Ten Things I've Learnt in Ten Years of Personal Styling

I’ve been personal styling for over 10 years now which is crazy to me as it’s the longest job I’ve ever had. Yet it continues to be the most fun, exciting and satisfying career I could have chosen for myself when I was thinking of Plan B.  Little did I know when I trained all those years ago that I’d go on the journey I have and be involved in projects that my younger, more insecure self would have laughed at and said “no way”. 

I’ve worked with many women and men whose personal stories have sometimes involved heartbreaking tragedy and illness but more often than not my clients have simply reached a point in their lives where they’re fed up of feeling ‘less than’, boring, frumpy, style-less and have lost themselves amongst the busy-ness of life.  And that’s where I step in and lend a styling hand! 

It’s always an honour to be involved in someones life and I feel incredibly grateful to be able to make a positive difference so that when my clients look in the mirror, they start to like who looks back at them.  Right from the very beginning, I’ve always said that what I do isn’t just clothes, fashion and style but it’s about giving someone confidence through the use of clothing.  Time and again my clients come back to tell me how much of a difference I’ve made in their lives which honestly, is one of the best feelings in the world. 

So, here are the 10 things I’ve learnt since becoming a Personal Stylist and Image Consultant:

1. It doesn’t matter someone’s age, shape, size, career or financial situation, most people have insecurities which will stop them from wearing a style or colour that they like.  
2. Many women feel under pressure when they get to a certain age that they can no longer wear styles of clothing for fear of looking age inappropriate and being described as “mutton dressed as lamb” - a term I detest.
3. The majority of women feel just “alright” in their clothes.
4. A high percentage of women dress to cover up the areas of themselves they like the least and feel most self conscious about, (wearing long tops to hide a tummy anyone!).
5. Women don’t want to wear brighter, bolder colours for fear of standing out and being noticed.
6. Most women think they are larger than they actually are.
7. People project their insecurities and believe that the thing they think of themselves, is the same thing that everyone else thinks of them.
8. Women don’t trust their own judgement when trying new clothes on and fear will stop them from buying it.
9. More often than not, women, especially mums, will put everyone else’s needs before their own and will feel guilty for spending money on themselves.
10. Women say the most cruel things about their bodies and are their own biggest and worst critics.

I could go on but you can see a common theme here.  If you can relate to any of the above, get in touch and let’s chat or have a read of my testimonials to see it from my clients point of view. I would love to help get you out of your lack-of-confidence rut and into a place where the clothes you wear bring you pleasure and enjoyment and are a true reflection of who you really are and not who your critical self thinks you are. karen@karenl.co.uk, 0771 875 0019