Ten Traits of Stylish Women

Being stylish is something we can all aspire to, whatever our age, shape or size. Many stylish women are neither particularly young nor beautiful but they do have a certain “je ne sais quoi”.  There’s no absolute blue-print for style, but we can tell straight away when someone has “it” and there are certainly traits which stylish women share. You may find these tips helpful:

Accentuate the positive. Small waist? Wear a belt. Great legs? Wear a short skirt or killer heels. Fabulous smile? Wear a strong or bright lipstick. Slender wrists? Wear a striking bracelet or watch.

Stylish women look authentic and at-ease in their clothes because they dress to suit their “style personality”. At a style consultation, this is one of the first things we discuss. Are you, for example, a “natural” like Jennifer Aniston or more of a “creative” like Helena Bonham-Carter? Or are you a “classic” who likes an understated, co-ordinated look or perhaps a “dramatic” who likes to be noticed?

Dress appropriately for your age. This doesn’t mean donning twin-set and pearls (unless of course that’s your thing) but if you’re no longer in the first flush of youth, you’ll need to be ruthlessly honest with yourself about how much flesh you can get away with exposing. Unless you’re on holiday, my advice would be to avoid exposing cleavage and thighs at the same time.  Indeed, if your cleavage leaves something to be desired, why not shift attention to a well-toned back by wearing a halter neck? It’s so much sexier to leave something to the imagination.

Invest in good quality wardrobe staples in your best neutral colours and classic shapes which flatter your figure and won’t date. You can always dress them up and ring the changes with scarves, jewellery, belts, shoes etc. Spend less on obviously fashionable  styles and colours because you will only wear them for a season or two.

Don’t get stuck in a style rut. Every so often, take time to reassess your look and make sure that your hairstyle, make-up and wardrobe are still flattering to you as you are now. Can you still carry off the short skirts? Would that chin length bob actually look better a little longer so that it disguised a less-than-taut jaw line? If you’re just not sure, get some professional advice.

Grooming becomes more important the older we become.  Whilst the young may be able to get away with a “just got out of bed” look, we grown- ups need to make a bit more of an effort. As a minimum, you should have clean shiny hair and manicured nails (This doesn’t have to mean the ubiquitous gels and acrylics; natural, unvarnished nails are fine so long as they are clean and well-shaped). Also, few women look their best without make-up.  Trust me, even those you think have managed to pull off this feat are generally wearing at least the basics, albeit subtly applied.

Stylish women wear clothes that fit.  Be honest with yourself, if you need a bigger size, buy it. You can always cut out the label if it offends you. There is nothing less flattering than wearing an outfit that is too tight and exposes every lump and bump. Recently I’ve been dismayed to see how many  dress shop assistants (young and more mature) are wearing clothes that are simply too small for them. If they just moved up a size, their clothes would hang much better and they would look so much slimmer and more stylish.  You’ll achieve the most flattering look when you choose clothes which suit your scale, proportions and body shape. If you’re not sure what these are, come and see me for a style consultation.

Accessories can make a huge difference.  I’m thinking primarily of jewellery, scarves, belts, shoes and handbags. Not only can they add a pop of colour but they can make a “safe” outfit spectacular and lend a sense of cohesion to a collection of separates.  Stylish women understand that accessories need to be the right size and worn in the right position on the body to highlight their best features and that “less” is often “more”, but that “none” is generally boring.

Stylish women aware of the latest fashions but choose only to follow those which suit them.  They understand that rather than embracing the season’s latest fashion fad “full on”, a little discretion is required. Rather than wearing top to toe animal print for example, they may choose simply to accessorise with a leopard print scarf or belt. In this way they look “current” without ever looking like a fashion victim.

Truly stylish women are comfortable in their clothes and their own skin. They know high heels make their legs look slimmer and longer but will only wear them up to a height they can actually walk in! They exude the confidence that comes from feeling great and looking fabulous and they wear their clothes lightly, rather than letting their clothes wear them.