PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: VALENTINE'S DAY OUTFIT IDEAS 2022

For many of my clients, styling their outfits for date nights, events with close friends, or just to feel a little more sexy, can be tricky to create. Valentine’s day can be a great time of the year to be with a partner and feel “yourself” or to get dressed up and spend time with your closest friends for a special night out.

So, if you are feeling unsure on what to wear to help yourself feel a little more sexy with confidence, here are some outfit ideas!

Inspire your colour palette

The month of love is often inspired by a certain colour palette, and that is reds, pinks, and blacks! These can be great colours to help inspire your look for a special event. 

When you know the colours that make you feel your best, you can then include them into your outfits, and if reds, blacks, or pinks are within the colour wheel for you, then this is a great time to go all out.

You could have a full look inspired by the colours, for example a beautiful red dress, shoes, and lip. If you feel an all-red look is a little difficult to commit to, you can add flourishes of the colour to your look through the accessories. 

If you want to add pink rather than red, but still feel strong and powerful, you can look into investing in a deep pink suit, or tailored jumpsuit as the tailoring helps to create a stronger look.

However, if you love feeling more “cute” than strong, then baby pinks, softer pinks and sorbet pink are more approachable for this styling.

Black and red work really well together, so if you choose a Little Black Dress that you love and add the touch of sexy red for your date night, you will be sure to be feeling ready to take on the date! 

Feel romantic

Romantic looks are great for a night out with a loved one, and for boosting your energy. Romantic styles are floaty dresses and skirts, all the way to frills, floral patterns, and vintage-style collars. They’re perfect if you’re like me and prefer to feel feminine on a date night.

A maxi or midi length can be an easy to wear style that adds a touch of elegance to your look without feeling restricted on your evening out (which translates to enjoying your dinner without restriction!).

If you prefer to wear something a little less formal, or are going to a brunch date instead of an evening, this look can work beautifully with jeans and a blouse with puff sleeves or added texture. You could also make this feel sexy while romantic with a monochromatic formal look that has the silhouette of a romantic-style of puff sleeves and skirt together. 

You don't have to take this look all the way if you are more of an abstract style-lover, either, as you can dip your toe into the floaty silhouette, but add a touch of your style with block colours or patterns. You can also bring stronger elements to the look through your accessories with stilettos, strong jewellery pieces, and even your outer wear – think a leather jacket to bring a touch of toughness. 

Show off your favourite features

The best and easiest way to boost your feeling sexy is to feature your favourite asset – whether it’s your shoulders with an off the shoulder dress, your legs with a short skirt or Little Black Dress, or your booty with a pair of trousers that showcase your asset in the best way.

When we put on garments that help us feel our best, that’s often when we feel our sexiest. We can then put together the rest of the outfit to match how we are feeling. So, I highly recommend discovering a few key pieces in your wardrobe that you feel your best in and save them for those days when you need added confidence. When you know the garments you feel your best in, you can then know where to invest in new items to create outfits you’ll love to wear (so they don’t have to be saved for special occasions!).

You can also encourage even more confidence with a few added extras:

• Heels can transform your confidence – even if it’s only an inch or two, you will notice the change of how you walk, move, and that added height can boost confidence.

• Add a touch of lipstick – that final swish of colour to your lips can work their magic to bringing a boost of confidence that sometimes is needed to feel your best!

• Bring textures into your outfit that make you feel sexy. Whether you love soft comforting textures, or strong tailored looks, add these textures to your outfit so you can feel confident in a flash.

I believe we should all feel our best whether we are going for a date, out to an event, or spending the day at home, and fashion should help us feel this way when we get it right.

If you are feeling more stressed by your outfit choices, and would love to change that – please get in touch to discover how I can help.

LIFE OF A PERSONAL STYLIST: MY LINGERIE FIT EXPERIENCE

When we think about personal styling we immediately think of what we wear outside, but underwear, especially for women, is actually a very important part of personal style.

What we wear outside, and the way we wear it, is definitely connected to our lingerie: from what makes us feel comfortable, to the right shape and size (both for our bra and pants), to the right style to wear with some specific clothes, the research of the right underwear is all but easy, regardless of our body shape and size. 

And, just like for clothing, there is a personality component too, that affects our choices.

There are indeed specific rules about fit, alongside many different styles and shapes, and they all effect not just our comfort, but also our confidence and appearance.

I’ve learned this myself through life and work experiences, and understood more about the complexity of the underwear world after meeting lingerie stylist  Monica Harrington. 

Now, in my years as a style coach, I’ve helped many women with their style and shopping choices, and often I’ve been asked tips about underwear. And while I could share tips as a woman, and based on my personal opinion and experience, I couldn’t share professional advice, because I just didn’t have the specific knowledge and expertise.

For this reason (and also for personal interest) I decided to have a lingerie fit session with Monica. Here’s all about my experience:

First of all, Monica received me in a nice, private and cozy studio, and the moment I stepped in, I felt comfortable and at ease. Soft light, lovely music in the background, a nice atmosphere, and obviously all in the room that speaks about underwear.

Monica was very welcoming and the moment she started speaking and introducing me to the lingerie world, I had no doubt that she is a true expert, and that I could trust her.

Now, having a small bust, all I wanted throughout my entire life as an adult was to wear a bra that gave me extra volume, but often in shops I was recommended super padded bras, or bras with wire, and both gave me discomfort. After years of research, to the point I was feeling almost hopeless, I seemed to have found the perfect bra: a wire-less, push-up bra from a high street Italian brand. Feeling quite satisfied about how it looked and felt on me, for years I’ve been buying the same style, in different colours. 

But my fit session with Monica actually showed to me that I’ve been wearing the wrong bra all this time! First of all, I’ve been buying the wrong size, all this time I bought a size too big for my back, and too small for my boobs. OOOPPSS. 

This means I didn’t get the proper support (as this comes from the band, as Monica taught me); plus the cup was too small and sat in the wrong place! Even if I couldn’t feel discomfort, she showed me the marks the cup was leaving on my skin, and it helped me acknowledge that the fit wasn’t right at all.

She then picked 3 different styles from her “magic box” and I tried them, one after another.I was astonished as they all fitted perfectly, they made me feel comfortable, supporting without clinging nor leaving any marks on my skin. And, let me add, they gave me a much sexier silhouette!

Three different brands, some of which I’ve never heard of before, and all absolutely perfect for me! Lovely designs too, feminine and simple, as I like.

Monica also recommended some nude shades (as, even with nude colour, there are different shades and we need to choose the right one for us carefully). 

The colour choice is important for underwear too!

So, after an initial shock, as I realized my wardrobe was full of the wrong sized and shaped bras (and that I have to replace them all) I felt happy and satisfied, finally finding my perfect bra fit, and more than one style to bring a little diversity into my lingerie cupboard!

Now, I went there mainly for finding out my best bra fit, but while there I asked Monica a few questions, and I’m sure you’d like to know the answers:

What are your top tips to choose the right type of pants?

While style is very personal, there are some universal rules that apply to everyone:

• Stick to your size 

• Have a selection of different pant shapes to wear with varying outerwear

• Choose seamless options under fitted outerwear to ensure they are not visible underneath.

In sight of an event, where we need to buy a new evening dress, what would you recommend to do when it comes to the undergarments?
Three top tips:

• Take your underwear with you when you go to buy/try an occasion dress.

• If you are wearing a strapless bra, ensure the band is fitting snug around the body, if the band is too big the bra will not stay in place.

• If you are wearing shapewear under the dress to create a smooth silhouette, buy your size not a size down as this will feel tight and uncomfortable.

I recommend every woman to have a lingerie fit, it’ll reveal a whole new world, boost your confidence and help you look your best self (with or without clothes on).

About Monica

The quickest way to look and feel your very best is to invest in a personal lingerie, swim and sports styling session. Beautifully fitted lingerie will maximise your look and boost your body confidence. With over thirty years’ experience I pride myself on ensuring my personal sessions are a safe and comfortable place to learn about what works and feels best for you.

Over my career I have witnessed the unexpected power of lingerie to improve women’s relationship with their body and wardrobe. Not only do their clothes look better, but they stand taller, move more freely, and act with greater confidence.

I have worked with clients of every age, shape and size, everywhere from photo shoots to hospital wards, I’m here to help all women. There's no hang-up too deep or circumstances so unusual that we can’t tackle it together.

My aim is to help you unleash the unexpected power of lingerie to improve your body confidence and your relationship with your wardrobe by improving the fitting experience.

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: 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 SHOPPER TIPS: TOP WAYS TO ADD COLOUR TO YOUR WINTER OUTFITS

We all tend to wear darker colours in winter, and it is true that in fashion it can be tricky to find bright colours during the winter months, but wearing our colours is something that we should always do, so how to do that?

Whether you are looking to embrace colour in new ways into your wardrobe, or are a colour-lover and want some on-trend colours to add to your collection, this article will help bring some fun & colour to the grey months of winter!

Colour trends for 2021

While I don’t condone following trends flippantly, when it comes to finding the colours that may inspire you to add some new options to your winter wardrobe that will bring fun & personality to your day to day outfits, discovering new colours through the trends we see can be a good way to get started! Here are a few of my favourite colour trends for Autumn/Winter 2021 to try!

Yellows for Winter

One of the brightest and most fun-filled colours, yellow, was a big hit on catwalks for Moschino, Marc Jacobs, and even Dior were showcasing this fun colour on their Fall/Winter 2021 shows.

Yellow can be a tricky colour to work with depending on your season (the colour group you fall into depending on your skin tone), so look out for the yellows that work for you. From sherbet yellow shoes, to designer bright yellow suits, you’ll be dancing as if you were basking in sunshine in this colour!

Pink hues to try out

Pink is a great colour (for those who like it) and it really is a fun, upbeat colour with a huge range of different shades and tones – whether it’s an incredible shocking pink dress or baby pink bags – add this quirky fun colour to your winter wardrobe to feel a touch of brightness.

Jewel Tones – Purples and Greens

The jewel tones of previous years continue to be on-trend this Autumn/Winter and have packed the runways. These are accessible, easy to find, and will work throughout the seasons, when you choose the right tones for your skin. You can even go all out and clash the purple and green colours together to create a statement look. Try bringing a satin green skirt into your wardrobe, or a deep purple knitted jumper into your wardrobe to add the jewels to your outfit!

If you’d like to know which colours work for you, so you can try trends that will feel great, find out more about my Colour Analysis Services (available in person and online).

Start small – adding colour through accessories & jewellery

One of the most impactful parts of our wardrobes, that are often not invested in, are the accessories! You can transform an outfit with just a belt or a pair of shoes, you can elevate your brunch outfit ready for a date with just the addition of jewellery, and when it comes to adding colours these can be the quickest and most effective way to do it, particularly if you are new to colour.

Another great thing about using jewellery and accessories to add colour is that they are often work-appropriate no matter the office requirements.

Here are a few of my favourite colourful accessories and jewellery to add to your winter wardrobe to perk up your outfits and mindset, in a flash:

• Colourful earrings – earrings are a great start to adding colour, whether you’re just adding a little dash of colour through some colourful studs; some small hoops are a slightly greater option; or going all out with statement earrings, these can easily be added or taken away from an outfit.

• Statement bags – I am a lover of showing personality through my bags, and you really can have the whole spectrum of these excellent (and useful) accessories! Finding a colourful crossover body bag is a great option for day to day or running around, whereas if you go to the office regularly and are in the market for a new larger option with bags(!) of personality, why not get a colourful one?

• Upgrade your rings – yes, rings really are a way to add the finishing touches to your outfit and why not make them colourful and quirky? They can be anything from finding a colourful gemstone such as sapphire or emerald, or even full rainbow; to more original ideas that really make a statement! Just like all of these accessories, they are easy to take off if the occasion doesn’t call for them, so you can show off your personality as and when appropriate.

These are just a few of my favourite ways to help my clients dip their toes into adding colour to their outfits, and I hope they have inspired you to just get started by adding accessories or jewellery with a touch of colour this winter, however, now you’ve started on the colour train, let’s try out a few other ways!

Next Steps to Colour in Your Wardrobe – Your Coats!

Next steps to your colour freedom without feeling overwhelmed is with your coat. You can pop on a big blast of colour which, yes, may feel like a lot of colour at first, but the good news? You can keep it unbuttoned to show neutral tones underneath, and take it off when you arrive at your destination. What I love about adding colour with a coat or jacket is it is a statement – you will showcase your personality in a flash, but there is the ease of being able to take it off and be ready for meetings should you feel you have to stay in classic colours.

Consider light blues which work well with navy tones (and work into the monochrome trend, really well!), as a gentle start into colourful coat options; or you can try out a pink (also available in purple, and blue!) option to embrace the 2021 Winter trend! While if you love the autumnal colours and want to bring them into your wardrobe, you can try out a bright orange coat which really is a statement piece.

Consider the shapes of your coats and jackets, as well as the colours, as they play a huge part in the confidence we will feel when wearing them.

A little jump into colour - Knitwear

Now that the weather is so much colder, you may be considering investing in new knitwear and snuggly items to keep you warm, and if you are looking at the classic darker tones, greys, and deep browns, I would love to challenge you to find just one (or two) colourful knitwear items to play up your outfits.

This can feel like a big step, that’s why it’s my next step in my colour transformation for you – as it is shown in a much bigger block, but it can easily be removed, covered by a coat or jacket, and played down with neutrals, navy, and black on the bottom half and in your shirts or blouses so it doesn’t feel as overwhelming.

Play with the colours within your season as a part of your colour analysis, and if you haven’t got one of these handy go-tos for colour, put the colour next to your face and see how you feel about it alongside your skintone – while this isn’t the fool proof way to know your colours, it’s a good starting point to feeling your most confident in the colours you choose. Start with items that are going to be pieces you may take off when you get to work or meetings, or perhaps are your seeing friends outfit additions, so you can dip your toes into colour without feeling completely overwhelmed by it. Things like cardigans, cropped jumpers, or v-neck jumpers that have just the colour around the neckline, can be a good start.

These are just a few ways to add colour to your winter wardrobe if you are feeling unsure about adding colour through your traditional items of your outfit, such as trousers, shirts, and so on. I hope this has inspired you to add a spark of colour to your wardrobe, and if you are feeling unsure or overwhelmed about where to start, please get in touch about my colour analysis or personal styling services.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS – HOW TO LOOK AND FEEL “WOW” IN WINTER, WITH HANDMADE SEASONAL COLOUR HATS

I was delighted to have been taken part into a very special project of the women in business community WoW – Women on Women in collaboration with Italian hat designer, Vitrizia: the WoW hat Capsule, which was conceived as Urban artwear. The beauty of this collection was to showcase that fashion can be art, and specifically in this collection that the hat can be an artistic object to be showcased on the street as an artistic expression for the everyday woman.

The aim of these creations is to be WoW on every woman and Marianna, the CEO of WoW – Women  on Women, together with the designer, realised that working on the colour element was essential to achieve that result and in order to enhance each woman’s beauty.

Being part of the WoW community, and colour analysis expert, Marianna asked for my support in identifying the different seasonal colours for the capsule, to complement women belonging to each of the colour seasons. Each of the four handmade designs can be realised in colour combinations from the 4-seasons colour palettes (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) and has special features to truly help the wearer feel confident and empowered.

Woollen hats are worn during the colder months so this is fantastic time to enhance the beauty of each woman, from day to night, with the headpiece accessory. And getting it right with the right shape and colours is so important to feel unique and confident.

The Diva Headdress

This is a truly standout piece which can work beautifully with a similarly Avant Garde outfit – think oversized coats or more masculine cuts. The piece will definitely help you to stand out among the grey backgrounds of this season, so consider finding the style in your colours and truly go with it!

While it will keep you warm with its open balaclava style, you will also take the stage with its unique styling. Let the hand sewn jewels add a touch of femininity to your masculine outfit, and pop on a pair of heels with wide leg trousers to continue the masculine/feminine look.

The Diva hat in a winter colour combination

The Mimosa Cake Hat

A classic style with a unique edge, this almost beanie-like style gets a dramatic touch of artistic flair with the double topper. I love that this brings a truly unique addition to a classic look, so while it feels the most simplistic of the designs for this capsule collection, you know you will be showcasing your individuality & supporting hand-crafted creations.

I recommend wearing the Mimosa to complement a monochromatic look, as it already is reflected in the hat. You can either add the layered pop of colour to the remainder of your outfit, or let that part shine and complete your look with an outfit all in the colour of the main hat. Monochromatic looks are excellent for keeping a professionals and easy to put together look, and when you know your colours, these should be easily accessible in your wardrobe. Put on a classic-cut coat such as a trench coat or blazer to complete the winter-ready styling.

The Mimosa hat in a Spring colour combination

The Big Kiss

I love this piece so much I had to get it for myself – it’s incredibly unique and you can even add ostrich feathers to make this hat almost like a bejewelled head piece or fascinator. Inspired by early twentieth-century designs, this hat has a rosette to the side of the garment with hand-sewn crystals, you won’t need any jewellery with this to stand out!

The Big Kiss in a summer colour combination

With this hat, I like to wear it with a structured coat for formal meetings, or with a leather or denim jacket to relax the look. Then pop on my favourite cropped jumper, a pair of black or dark jeans and high heeled boots – mixing together the elegant styling of the hat with a more informal outfit.

The Ruler

A fun, quirky, and unique design, this hat brings together a scarf and a hat together in one! I absolutely love the additional textures in the neck piece that transform this hat, that truly is a piece of art for the modern woman to wear. It uses inspiration from the eighteenth century, framing the head and the neckline, you’ll truly feel like Queen Elizabeth I with a contemporary colour twist.

The Ruler in an Autumn colour combination

I love to play with the inspiration of this outfit and truly go full-romantic styling. Think long floaty dresses, that encompass the feeling of a royal queen. If that’s a little too feminine, then consider the fabrics that feel royal such as satins, velvets, and suede! It would work beautifully with a velvet suit, or perhaps a square-necked long sleeve jumper, long overcoat and midi skirt that continues to be a go-to piece for this season.

As an Italian personal stylist in London, I love supporting fellow Italian designers create pieces that help women stand out from the crowd, and continue to support independent, hand crafted creations that are sustainable. It was a real pleasure to be a part of this project, and you can get your own pieces from this collection by going here and if you want to learn all about the colours that work for you so you can confidently curate a wardrobe you love, please get in touch to book your colour consultation.

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.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS - 5 WAYS TO LOOK GREAT WHILE STAYING WARM THIS WINTER

One big struggle for many of my clients is knitwear and layering: it's easy to dress up in summer, with a dress and a jacket to feel sexy, cool, and confident. But in winter, when it's cold and you need to wear layers, it gets a little difficult.

A blazer or leather jacket is not something easy to wear under a coat, while a cosy jumper could be much better, but it may feel a little too casual to wear in the evening or to the office.

We need to stay warm, but feel confident and professional, so I wanted to share the different kinds of knitwear that are on trend this winter, how to layer with confidence, and how to stay professional while keeping warm!

Add extra layers under your office wear

Thinner layers that can go under your garments are an essential at this time of year and they won’t make you feel bulky. When you look for thin layering items think of warm fabrics such as cashmere, bamboo, or wool, that can keep you snuggly but without additional thickness to go under items. 

 
One of my favourite ways to style a thin layer is with a cashmere rollneck top under a dress. This helps me continue to wear my colourful seasonal items throughout the colder months. 

You can also do this with round neck or polo neck base layers under your shirts as a way to add colour, definition, and most-importantly, warmth!

Belt it up or tuck it in!

A belt can completely transform your look! When you are wearing lots of layers, you'll want to bring in your waist, so adding definition through using a belt is a great option here. One option is to add a belt over your midi-skirt and warm jumper combination; or a dress that you're wearing over your basic turtleneck, with a gorgeous belt at the waist.

If you prefer a cleaner line, you can tuck in your garments - if you're wearing separates. This works beautifully with your blouse and work trousers, or a midi skirt and a large jumper; or even with your high-waisted jeans. 

Make the investment

Your knitwear and outer wear should last you several years, particularly if you take care of it, so investing in pieces that you love will mean you can continue to wear them. 

If now is the time to get a few new key pieces, then investing in one that will work with your style throughout the years is important. If you live in the UK, then you will always have some handy jumpers or long-sleeved tops required throughout the year, so why not have pieces that you really love wearing?  

I recommend having a large comfortable jumper, a classic cardigan, as well as a few thinner jumpers for during the day when you’re running around in the office or commuting, so you’re not overheating!

Consider the accessories

Something that always elevates a look is the accessories – we have already seen how a belt can transform your look, but when you elevate your winter wear with jewellery and colourful scarves you can go from feeling sofa-ready, to office ready in a flash.

Have on hand a few key pieces that can work with your layers. For example, layered necklaces go really well over the top of tight rollneck jumpers, you can add a few rings and a chunky bracelet, or pop on some tights with a gorgeous pattern to add a touch of flair when you put on your work dress or skirt.

Add colour & pattern!

It may be winter and feeling grey outside, but this doesn’t mean your wardrobe has to feel this way. One of the biggest ways to cheer ourselves up, and make our outfits feel put together and personality-filled is by adding colour or pattern to the look.

Something you can start with it a colourful accessory like a scarf, or with your shoes or bag – little sparks of colour are a good way to start. These pieces can also then be used throughout the seasons, too!

If you want to level up the look, you can try out the on-trend style of a monochromatic look in one colour or shades of the same colour with your whole look. This is something that can work really beautifully, and feel pulled together, but can be a big step if you’re one to steer clear of colour in the day to day. If a bright colour like pink or green is a little too much (or not in your colour season!) then start with nudes, browns, or autumnal colours like burnt orange.

 I hope these top tips for feeling confident & warm this winter inspire you to try out some new fun ways to boost your winter wardrobe. If you’d like support in creating a wardrobe you love that boosts your confidence, I would love to help – I offer personal styling services as well as my personal shopping service that curates outfits & styles that you will love.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: BACK TO THE OFFICE - 3 COMFY SHOES AND HOW TO WEAR THEM

Often my clients struggle to match shoes with their outfits. Now that the priority seems to be comfort, particularly after such a long time at home in slippers.

However, when we go back to the office, we often expect ourselves to put on those heels and begin to relive the aches of stilettos and work shoes, but what if I told you there were work appropriate shoes that won’t feel uncomfortable from the first minute? Well, there are shoes that work for the office and for your feet, so in this article I wanted to share 3 comfy shoes you can wear to the office, and how to style them.

Loafers for women, and how to style them

Loafers were often a men’s-only shoe, but now that shoemakers have moved into a more androgynous flow for their offerings, loafers have become incredibly popular for women. They’re not only comfortable, but can be matched with a multitude of outfits, here are a few of my favourite ways to style loafers, specifically for the workplace.

Loafers with tapered trousers

When you’re wearing a beautiful pair of loafers, why not show them off with a pair of tapered trousers that are cut above the ankle? You can match a stunning pair of red trousers with a gold pair of slip on loafers as a funky stand-out look, or keep your look monotone with black trousers and black leather loafers that have a little detail in them to keep some style in the outfit.

Loafers with a midi skirt

If you are more into skirts at work over trousers, then as with the tapered trousers, a midi skirt is a great option to match with your loafers, throw on a turtleneck and a belt and you’re ready to take on the office with style! You can go completely flat, or you can find a pair with a small heel, depending on your preference. A quirky pair with a fabulous pattern, like these bumble bee pattered Gucci loafers are a fabulous and fun addition to your wardrobe, and work well if you want to showcase personality, but can’t do so in your full outfit – match them with a black midi skirt, simple shirt and blazer and you are ready to take on the office! 

Pumps for work and how to style them

Now, bear with me here, ballet pumps have come a long way from our classic school-wearing pump days! You can get some incredible elegant women’s pumps that are both comfortable and work-wear ready.

There are an incredible array of options when it comes to pumps, you can have flat options that are perfect for sheer comfort. They usually have a very minimal heel as this can help those with flatter feet who need a little uplift for comfort, or just prefer shoes that have a heel and feel better to wear them for work.

Pumps with a dress for work

The beauty of ballet pumps is because they are often very decorative, which means they can be paired with a minimal outfit such as a classic office dress. Look for a pair with a scalloped pattern to bring a little edge to your look without having to go all out with a pattern!

You can also wear a pair of ballet pumps that have a stiletto-like toe, without the heel, and I love finding these pumps without the rounded toe, as they really do match the expectation of a stiletto, without causing aches in the heels.

Pumps with flared trousers

I love seeing trousers that hit just a few millimetres above the floor (we all know winter can mean puddles so be careful not to go for trousers that are too long!) and pumps can be a great option to match with flares that work really well for those of us with larger his to balance us out. Throw on a colourful pair of pumps, match them with a dark pair of work wear flares, and then match with a flowy blouse on top.

Boots and how to wear them for work

As I am writing this in the colder Autumn month of October, boots are on my mind! While we can play with fun boots for casual wear, such as combat boots, some of us have steered clear from wearing boots to the office, but they can work beautifully, and they can be very comfortable! Now, I may not be suggesting combat boots for the office (unless you have a more casual workplace that is), but there are some great options that I wanted to share with you. 

High boots with tights and a skirt

Skirts can work really well at the office, when they are paired well with the right accessories and footwear. When at the office, skirts may not be as favourable, but when Autumn comes along, you can pop on some thicker tights to feel more appropriate for the office. Pair with some black high boots that have a small heel, in black leather and you will feel on top of the world. I highly recommend investing in a pair of boots like this, as they will last year on year, and will look much more appropriate for work when they are of a higher quality. I would also recommend a pair that fall just below the knee, as over the knee can feel a little less appropriate for work. Try a mini skirt with a blouse; or an a-line skirt that cuts just below the knee so you have no gap between the boot and the fabric.

Ankle boots with an a-line dress or skirt

Another option when it comes to boots at the office is the classic ankle boot! One way to wear them is with an a-line skirt or dress as they will graze below the knee with enough space for the boots to not cut you off. Ankle boots can be a little trickier to pair with garments at the office, so styling with a skirt is often the best option in my experience. You could also try a pair of cowboy-esque leather boots with a pair of flared trousers as they are more comfortable than classic heels, but have a slight heel so you feel uplifted yet cool with the western style.

I hope these options for more comfortable work-appropriate shoes have inspired you for your next visit to the office. If you would like the support of someone by your side to help create a wardrobe that works for your day to day life, then please get in touch about my personal styling or personal shopping experiences.

HOW TO DRESS LIKE AN ITALIAN | PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS

I hear very often from friends and people I meet, in the UK that is, that I have a very quintessential Italian style! Now, my friends in Italy believe I am influenced by both Italy and England, but I think my style really is rooted within my experiences, as with many people this is the same.

However, Italian style does have a particular edge to it, so if you’d like to learn how to add a little Italian style to your everyday or special occasion wear, then this article is for you!

Neutral Tones

In my experience, Italians wear mostly neutrals (black, white, beige) either together or separately, then add a maximum of one active colour (red, green, pink). This flash of colour is usually with an accessory, such as a handbag, their shoes, or scarves so they aren’t particularly in your face with colour, but they bring a touch of edginess while remaining clean and neutral across the rest of the outfit.

High Quality Basics

Italians know how to put together a look that looks effortless, and once they know the outfits they love, they stick to them. The best way to do this is with high quality garments, that are your basics – from a camisole top to your favourite jeans, investing in these pieces will ensure they look great, and feel great when you put them on. This is also incredibly beneficial if you are looking for a more sustainable wardrobe and consideration of the environment. Items that will last across seasons and trends are essential in the Italian-woman’s wardrobe.

Have one statement piece

Jewellery can be a game-changer when it comes to your outfits, and Italian women know this. Bringing a statement piece to their more neutral outfit works in place of a colourful accessory. If you want to really make an impact, bring in a beautiful large ring to your look, or a chunky necklace, and keep everything else clean.

Know your shape – and rock it!

Curves in all the right places – this is something Italian women know how to flaunt. While it seems French women are more about the potentially androgenous looks, Italian women flaunt their favourite areas. Whether you love your waist and will bring all eyes to this area, or your legs are your favourite part so your go-to look is a midi or mini length skirt, understanding your body will bring you the confidence to wear these garments, and rock them – no matter whether you want to dress in a more Italian way, or flaunt your own style!

Wearing heels is a must

Somehow, most Italian women are running around in high heels. Now while this may make your toes ache from the thought of it, bringing a pair of heels to your event can make this work for those of us who perhaps aren’t quite that ready to run up and down the underground in 6 inch heels. Stilettos seem to be the go-to for Italian women, but starting with a block heel in a bright colour or pattern can be a great step in the right direction.

No matter the inspiration for your style or wardrobe, it should reflect who you are and what you love. If that’s a dash of Italian, a pinch of British, and a touch of feminine classics; or a quirky, business-formal, colourful style – it will be the style you feel most confident in. If you’d like support with finding your personal style that works for you, I can help with my Personal Style services to truly delve into what works for you!

Stefania Bartolomei
Personal Stylist, London

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: 7 WAYS TO STYLE A LEATHER JACKET

A leather jacket is a staple for many people and can truly be versatile, besides being a crossover piece. The way to wear a leather jacket has changed over time, and today it really is one must-have piece that is able to add personality to a piece of clothing and style it up. From dresses, to trousers and skirts, everybody just needs to find their perfect shape, colour and also material (from vegan to genuine). So, if you’re looking for ways to make a leather shirt a new feature in your closet, or perhaps change up the one you wear in new ways, then this article will share 7 ways to style up your leather jacket!

Try a different shape

When you think of a quintessential leather jacket, you will probably be thinking of a classic biker jacket shape – cropped, with large lapels, and perhaps with a belt at the bottom. Now, for some body types, this looks incredible, whereas for others it just isn’t the right shape for you. When you are looking to invest in a leather jacket, you’ll want to try out a few shapes and styles to see which looks best for you, and works best for your style.

From a cropped option but in a draped or peplum style, which works well for people who are looking for a more relaxed form; to a longer leather jacket that works beautifully on those with a larger bust. Try looking for jackets in different shapes until you find one that you feel confident in.

Work with a different colour

Who said you have to just have a black leather jacket? With the incredible changes in options with dyeing, as well as options that are alternatives to leather, you really can change it up! If you love a particular colour, you will probably be able to find a leather or faux-leather jacket in that colour.

You can discover leather jackets in rose pink, or even gold, which means you really can change up your jacket game without having to give up on your colour-loves! For a classic look, but still with the edge of a leather style, try out a white leather jacket that can replace your classic white suit jacket.

Leather jacket and jeans

Let’s start with an easy-to-work look with your leather jacket – jeans, boots, and a tee. Simple, elegant, and classically cool. If you’re wearing a classic cropped jacket, then this will work beautifully with high rise jeans in a dark colour. Depending on your body shape, you can tuck in your favourite tee, add a chunky belt and go full rock chick. Whereas, for a more elegant look, try adding stilettos or open toed heels with your jeans, and add a turtle neck (autumn/winter perfection!).

Leather jacket and a dress

If you love wearing your dresses and need to find a way to keep yourself a little warmer, or to add a little “rock ‘n’ roll” to an outfit, then you really can’t go wrong with your leather jacket! A maxi dress with frills and flowers has a fantastic juxtaposition with a leather jacket, while a more tough denim dress brings even more edge. While you can bring your sexy little black dress out, with an additional over layer of your black leather jacket – I love this look too, as it is perfect for a date or dinner with friends.

Leather Jacket Replaces Your Blazer

Now, if you love a blazer, but are looking for a way to dress down your workwear, pack your leather jacket with you, and throw it over your suit trousers and blouse, bring in some bright jewellery and you’re ready for a night out! A blazer is one of my favourite staples in a wardrobe, but it sometimes isn’t appropriate for the event, or your personal style, so while you are wearing a more formal pair of wide leg trousers, and a crisp white blouse, you can instantly swap the blazer for your leather jacket.

For an even more demure look, keep on your suit and add your leather jacket over the top – this is best with an over sized jacket, or slung over your shoulders!

Wear your leather jacket with a mini skirt and knee high boots

I recently shared an article on the top 5 items you should have in your wardrobe for Autumn/Winter, and one of my favourite was the over the knee boot! These boots work really well with a mini skirt that is brought into a more casual style with your leather jacket. I recommend an a-line skirt if you want to try out the shorter style but have more of a curvaceous figure or have a more formal event to attend.

Leather Jacket with a midi skirt

Does the mini skirt feel a little too short for you? No worries – your leather jacket can work beautifully with a midi or full-length skirt. I personally love matching the metallic features of the zips and studs of a moto jacket with a feminine metallic midi skirt – pair it with some high heels for an evening look, or wear your sneakers to bring a little casual chic to the look.

The leather jacket really is a versatile piece to have within your wardrobe, and if it feels like it would work within your personal style, now you have 7 great ways to play with it! I’d love to hear how you are styling up your moto jacket in your wardrobe, or if you are thinking about getting one, and are unsure where to start, I can help with my online personal shopping service.

Stefania Bartolomei,
Personal Stylist London

PERSONAL SHOPPER TIPS: THE GREENWASHING PHENOMENON IN FAST FASHION BRANDS

If you know me, you know that sustainable and eco fashion are top of my list for the reasons why I do what I do. When I can help my clients save money and the environment by having wardrobes that feel perfect for their needs and no longer need to get more items to try to make outfits work, I feel like I am doing just a little to help the environment as well as their wallets!

However, it can be a tricky thing to navigate when you are looking for sustainable garments, as so many companies say they are green, but how do you know if they truly are?

This is where I was so fascinated (and admittedly, disappointed) to hear about the Greenwashing Phenomenon that has seemingly become fashionable with fast fashion brands.

What is Greenwashing?

So, let’s start with the basics first, before we get up in arms together to protest all brands! Greenwashing is when brands that are perhaps less than sustainable use words that we believe to be sustainable within their branding but actually are not. Using words like “green”, “sustainable”, “conscious” and so on, in their marketing to attract the more conscious shoppers, but actually are not environmentally sustainable or looking after their fabric makers & garment makers.

Loopholes are currently being used by brands to help them continue to make money, ultimately deceiving people into believing they are sustainable brands. It sounds illegal, it generally is, but as these large fashion brands have excellent marketing, and legal support, they can work around many of the legal requirements

Marketing is an incredible thing, so it can be really difficult to truly discover which brands are doing this, and how to recognise it. 

Who is known for Greenwashing?

According to this excellent YouTube video, by Justine Leconte, the biggest brands that are Greenwashing, and should be avoided on your next shopping trip are:

• H&M – “Conscious Collection”. You may have seen their advertising, with outdoor styling, green imagery, and the H&M Conscious Foundation – which contributes funds to a trust that is dedicated to helping working conditions in Bangladesh. It looks on the outside to us, that these are excellent steps to being a conscious fashion brand.

  However, in their 2019 Conscious Collection launch campaign, they claimed that “every piece in the collection is made from sustainably-sourced material, such as 100% organic cotton”.

  According to Justine, this is a very deceiving statement due to the sourcing, rather than growing, as well as every garment being exclusively made from sustainable material, whereas, on their website, they state that at least 50% of each garment is made from more sustainable materials, like organic cotton or recycled polyester, the only exception is recycled cotton which for quality reasons can only make up 20% of a product.

  This may be a lot of numbers, but in short, they are only using a certain percentage of sustainable fabrics in each garment. They also do not mention how the garment workers are being treated – which is an incredibly important part of us ensuring that people are cared for and have safe working environments. They did, however, commit to paying a fair living wage by 2018 – but they missed this commitment. The video explains a lot more about this issue, and I highly recommend watching it to understand this issue fully.

• Primark – “Sustainable Denim”. Primark launched their very own sustainable denim collection which, they state, was made of 100% sustainable cotton, from just 15euros. There is no definition for the word “sustainable” which means brands like Primark can use this word without really delving into whether the cotton is organic.

  Primark have actually started an initiative with India and Pakistan which are big cotton-producing countries, and trained the farmers the techniques that are used by organic cotton farmers in organic fields. However, the farmers are still using chemical pesticides. This therefore means these 100% sustainable cotton jeans are not quite what we want from sustainable fashion! Primark has stated that if they stopped using pesticides, they would not be able to stick to their required production levels.

Another thing to look out for in Greenwashing campaigns is “100% vegan leather” – pineapple, and mushroom are great, but PVC is not due to the way in which they are grown, cleaned, and disposed of.

What can we do to prevent Greenwashing?

The best thing to do is to read up and do your research. When you intend to change your purchasing habits to be more sustainable and support workers more ethically, you are best to do your research on the brands you want to use. Check their sustainable plans, where they are creating their garments, the fabrics they are using, and look out for words like “sustainable” and prefer to find companies that use “organic” as this is a criteria-led requirement, and they have to be certified to be able to use this in their marketing.

You can also use the hashtag #whomademyclothes or #whomademyfabric to discover more about the production process. You can also follow & engage with “Fashion Revolution”, to discover more about how to engage in these hashtags and how we can continue to make sure companies in the fashion world are held accountable for their production, their factories, their working conditions and the garments they create.

Consider why your garments are costing what they cost. Often, the cheaper the garment, the less likely the garment workers are being paid fairly. I know this can mean more for your fashion costs, however, in my experience, when we pay a little more for our clothing we get so many benefits:

• The clothing lasts longer – therefore we can wear it, prevent having to throw it away and causing even more landfill, and we can love it for longer.

• The garment workers are paid fairly – which means everyone is cared for throughout the process.

• We are supporting independent fashion brands, that work hard to ensure their garments and workers are ethical.

When we consider taking a step back, wondering where our clothes come from, where our fabrics come from, who makes our clothing, and how we are impacting our environment, the world can be changed for good. I recommend making sure your wardrobe is becoming more of a longevity collection, rather than a one-event and throw away a selection of clothes.

If you have any questions or would like to know some of the brands I recommend in the UK that are sustainable, organic, and ethical, please get in touch.

PERSONAL SHOPPER TIPS: BEST HOLIDAY-WEAR LOOKS FOR 2021

Many of us are delighted to once again be able to travel – whether choosing to have a staycation or heading to the beach overseas, it has been some time since we had to pack for the summer so you may be feeling a little unsure on what to pack and feel confident!

I wanted to share some of the trends and essentials for your summer holidays, to make sure you feel organised, confident, and prepared!

Pack crossover pieces

What are crossover pieces? They are items in your wardrobe that work across outfits! One of the key ingredients to a well-planned travel bag is having multiple outfit options and this is where crossover pieces come into play. Having crossover pieces will make sure you are prepared for the holiday needs throughout the day!

Pack your favourite easy to wear shorts if you’re heading somewhere warm, particularly if you are planning on taking in the sights around you, or a great pair of jeans that are comfortable and easy to throw on if you’re staying in cooler climates. You’ll also want to pack a couple of cardigans for cooler nights that work with your outfits, as well as tees that you can easily throw on over your bikini with your skirt, shorts, or jeans.

Summer dresses

When you’re on holiday, you may not want to consider the outfits to throw on in a hurry to get to the beach, forest, or activity, so a dress can be a whole outfit in one. For warmer climates a floaty dress can be perfect such as a maxi dress that you can easily wear over your bikini or swimsuit. They are easy to wear, and can be dressed up for the evening with accessories for dinner, or dressed down for the beach with your sandals.

Keep your colour palette minimal

To make sure you can match outfits quickly throughout your holiday, I suggest keeping the colours in your baggage to a simple palette. Adding a few pops of colour to update the look for a different activity can make sure you don’t feel too neutral on holiday, but you’ll be able to quickly grab a few items that you know will match together. Neutrals, blacks, or whites can be a good option, but if you are a colour lover, have a few monochromatic options that you know you’ll feel great in.

Patterns can be brought into the look through a tee, skirt, or jacket if you want to feel more playful in your wardrobe, but I suggest only taking one or two depending on the length of your stay so you don’t end up pattern clashing (unless that’s a style you love!).

Have a change of shoes

When I go on holiday, something I always regret not packing is my favourite pair of heels. We want to save space on our luggage, of course, but when you are planning to go out for the evening, and all you have is flip flops or the shoes you wore on the plane you may feel a little underdressed. Make space for your favourite shoes so you have the option to dress up and feel more formal for a special occasion. I’d suggest, in a perfect world when you’re planning to pack is to have a pair of sandals, a pair of comfy trainers, and a pair of heels/smart shoes.

Use tissue paper

If you have items in your baggage that crease, then you’ll want to save yourself the hassle of trying to find an iron while on holiday! Using tissue paper for those garments can be a real time-saver, and make sure that everything is neat and ready to wear as soon as you arrive.

Travel with your big bag, and pack a smaller one

When you travel, you’ll want to keep all the essentials with you on the plane in something like a backpack or a beach bag, but having a smaller option for the essentials while you enjoy the scenery will be a great way to save your back! I suggest finding a crossover body bag, as they can make sure your items are safe on you, they work well with many outfits, and can often fit things like a camera, your wallet, your phone and some sunscreen!

Wear your jewellery

Jewellery can be something we love to use in outfits, but I don’t suggest packing them for your holidays, as they can be easily lost or forgotten while in the rush of packing on your last day. I recommend wearing the jewellery that are your go-to pieces on the flight, and then add or subtract the pieces throughout your vacation. Items like a few rings, a necklace, and your earrings are just the right things to keep you feeling well put together, while also preventing attracting attention for sparkly beautiful jewellery while out and about. It’s sad, but true, that tourists are often targeted based on their clothes, so if you can steer clear of any expensive pieces, this will prevent any problematic encounters.

And of course, don’t forget the essentials like your bikini/swimsuit and sliders/flip flops (or beachwear) if you're planning to go to the seaside. I hope you have a wonderful time on your holiday, no matter where or how long you are staying. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the thought of what outfits will work, please get in touch – we can have a personal styling session to help you feel more confident in what to put together for your holiday, and for any occasion!

PERSONAL STYLING TIPS: HOW TO CREATE SMART CASUAL OUTFITS

Many of my clients ask me to help create a more smart-casual look for work, particularly now they are heading back to the office after a long time in more comfortable, casual looks. The usual office look of years past may have been a more formal outfit, but it appears that comfort has been a part of the new office wear. Companies are more open to a smart casual office look, which can encourage more comfort while at their desk, particularly in comparison to the usual formal professions such as lawyers, finance, and banking.

But what does “smart casual” actually mean? Whether it’s attending a meeting, an event, or going out to a special venue that has a dress code, it can be daunting to know what they really mean by this dress code. Then comes the styling of an outfit – are you going to feel too dressed up, or too casual?

In this article, I’ll share a few tips to help you create the perfect smart casual outfit to feel your best!

Fabric makes a difference!

You’ll often find that certain fabrics can feel more or less formal, so finding the perfect smart casual look can be made to work when you find the right fabric for your needs. Think about the beauty of silk – it can feel a little sexy when in a full dress, but when you find a perfect silk blouse, this can upgrade your casual jeans to a smart casual outfit. The same goes for your jeans – investing in a fabulous fitting denim jean will make a huge difference to your smart casual look. I highly recommend looking for jeans that are environmentally friendly, such as the Levis waterless high rise jeans in a deep colour.

Finally, where fabrics can make a big difference is on your feet. Did you know, an outfit really can be transformed when you add the right shoes? Velvet, leather, suede are all fabrics for shoes that can change how your shoes play with your look.

It’s all about the pairings

Some of my favourite looks when in the office for smart casual attire are mixing smart trousers with a casual top and blazer – particularly in the creative world. You can dress up the look with a more structured blazer, or bring a bit of colour into the outfit with a colourful jacket. This can ensure you feel more dressed up, while keeping the outfit comfortable through your t-shirt. I recommend finding a good fitting t-shirt so as not to look too informal, and mixing with tailored wide leg smart trousers, and heels or well-looked after platform trainers. If you prefer skirts, you can swap the trousers for a pleated midi-skirt in a mid-rise, or even a more flowy dress over the more formal go-to pencil dress, and pair it either with a denim or leather jacket, or even a cardigan, to style it down a little, and pair it with trainers instead of heels for an even more casual and comfy look.

Colour combinations for smart casual looks

When curating a smart casual look is considering the colour combinations that work well. Of course, the perfect work look is often black, white, or nude, but when you bring a pop of colour it can feel more approachable and less formal. Pops of yellow, pink, green, or red can be good go-to combinations that work well for work attire.

I recommend adding these colours through the use of accessories so they don’t feel overwhelming in your outfit. Shoes are a perfect way to add colour, but you can invest in a beautiful colourful necklace, fun colourful earrings, handbag, a belt, or if you’re feeling confident, with your blazer! The rest of your look can be monochromatic which will help to keep the look feeling more smart.

You can also be more muted with the tones, such as muted yellows that can be more accessible in the workplace over more neon or bright tones – so play with your outfits and see which ones you feel more confident in.

Your make-up can make a difference

Make-up can completely transform an outfit – think of the beautiful red lip that is a classic for date nights, while more muted tones are more work-appropriate. If you’re reaching for the lipstick, find a less bright tone of red if you love your red lip, to help create a smart casual look that is both work and event appropriate. If you feel a red lip is too much for the location, then a nude lip looks great with a minimal look. The natural look is one that I highly recommend for smart casual outfits as it works across requirements, and can feel well put together without overdone.

Your journey back into the office, to events, or out at special locations shouldn’t be stressful, so when you are building your look consider the well known quote – you can never be too overdressed! It is often better to be more on the smart side over the casual side, so if you feel a little too casual, try to add one of these tips to the look, and it can help you feel more confident.

If you’d like some help curating a wardrobe for getting back to the office, please get in touch – I offer personal shopping and personal style consultations to suit your needs.

PERSONAL STYLING TIPS: HOW TO PREPARE FOR A BUSINESS OR BRANDING PHOTOSHOOT

I love being a business owner. It gives me the ability to work with people I love working with, do what I adore, and have special time with my family around my business commitments. Something I have discovered over the years of running my own business is the importance of photography.

People buy from people, so having photos of myself is something I have invested in regularly, particularly as I am a sole trader, to help people connect with me and find out more about me in a matter of seconds.

Something that truly worried me at the beginning of my business journey was how to show myself in the right way to my potential contacts, clients, and colleagues. As a personal stylist, I knew I had the edge in terms of knowing the right colours and shapes to feel my best, but it took time to understand the key elements I needed to get these branding photos just right. I discovered some really important tips, and use these with my clients that I now help solely for their business branding photoshoots.

If you are planning your own business photoshoot, but are feeling overwhelmed by the feeling of what to do to get it right, you’re not alone. So, I wanted to share with you a few of the top tips I share with my clients, to help you feel more confident.

Choose the venue carefully

Your photographer may be able to help you with this, as the venue can transform the way your photos look. If they are not from the area that you want to have your photos, then it’s time to do some research! Think about what you want your photos to portray – if you want it to be fun and relaxed this will mean the venue will be completely different to a professional and corporate style of branding images.

If you are having a multi-venue shoot, you will want to make sure the journeys between the venues are easy and well planned so you aren’t going back and forth with your team and your photographer!

There are also some important things to consider when it comes to photographing at venues, such as being permitted to do so without a fee; what the lighting will be like; how many people there will be, if it is a public place; and do you need to pay for a private room? Venues can have a huge array of legal requirements for photographs that will be used for marketing, so before you book your photographer, you’ll want to speak with the venue/s to make sure you are legally permitted to have photos there.

If you are planning to have some photos outside, speak with your photographer to understand the best time of day to do this, and so they can bring the right equipment. This is also important when it comes to your outfit choices as during the heat of the summer you won’t want to be overheating, and on the opposite side of the scale, you won’t want to be incredibly cold if you’re outside in the winter!

This leads me perfectly onto the photographer choice!

The photographer is so important

We all know that we get what we pay for, so one area to always invest in when it comes to your business photos is a great photographer. Not only do they need to be of great quality, but I find, they need to be in alignment with you.

You’ll want to feel comfortable and confident with your photographer, so get to know them before the photoshoot, and do some research before booking them. A few things to ask yourself during your photographer search are:

·       Do you like their style of photography?

·       Do you align with their story?

·       Can they share some examples of similar photoshoots, perhaps within your industry, to help inspire you?

·       What will the journey look like up to and during the photo session?

One great way to know you can find the perfect photographer, is to ask people who have had photos done that you like. Word of mouth is fabulous in this case – because you know they do a great job!

Plan your outfits attentively

I can’t share branding photoshoot preparation tips without talking about the outfits, I am a personal stylist after all! I find it’s really important to prepare in advance to help you know if you need to get any extra items to make the outfits pop, and to make sure your garments feel and look right for what you want to achieve. Here are my tips for planning your branding photoshoot outfits:

1.     Select the clothes you want to wear and put them out on the bed (or on your door).

2.     Create potential combinations to elevate your looks – and create the opportunities for multiple photos that can be used across social media and marketing.

3.     Don’t forget your accessories! Jewellery, scarves, shoes, and bags can transform a look – so add them to your outfits that are hanging up or on the bed and see how they can work together.

4.     Now take a photo of every combination and save them into a folder that you can access quickly, like Pinterest, or a camera roll folder in your phone!

5.     On the day of the shoot, steam/iron your garments to make sure they look their best.

6.     Pack your garments by outfit, to help you quickly change into what you had originally planned for.

These are the steps that I follow for myself and for my clients when helping them organise their outfits for a branding photoshoot, and it really helps save time on the day and be more efficient. If you would like support to make sure your branding photoshoot is a breeze, 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 TIPS - DRESSING FOR SPRING / SUMMER 2021: DRESSES

Many of my clients during my recent styling and shopping sessions have shared how difficult they find dressing for the warmer months. From Spring dresses, to skirts and shorts, it can be a daunting time of year especially as our social calendars start to (hopefully) fill up with fun and interesting events.

In this blog, I wanted to share with you some of my favourite 2021 spring/summer trends that are wearable and useful for your wardrobe, as well as the way to style them over and over again to maximise your investment, starting with dresses.

Spring/Summer dresses for 2021

Let’s start with an easy to access full-outfit choice – the dress. For some of my clients it’s their go-to outfit choice, for others, it’s not quite their thing. Dresses can be a great item for your wardrobe and with a few changes to your accessories or styling they can offer different looks when you rewear them.

Puff Sleeves are in

For my pear shaped clients, any detailing in the sleeve that is voluminous can be a perfect option to balance out their shape, which is great news for the current big trend in dress styles. If you are smaller in the chest than on your hips, look for a dress with puff sleeves and a-line skirt, a dress with a structured waist, or try one with a tiered skirt which will bring you in at the waist and skim passed your hips to bring some comfort and confidence in the warmer months. If you are more hourglass, a V-neck with empire waistline will bring attention to your waist, you will also only want a minimal sized sleeve. If you are a straight body type, bring the voluminous sleeves lower down and try an off-shoulder style with an elasticated empire waist to add definition to your waistline.

For all of the puff-sleeve dresses, you will tend to see some sort of rouching or elastic styling to the top. This is great for bringing definition to the waist but be considerate of where this ends and the softer fabric begins as you will want to make sure it stops at your natural waistline.

Square neck lines

Square necklines are becoming a popular styling for dresses and work beautifully to elongate the neck. If you have a smaller bust you can look for dresses that have this neckline and a delicate strap as you may be comfortable wearing no or minimal support. For larger busts, that are curvaceous, choosing a square neckline that has the sleeves stop by your bra strap will help prevent you from adjusting the sleeves! You will also see many of these dresses with elastic or rouching, this can go a long way to adding support and definition in your waist. For a short option, this Zara sun dress in satin is incredibly pretty and perfect for those who gravitate towards a more romantic style.

Less structure, more floaty styles

From taking in all of the styles, I have seen that the most popular is seemingly poplin or a more laid-back silhouette. This is possibly due to fashion designers gently bringing us out of our comfortable styling for the past year, so expect floaty, summery dresses with minimal structure.  This may feel welcomed, and for some shapes it’s perfect, but for others it can feel a little difficult to wear. If you want to ensure your waist is defined, you can look for those dresses with elastic at the waist, an empire waistline falling to an A-line skirt, or bring a belt to your outfit to define your shape.

Tea-dresses are the perfect go-between for these floatier styles while still bringing structure to define your shape. They are often button-up with a collar neckline, gentle waistline, and floaty skirt. So if these voluminous options just don’t suit your wardrobe, find a tea dress that is easy to throw on and are across the high street in different patterns and styles (they also work perfectly with a casual jumper thrown over).

Which of these dress 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 SHOPPER TIPS: MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR SHOPPING TRIP

If you have already managed to get to your local high street, you will have noticed that many people are making the most of once again being able to shop, eat, and connect with loved ones. But the new normal may feel a little daunting in terms of getting out and shopping for perfect items for your wardrobe, without wasting your time and money.

In this article, I wanted to share my guide to maximising your shopping trip to make it enjoyable, functional, and economical. This is so important, as shopping, particularly for fashion, should be an enjoyable experience. For many, it can be overwhelming and expensive, particularly as at the moment, many stores are not allowed to have changing rooms.

Have your technology ready

The first important thing to note for going shopping after lockdown is that many stores will have a QR code to scan for your NHS tracker. Make sure you have that set up on your phone, and can easily check in and move into the store.

Technology can also be really handy too to help you know the items you want to get – so bring your phone with your style board already downloaded (if you’d like your very own style & confidence boosting guide, book my styling session!). This can be a really excellent way to make sure you are picking up the right items for your personal style, without getting distracted by the current trends that feel shiny and new, but may not suit your current wardrobe.

Know what you need, and what you want

What you need and what you want are two wonderfully different things when it comes to shopping. Knowing which of each you would like to get when shopping will help you feel more in control of what you are looking for, rather than aimlessly walking through shops, feeling like you can’t find what you want!

How to know what you need:

1.       Consider the outfits you already have and love – see if they need an update for the season

2.       If you have a go-to outfit that you love, but perhaps an item doesn’t fit, or you have only one so can only wear it once, then see what extras you need to replicate the look regularly!

3.       Know your basics – do you have them? For example – do you have an easy to wear light jumper for spring; perfect jeans you can pop on and feel confident in; a tee that can be comfortable but suitable for seeing colleagues, loved ones, and friends; and if you need an update in shoe options since we’ve been in slippers for a year!

How to know what you want:

1.       If you love a certain style of outfit but your wardrobe doesn’t currently accommodate, you can see if you can make this from items you find while shopping

2.       Non-essential items in your wardrobe, but ones that will bring a little more personality and joy to your outfits.

3.       Special occasion events – let’s be honest, we aren’t going out to lots of parties, so a special occasion outfit isn’t as essential as work, meeting, and networking outfits!

Once you have your “needs” and “wants” lists with you, keep them in your bag so you can refer back to them throughout your shopping trip and tick them off as you pick them up.

Do some research!

One thing my clients find so helpful once we’ve had our personal shopping together is seeing how we plan prior to the shopping trip. I do my research on local shops that offer the colours, cuts, styles, and personal brand options that my client wants.

This helps us to know more than just the right shops to visit, but also that they will be a good shop to go to and enjoy the experience. For example, if you are looking solely for excellent jeans, then you should find the highest recommended jeans shop in your area, or go to a store like Selfridges which has a lot on offer in one easy to visit area. You can then try different brands to see which ones fit your body best.

Within this research stage, you could check out the outfit ideas that are shown on the shop’s Instagram, and website to inspire you for future outfits. It’s also important to know the sizes that fit you in this store. This can be a learning curve, and without being able to try on in the store for many shops, you may want to get a few sizing options and ignore the number – it is different in so many places and is not a reflection of anything other than the shop’s creations.

Enjoy the shopping experience

My most important thing to remember when you go shopping is to enjoy it.

So often we are rushing around, feeling concerned about our timing, other things to do, where to go, and what to find. With your research and list in your pocket, your style knowledge on your phone so you know exactly which colours, cuts, and stores to gravitate to, you have removed the stress element. Then you can make the experience an enjoyable one.

Give yourself time to walk around the shops – don’t have appointments you have to rush to afterwards, let this be a meeting with yourself that you can enjoy.

Find a local coffee shop for a pick me up – I find having some delicious coffee, or tea, stopping for lunch, and knowing the little places you can stop, recuperate, and enjoy the day, is so important to my mindset when shopping.

Bring a friend – when we are able to shop with different households, see if you can bring a friend that is confidence-boosting, who knows you well, and can perhaps bring a different idea to your clothing choices that really reflect you, but perhaps push you to new styles you may not have picked up.

Use a professional – if you still feel overwhelmed by the whole experience, I would love to recommend finding a local stylist who can help you. Whether it’s an online guide, a personalised experience, or just seeing what professionals suggest, will make shopping happy for you.

I hope these tips have helped you feel more encouraged about the shopping experience for yourself. If you have any questions or want to discuss how I can help, please reach out – I love making sure all of my clients get to enjoy their wardrobe and feel confident every day.

PERSONAL STYLIST TIPS: 7 WAYS TO WEAR COMBAT BOOTS

Combat boots are the trend of the season in shoes, and as we progress into going back outside to see friends, they may be an item you’d like to bring out of your shoe cupboard or invest in to add a little flair to your spring outfits that can easily transition into Autumn and winter!

Wear combat boots with your jeans

A classic way to wear your combat boots that is edgy and cool is with your favourite pair of jeans. They are often best with jeans that are skinny to the ankle so they can be tucked into the boot, or with cut above the ankle jeans so they can swing loosely above the boot top.

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 little length. If you have long legs, then your favourite pair of dark blue jeans can be really edgy with your black combat boots.

Add some classic cool with a leather jacket over your outfit

Combat boots are often seen as quite an androgenous look, with masculine and tough exteriors. You can bring this look to the top half of your body with a light leather jacket that works well as an extra layer as the evening gets cooler. If you’d like to feel cool but professional, you can pop the jacket over your shoulders for softer styling.

Style your combat boots with a short flowy short dress

Perfect for spring – this look is wonderful for springtime dates, evenings in the garden and a little flourish of girly if you bring a floral patterned dress to the look. Your combat boots will bring a comfy and cool edge while the dress can keep you feeling young and fresh. Consider a dress just above the knee so you have enough distance between your boots to your skirt. If you are conscious of your legs then adding some tights can bring some confidence as well as warmth to the look.

Styling your maxi dress with combat boots

If you’re more of a long-length dress type of person, then you can try this style with your maxi dress. I’d recommend finding one with a slit in it so you can show off those fantastic combat boots beneath as you walk. This can be a flowy and comfortable look, perfect for brunch and garden drinks.

Skirts work perfectly with combat boots

Just as we have seen the fantastic juxtaposition of a dress with your boots, skirts work really well with them too. A great style to go for is a leather, A-line, or midi skirt, as they are the right length to match with the slightly higher boot. Again, as with the short dress, if you fancy covering your legs, investing in some fun tights or tights that are the same colour as the boots will help to elongate your legs.

Bring the colour to your feet!

You may be thinking that the classic combat boot is in black – and you wouldn’t be wrong, but, if you’re someone that loves to wear black in your outfits and feel some colour is needed you can bring that with your combat boots (or any accessories). There are a huge range of colours available like these vegan maroon Dr. Martens, or even these purple heeled holographic combat boots which are super fun! Adding a little colour really can transform an outfit, so if you are someone that loves to add quirky touches to your outfits, investing in some colourful combat boots can be a great way to quickly inject that personality.

Wear your combat boots with your shorts

As we head into the warmer weather, your shorts will be coming out to play, so why not bring your combat boots with you, and you can pair your favourite pair of shorts with your awesome combat boots. I’d recommend investing in a tapered topped combat boot like these from Dolce Vita as they are slim fitting; or on the alternative side, a slightly higher boot to the calf by Koi Footwear which have a fun crocodile pattern to them. 

Which way is your favourite to wear combat boots, have I missed any classics that are your go-to? If you’d like some help creating fantastic outfits that you love & will want to wear over and over again, then I’d love to chat with you. I offer a face to face or online personal styling service which will help you find your personal style.