Blog - "effortless personal style"

"effortless personal style"

Put your necklace away..

23/10/2013

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).

Lady in Red

29/9/2013

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!

More Ageless Style

27/9/2013

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.

Camouflage Queen

4/9/2013

Firstly, I need to point out that the 'tangoed' look I seem to have taken on in this photo isn't a case of me over fake tanning (I have been on holiday and I do have a tan but not to the point of looking like I've drunk too much Sunny Delight)...!! I'm a crap photographer and don't know how to take a decent photo which is a bit limiting with an iphone anyway, but you kind of get the idea of my outfit which is the most important thing. Just don't look at my face!

This Autumn/Winter there are two prints that are going to be everywhere: plaid and camouflage. I'm not a big fan of the former but love a bit of camo and wanted to show you how I've incorporated it into my wardrobe without looking like I'm coming over all Private Benjamin.

I've opted for an H&M skirt in a tightly pleated chiffon which helps to break up the print up making it more feminine than if it was on a flat A-line shape for example. The skirt has a lovely drape and nice swishy movement when walking which also helps to give it a girly edge. If you're tempted to try out pleats, be a bit careful if you're bottom heavy as they can accentuate your curves making you look bigger, so always wear with a top tucked in and belted to highlight your waist.

As the skirt is the star I've kept everything else simple with a 'vintage' Primark linen vest and Bertie wedged gladiators.

What do you think? Are you tempted to try camouflage? If you do, please post a photo, I'd love to see how you've styled it.

Below are a few other items I've spied on the internet. I particularly love the Topshop trousers........

Reiss at TK Maxx

28/6/2013

I love a bit of TK Maxx and have picked up some great bargains there. You have to be in the right frame of mind for it with lots of time to spare and be dedicated to searching through the rails, but if you love a rummage, you can't go
wrong.

My latest label spot there is Reiss available at brilliant prices. They've got some great things both online and in store, so if you love the understated modern sophistication of Reiss but don't like their prices - this is definitely one for you.

Casual boyfriend chic

28/6/2013

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.

Latest Outfits for St Peter's Hospice

12/6/2013

For about a year and a half now a highlight of my week has been to spend a morning volunteering at St Peter's Hospice on Cotham Hill, dressing their mannequins for them. The anticipation of what I might find makes me almost break out into a run and once I've arrived I'm like a child in a sweet shop. Some of the items I've given a new home to include a leather Hobbs bag, brand new never worn leather Spanish brogues, Diesel scarf, Cos jacket....I could go on and on.....But it's not just the clothes I get excited about, I always meet a range of interesting people from all walks of life with a story or two to tell.

It never ceases to amaze me what people will give to charity, designer items barely worn, garments with labels still attached, and a whole host of accessories that only need a bit of TLC to bring them back to life (don't ask me about dirty underwear though - I kid you not!). A charity shop really is a treasure trove of loveliness and is a guilt free way of shopping to your hearts content.

I highly recommend spending a bit of time having a good old rummage. Don't walk in, skim the shelves and walk back out again because nothing catches your eye. Go through the rails item by item and wait for that special something to leap out at you - because I guarantee it will.

Here are some of the outfits I've created for St Peter's Hospice over the last few weeks.

How to Look Designer on a High Street Budget

16/4/2013

Magazines, websites and designer lookbooks are a brilliant source of inspiration for influencing your own personal style. Whilst you might not have a designer budget, the high street is usually hot on the heels of what's on the runways and so you can usually find something more affordable but still with an edge.

Quilted jackets are really popular this season and are cropping (excuse the pun) up everywhere. I will admit that they might be a bit like marmite, you either love them or hate them but with less structure than a traditionally tailored jacket, they're great to wear with jeans and are a good transitional piece for now if you wanted to move away from wearing a cardigan.

Whilst doing some research this morning, I saw this jacket from IRO and it reminded me of one I'd seen on Zara's website (they are brilliant at turning designer looks into high street prices) so I thought I'd share it with you to demonstrate what I was saying earlier. Whilst not exactly the same, you can see a similar theme. One costs £465, the other £59.99. Which one would you choose or do you hate both of them?? I'd love to know.

New seasons collections

18/2/2013

I spent a happy few hours on Saturday researching the new trends that are slowly slowly making their way into the shops. The sales have stuck around for longer than usual this year so it's a welcome sight to see the new collections. There's lots of gorgeous hot colours and patterns around with orange being particularly strong again, so if you bought items in this tone last Summer, brilliant, get them out and start wearing them now.

If you're unsure of wearing such a bright colour here are a few facts about the pyschology of orange that might pursuade you to give it a try:

“The color psychology of orange is optimistic and uplifting, rejuvenating our spirit. In fact orange is so optimistic and uplifting that we should all find ways to use it in our everyday life, even if it is just an orange colored pen that we use (or a gorgeous handbag!). It radiates warmth and happiness, combining the physical energy and stimulation of red with the cheerfulness of yellow. Orange brings spontaneity and a positive outlook on life and is a great color to use during tough economic times, keeping us motivated and helping us to look on the bright side of life”.
- Empwer Yourself with Colour Pyschology

Back to fashion with flat blocked heel sandals (hurrah for comfort AND style) cropping up everywhere. Clark's had a few fab pairs that will look great with everything from skirts, to ankle grazers to rolled up jeans and a blazer. Florals are stronger than ever and split skirts of all lengths were popular too. Being a bit of a rock chic at heart, I'm always partial to a biker jacket and so was particularly drawn to H&M's hot pink style which means I can still have an edge, but a feminine one! It didn't make it home with me, but it has been playing on my mind ever since........

I couldn't photograph everything I saw and liked but here are a few items that will give your wardrobe a colourful boost without costing the earth.

a – Clark's
b – Oasis
c – BHS
d – Nine West
e - Clark's
f - Clark's
g – Oasis
h – H&M
j – H&M
k - H&M
l – Top Shop

Roses are Red, Violets are Blue......

6/2/2013

If December is all about Christmas and January is all about new years resolutions, then February has to be all about love. There are many cynics out there who complain that Valentines Day is designed for card and flower companies to make an extra mint, but in my mind, any reason to celebrate the love in your life, whether it's your partner, children or even your dog (I know my parents dog will get a special treat once the 14th hits!) is a good enough one for me.

Wearing the color red affects us physically by increasing enthusiasm, stimulating energy and can increase the blood pressure, respiration, heartbeat, and pulse rate . It encourages action and confidence and provides a sense of protection from fears and anxiety. So if Valentines Day isn't a good enough reason to wear this gorgeous colour, then there are a few other ones to think about.

However you choose to spend the night, whether it's a quiet meal at home, sharing a bottle of wine and watching a DVD or a full blown posh meal in an expensive restaurant, celebrate in style. Here are just a few of the things I've seen recently that might inspire you and get your pulse rate up and your heart beat racing......

1 - White Stuff £49.95
2 - M&S £19.50
3 - Zara £169
4 -Alice Temperley for JL £160
5 - H&M £12.99
6 - Mango£34.99
7 - People Tree £65
8 - Schuh £60
9 - Lulu Guiness£245
10 - Oasis £35
11 - Joules £69.99
12 - Mint Velvet (top) £55
13 - Not on the High Street £160