Anyone can be "in fashion", but style is personal. There are no trends to follow. There are no rules. Style comes from within. But you have to be confident with who you are on the inside before you can be comfortable presenting yourself to the outside world. And how you present yourself to the world is important. Every time you dress you assert some aspect of yourself and your identity. With style, you tell the world who you are and it allows you the chance to showcase a facet of yourself in a unique way.

You might say they are just clothes, shoes and bags, but I believe that they play a large part of a woman's character. And more importantly clothes affect how we feel about ourselves throughout the day, week or year. Alot of Women I meet are stuck in typical life cycles of shopping, whether that be fast shopping based on getting good deals in the sales, impulse buying and buying clothes based on other people's opinion of them, buying the same items on repeat, sometimes without even realising it or just can't bear to buy anything new and are wearing friends and families hand-me downs. None of these shopping scenarios are conclusive to feeling great in what we wear.

When it comes to personal style, it's all about you. Making simple changes in your wardrobe can create huge shifts in how you feel about yourself and how you come across to the world. The right style brings out the best in every woman, at every age, in every situation. When it comes to having great style, knowing what colours, silhouettes and pieces you love and how they all fit together, is only part of the equation. The other part is having the confidence to actually wear those things. These days, I find myself thinking more and more about topics related to confidence, fashion ideals and body image, because judging from countless consultations it's a hugely important part of your style journey. You need confidence to be creative, express your personal style and have fun with fashion.

As an image consultant and personal stylist, I believe there is a way to boost your self-confidence through your style. I am passionate about women and passionate about what I do, but I also know how difficult it is to feel confident and to love ourselves in a society that constantly tells us we are not enough. I help you find confidence in your individuality, help you discover your personal style through inspiration whilst staying true to yourself. I truly believe that your personal style is more than just a way to get dressed, it’s about celebrating your creativity, self-expression as well as figuring out what makes you feel confident and inspired every day in life and work, as clothing becomes part of your life currency.

Here are some tips to get you started:

1. Be an editor

Your wardrobe should only contain amazing choices - pick out the key items and get rid of the rest of them. Be inspired by five remarkable pieces rather than twenty unremarkable pieces. Be ruthless when you edit - if it doesn't look good on you, it shouldn't be in your wardrobe.

2. Buy the right size

If you are a size 12, do not buy a size 10 because you have told yourself you are going to loose weight. It is better to buy the realistic size and enjoy the way the clothes make you feel at that moment.

3. Don't be sucked in by the price tag

Paying £50 for a pair of jeans that cost £200 is a great deal. But if you are never going to wear those jeans, you don't need them, or really even like them, then that's a very expensive deal!

4. Do not buy according to the trends

Wear what suits you and what makes you feel comfortable and confident. Not what everyone else is wearing, not what the magazines and newspapers say you should wear, learn about your body shape and listen to your inner voice of reason.

5. Buy with drama

Buy what is truly fantastic! That leopard print coat, the knock-them-dead dress, the metallic pleated skirt or the statement earrings. Yes people will comment on what you are wearing, but you know you look good in it and everyone else knows that too.

If you need help with any aspect of your style, wardrobe and confidence then contact me for an consultation. I am passionate about helping women grow their confidence in their appearance by helping them understand the colours and styles of clothing that flatter them and make them look "wow"! Getting this right can really change not only how you look but also how you feel! I look forward to you getting in touch soon.

Photos by Claire Lane - http://www.clairelanephotography.com/

Make-up by Charlotte Jay - http://www.charlottejaymakeupartist.co.uk/

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As we grow and change, so does our taste and style preferences. There usually comes a point where we feel like the style we have embodied for the last 10 years no longer feels like us.

If this sounds like you then read on for some image consultant tips on your style evolution?

There are a few courageous individuals who embark on a complete style overhaul, and change everything in their wardrobe within a couple of hours and come out the other side looking immaculate. Then there are the rest of us. The ones who feel anxious about change, about looking different and about having to talk about themselves in a personal way, as style is personal. So what are the options you have in taking tentative steps towards a change in your image?

The good news is style does not need to happen overnight. All good things take time. It can take weeks, or even months to find and develop a new style that embodies you for right now. The key is to focus on discarding items that you no longer wear or feel comfortable in and slowly add in some newer basic items that suit and flatter you. Giving your wardrobe a good detox will allow you to see past the pieces you haven't worn for years, that no longer fit you, that have holes in them or you have just plain forgotten about! Starting from scratch can give you a sense of relief and excitement at the thought of creating a whole new wardrobe - and a whole new you!

To learn more about the type of style you want, I suggest starting a pinterest board every season for the styles, looks, images and items you are drawn towards. Keeping upto date with trends and styles will ensure that you will allow yourself have a contemporary and stylish look. If you are unsure about how to put items together or how to accessorize, finding inspiration from your style icons could help your create modern and and stylish outfits. From this you will then be able to create a 'shopping list' of items that you want/need and must-have in your wardrobe to help you become the modern stylish woman you want to be.

When going shopping, the best advice I can give is to save items in your shopping bag as you go along. Don't knee jerk and buy things that you think you need, take your time over spending your money - set yourself a budget. Refer back to your wardrobe, refer back to your pinterest board, refer back to your shopping list at all times to ensure you don't make new mistakes that are just replacing the old ones.

If all of the above still scares you and you still don't know where to start then I am here to help. My job is to take the pain and frustration away of not knowing what to wear. I will work with you to create the perfect style that suits your personality, lifestyle and budget AND is easy to maintain. By showing you how to dress in a way that flatters your body shape and introduce you to stores that are perfect for you, not only will you avoid those expensive mistakes you've made in the past, but you will have an image that reflects the woman you want to be. I can also show you how to build on your existing wardrobe to create new outfits that you will look and feel amazing in. Never again will you utter those words “I've nothing to wear”!

Style and fashion are ageless, and they evolve with you.

If you have lost your style and need some help getting back on track and then contact me now for a personal styling consultation.

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