Like the idea of wearing a skirt but not sure what style or shape is going to suit you?  Read my article for Vavista.com to find out all you need to know about how to wear all skirts from minis to maxis.  Click on the image for the the full article. 

Last year Marks and Spencer added a new designer (Belinda Earle, formerly at Jaeger) to their team with the hope that she would turn their fashion fortunes around. So far, so good, as this year the Limited collection is one of their strongest yet. 

If you're thinking of Marks & Spencer in times gone by when it was guilty of going a zip or a frill too far, then stop. More along the lines of Cos with it's simplicity, interesting tailoring and on trend styling, there are pieces that everyone aged 20 to 70 will be wanting to wear.   With pastels, yellow and monochrome sitting alongside floral and aztec patterns on skirts, dresses, trousers and coats - there really is something to suit all styles, ages and personalities. 

One of my favourite looks is the collarless coat in black and white aztec print (top right) paired with the white crop top, yellow ankle grazers and leopard print shoes for a print clash.   If you want to make a statement without having to put too much effort into it - this is the way to go.

Here are a few of the pieces I snapped earlier. What do you think? Do you think any of them will be making their way into your wardrobe and your life?

Jewelled necklace tees are big news this season and are such an easy item to wear as they eliminate the need for accessories.   Wear them with anything from a pencil skirt to your faithful skinnies or for a smarter night out, a pair of cigarette style trousers and heels.  For an edgier look, just add a leather biker jacket and patterned trousers.

Following on from yesterday's post about being more creative with your existing clothes, why not go to your nearest haberdashery dept and invest in a selection of sequins, beads and jewels and have fun creating your own unique neckline that no-one else will have.  If you need a bit of sequinspiration, take a look at these from Dorothy Perkins (if you're not ever likely to sew your own and would like to buy one of these, use code DPFW25 for 25% discount).

This season there's one colour that is going to overshadow all the others and it's bright, bold and beautiful.  It's the colour of love and passion and is sure to get you noticed.  Move over the LBD, this Autumn/Winter it's all about the  LRD.

It's a brave colour so if the thought of head to toe scares you, break it up and use it in a jacket, a necklace or even a hat.  I've done a quick round up of some items currently on the high street which includes Warehouse, Oasis, Hobbs, Phase Eight, Debenhams and M&S.

Two of my particular favourites are the double breasted coat (Hobbs) and the leopard print pencil skirt (Warehouse).  If anything catches your eye and you'd like to know where it's from don't be afraid to ask.  This season be bold!

I think it's pretty obvious that I have a bit of a thing for old ladies after all my talk recently on FB about Fashionable Fashionistas so when I spotted this lovely lady coming up the stairs at The Mall during Bristol Fashion Week, I had to stop her and take her photograph and have a bit of a chat.

She's 72, gets up early every day to do her hair and make up because its important to her that she looks stylish and feels good.  For the last few years of her husbands life she cared for him but still made an effort over her appearance. Often the carers would turn up first thing in the morning and she would be there glamorous and looking amazing much to their astonishment.

When something is important to you and of value, making the effort isn't a chore and you're happy and willing to invest the time.  I already know this but this inspiring woman reinforced it to me.   Isn't she great.

Unless you've been walking around with your eyes closed for the last few months, you'll have noticed that boyfriend jeans are everywhere.  I've personally been wearing them for years as I love how comfortable they are yet they still have a stylish vibe  to them and sometimes you just want an alternative to the ever faithful skinny.

There are lots of styles around with ready made rips which unless you smarten the look up with a blazer, could look a bit grunge.  I also love how wearing a smart heel can change the feel of the outfit.  So I thought I'd create a couple of looks for you and show you how I put together my cool casual look for a night out last week.

One question I'm always asked by women of a certain age group is how to look stylish and age appropriate.  Not wanting to dress like their daughter but not wanting to look like their mum either is a real concern for many women.  My
response is always that style is ageless. Using the current trends to INFLUENCE your wardrobe rather than have them dictate what you should wear, is a pretty good rule to stick to.  There are a few others, but that would involve a longer post and I've got a 6 yr old that needs picking up from school and taking to her swimming lesson.....I digress....

Anyhow, whilst out and about in Bath yesterday I came across the most amazing woman who's style was so unique and was carried with such confidence that I was captivated by her. Her name is Jean Woods and she's a very stylish 75 years old!

What do you think of her style?  To me, she embodies everything that clothes should do: express your unique personality, send a message about who you are, be fun and give you confidence.  Jean certainly says all of those things doesn't she? 

If you're interested in fashion for ladies of a more advanced age but of a youthful spirit, check out Ari Seth Cohen Advanced Style Blog - it makes me smile every time my Inbox pings with a post and might make you think twice before you say "I'm too old to wear that".  http://advancedstyle.blogspot.co.uk/

The amount of women I talk to and work with, who soooo easily reel off a list of things they dislike about themselves, yet when asked about what they do like, look at me like I'm crazy!  Us women in Britain are really brilliant at putting ourselves down, someone pays us a compliment and instead of saying “thank you” we justify it by saying “it was only a fiver in Primark”!

 I see it all the time with clients who concentrate their attention on the areas of their bodies that displeases them the most.  They try an outfit on, look at their reflection and instead of seeing themselves as a whole, zoom straight in on their tummy or their thighs and pointedly make a negative remark about it.  A big part of what I do is about refocusing and appreciating their good points and trying to create a more positive body image, because often how we see ourselves is very different to how others see and perceive us.

I recently watched this video by Dove which perfectly illustrates this.  It's really interesting to watch and if you're anything like me, by the end of it, you may have a tear in your eye!   
 
If you had taken part in this film, how different do you think the portrait you described of yourself would be to the one that was described by somebody else?