Accessorising With Style

Accessories can make or break an outfit.  Generally, the plainer the clothes, the more fun you can have with accessories. The right accessories can not only instantly update an outfit but also add a “pop” of colour. If you’ve already had a Colour Analysis, you will know what colours suit you best but you will probably have found that there are items in your wardrobe which are t...
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Dressing For Your Proportions

I think that most of us appreciate that to dress well we need to understand our shape. But did you realise it's equally important to understand your proportions? Whether you are short-bodied or  long-bodied has a big part to play in putting together flattering outfits. Broadly speaking, if you have balanced proportions you will measure the same from the top of your head to y...
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How To Choose The Best Swimwear For Your Staycations

It’s always summer somewhere. This year, for many of us, it looks like that “somewhere” could mean a holiday in our own country. And why not? There are so many beautiful places to visit in our country. And yes, we may not get the Mediterranean heat but there are plenty of staycation options offering the pamper luxury of a spa day, indoor swimming pool or heated outdoor pool....
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Help! I Don’t Know What To Wear!

  As we finally begin to emerge from lockdown and start to contemplate returning to the office,  dining out,  trips to the theatre and generally having a social life (remember those days?), I know that some of us are feeling that we’ve lost our sense of direction when it comes to knowing how to dress. After months of loungewear or top-half only dressing for Zoom, we...
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Can I Wear Black?

This is often the first question I am asked when people come to me for a colour analysis.  I'm really not in the business of telling grown women what they can and can't do but, whilst many of us love black, sadly for some (myself included!), it doesn't give the same love back. Deeps, Cools and Clears will all have Black in their wallets; it's a useful neutral. We give Lights...
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The Joy of Jackets!

I'm a real fan of jackets so I am looking forward to having more opportunity to wear them as we emerge from lockdown - hurrah! There are lots of good reasons to have one or two jackets in your wardrobe. Here are five: They’re perfect for transitional dressing when it’s not cold enough to warrant a coat but not quite warm enough to risk going without an outer layer. J...
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Key trends for this Spring-Summer that you’ll want to wear

The  Spring - Summer 2021 collections were created in exceptional circumstances with designers around the world battling the challenges of lockdown and the uncertainty as to what occasions we’d actually be dressing for. It's perhaps not surprising then that designers have broadly taken two approaches—some created fabulous, infectious clothes to put the joy back into getting dre...
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How to decide what types of clothes to buy

For me, one of the benefits of getting older has been that I have a stronger sense of who I am and what suits me. I know this isn’t the case for everyone though and lots of women come to see me precisely because they have lost sight of what their style is.  This can lead to random purchases that then go unworn. Having a style consultation is a good way to get back on track but ...
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Time to Cosy-Up!

Picture of different styles of jumper
OK, so it’s the middle of Winter, we’re stuck in Lockdown, we’ve gained weight due to comfort eating and lack of exercise and we’re not exactly feeling on top of the world. Definitely a time for snuggling up in cosy jumpers! If you’ve gained weight and “lost” your waist - or indeed have never had one! -  here are some simple tips to help you look and feel your best in yo...
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Your Professional Image

“Style is a way of saying who you are without having to speak"  - Rachel Zoe With the fantastic news on the two vaccines, hopefully this year life should start returning to normal. For many of us this will mean working at least part of the week from an office and meeting in person with colleagues, suppliers and clients. This is a great time to be a woman in business. Co...
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How To Wear Black

Most women have quite a lot of black in their wardrobes and it’s easy to see why: The shops are full of it It’s seen as being chic and sexy It’s slimming Unfortunately, on most mature women, black looks rather harsh and can be quite ageing.  And there's really no need to wear it to look slimmer; all dark colours will have a similar effect, so how about trying ...
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Don’t become a slave to styling rules!

Jumble of clothes
I know that a lot of women find choosing what to wear for any given occasion quite stressful so I aim to make getting dressed as simple and straight forward as possible you so that you can spend less time worrying about your clothes and more time enjoying life. We women are often our own worst critics, tending to focus on our perceived faults rather than appreciating our...
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Which type of colour analysis is right for you?

I was prompted to write this blog by a visit from Kettlewell founder, Melissa Nicholson, and her in-house stylist, Jo, who came to see me to find out more about the tonal approach to colour analysis. Kettlewell Colours, is an online shop selling good quality basics in over 300 glorious colours. Melissa founded the business in 2004 after she’d had a colour analysis and had st...
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Let’s Get Layering!

There’s a definite chill in the air so it’s time to start getting our Autumn-Winter wardrobes together. Don’t automatically pack away everything you’ve been wearing over the Summer though, there could well be pieces that you can layer up and wear well into the new season. Key Layering Pieces The following pieces are great for layering: Different types of fine, close ...
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What to Wear to Lunch With Friends

friends having lunch outside
Whenever I do a style consultation, I ask about the client’s lifestyle, favourite shops etc and what occasions they find it challenging to dress for. Almost without exception, women tell me that what they find most difficult is dressing for lunch out with their friends! Generally, there will be at least one woman in their group who absolutely nails her look, leaving the ...
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Facing Up To Face Masks

I don't think anyone enjoys wearing a face mask but we have to accept them as our new normal, and regardless of the style and colour that you choose, first and foremost, we must remember that they exist to keep us safe. That said, I have been asked for advice on many different aspects of wearing masks, so I thought I'd share a few thoughts with you. What style should I wea...
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How’s Your Hair?

woman with grey hair
Hairdressers re-opening has been a huge relief to most of us. How many Zooms and Facebook posts did you see where women apologised for their “lockdown hair”?  For many of us, how good (or otherwise) we feel about our hair has a real impact on how we feel about ourselves. So, whilst we may not have rushed back to bars, gyms and restaurants, few have resisted the siren call o...
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How to Shop Post Lockdown

Post Covid Shopping
How life has changed over the past few months! As clothes shops begin to re-open, it’s becoming clear that our shopping experience is going to be quite different to before COVID-19.  For the time being at least, there will be no more casual browsing and trying on clothes with the occasional break for coffee. Instead we are faced with the prospect of queuing to enter shop...
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Three Golden Rules for Dressing to Look Slimmer

I suspect that, whilst some virtuous souls may have used lockdown as an opportunity to up the exercise regime and go for long walks, many of us may have been somewhat less self-disciplined and have piled on a few pounds. If so, take heart, following my three golden rules will instantly make you look slimmer and more shapely. Rule #1 – Highlight your assets When carrying a bit...
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Looking Good On Video Calls

Woman sitting at laptop
Most of us are spending a lot of time talking to people via some form of video link these days. If my experience is anything to go by, seeing yourself on screen in this way for the first time can be a bit of an eye-opener – and not in a good way! Fortunately, I've since discovered some simple steps you can take to help you look your best and create a great impression. T...
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