PERSONAL STYLING TIP: CONFIDENCE-BOOSTING OUTFITS FOR THE WORKPLACE

Dressing for success isn’t just about wearing the right clothes—it’s about wearing clothes that make you feel empowered, ready to tackle any challenge, and represent your personal style. Whether you’re in a high-level meeting or managing a team, the right outfit can have a huge impact on how you’re perceived and, more importantly, how you feel. Here’s how to power dress with confidence, all while staying true to your individuality.

Start with Tailored Basics

Tailored pieces are the foundation of power dressing. A well-fitted blazer, for example, can instantly make you look put-together and authoritative. Look for blazers that cinch at the waist and pair them with trousers or skirts that follow your natural shape. When shopping for blouses or shirts, opt for structured fabrics—like cotton or silk—that can hold their shape and lend a polished look. Stick to classic colours such as black, navy, white, or gray for versatile pieces that can be mixed and matched effortlessly.

Play with Bold Colours and Patterns

While classic colours are great for a professional wardrobe, don’t shy away from incorporating bold colours and patterns into your look. A deep red dress, a navy pencil skirt with a geometric print, or a statement blouse with a fun design can add an element of personality to your outfits. Remember, power dressing isn’t about blending in—it’s about standing out in a way that feels authentic to you. Use colour and pattern to make a statement about your confidence and individuality.

Accessorise to Elevate Your Look

Accessories can elevate your professional look and add the finishing touch to your outfit. A pair of classic pearl earrings, a bold necklace, or a sophisticated watch can instantly transform a simple outfit into something striking. However, it’s important not to over-accessorise—choose one or two key pieces to make a statement without overwhelming your look. A sleek handbag that matches your outfit can also be a powerful addition, allowing you to carry everything you need while staying polished.

Shoes That Speak Volumes

Shoes are often the first thing people notice, so make sure they reflect your sense of style and professionalism. A pair of pointed-toe heels can exude confidence, while loafers or flats with a structured design offer both comfort and authority. Opt for shoes that are comfortable enough for you to walk in with ease but also stylish enough to command respect. Remember, power dressing doesn’t have to mean sacrificing comfort for style—choose footwear that makes you feel confident while allowing you to focus on the tasks at hand.

Fit and Comfort Are Key

No matter how stylish an outfit is, it won’t give you the confidence you need if it’s uncomfortable or doesn’t fit right. When power dressing, always prioritise fit and comfort. Tailoring your clothes to your exact measurements will help you look and feel your best. Invest in key pieces that are made from high-quality materials, such as wool or silk, which not only look better but also feel more comfortable throughout the day.

How Personal Styling Can Enhance Your Confidence

Power dressing is a skill, and it’s one that can be learned. If you’re struggling to find the right balance between professionalism and personal style, my personal styling services can help you create a wardrobe that exudes confidence and sophistication. Together, we’ll curate outfits that make you feel empowered and ready to take on any challenge—whether that’s leading a meeting, networking at an event, or simply owning your space in the workplace.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: RETURNING TO THE OFFICE - TOP TIPS FOR STYLING SUCCESS

This week I was getting ready for heading back to my London studio, as my son is going back to school, and I realised the stress that dressing for work can bring.

Getting back into the swing of heading to the office, going to meetings (whether online or in person) can be a difficult start to the day. Even if you’re not going to the office every day, you may be heading to more meetings or attending more online meetings, meaning your dresscode may be changing back to more professional looks.

This can mean being unsure what to wear! With the changing of the season adding an added concern for outfit styling, I have compiled this guide to help you have confidence when dressing for work.

Check the weather forecast

The seasons always change in London, no matter the time of year! I have seen many professionals get caught out by wearing summer dresses and being welcomed by a downpour, while others have brought layers for a cool Autumn day and hit by 30 degree weather (as we had at the beginning of September).

One way to make sure your outfit will complement the expected weather conditions is by checking your weather app. With the knowledge of rain to come, or a heatwave, I can plan my outfit to accommodate. This saves so much stress in the morning (and during the day if a downpour comes, but I have made sure to pack my umbrella and coat).

You can then utilise the fabrics and layers to reflect the expectations of the day. For example, adding a leather jacket if it’s going to be cooler, or adding sandals instead of boots for a warmer day. For some inspiration for summer outfits, check out my blog, while the weather is still hot outside, these may help you plan some beautiful looks for going back to work. 

Plan your outfits in advance

Avoid the morning let downs of not knowing what to wear, misfitting pieces or outfit problems by planning your outfits the night before (or if you’re super organised, why not try a few days or the for the full week?).

Getting your outfits together can look like simply laying them out on the bed and knowing what to put together, or why not make it a pick up and go by adding everything together on a hanger? You can put accessories, layers and the full outfit all in one spot so you can get up in the morning, reach for the outfit, and know it works beautifully together.

If the thought of planning outfits causes you more concern than joy, I can help you by creating an easy to use personal style board, which is part of our Colour and Style Clinic. Click here to find out more.

Invest in key pieces for the new season

Every season requires a few essentials. Making sure you have them at the ready as you welcome a new change in the season will help you to prepare and plan for your outfits without any stress. Autumn usually welcomes cooler climates, so layers, jackets, and tights will now be needed (on most days!), so make sure all of last year’s pieces all still fit, work for your style needs and if they need washing, tailoring or to be donated.

Making sure you have pieces that you love to wear, and feel great in, are so important for day to day, and in particular when you are going to meetings and heading to work. Understanding the styles, outfits, and looks that you feel best in will help make you walk taller and feel more confident every day, making dressing for work a little easier.

To find a few of my autumn essentials, I have shared my top five in this blog.

If you are going back to work after the summer holidays, I hope these tips help you feel more confident. However, if you are unsure where to start with styling, colours, and what to wear for your professional life, I’d love to help.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: FINDING THE PERFECT JEANS AND HOW TO STYLE THEM

When it comes to the “go to” casual look for many of us, it’s got to be the jeans and tee/top combination. However, when we are looking for jeans that suit our body shapes, it can be a minefield!

Which of the countless styles, colours, rises, and shapes work for our body shapes so we can feel confident in the outfit? Well, if you are wondering which styles will best suit your body shape, this blog will help you.

Wide Legged Jeans

Wide legged jeans are back from the 90’s, and they are the comfortable, cool style we want to wear but can be tricky to style depending on your personal style type.

Depending on your body shape these can be a great option for your day to day looks.

You may already be wearing your wide-legged trousers for your workwear, so these can be an easily approachable style of jeans for more casual days. Pairing with a blouse for a chic look, pop on a blazer, and a pair of heels and your jeans will elevate this style. Match the wide-legged look with a chunky knit (best for rectangle shapes or oval shapes). Or for hourglass and pear shapes, you’ll want to bring the eye to the waist with a belt and tuck in your blouse or a vest on top.

source: StyleIdealist

How to style low rise jeans

All of us who went through the low rise 90’s and 00’s looks are gasping at these, but what if there were certain ways to style them that work beautifully? While this style of jean can be more approachable for certain body shapes, it can be quite freeing to no longer be pulled in by a tight waisted jean that is mid or high rise!

For an easier move into the style, look for a mid-rise that you can size up in so it’s more relaxed and sits below the navel. Try out the wide-legged look with a lower rise for more comfort – great for pear shapes and rectangles too! While hourglasses could work this look with confidence, a top that stops at the waist (either a cropped tee or a cropped jacket to bring in the waist) will be the best option for styling. A straight leg can be another option, paired with a looser top casually tucked to elongate those with a shorter torso.

source: SylvieMus_

Ultimately, this style of jean is meant to be all about comfort and ease – moving away from the structured pulled in styles of tighter high rises – so go for the comfort and play with the style!

How to style straight leg jeans

Straight leg jeans are as they say on the tin – straight cut! They are cut straight from the waist to the ankle. They’re a great shape for oval, rectangle, and triangle shapes. They can be more tricky for pear shapes & hourglasses, but if you style them with a waist-sinching belt this can be a good option.

Styling your straight leg jeans can be more professional due to the shape, but you can rock them up by wearing a pair of black straight cut jeans with a pair of combats, and add on a leather jacket. Pop on a pair of vintage denim straight cut jeans, a fluffy cardigan and tuck it in at the waist, with your statement belt and heeled boots, and you have a chic look ready for running errands.

source: an Indigo Day

Due to the shape, they work excellently with your cowboy boots, heels, and your chunky sneakers – so these are a great accessory to play with to make the style more or less casual.

source: Style Du Monde

How to style cigarette style jeans

Another shape often reserved for the more formal trouser, cigarette styled jeans have a slim silhouette and, unlike it’s counterpart the “skinny jean”, the cigarette jean is cut straight from the knee to the ankle. They are also, often, ankle length. They are a much more approachable slim-fit style than the skinny jeans, while showing off more of our curves than the straight cut.

source: Rag & Bone

You can style them with a pair of heels, blazer and a beautiful top for a comfortable yet sexy date night look. Punk them up with a leather jacket or trench. Or, for running around with the kids, pop on an oversized blouse and sneakers and you’re ready to go.

These are my top picks for the trends this year, and you can find even more in my guide here with more styles including flares, cropped jeans and skinny jeans.

No matter the current trends, jeans should make you feel confident and comfortable. They are a versatile staple in the wardrobe and should feel approachable.

HOW TO LOOK PROFESSIONAL IN 5 MINUTES - DRESSING FOR THE SCHOOL RUN AS A WORKING MUM

When you’re juggling work, parenthood, school runs, and meetings, you want to be able to quickly and confidently create outfits that work for all of the hats you wear.

For many of us, the way we dress for work may have changed since the pandemic, but this doesn’t mean we are going to work in the comfy yoga pants we wish we could do the school run in (unless we are perhaps working from home!).

For my clients who are parents, like myself, the additional requirement to quickly and effectively get dressed before all of the additional morning tasks like breakfast, packing bags, and helping our children get out the door, is just another reason we want to get dressed in a flash.

If you feel the same, then I hope this article will help you with some advice on how to get dressed quickly for your morning, while remaining professional and ready for work.

Preparation is key!

Preparation really is the key to success when it comes to making your morning routines more enjoyable, and the same goes for when you are dressing. If you can prepare your outfit for the next day the night before, then this will drastically reduce your thinking time in the morning.

When the kids have gone to bed, and just before you tuck yourself in, take 10 minutes to create your outfit for the next day. You could go as far as putting your full outfit on the back of the bathroom door, or on a hanger together in your wardrobe. Putting it on the bathroom door can actually help by taking away any wrinkles by the steam of the morning showers!

I often create the full outfit on a hanger together with the accessories I want to wear such as a belt, head scarf, and jewellery, so I can quickly grab and go. By doing this it drastically reduces my morning stresses of trying to make an outfit that works for my day ahead, while also juggling all of the other morning requirements.

Utilise apps to save you time

When you know what you like, it can save you time buying new items and creating outfits. The beauty of tools like Pinterest and Moonsift is that they can quickly be accessed and remind you of the looks you liked and felt suited your style. On days when you are in a rush and can’t decide what to wear, you can head to the previously saved outfits & looks to inspire you in a flash.

There are also apps that you can spend a little time on at the beginning, but that will save you time that you can upload your wardrobe items to, and create outfits from them. Just like the iconic wardrobe scene in “Clueless” technology has now let us have our very own Cher moment and swipe through our items in our wardrobe to mix and match without getting sweaty.

Consider a capsule wardrobe

The most important thing, I find, when wanting to feel my best but save myself time is knowing that the items in my wardrobe can be pulled together and work together with minimal thinking. I know, as a personal stylist, I have the added benefit of training in this area, but there are some top tips to help you get there, alongside meeting with a professional who can help you do this.

A capsule wardrobe is something that can truly transform your dressing experience. A capsule wardrobe is unique for everyone, it neds to reflect your needs, your personal style, and your seasonal colours, but ultimately it will be a space that has outfits and pieces that work succinctly together. If your morning is spent worrying how you can create an outfit that works for you from everything in your wardrobe, that is an additional stress that you don’t need. I created a blog on how to create a capsule wardrobe, that explains what it is, and how to create your own. It could be a really great option for you to save you time as a working parent, to make your morning routine a little more enjoyable.

Comfort vs Workwear

While we want to remain as professional as we need to be when going to the office or meetings, we also need to be able to do the running around in comfort. This is where the requirements of comfort vs workwear can become a little tricky.

Depending on where you work you may have some wiggle room in terms of the attire you need to wear to be appropriate. For example, you could wear platforms, high quality sneakers, or flats to work, if these are appropriate. These will make a huge difference to your comfort levels when you are walking or driving the kids to school.

If the shoes need to be heeled, you could take a bag with you with those change of shoes in, and wear ballet flats or sneakers while doing the school run.

Another thing to consider is the comfort level of the bottoms. A pencil skirt or dress can be quite restrictive, while wide legged trousers or a silk midi skirt enable more room to walk and move, while still remaining professional. Paired with an elegant blouse, shirt, blazer, or high quality jumper will mean you feel comfortable while also looking professional.

Fabric choices

As we head into the warmer weather, fabric choices are essential to keeping yourself cool while doing the school run. You won’t want to wear restrictive fabrics that prevent you from being able to carry your children if they need to be, or strapping your children in safely into their booster seats. Linens, silks, and cottons are great for the warmer weather and suited to the office.

You will also want to look for darker hues in case of the (inevitable) spill of juice or cereal as you head out of the door!

If you want to change how you feel about your professional and personal styling, and make each morning more joyous and time-saving, my services might be the perfect solution for you! Explore how I can help you HERE or get in touch with me to learn more.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIP: WHAT IS A CAPSULE STYLE WARDROBE AND HOW TO CREATE YOURS

You may have heard of a capsule wardrobe and wondered what does it actually mean, and how to create your own?!

Capsule wardrobes are a great option for saving time, stress, and money in getting dressed on your day to day life (while looking your best, obviously!)

While some may say you have to stick to certain numbers of particular garments, I believe that our capsule wardrobes should be as unique as we are, reflecting our own personality and lifestyle.

For some, you may need several trousers but minimal dresses, and vice versa, depending on your personal style, preferences, and needs as a professional, mum, business owner, or all of the above!

What is a capsule wardrobe?

Starting with the basics, a capsule wardrobe in essence, is a wardrobe that has your requirements for your day to day life, as well as a few key items that can be worn in multiple occasions. A capsule wardrobe holds interchangeable pieces that work with one another in a complementary way so you know whatever you pick and choose will work for your day.

For my clients, I often speak with them to discover if they are someone that would have one capsule wardrobe throughout the year, or some that may have seasonal capsule wardrobes that they can rotate to keep them feeling fresh, and enable them to play with trends they love. This is particularly preferable for my clients that are dramatic or creative style personality types (you can find out more about the different personality types and which you may fit into, in my blog, here).

A capsule wardrobe should take away the morning stress of what to wear, and work with your needs, rather than against them.

Now we know what a capsule wardrobe should be for you, we can look at how to create one for yourself.

This is something that I can help you with in more detail in a colour and style clinic, so this blog is a general approach to getting yourself started with a capsule wardrobe. If you’d like to create your own with a little professional help, then feel free to speak to me.

Start with clearing out your wardrobe

My first piece of advice for getting started on a capsule wardrobe would be to go through your own wardrobe now and clear out items that don’t align with your personal style, don’t fit you, or don’t work with any others in your closet.

If there are pieces in your wardrobe that you love, but you just can’t make more than one outfit with them, you may want to either reconsider the garment, or look at investing in further pieces that can make them more useable.

Now you have a clearer view of the pieces in your wardrobe that create outfits that you love, you can look at where you may need to invest or accessorise.

Create your outfits

Creating a selection of outfits from the capsule pieces you currently have will help you mindfully create a more suitable wardrobe for your needs.

For example, if you tend to wear dresses for work, but you feel you are unable to change up the outfit with your current selection, you can look at accessories and layers that make each dress feel like it can be changed up. For example, a belt can be worn to transform the shape of the dress. You can also look at cardigans, blazers, and shoes that elevate the look and change one dress into several outfits.

If you prefer two pieces, and prefer wearing jeans and a blouse, take a look at the options you have with regards to your tops and bottoms. Do you have enough blouses to give you the variety you crave, without filling your wardrobe to capacity? Do you have a favourite pair of jeans, but perhaps would prefer to have them in a different colour? These can be questions you ask while your wardrobe is being reworked.

If you are someone that would prefer a rotating capsule wardrobe based on the seasons, as we are now in spring, you may wish to take out heavy knits and replace them with lighter layers. Cardigans, blazers, and lighter knitwear are great for this time of year.

Remember your shoes and accessories!

For many of my clients, while having the new outfits in their capsule wardrobe being more approachable and easy to create, they find the shoes are where they can get a little stuck.

I recommend making your shoes and accessories a part of your capsule wardrobe update. If you go to work and need to wear an appropriate heel, then you will want to make sure you have one or two pairs that work with this requirement. You may also want to have a pair of comfortable yet professional flats to commute in.

If your work permits, and you prefer to wear them, platform trainers or wedges can be a funky and more approachable alternative to stilettoes and heeled shoes.

If you are a business owner or professional that works from home, shoes are not as important to your work-life, but will be a requirement for your day to day and special occasions. Sandals, flats, and trainers are all great options, while the special occasion wear may only mean you have one or two special shoes for those needs.

Take a look at the outfits you have created within your capsule wardrobe and make sure there are a selection of shoes that work with your outfits, so you don’t get caught at the last moment!

Bags can also be a fantastic way to add a dash of personality and function to your outfit, particularly if you need to take a lot of things with you as you head out. As a mum, I know I have a “mum bag” which can carry all the snacks and essentials, while my business-owner bag is a little smaller and colourful.

Understand your needs

As I have said, each capsule wardrobe is unique to the person who needs it. Your capsule wardrobe may be completely different to your colleague’s, and again different to your best friend’s. Each person has a different set of needs to get from their clothes, so while you may get inspiration for “the perfect capsule wardrobe” from the internet, it is best to really think about your needs.

Before you eradicate all of your garments from your collection, make sure you have the pieces you need to create the outfits you feel great in. Your wardrobe can be a reflection of you – so let it be just that. If a capsule wardrobe for one person is a collection of 20 pieces, yours may be 40, or even 50. A number is not what you need to aim for, a wardrobe that works for you each day is the goal of a capsule wardrobe.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS - HOW TO DRESS FOR WORK IN 2023

I have had a lot of conversations with female clients who work in the city, that the way they are dressing for work has drastically changed since the pandemic. Most people now work on a hybrid format, with a mix of working from home and coming into the office.

They struggle to understand what to wear now, due to the dress code seemingly changing to a more relaxed version of what they were used to. The office wear of 2023 and beyond, seems to be incorporating more comfortable attire, and they feel that they no longer know what is suitable for the office.

As a personal stylist, I work with my clients to help them learn the ways to dress that they feel confident in, while remaining suitable for their environments. So, if you are feeling that your work wardrobe is no longer serving you, and you’re looking for ways to dress for this new hybrid way of working, then here are my top three tips for what to wear at work.

 

Tip Number 1 – Working from Home

Working from home looks tend to go more on the comfort and relaxed side, particularly on the bottom half of your outfit. You will tend to be able to walk around with less of an “office look”, but still need to look professional while jumping on and off of meetings. Your top half does still need to be more tidy and professional.

My top tips for working from home outfits:

• Add a cosy yet good quality jumper, so you can remain warm but happily jump on a virtual meeting without having to change.

• Wearing a colour from your colour palette will make a big difference, particularly when on camera, too.  Make sure it doesn’t blend into the background, so you don’t disappear!

• Add accessories such as earrings or headbands to add a little detail to your look, and finish off the professional style.

• For your bottoms, you may want to wear something a little more comfortable, such as leggings or relaxed trousers.

Tip Number 2 – Working from a Corporate Office

If you need to have a more corporate look, or have a strict dress code because you are a lawyer or you are meeting clients, a suit with a little personality is an easy go-to for this.

Top Tips for adding personality to a suit:

• While suits are excellent for corporate styling, they can feel a little restrictive. Depending on your position and company, you can add a dash of personality in a few ways:

• Wear a colourful heel or bag to your look to make your suit pop.

• Pop on a brooch to your lapel to liven up your suit jacket.

• Look for a different colour for your suit. Navy or black are no loner the only options! A deep grey, lilac, brighter blue, or even look for yellows, pinks, or greens, depending on your colours, to really jazz up your suit options.

• Change up the suit by wearing a different jacket with your black or navy bottoms, and vice versa.

Tip Number 3 – Working in the New Office

The case seems to be that most offices have now relaxed their dress codes with the changing times. This means you can have smart-casual looks, which may feel a little difficult for those who have always worn a suit to work, and now have more options!

A few ways to make a smart-casual office look:

• Wear your suit jacket with a pair of smart jeans. A deep wash is often best for this as it remains professional, but brings that touch of a more relaxed look to the outfit.

• Wear a suit with a smart t-shirt, in place of a blouse or shirt. There are lots of options for smart, high quality cotton t-shirts, that have a bit of personality, without having a slogan that may feel too casual!

• Pop on your favourite trousers or chinos, and add a comfortable high quality jumper or long sleeved cotton tee. The smarter bottom half of your look will elevate the comfort of your top half.

• Try out an alternative shoe, such as a brogue or a platform. Heels are no longer a requirement for the office, so play with more relaxed styles. For more ideas on shoes that work for the office that aren’t heels, I have shared a few of my favourites in this article.

• Play with colours that bring a touch of personality to your outfit, allowing you step out of the traditional black or navy palette.

• When it comes to working in a new way, it can feel difficult to plan your looks when you go to the office and when you stay at home. I hope some of these ideas have helped you plan your outfits for this new way to dress.

If you are a professional and you’re feeling unsure on how to dress for your new working style, I can help you make it a pleasure to dress for your work life.

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

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

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

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

Wedges & platforms

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

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

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

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

Pumps with a kitten or block heel 

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

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

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

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

Loafers with a small heel

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

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

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

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

Platform Sneakers

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

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

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

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

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: 7 WAYS TO STYLE CROPPED JEANS.

Jeans – they’re an essential part of most of our wardrobes, but when it comes to the styles we can wear, they are countless. Cropped jeans are one of the styles of jeans that is a more recent trend after years of skinny shapes dominating the fashion world, but can be tricky to style.

The first thing to think about when it comes to getting your cropped jeans is how can you style them with confidence? Here are my personal styling tips to help you discover new ways to play with your cropped jeans and perhaps add them to your wardrobe!

Cropped jeans with ankle boots

When you think of cropped jeans, you may not initially think that wearing ankle boots are a great option, but they can be super stylish together! Adding your little ankle boots, particularly when it’s a colder day, can be one way to continue to style your cropped jeans, while remaining a little warmer. I recommend wearing cropped jeans with higher boots that can hide under the jeans leg, but if you prefer to show a little space between your jeans and your boots, and your cropped jeans are the same length as your boots, then roll them up a little to show off that little bit of skin and create a break line.

A black pair of cropped jeans with black zip up boots, that have a little detail can be a great “rock chick” look to try out. However, if you’re more “romantic” in your styling, find a boot that has a thinner heel or have a quirky pattern to them to bring a little elegance or flair to your look.

Cropped jeans with a long overcoat or jacket

Layering is one of those styling additions that can transform a look, particularly for winter wear. Find a jacket or a shirt that comes to the length of your jeans and style them together to bring a complete look together. When you are looking at attending a smart/casual event this can be a great look to try as it can elevate the jeans you are wearing to a more smart-appropriate style, while remaining comfortable.

For the layering items, you can find blouses that are meant to remain open all the way or just at the top, and you can go for a fully fashion-forward look by half tucking your blouse at the front to bring an a-symmetry to the outfit. This can also be where you add your colours to the outfit, particularly if you have blue or black jeans that remain more neutral – add the colours and patterns to your outfit with a bright blouse or jacket and you’ve brought drama to your outfit!

Cropped jeans with a blazer

Now, if you know me, you know that a blazer is an essential piece I recommend to any client that wants to have an easy to add item to an outfit that brings a formal/business-appropriate addition to any item – and the same goes for your cropped jeans! Where your blazer may be more form fitting, this is where you can find a “mom” style cropped jean to your outfit or a looser fit to the bottom, that is then bringing the eye to your waist with your buttoned up or belted blazer.

For more ways to style your blazer, I have created a blog that shares a few ideas!

Cropped jeans with stilettos

With this outfit choice, you’re really going to town with the casual jeans paired with your formal or even sexy stilettos! I love bringing a heel to my jeans, so with a stiletto, go all out and make them work for you. You can have your looser fitting cropped jeans paired with your stilettos to create a sexy date-night look in a flash – with just a change of shoes! These are one of the best accessories that you can bring with you in a bag if you’re going to meetings and then seeing friends or your partner in the evening. But, with the right stilettos, you can also make these jeans work for business meetings. Find a nude or black pair of stilettos and pair them with your cropped jeans for a more work-appropriate look, that works if you are more comfortable with a smart/casual business attire.

Cropped jeans with platform trainers

Platform trainers are an excellent shoe to add to your collection – they remain comfortable, yet chic and stylish, while adding a little height. A classic white platform sneaker is a great option to add to your cropped jeans, as you can look slick and feel confident running between meetings – while remaining stylish and professional. If you want to add a little more personality, you can find platform sneakers in a range of styles, so go all out, try adding a little splash of colour to a neutral look with pink or bright blue platform trainers, while you could invest in a pair of designer platform trainers to really upgrade your look if your jeans are more budget friendly.

Cropped jeans with a shirt

You really can’t go wrong with a crisp shirt and any style of bottoms, and with your looser cropped jeans this can be another way to ensure a more smart/casual look that may work well for a more relaxed business person. A looser shirt can be a good option if you have a larger bust, as you’ll be able to tuck in your shirt into your cropped jeans to bring you in at the waist – adding a little definition with a belt can be another way to continue to bring your waist in.

Finding a cotton shirt that works for you is one investment piece I highly recommend bringing into your wardrobe, as it can go really well with many bottoms.

Cropped jeans with combat boots

Finally, one of the most rock-chick ready looks to wear with your cropped jeans is with combat boots which are another huge trend at the moment – best if you can invest in a leather or vegan leather option. With combat boots you could play with different options, from the classic punk-look of Doc Martens, to a more modern and romantic style with stiletto fronted combat boots! If you are conscious of your leg length, then matching your jeans colour to your boots is a good way to help your legs look elongated, or buy a pair of platform or heeled combat boots to add a touch of height.

While this can remain the most casual of looks, it can work well if your business style is more rocker or design-led, depending on the combat boots you try (for inspiration on how to style your combat boots in a variety of different ways, go here).

If you are planning on trying some cropped jeans, I hope some of these styling ideas have inspired you to bring new looks together! If you are unsure on how to style outfits, or want to have a professional helping hand when you go shopping, please get in touch.

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: SPRING/SUMMER SKIRTS FOR 2021 AND HOW TO WEAR THEM.

I had so many people love my dresses for spring/summer 2021 blog that I had to make a post about skirts - I know some people aren't lovers of dresses, and separates are their go-to style but feel overwhelmed by how to style skirts. So in this post, I am sharing the top skirt styles for 2021 and how to style them for your body shape & personal style.

The style of skirts for 2021 are similar to the past years. Many are midi in length and often in a silk or satin material, however leather has seemingly come into fashion too. This can make it feel difficult to style them, and is often the style my clients want to wear but are unsure on how to style them.

How to style your midi skirts

Let’s start with the most popular of skirt styles for 2021 – the midi length a-line skirt. A tricky one for many of us, and often seemingly styled in a “cool-girl” effortless way. The most popular and easy to wear option with this style of skirt is with a boxy tee tucked into the skirt. However, if you find a skirt that has an added detail such as this Oscar de la Renta leather piece with tie-waist, you can tuck in more structured tops, or formal styling thanks to the structure of the skirt.

If you want to style your midi skirt more formally but it doesn’t have an in-built belt, you can add your own. This can help with making the connection between top and skirt less uncomfortable, as I find the tops of many of the satin versions have a difficult waist to style without a casual look. So whether you style your satin midi skirt with a vest, a boxy top tucked in, a vintage tee that is cropped, a comfortable over-sized jumper, or with a shirt and belt, try out what works for you and feels comfortable.

Tiered skirts

The tiered, poplin style, comes to skirts as well as dresses this year. It’s a very relaxed and comfortable style so expect to feel boho-chique in this look! From feeling your Julia Roberts Pretty Woman-self in this polka dot belted tiered skirt to feeling fully 70’s hippie, you can find an array of tiered midi-skirts across styles and brands. I would recommend trying this style if your go-to personality is more on the boho or romantic side as it works excellently with boho-tops. You can also style them with fitted t-shirts or square necked long sleeve tops tucked into your skirt.

Wrap skirts

The easiest of the trendy skirts for Spring/Summer 2021 is the wrap skirt. While wrap dresses are one of my favourites for this time of year, I haven’t seen wrap skirts in fashion for a few seasons so I am so pleased that this style has come back! These work with everything from white shirting to printed tees, so get creative. From florals to almost structured-professional options, you will find a host of wrap skirt styles to play with.

Which of these skirt styles are you looking forward to trying in the coming months? If you are unsure on how to find the right styles for your body shape, or feel overwhelmed by the ways to style the latest trends, please get in touch.  

PERSONAL STYLIST TOP TIPS TO ORGANIZE YOUR RETURN-TO-WORK(WEAR)

If you’re anything like me then you will be getting very excited about what the next few months will hold for us. Not only are we now able to once again see one another (within the government guidelines) but also, many of us will be beginning to go back to “normal” working lives. Whether it’s coming out of furlough, seeing clients face to face, or returning to the office after months at home, your wardrobe is going to need to return, potentially, to a more professional style. But how can you reorganise your wardrobe to reflect these changes?

Give yourself time

We have indulged, sat at home, and simply started to get used to the comfort of our working from home wear. This means that your previous professional outfits may feel uncomfortable or different to how they used to. Give yourself enough time to retry on your professional clothes, and permit yourself self-care should they no longer fit. Prevent yourself from holding onto clothes that are too big or too small, and just donate them. Take them out of your mind, and give yourself a little boost knowing that now you can upgrade your wardrobe to reflect your personality a little more with some clothes shopping. If you want to know my tips for making your online shopping experience successful, read my blog here.

Plan ahead

Now you have your clothes sorted in your wardrobe, and you’re ready to get back to your working routine, you’ll want to save yourself valuable time! For some, this return to work means extra early wake ups, and long commutes, so any time saved means more time in the shower, having breakfast, with the family, or just simply saving stress in the morning. Plan your outfit the night (or even the week!) before, so you know exactly what you’re going to pick up and put on.

If you are unsure on what outfits work well, then why not head to Pinterest for some inspiration (or give me a call to discuss a Personal Styling Session!) to help create outfits that you love. You can then plan them in a “flat lay” on the bed, see what accessories and shoes work well, and make some fun out of the whole planning process. Once you’ve curated outfits for the week, you can hang them all together so they are easy to pull out of your newly organised wardrobe in a flash.

You may also want to prepare a bag for your change of shoes if you are someone that does a lot of walking but needs to transform into high heels or less comfortable smart shoes for the office.

Create capsule spaces in your wardrobe

If you are changing up your routine with flexible working, meaning you may be working from home some days and then at the office on others, then you may want to create easy to access capsule areas in your wardrobe so you can easily switch between office workwear, and home workwear, as well as the fun clothing for outside brunches and, soon, date nights! When you know the area to pick and choose from for your outfits for specific days, it will make the experience so much more fun.

Manage your expectations

If you are feeling overwhelmed by what to wear, as it’s been a very long time for all of us living in the sort of “half professional” look, then you deserve to give yourself some time to manage your expectations for what the coming weeks and months will look like for you. Planning your outfits, getting clothes together in advance, and making sure there are no items in your wardrobe that don’t fit or suit you, will be one way to help keep the process smooth and calm. If you work in an office, or have networking events that you attend with close friends or contacts, you could all chat together before the working week to see how you’re getting on, help one another with outfit choices, and make it a more fun experience for you all.

My final piece of advice is to enjoy these changes – remember how fun it can be to dress up, create workwear outfits for a meeting, and feel professionally pulled together, and embrace that fun. If it doesn’t feel fun (or if you have always dreaded getting your clothes together for any occasion) then please get in touch – I can help you feel confident, comfortable, and make every morning an enjoyable one when it comes to clothes.

PERSONAL SHOPPER TIPS: HOW TO PLAN YOUR SHOPPING ONLINE AND MAKE IT REALLY WORK FOR YOU

My gut tells me online shopping will be the preferred options from the majority of consumers over 2021. Online shopping can be "tricky" so, while I absolutely understand that people feel safer and want to avoid stepping into a physical store (and also, most of them do not allow us to try things on during these times) I'd recommend being careful with shopping online, trying to search specific items and avoid random/compulsive purchases. So here are some tips to help make sure your online shopping experience is a good one!

Write a list

My first tip is to write a shopping list and follow it while researching items. Start your list by going through your Spring wardrobe and find the items you feel are missing that can extend your outfits. Do you have a need for new tops, or camisoles, perhaps you may need a few replacement light cardigans – whatever you feel you may need to add to your wardrobe that would actually work with your current collection will ensure you have a list that works rather than a haphazard approach to shopping.

Which clothing brands do you love?

We often gravitate to certain brands that work for us, and our wardrobe will show us those brands. So, while you’re writing your list, find out the brands that seem to pop up regularly. With this in mind, you can then visit their online stores for their new collections or sale items, that match your shopping list!

What cuts work well for your body?

Our body can look amazing in certain styles, and with a knowledge of the style of jeans you love most, to the dress types that you feel amazing in, figure out the cuts and styles you love to wear and this will help you when searching for items online.

For example, if you feel fabulous in square neck tops – look for clothes with a similar neckline that you know you’ll feel confident in. Perhaps you need a new pair of jeans (now we are finally being given the opportunity to go outside with friends once again!), consider the style of jeans you like, as well as the leg length and waist size, which you can replicate with your next purchase. Flared jeans are coming back into fashion, so if you’ve been desperate to get a pair, now is a great time to invest.

What colours will suit your current wardrobe and personal style?

Another really important part to remember when it comes to shopping is to know the colours you love to wear, and that work with your wardrobe. Many online shops allow you to categorise by colour as well as type, so use this option so you’re not distracted by items that just won’t work with your current wardrobe!

Know your budget

My final tip is to consider your budget. Fast fashion works well for quick required pieces, but with so many of us still being wary of going out quite as much, you may want to step back and consider your budget. With a higher ticket price, you will often find a much better item – and if this means waiting a little while before investing in pieces that you will love, or waiting for a sale, then you will find your wardrobe has more clothing that you want to wear more often. Invest in a few important pieces while online shopping that stay within your budget, to treat yourself, but also to know that they will be worn with love & will work with multiple items in your wardrobe (if you’ve done all the other ideas in this list!).

If you are feeling a little overwhelmed by the thought of shopping online, or perhaps you have bought clothes in the past that you’re not using, please get in touch – I can help you with my online personal style masterclass where we will work together to create a perfect personal style for you. With this in hand, your shopping (online and offline) will be a much more enjoyable experience!

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: HOW TO WEAR COMFY CLOTHES AND STAY STYLISH!

Style is changing, we have seen during the last year that fashion and style has evolved into a comfortable, practical form while we stay home and stay safe. However, for many of us, the “comfy” look can feel frumpy, and unstylish, so in this blog I wanted to share with you a few ways to make your comfy clothes feel & look great!

Go for colour!

Often the first thing I recommend to any of my personal styling clients is the importance of colour, and there is never a more important time to consider colour than when you are looking at your comfy wardrobe. While remaining comfortable, you want to feel put together, and a splash of colour really can help to bring through your personal style. Whether it’s a bright hoodie, or a colourful headband, bring some colour to your comfy wardrobe to feel more stylish.

Bring in texture

Something I find important about comfortable clothing is the textures. From textured velvets to wool, the textures you can find in your clothing will not only add an extra layer of comfort, but also work really well in adding a little style to your look. Velvet, for example, can look fantastic when on a video thanks to the different ways it picks up the light. Find some great textures & fabrics to add to your wardrobe and upgrade your comfy style.

 Add a blazer!

If you want to upgrade your athleisure look in a flash, add a blazer! The added layer works beautifully over many different casual looks – from over a hoodie and jeans, to upgrading your workout top if you need to jump on a video call. I recommend having a few different styles of blazer in your wardrobe, a formal muted blazer, a fun piece that showcases your personality, and a thicker (perhaps wool) blazer for colder days.

Indulge in high quality comfortwear

While you may feel that the classic active wear you want to wear to work out in can be a budget piece, I highly recommend investing in some key comfy pieces that will last a lifetime. When you invest in a high-quality piece, you instantly feel more put together. This isn’t to say you have to spend thousands on a designer item, but looking for something that isn’t fast-fashion priced will mean your piece will last longer, and feel a better quality too. Knitwear is one category I recommend investing in and you can find some stunning items from the high street that are built to last and look unique. I also recommend getting a few “casual” pieces that can also transform into work-ready items like a matching set.

Embrace comfort

My final tip is to embrace that many of us are having to deal with a huge amount right now, from looking after the kids, living through a rollercoaster of changes, and our lives genuinely changing almost every day, you should give yourself the permission to embrace the comforts in your every day life. Whether that’s giving yourself time to yourself, or living in your favourite snuggly jumper and yoga pants, giving yourself the permission to be comfortable is just one way to help build your wellbeing during these trying times.

If you would like some advice to upgrade your comfort wear, or want some advice on how to create a wardrobe that is stress-free, I’d love to chat.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: HOW TO LOOK AND FEEL CONFIDENT, FROM THE WAIST UP

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: HOW TO LOOK AND FEEL CONFIDENT, FROM THE WAIST UP

With the recent announcement meaning many of us will be continuing to work from home for a while yet, I wanted to share some more tips to help people look and feel their best for the online meetings we will continue to be hosting!

Brighten up your mindset with some colour

Winter is often a time of year when many of us feel quite grey and perhaps even a little moody. For those of us without the joyous snow, it has been rainy and cold which means plenty of layers and perhaps our summery florals & colours are impatiently waiting to be pulled out for summer. My thoughts on winter are that this is the time of year that we most need colour in our wardrobe, and I feel this couldn’t be more needed than while we are staying at home. With an addition of colour to your outfit you will start to feel more uplifted, and they will also help you stand out when on a large online meeting!

You’ll want to know the best colours for your skin tone but a few ideas I can suggest for online meetings are pinks, blues, oranges, and bright yellows – they stand out really well on camera.

You could even go for a really bright and fun pattern like this jumper from House of Sunny, which will definitely perk you and your fellow online meeting attendees’ up!

Boost your confidence with a touch of make-up

Working from home can feel like bliss for those of us who had to get up hours in advance of starting work to not only get the kids ready and commute to the office, but also for the extra time-savings of no need for make-up. However, make-up can be a wonderful confidence and mood-booster. Whether it’s a colourful lipstick, or a dash of eyeliner, or even just a sweep of mascara, they can go a long way to helping boost your mood and help you look put together if you are asked for a surprise online meeting that you thought would be just a telephone call!

Go for an easy to apply, long-lasting lipstick in a shade that works for you, or a water-proof mascara that can survive the rain if you nip outside for a breath of fresh air on a walk or jog during the day.

Add an accessory

My final tip for boosting your confidence from the waist up is to add a favourite accessory to your outfit. Something that has sparkle, a lovely memory, or feels special to you. From a colourful silk scarf, to a fun pair of earrings, you can bring an accessory to your outfit quickly and easily to upgrade your casual work from home look to a professional business meeting outfit.

If you are feeling a little uninspired or overwhelmed on how to feel more confident when you attend online meetings or events, then I’d love to invite you to join Mel Byron and me for our “Confidence and Style from the Waist Up” webinar on 18th January where we will help you elevate your look and learn how to speak with professionalism & confidence.

TIPS FOR WEARING YOUR FACE MASK WITH STYLE

Perhaps not everyone is wearing a face mask each and every day, but they have become an essential item to wear. However, with these safety measures that are keeping us all safe and allowing us to finally get out to the office, to shops, and to see friends at a safe distance, I have heard that people are struggling with certain aspects.

Here are my top tips to help you wear your face mask, without having the issues I have heard my clients share with me.

Make-up tips when wearing a face mask:

1. Focus on your eyes. As wearing lipstick is pretty useless when wearing a face mask as it can smudge, or people just aren’t going to see it, now is a great time to bring focus onto our eyes.

2. Use fun colours to help bring some joy into your and other people’s days, by showing off your personality through your eye make-up!

3.  Use concealer to help cover any redness or dark circles[Stefania 1] , so that your eyes can remain the focus of your face, whilst making you feel your most confident.  

Tips for choosing your face mask:

1.  Choose a mask in one of your best colours. What colours go best with your personality, your skin tone, your eye colour, and your wardrobe? With so many face mask options out there, you can be spoiled for choice, so make sure it is working for you.

2. Make your face mask a part of your accessories. Sequins, patterns, different shapes – these are all elements that are now being added to face masks by designers, so you really can have fun with your face mask, and make it a real accessory.

3. Consider eco-friendly, and washable options. There are some great designers out there who are giving back through the sale of their face masks – which can be a great way to give back to the community, whilst also caring for one another through wearing this essential safety item.

Where to buy your eco-friendly and washable face masks, in the UK:

To help you find some more fun, colourful, and eco-friendly face masks here are a list of shops I have found.

Pucker Masks

These colourful masks are all created by UK seamstresses who have been out of work due to Covid and are paid a living wage. They also have an adjustable nose bridge and a pocket for a filter, should you wish to add one. Added onto this, they also give 25% of their profits to charity.

NotJustClothing

This UK brand is offering a truly bespoke experience with customisable face masks. You can have a UK tube station, a word, or initials added to these minimal face masks. They are also made in the UK, are carbon neutral, with 50% of their profits from their face masks (and their t-shirts) going to Masks for NHS Heroes.

Isabel Manns

This UK-based womenswear company create their face masks, as well as all of their clothes, with fabric cut to minimise waste. Each of their face masks are reversible, and profits from their sale goes to the NHS. With an incredible range of patterns and colours, you really can let your personality shine with these masks.

Migrate Art

The charity, based in the UK, have created a range of reversible, reusable, and washable face masks in collaboration with 10 artists. They have a campaign called #masksformeals which has been set up so that 100% of the profits from sales of their masks will go to Refugee Community Kitchen to help them feed the homeless in the UK.

During these uncertain times, it can be worrying to consider what to do next, and you are not alone. I hope with these tips, you will feel more confident prior to your next shopping trip, and will have a face mask that truly reflects your personality. If you would like assistance with a personal shopper who can maximise your time, and make your experience less stressful, then please get in touch.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS FOR FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS

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

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

Ideas for the networking meeting

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

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

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

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

For the business meeting

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

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

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

Now is the time to invest in key items

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

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

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

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

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