect on her self-confidence — which, I believe, does make the woman."

— Mary Kay Ashe

“What fun is it being cool if you can't wear a sombrero?” 
― Bill Watterson

You can switch around your pronouns as in fairness these are all as true for a woman or a man.  Also it has been pointed out to me from the cheap seats that you can replace sombrero with the head ware of your choice (I chose a spirithood).  As with all new seasons there are the old favourites, the trend staples which come back time and again but this season there are a few delightful surprises, for example Florals aren't going into moth balls until March but have become the Hot house rose of AW13, bolder and brighter and refusing to be ignored.

If the suit fits...

Which lets be honest in most stores on the High Street it won't.  Maybe you are one of the lucky few who can put on a relatively cheap suit and make it look like an investment piece, well done!  I'm not jealous, I'm just not that person, partly because of a few slight OCD tendencies but mostly because I fundamentally don't believe that 'good enough' is in anyway good enough for me or my clients.  The good news is that the rules are true for all, the fit is obviously different for all but the way you achieve it is the same.  So the top 5 rules to getting it right....

1.  Jacket length - It never ceases to amaze me how many individuals get this wrong, where your jacket ends is where the 'viewers' attention will be drawn as a result why not draw that attention to the good bits, whatever you consider them to be.  Get it right and you will lose 10lbs and grow at least an inch, get it wrong and you may as well wear the bag the suit came home in.
2.  Defer to the knowledge of others - You will never see yourself clearly in 360 degree technicolour, so why not ask the opinion of someone who can.  Dare I say it someone who spends all day everyday fitting people in suits and may have a better idea of the stock than you ever will.  Or if you find yourself the disappointed owner of a box suit, a tailor who can turn it into something special.
3.  Black is not the only colour - I know all the images are of black suits, but there are other choices you can make.  A navy or grey will look less harsh and offer you far more in the way of Sartorial options.  My word to the wise though is that you must be careful of the fabric as the last thing you need in your life is a suit that looks old and tired before you are finished with it.
4.  Make sure your patterns match up - My personal 'bug bear' is pinstripes where the seam breaks the line. Particularly on the shoulder seam as this is just lazy construction, it's amazing how many times you see this and I'm sorry if you check your seams and it ruins the suit for you.
5.  Each component part must be able to stand alone - A suit is an outfit but you should be able to wear the jacket with jeans and the trousers or skirt alone, in order to maximise it's potential wear.  This depends entirely on fit.  A badly fitted suit jacket when worn with jeans will look like a box, and actually be quite unflattering but the better the fit the more likely the potential that it can become a smart casual addition to your wardrobe as well as a classic work staple.

If nothing else focus on the fit, do not let your suit wear you.

A little advice from me to you....

Most people think that a personal shopper is a luxury they can't afford, which I do understand but I thought I would suggest 10 things you can afford less than me

• Spending one day in an uncomfortable suit or shirt 
• Buying a garment simply for its label 
• Traipsing from store to store searching for the Golden Goose 
• Confusing style with fashion 
• Owning a closet full of forgettable clothes 
• Confusing value with price 
• Being "helped" by a salesperson on commission 
• Sacrificing style, fit, or fabric in tailoring 
• Being less than well dressed and comfortable
• Letting yourself believe that you'll get around to things

When it comes to things that are outside our comfort zone or specific area of expertise we all procrastinate, its natural to try and avoid these things.  The fact is that the world we live in is image driven, whether we like it or not, we judge and are judged.  So my question is, why so many people put themselves at a disadvantage by undermining their self esteem?  Confidence is paramount to effective performance in anything we do as humans, feeling uncomfortable or unsure affects you, so if given the opportunity to effect a significant improvement why not take advantage of it?

Putting it in economic terms you are wasting your resources, time and money amongst them.  In the long run it is always significantly cheaper to get things absolutely right the first time.

 

A good style shows no sign of effort. What is worn should seem a happy accident. -- SOMERSET MAUGHAM

The unexpected favourite...

There are times when a little something just grabs your attention.  It doesn't fit with the norm and makes you sit up to take notice, even when you want to fight it.  Everything I know about fashion tells me there are rules to follow, everything I know about life tells me the best 'stuff' invariably happens when you look at those rules turn around and rip them in half.  The best clothes I own, are the ones I couldn't walk away from but knew I probably should, there was a more sensible way to spend my money - a more appropriate item that would give me more options on a case by case basis.  However when you love something you think of options, sometimes having to make something work is a lot more productive than following a formula.

It's the shoes that are technically a little too high to be practical, the jacket (insert item as appropriate) that will always need to be at best dry cleaned and at worst can't even have that done by anyone but a specialist, less added value more added unexpected expense, a users tax if you will.  I know its easy to dismiss these pieces, we are all practical grown ups and understand the realities of life but I would rather have one piece that I am genuinely excited to own, than 20 V neck jumpers in assorted colours.

Black tie.... GAH!

How many times have you seen these words written on an invitation and then spent the run up to the event panicking?  Yes I'm talking to the women as most men are exponentionally improved by the addition of a Tuxedo, in fact some men should be forced by law to wear nothing else.     So if you'll excuse us Gents, we girls are just going to have a little chat.  I went to a black tie event last night and it was as always 'educational', I'm pretty good at what I do in fact there are moments when I think I genuinely have a talent and yet still I had a moment getting ready when I thought sod it put your jeans back on and go to the cinema.  As you know these social occasions are supposed to be fun but you will be effected by what I call the unlearned experience, no one has ever been as Bitchy to you as you imagine they will be and yet your imagination is unleashed and you stand in front of the mirror and rip yourself open.  When the reality is by the time you get there people will only be interested in where the drinks are and how long they have to wait before another canape is put under their nose.  It is unlikely that the most interesting thing about you is your dress and as a result unless it is a stand out Oscar worthy show stopper people won't really notice and certainly aren't going to say anything, unless you make it so obvious that you are uncomfortable, they are unable to see anything else.  So what are the keys to stopping the panic and being able to start enjoying the evening when you walk through the door, rather than when you have drunk enough bad wine to not care any more?  

I could go into a diatribe about preparation preventing poor performance but actually its the opposite, minimise the time you have to get ready, as that avoids the over thinking pit fall.  In fact just minimise the thinking in general, dresses are easy you put them on, paint your face and walk out the door, no tweaking necessary, so stop doing it.  Remember there is no such thing as over dressed, just under confident!  So as I always say to my clients, "Bollocks to them", if you are comfortable and happy those are the only things that anyone worth knowing is going to notice.  There are no hard and fast rules any more, there was a time when by reading an invitation you could instinctively know exactly what was required, now things are looser and as a result may feel more confusing but the truth is it's an opportunity to be comfortable and say a little more about who you actually are.  So take a deep breath, I'm referring to black tie but the same rule applies to every event you are going to this summer.  Remember that somewhere between the fitting room and the front door every single individual in that room has wondered if they are getting it right, or looked at someone and said, "Is this ok?".  The answer is yes, now go and have a good time and relax.

Shopping is fun! It is, I'll tell you how to make it so

It's starting can you feel it?  The bi annual rejuvenation,where shops slough the old to make way for the new!  Or in less poetic terms, it's Sale time!  I hate it and love it in almost totally equal amounts, who exactly am I trying to kid that is a total lie - I just love it.  Mostly I love the passion of it, people are actually genuinely excited about there purchases.  They don't go shopping because, 'I could sort of do with a...' they go on fashion safari, it's an adventure, where every store is full of possibility, (Yes danger - I think I've mentioned before the hideous fight I once witnesses over discounted Gucci Handbags, but what is a safari without a lion chasing the truck?)  But how often in the rest of the year do you brag about your purchases?  Or tell people about them before you are even asked?  It's nice to see people excited about things, I know this isn't the deepest of sentiments and there are much bigger things happening in the world.  It just seems to me that a lot of people, never take the opportunities they do have to get excited and have fun.  It's very flattering how many of my testimonials mention that the experience is fun, but it leads me to wonder, why shouldn't it be?

It's supposed to be a good thing, spending your hard earned money shouldn't ever be a chore.  Oh, I know there are times when it is, like a broken thingy magiggy on your car or a new boiler, those aren't fun purchases but clothes shopping and gift buying should bring you joy, it should be a reward for all the other crap things you have to do in your life.  If it's not, you're doing it wrong.  So the following analogy is a bit random but hopefully by the end it'll make sense, try not to lose me in the middle.  If you were going for a special meal, say a Birthday; would you be happy to walk into and out of 10 restaurants looking at the food and tables, maybe even sitting down once or twice, before moving on?  Then went back to the first restaurant you saw in order to actually eat, before getting home to discover you didn't actually like what you ate.  I can actually hear you telling me not to be ridiculous, but that is what so many people do when it comes to clothes shopping, so no wonder they think it's a chore, doing it that way, it is.

How many times have you got home from shopping to discover that you've bought something that is remarkably similar to something you already own?
How many times have you got home and realised the item just doesn't look quite the same as when you were in the fitting room?
How many times have you been disappointed?

So yes it becomes an irritation and feels a lot like a waste of time and over time that frustration builds until you throw the baby out with the bath water and completely forget that it can be a joy.  My secret, should you chose to change things is: have a plan, execute the plan and go home for a nice celebratory glass of wine.  No Muss, No fuss!  Before you step foot in a shop think about what you actually want, and as with all great plans be adaptable - if you see a better option, take it.  Trust me the boring thing you sort of thought you could do with will be there next time or the time after that and you've probably got one anyway.  When you take your hard earned money out for a spin allow yourself to be inspired, you and your wardrobe will be all the better for it.

That way the fun lasts as you'll get pleasure from what you buy, rather than the memory of another frustrating afternoon.

Opportunity

"I hear hoof beats and I always look for the Zebra"  I have no idea where I heard this saying, I'm pretty sure I'm not clever enough to have made it up myself, for those of you in the cheap seats this is what I've always taken it to mean... that the person is taking limited information and jumping to the least likely conclusion and assuming it to be truth.  I do this all the time, I have a terrible habit of picking up little pieces of information, adding them together and coming up with a totally unlikely answer, but you'd be amazed how often I'm right.  I mean obviously it helps that I'm a genius (see there I go again, I'm right a couple of times and I'm a genius, ok so there would be the proof that I'm wrong as much as I'm right)

The reason I am so good at what I do is that I don't have all the information, it would be impossible for me to accumulate it in the time I spend with you, but I know the questions to ask to break you out of your safe assumptions and have you looking at things in a new way.  When you look at an 'outrageous piece' you know all the reasons it won't work for you, I only now that it will.

No matter who you are it is normal to start expecting certain outcomes and relying on them as truth, forgetting that you have the option to make simple alterations that will change things.  We get used to looking at our clothes in the same way and ignore the opportunity to shake things up and get a much more exciting result, may be even a Zebra.

Finding the balance

"Took me HOURS to find the right balance between appropriately slutty and still maintain a ladylike allure" - Anon (but you know who you are).  When dressing invariably there are multiple messages we want to send, in this case the balance of an exciting first date but it's equally difficult to be professional yet approachable in an interview or demure and still the person your partner knows whilst meeting their parents.  Very few people have such a defined personal style that no matter what they are doing or where they are going, at no point do they look in the mirror and wonder, 'Is this the right message to be sending?'

However it never ceases to amaze me how many people don't seem to understand the nuances of what their choices suggest, I wouldn't go so far as to say they are categorically wrong but it's just not quite hitting the mark.  A few simple missed details and suddenly the message is not only different to that which was intended, but can leave you in a situation you never wanted to be in (particularly on that first date).  The devil is in the detail and sometimes it's worth taking just one more look.

Flat shoes are ugly??

Yes, absolutely some are.  Some are ungainly and unpleasant and full of holes after a few weeks wear but they assuage our 1st world guilt and some hipster 12 year old said they were cool, so everyone wears them (if that isn't enough description for you to know the shoes I'm referring to, then you are better off not knowing and I will not be responsible for them entering another persons consciousness).  They have no support, they aren't comfortable and here is a good fashion rule if something is promoted as Unisex you will get no sex whilst wearing it.  Just Saying, you've bought them now and socially you have done the acceptable thing, now do the friendly thing shove them to the back of your wardrobe and put some decent shoes on.

I know in the summer the last thing you want to put on is a mile high heel, I don't know why this is true but inevitably when I wear heels in summer for one reason or another I end up bare foot and that can be a truly terrifying prospect.  So I thought I'd introduce you to some comfortable summer flat options that are just that little bit nicer and more useful than your 'fabric friends'.


Flat shoes can be just as elegant if not more so than their taller friends, the right pair will work well for all occasions, choosing a pair with an unexpected twist - be it literally a twist or a bright colour will add interest to many of your less complex summer outfits.  However my one piece of advice would be to think about your walk, stop schlepping around and put a bit of bounce in your step the birds are singing and it's summer.  So let's pretend we're happy about it!

Flirty and fun for Boys

It seems to me that boys tend to get the rough end of the stick, in regards to the fact - even if they make the right choice but it's different from their friends they are going to be given grief and so to stay safe they chose a  clothing palette according to prison rules, no bright colours and try not to draw attention.  All very, Blah!

You don't have to spend too long in a bar to realise the men who choose to step out of this "Universal truth" get much more attention, fundamentally because they stand out from the Blue cotton button down or plaid wearing malaise.  Think of it like a marketing exercise, are we as a consumer more likely to be interested in a product that looks exactly the same as all the others or the one that stands out?  I've come to learn when dealing with male clients it's essential to offer a reason as to why one choice is better than the other, because to an extent they have to be able to defend that choice and more specifically the change in themselves.

One of my first clients and now a dear friend is a guy named Dave, it took him some time to trust me but eventually both he and his friends saw the reason behind the choices I was making for him.  He was focused on improving his social life, I think that is the polite way of saying it.  Well mission accomplished and let's just say he's not my only client from that group of friends because when something works, other people notice and then the grief stops and the requests for a little help start.

Over packing is unnecessary

I was trained from a young age to pack light, my Dad had a strict one small, soft bag policy when it came to holidays and for fear of things being binned, I obeyed (he probably wasn't that bad).  It would be so easy to get carried away thinking of things I might need, instead of focusing on combinations that offer the maximum potential for options without duplication.  I also have one other rule which is that I have to be able to carry my own bag, I won't rely on wheels or the kindness of strangers, there are just too many staircases in the world.  The one thing I have never really understood is those people, who pack a bag the size of an aircraft hanger and then whine about how hard it is to travel.

Think about what you actually wear on holiday, I'm no gambler but I would bet it is approximately half of what you usually take, that includes all the items you bought specifically for your holiday, not to mention the items you buy on holiday that you will never wear again.  So for no reason apart from indecision you have wasted money on new clothes, souvenirs and excess baggage, that almost sounds like enough money for an upgrade?  It's getting to be that time of year when your holiday is just around the corner, I know you're excited - I'm excited but that puts you right in the danger zone for over spending and therefore over packing.

So how do you minimise without going too far and leaving yourself out on a limb?  The first thing is a really simple trick that will help enormously and I suspect you've already done it, google the weather for the duration of your stay, it may not be absolute truth but it will at least give you a benchmark to work from.  If it's going to be 90 degrees it is unlikely you'll need a jumper even on a just in case basis, don't forget if you choose the right kind of Sarong you can use it as a pashmina for the evening if there is a chill in the air.  By choosing simple shaped dresses you can easily dress them up for the evening or throw them over swimwear for a contemporary casual daytime look.  

When I'm packing for a client (yes I do that), I ask them their plans - set out everything that could be needed and streamline the options from there.  Look at the items that although different, really do the same job and only pack the best option, the one item that makes you feel the most special, then add in an accessory or 2 that change the look of it.  I'll then take photos so that they have a visual record of all the outfit options they have with them for day and night, it just makes life so much easier.

My secret love

The Tunic

A deceptively versatile piece of clothing, that has the option to take you from day to night and from super luxe to super casual.  Not to mention with the simple addition of a belt you can play with the proportion and drape changing it again to a completely different look.

The longer length is flattering and can help disguise the areas that the majority of women would like to pretend they don't have. Tunics tend to be comfortable and as they are slightly more voluminous, cool in the hopefully soon to be warmer weather.

However as with all things there are potential pitfalls that will make the look difficult to wear.  The trick and goal is to not add bulk to your frame, by choosing softer fabrics that move with you this can be avoided.  Don't be afraid to use accessories to change the point of interest and draw attention to specific parts of the line of the outfit.  For example a long pendent will bring the attention to the centre of your body, naturally creating a slimmer illusion.

Less clothes = the need for better shapes

The reality is that when it is hot, the best idea is to keep things really simple.  The problem with simple is that without a little care and due attention it becomes boring, really boring.  So let's discuss options through shapes and fabric.  Most people have a selection of clothes appropriate to hot weather holidays but have no idea how to translate those into a work outfit that doesn't look either too casual or a little bit silly.  The reality is you can't stroll into a work environment in a t-shirt and some shorts that you'd wear to a BBQ, but you could wear these...
and still look professional.  By choosing items in higher grade fabrics, you have more options, instead of the summer staple of linen, consider silk, which isn't going to offer the same problems of stretching out of shape and creasing that linen can and does.  A few of my clients express the opinion I may have lost the plot when I suggest shorts for the office but actually they are a lot smarter than some of the skirts I see on the train in the morning and more demure too.  As an alternative go for a crop trouser, you'll be amazed at the difference it makes to your comfort level and they look damn good too.

So on to that t-shirt, instead of the block colour, box option which is really only appropriate for the gym, from now on.  Let's consider some more interesting items that accomplish the same job but in a much better and more attractive way.
By choosing colour and focusing on shape you can achieve an outfit look with far fewer pieces, if the clothes are more interesting they don't need to be upgraded through accessories.  You have the option to throw them on and run out of the door, looking cool and stylish in a relaxed and easy way, without feeling as Southern Belle as wearing a dress can sometimes lead to.

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Sometimes I wonder...

Ok so I know things happen the weather changes unexpectedly, it's hot and no British woman ever expects it but having said that it happens every year, so why the panic and the total wardrobe miss fire? Today I went for a little wander as I needed to see the sun and my eyes were assaulted by a selection of car crash fashion decisions.

Lesson 1 and I say this with love short, shorts are for the tanned and tiny! *They are not your friend*
Lesson 2 in smaller clothes if you bulge out of your bra top, bottom and side, get thee to a fitter stat!
Lesson 3 suncream people nothing looks good with burnt slices of skin
Lesson 4 doubling your natural size with baggy clothes top and bottom, to steal a phrase I heard this week, will make you look like, "a ship in full sail!" descriptive and accurate!
Lesson 5 I can see your underwear and if you had to check because you had not already checked it's time you did!

Sorry please excuse the rant but it's not rocket science to dress for summer and feel cool and elegant, never mind about on trend.  So here is a few really simple ideas that I suspect you know.
1. Natural fabrics make life more pleasant
2. Well fitting underwear is a fundamental need, as it is more likely to show
3. A bit of colour, be it soft pastels or vibrant neons. Just give it a go, for me! Navy, white and linens should not be the British summer uniform!
4. Be comfortable in your choice, if you are constantly trying to adjust your clothes and hide a body part, you'll just look unpleasantly itchy.

The sun won't last long it never does but just in case maybe it's time to add a few pieces to your wardrobe mix that mean you can be comfortable and stylish. The good news is that anything you buy can be incorporated into your more usual wardrobe by using it as a layer, so consider it an investment. You don't even need a lot just one thing that really works for you. You can do it or I'll help.

Shoe storage

How many people profess to loving shoes and then store them a little like this?
A pile of mish mashed shoes in a corner somewhere or by the door, unprotected, unloved - I feel like an RSPCA advert, so I'll stop now.  You come in from work, take off your shoes and throw them on the pile by the door, it's almost understandable.  I know there are days when I would like to come in, take my heels off and throw them out the window, let alone into a corner!  However here's what happens by doing this you are fundamentally undermining the integrity of the shoe, which means they won't last as long or be as attractive.

Did you know that even electric light can alter the colour of natural fabrics, like leather and suede.  I remember having to Write off (shop speak for destroy) a particularly lovely pair of Christian Louboutin shoes because one had been on display too long and by the time it was reunited with it's significant other, they were completely different colours.  I know that the pile by the door tend to be trainers, wellingtons and flip flops, but they are still items that you spent money on, so why diminish their usefulness?  It's like those women who click clack because their heel tips have fallen off and they are walking around on a screw, wondering why they a)slip b)break the heel and c)ruin their floors.

On another note isn't a bit of a waste of time?  Indulging in the 'left shoe hunt', because you can guarantee when you are running late, the shoe you need will be on the missing list!  Shoe racks can be attractive and they can be cheap, sometimes both at the same time.  It's always nice to know what you have exactly rather than an abstract sense of what might be in the pile.  I'm a fan of being organised, as in general I find that it saves a great deal of time but it also helps you to protect your things and ensure that you get the most from them.

Dust is the decider...

No one has ever accused me of being a domestic goddess, there are many things that come naturally to me, one of those is making a mess, usually in the kitchen, occasionally when having a melt down about what to wear - yes, I have those too.  This isn't about mess though this is about a good rule of thumb for 'cleansing' your wardrobe.

Remove and recycle every single item with dust on it.  (You just got nervous didn't you)
I'm not referring to a couple of flecks that a lint roller would contend with, I mean the 'pale shoulder', where there is a definite colour change between the exposed edge and the rest of it.  There is only one reason that a garment would have dust on it like this, you haven't even twitched it for a couple of months and you didn't care about it enough to protect it.  So why leave it to take up space?  Ooh harsh but none the less true.  I'm hoping that this post will inspire one of 2 reactions either you'll blitz and purge or go out and buy some decent garment bags to stop your clothes from being ruined or at least helping your dry cleaner to afford a second holiday this year.

It's time to put away your heavy knits and coats, however much the weather fluctuates things are generally on the up, well the temperature is anyway.  So when storing them also protect them, this is also a great opportunity to have a little cleanse, why store what you don't need or want.  Think about it what didn't you wear all Winter, was there a real reason for that?  If so the time may have come to say goodbye.

Empty wardrobe?

So I was sitting here staring at a blank page for a few more minutes than normal, when an idea finally rattled it's way out of my brain.  What would happen if you did have nothing in your wardrobe?  Many new clients express the 'fear' that I will tell them that nothing works and they will have empty wardrobes after I leave.  This has never been the case, everybody has clothes they love or staples they need, no matter how limited they are in their knowledge of how to wear them, my service is not about destroying what you have but adding to it and making it more useful.  More often it's also about changing peoples attitudes to clothes, and their preconceived notions of what will or won't suit them.

However hypothetically if you had to start again from scratch what are the key pieces needed to build a capsule wardrobe that can take you through your week?  What a totally impossible question to give a blanket answer to.  There are so many factors to consider, from who you are to what you do, and all sorts of tiny nuances that surround those.  I could spend the next year answering this question, using different clients as case studies but that still wouldn't answer the question for you.  The reality is that you can be inspired by the items and outfits that work for other people but your style has to reflect you, in order to become a comfortable and natural fit.

What I can do though is point you in the right direction of how to make selections, so that you get the most from shopping (even without me).

1.  Spend the most on tailoring
2.  Never buy the same piece in different colours
3.  Any new item should add at least 5 different real possibilities to your wardrobe in order to be of value to you.
4.  If you don't love it in the shop, forget it.
5.  Don't forget to add a few accessories to your wardrobe arsenal.
6.  Be prepared to stop and think.

No. 6 seems a bit odd, I know and you may never have experienced this but it is so easy to get carried away.  To move into the I want mind set and forget about your real needs and occasionally your budget.  The ideal situation is to achieve a capsule wardrobe that has no guilt attached to it.  People have enough sticks to beat themselves with, their wardrobe should not be one of them.

I possibly should have let this rattle a little longer....

I don't know why

Sometimes clothes just reach out and grab you, there is no discernible reason.  They don't fit with your usual style, they aren't practical and in some ways you are sure they shouldn't suit you and yet you end up with a terrible case of the wants.  You hope by trying them on the love affair will end and you can reclaim your classic, elegantly simple style.  Well if you try them on and the love affair doesn't end, I have advice for you - Buy it!!  What's happening is, in a small way your mind is opening up to opportunity, removing you from the fashion rut you were in.

My second piece of advice is go home and put it on, immediately, so that it becomes a part of your recognisable wardrobe, these confidence windows can be small and the last thing you want to do is waste the opportunity and end up with a newly purchased stick to beat yourself with.  It may not be the best shape, style, colour for you but it's fresh and different, there is beauty in that.  It'll start the ball moving and as with all things once you break the inertia you are on the road to getting to a better place.

As with wardrobe, so with life!

Items shown available from www.anthropologie.eu

Making a trend work for you.

Being trend aware is pretty easy, just pick up a magazine or look in a shop window and you'll get a general idea of the colours and shapes the fashion industry has decided you should be wearing, but implementing that on a personal, let alone a professional level can be a bit of a mine field.  Particularly as the majority of models used are 12 and styled for an after school party, I very rarely see a stylist produced magazine shoot that I look at and think that's something I could wear, just like that.

Some people though seem to have a natural understanding of how to incorporate the new without loosing who they fundamentally are, which is the way it should work.  Fashion should not be about being dictated to, it should be a method to illustrate, who you are or want to be in a fun and no stress way.  Trends are a guideline that allow you to Cherry pick what will work for you and to discard the unnecessary.  This is my friend, Linda's what can only be termed an achiever, I believe she's aware of the word no, but sees it as a challenge and she absolutely knows how to make everything work for her. 

Her wardrobe is not an Homage to one designer or shop it is a mixture of items that make her feel good, because of that she is able to mix in new trends, with her more established wardrobe staples.  By varying price points and mixing high street with high end, Linda's wardrobe fits the occasion, whilst being true to who she is, in a guilt free way.  You don't have to look very far to realise that the most difficult way to dress stylishly is casual, it's too easy to reach for comfort but by adding colour you upgrade a very simple outfit to something with a lot more cache.  One of the keys to looking great is understanding who you are and striving to work with that instead of against it.  Why have a wardrobe full of suits if you don't lead a corporate lifestyle?  Remember it's about functionality as much as fashion.  I hope she won't mind me saying, but Linda runs an aspirational and inspirational business, it's about seeing what you want and achieving those goals and then setting bigger goals and achieving them.  Her wardrobe works for her and she makes it look effortless.

Your life, your wardrobe, your style.