LIFE OF A PERSONAL STYLIST: AN EVENING OF STYLE AND FASHION AT THE FOLD

In February, I had the pleasure of hosting another Small Group Personal Shopping event at The Fold London - this time, exploring their stunning Spring/Summer collection.

Following the success of our first event, it was a delight to return and curate an intimate shopping experience designed for professional women looking to refine their wardrobes with versatile, elegant pieces.

The Power of Small Group Shopping

If you feel like many of my clients do, shopping can often feel overwhelming, especially when balancing a professional image with personal style.

That’s why these intimate, group shopping events are something we are so proud to be able to host, in collaboration with partners like The Fold.

With only five people joining us per session, the atmosphere remains personal, allowing for tailored guidance, one-on-one styling advice, and a relaxed, enjoyable experience.

From sophisticated dresses perfect for boardroom meetings, to effortlessly chic separates that transition from office to evening, The Fold’s latest collection offered the perfect blend of contemporary elegance and practicality.

As always, the event was accompanied by drinks and nibbles, making for a wonderful evening of fashion, conversation, and confidence-boosting style choices.

Why These Events Matter

For many women, dressing for success is about more than just clothing, it’s about feeling empowered and expressing who they are. These small group shopping events create an environment where clients can gain professional styling advice in a supportive space, ensuring they leave with not just beautiful pieces but also a deeper understanding of how to build a wardrobe that works for them.

The feedback has been incredible.

Attendees left with a renewed sense of style, knowing they had invested in pieces that truly aligned with their lifestyle and professional needs. Seeing that transformation unfold is what makes these events so rewarding.

Looking Ahead: Let’s Collaborate!

As I continue to create premium shopping and styling experiences, I’m excited to expand these collaborations across the fashion and beauty sectors. If you’re a fashion brand, boutique, or beauty company looking to offer an elevated experience for your clients, let’s talk!

I’d love to explore how we can work together to create engaging, high-value events that not only showcase your collections but also provide real style solutions for women in business.

Get in touch for a discovery call, and let’s bring something truly special to your customers!

HOW CAN MY STORE ATTRACT MORE CUSTOMERS? HOST A STYLING EVENT!

In the competitive world of fashion retail, attracting and retaining customers is a constant challenge. As a store or fashion house, you may be wondering how to stand out and bring more foot traffic to your store. One highly effective strategy? Host a styling event!

At One Of A Style, our Style and Fashion Events are all about adding a stylish edge to your business activities. We understand that in the fashion industry, creating memorable experiences is just as important as the clothes you sell. Hosting a styling event can do wonders for your brand—drawing in new customers, engaging with your community, and showcasing your products in a dynamic and personalised way.

Pic taken during an event hosted at Theory flagship store in Regent Street, London

Why Host a Styling Event?

Fashion styling events offer a unique opportunity to connect with your customers on a deeper level. Unlike traditional sales tactics, these events provide an interactive and engaging experience that can leave a lasting impression. Here’s how a styling event can benefit your store:

• Attract New Customers: A well-promoted event can draw in shoppers who may not have visited your store before. It’s an excellent way to introduce your brand to a wider audience.

• Enhance Customer Loyalty: By offering personalised styling advice and exclusive experiences, you can build stronger relationships with your existing customers, encouraging repeat visits.

• Increase Sales: Styling events often lead to increased sales, as customers are more likely to purchase items that have been personally recommended by a stylist or that they’ve seen styled in new, exciting ways.

• Showcase Your Expertise: Hosting a styling event positions your store as a fashion authority, setting you apart from competitors and building trust with your clientele.

Tips for Hosting a Successful Styling Event

1. Define Your Event’s Purpose Start by deciding what you want to achieve with your styling event. Are you launching a new collection, celebrating a store anniversary, or simply looking to increase foot traffic? Defining your event’s purpose will guide your planning and help you measure its success.

2. Choose the Right Format There are many ways to host a styling event, from intimate one-on-one consultations to larger group workshops. Some ideas include:

• Style Talks: Invite a professional stylist to give a talk on current trends, how to dress for different body shapes, or how to create a capsule wardrobe.

• Private Style Consultations: Offer your customers the chance to book a personalised session with a stylist, where they can receive tailored advice and try on outfits recommended just for them.

• In-Store Fashion Shows: Showcase your latest collection with a live fashion show, allowing customers to see how your pieces look when styled and worn.

• Colour Analysis Sessions: Educate your customers on how to choose the right colours for their skin tone, which can lead to more informed purchasing decisions.

3. Create a Memorable Experience The success of your event hinges on the experience you provide. Consider the atmosphere—think about lighting, music, and refreshments. Offer perks like exclusive discounts for attendees, complimentary styling services, or even a small gift with purchase. Make the event feel special and attendees will be more likely to remember and return.

But also collaborating with a professional stylist or fashion expert can add credibility to your event and provide valuable insights for your attendees. At One Of A Style, we’ve worked with renowned brands in different industries, from clothing to jewellery, like Pomellato, Fabiana Filippi, Marella, Giovanni Raspini and more, bringing expert-led styling sessions to life. And we’re always happy to create more collaborations opportunities, which could also include hairstyling, beauty and make-up, fashion accessories.

Ready to Host Your Own Event?

At One Of A Style, we’re here to help you create unforgettable fashion events that not only draw customers into your store but also leave them feeling inspired and connected to your brand. Whether you’re interested in a chic in-store event, a dynamic style workshop, or a private style consultation, we can tailor the experience to meet your needs and goals.

Picture taken during an event hosted at Theory flagship store in Regent Street, London

Pic taken during an event hosted at Theory flagship store in Regent Street, London

Our notable collaborations and partnerships with brands like Pinko, Swarovski, Alice+Olivia, and Hobbs London, speak to the level of expertise and professionalism we bring to every event. We’re dedicated to redefining corporate style and elevating your brand through fashion.

Ready to enhance your in-store experience? Contact us today to schedule a style consultation tailored to your store or shopping centre. Let’s work together to create a stylish event that your customers will remember—and that will keep them coming back for more.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: NEW YEAR, NEW WARDROBE?

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

Where to start with a new personal style

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

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

• Who are your style icons or inspirations?

• Do you feel a certain way in particular colours?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to find clothes that work with your personal style

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Practice your make up

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

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

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

Find the right accessories

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

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

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

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

Invest in little luxuries

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

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

Add layers

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

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

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

Try on your full outfit in advance

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

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

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

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

PERSONAL STYLING TIPS: 7 PERFECT PARTY OUTFIT IDEAS

Parties – let’s face it, dressing up can be a big headache if you are unsure on what to wear. Whether you already have a fabulous wardrobe or not, the dressing up side of parties, particularly during the festive season, can become tricky.

In this article, I wanted to share 7 of my favourite party outfit ideas that are headache-free and some that may already be in your wardrobe!

Try out a suit

Something I think will always be “on trend” is wearing a suit! If you have a colourful, well proportioned suit, you can transform it for each and every occasion as you see fit.

When it comes to dressing for a party with your suit, over and above the office-look, here are a few ways to play with it:

1.       Add some sparkle – whether it’s with a sequined cami top under your blazer, or with a sparkly pair of earrings, add a little sparkle to make your suit more festive.

2.       Add colour – if your suit is in a more formal, classic colour such as black, brown, or navy, adding some colour will make it more party-appropriate. If you can, I’d recommend finding a colourful blazer to go with your suit trousers, but you can also find colourful luxurious trousers in a velvet or satin, which can be a great switch-up.

3.       Add party heels! Finally, the quickest way to change up your suit for a party is adding a pair of beautiful heels. Think stilettos that peek out from your trousers for a perfect look, or for more comfortable option a pair of sequined block heeled boots.

If you want to try out a blazer that is particularly fun, festive, and party ready, as well as feeling totally personality filled, then now is a great time to get one. Perhaps invest in a colourful suit, or one in a fabric like velvet – go all out, it is the season for fun!

A classic Little Black Dress

A go-to on anyone’s essentials list for easy to throw on looks is the Little Black Dress. I shared some insights into how to style a little black dress for any body shape here, and if you want to have something simplistic and easy to put on that you’ll feel great in, then the LBD is a great option.

However, if you want to add a little fun and festivity to the look, you may want to play with your outer wear and your accessories.

Transforming your little black dress can be as simple as adding the right jewellery for your festive party look, to adding fabulously quirky disco boots, or even a cape! If you want to turn up feeling warm as well as festive and have that moment when you slide off your coat to show off your outfit, then a warm fluffy coat can be a good option.

Co-ord sets for Christmas

Co-ords, much like the suit, are very on-trend and will be a really easy way to make your outfit work for you in a flash. Think a skirt and top combination in the same colours or patterns, but that can be worn separately, too. The reason I love co-ord outfits is that they are so easy to put together in a rush. However, they can sometimes feel a little more “trendy” depending on where you get them, so perhaps less appropriate for a sustainable wardrobe. My top tip for finding a co-ord that would work for your Christmas parties but also for future wears, is to make sure it is in a colour that is within your palette and fits your personal style.

They can also feel a little casual, so make sure you look closely at the fabric options, if you want your look to work for a more formal occasion. For example, this recycled polyester deep purple crop top and midi skirt co-ord can be a good option for parties and separately for future events.

Festive Jumper – but styled up!

For a less formal event, or one with a little fun, you can go for a fun festive jumper that’s elevated and can be reused for future. The one thing that can happen when you are getting fun Christmas jumpers is you only wear them once – which isn’t incredibly sustainable. However, if you find a festive yet sophisticated jumper or cardigan, then you can still have that fun, without wasting money or harming the environment.

A few festive tops that I found are:

• Pearl embellished jumper – a great option for fun, quirky, yet sophisticated looks.

• Sequinned blouse – now, this is very sequined and glittery, but it can work really well for a festive event, as well as a party throughout the year as it isn’t “Christmas” themed.

• Black and silver v-neck jumper – this is more casual in terms of the look, but paired under your favourite blazer and with a satin skirt, you can dress this up very easily.

• Short sleeved navy glitter polo neck – and if you’re indoors so don’t need too many layers, this short sleeved glitter polo neck in a lovely warm fabric, can work well.

Cocktail dress

This style of dress is an elevated version of the Little Black Dress. Think different colours, fun elements such as ruffles, and will fall above the knee. When you go looking for a cocktail look, you can be a little more formal and consider that this outfit may only be worn for parties or dates, due to the length it may not be suited to black tie or formal events.

The great thing about cocktail dresses is they can come in a huge variety of colours, fabrics, and designs so finding one that suits your personal style is the most important part of this process. You may already have a cocktail dress in your wardrobe, so throwing it on with some jewellery, a clutch bag, and your heels will be one of the simplest but most effective looks.

For an elegant and easy look that is just below the knee and in a demure style, try this lilac cocktail dress with faux wrap top and pleated skirt – it has a gentle shimmer so can be easier to approach than a more festive option.

If sparkle isn’t something you gravitate towards, then this black almost grunge styled dress with ribbon detail and autumnal flower design is right up your “rock chick” cocktail look.

Sequined Dresses

For a sparkly, festive, glitter-fest of an outfit then you really can’t go wrong with a sequined dress. Becoming even more popular this year, I have seen plenty of beautiful sequined dresses that will work for any occasion. The great thing about sequins is they will sparkle and light up your day – however, they can sometimes look a little cheap, so if you are going full sequin and need to buy a new dress to treat yourself to this fun style then invest in a good quality dress.

Whether it’s a silver sequined mini dress with voluminous sleeves & a pencil skirt,  a colourful rainbow-like sequined dress with a higher neck, or an almost 20’s inspired sequin fringe midi dress, you will find a great selection of options.

Styling a sequin dress can be a little more tricky, so let the dress do all the talking and let your accessories complement it. For example, dark tights and a black pair of heels if you are wearing a shorter dress (and to keep your legs warm) or a pair of simple strappy heels – and you are ready to rock the dance floor!

Try out a jumpsuit

If a dress just isn’t your style, or you want to be able to throw on a full outfit that is ready to party all night in then you can’t go wrong with a jumpsuit! We are lucky enough to have a whole host of options for jumpsuits at our fingertips, so if you are opposed to the classic dress style, this is your year to try out the jumpsuit!

A few jumpsuits I have found online that would be great for any party, are:

·       For the smart/casual party – Try out this fun wide-legged gold-polka-dot jumpsuit. It’s fun, sparkly, and comfortable too! 

• For the unique black-tie event – this incredible white (also available in yellow and black) cross-halter jumpsuit is beautiful. No need to add a necklace, as the neckline is doing all of the work. Add some bangles and rings and you’re ready to drink cocktails and eat canapes.

• For the festive party – if you want to feel festive, but don’t want to wear a Christmas jumper, then I have found this velvet deep burgundy jumpsuit!

• For the girl’s night out –for a fun, flirty option for any type of party with the girls or over brunch, this elegant one-shoulder cape-detailed jumpsuit in salmon is beautiful.

• For the theatrical event – I can’t say how incredible this art-deco inspired bronze jumpsuit is (it is a big investment, however) and you will definitely make all the eyes in the room turn. It has long pleated sleeves that go all the way to the floor, so perfect for a theatrical event, particularly if your company is hosting a themed Christmas do this year – or just to feel fabulous.

I hope this 6 Christmas party outfit ideas have inspired you to get all dressed up! If you are looking for the perfect gift for under the tree for that loved one or friend that deserves confidence in all that they wear, I’d love to help – I am offering Christmas vouchers this year that can cover a particular service, or go towards a service so they can treat themselves to wardrobe happiness in 2022.

LIFE OF A LONDON STYLIST : VISITING TRADE SHOWS

There's always something new to know about fashion... new trends, new brands and new connections! Visiting this trade shows, even as image consultant and not a buyer, can be very interesting and gives you new inputs and ideas for your clients, and even new connections, that are always important! 

And I am very happy and proud to see lots of Italian names to thrive among the PURE LONDON's stalls today with their genuine made-in-Italy products.  This is not a good moment, the fashion marked is full of valuable and fierce competitors and it is very difficult to conceive innovative and unconventional ideas with; but I've seen good proposals today, for quality and originality, between lots of cheap and, I daresay, dull products. I really hope that the buyers had noticed the same , choosing their suppliers wisely!