why bother shopping for clothes?

When there are people out there who can do it for you.

We are all busy people. We have things to do, places to go and lists to write. And when we've done our things, do we really want to traipse around shops looking for clothes? Not really. With the kids in tow? Total nightmare.

Do we want to try and work out what looks good on us? What's on-trend? Of course not, that's part of the reason why I do the job I do. I can help interpret the right styles for you, do your shopping for you and save you time and money all with a click of a button. We all make a lot of purchases online, it's fast, it's efficient but is it always easy to find exactly what you are looking for? Can you really be bothered to sift through and seek out the right pieces for you, page after page of items that are either too young, too frumpy, not the right colour or not the right price? It's just tedious, right? 

What if I can offer you a service that eliminates all of that time and pressure? How about a service that gives you all the clothing and accessories you need to update your wardrobe sent to your email? All you need to do is click on the links and a brand new style re-fresh will be sent to your door.

It is essentially a look book of items of clothing, pulled together into outfits, curated by me, just for you. No need to step out of your door to shop, no need to stress about your purchases or take ages to find something that you want to buy - it can all be done for you!

So if you want an easy life, an easy shopping experience and a fabulous new spring wardrobe then contact me now for a Spring look book.

Making your wardrobe a happy place

Going from one season to another is never easy work. No matter the size of your wardrobe, it will never be big enough to accommodate every item you have. You can't keep coats next to summer dresses as you will never be able to see what you have tucked away inside. Now is the time of year to store away your seasonal summer clothes otherwise where are you going to put that amazing Mango leopard printed jacket you just bought? It's time to make a choice, and I can help you make it a clever one!

Here are five steps to organize your wardrobe that I use when helping clients detox their wardrobes...

1. Organisation is key

You need to be able to see everything you have in your wardrobe otherwise you will just never wear it. Hang up the important pieces, maybe on the same hangers as it gives your wardrobe a calm vibe and also looks luxurious. Fold your jeans and stack them so you can see each one, and purge your t-shirt drawer as there will definitely be some squashed up tee's in there that you no longer wear.

2. Make three distinctions

Make three piles, what you are wearing, what you can’t wear this season and what you are (honestly) not going to wear again. Keep everything you wear every day, even if it’s only a few tops and jeans. Make a separate pile for things that aren’t seasonally appropriate anymore. Put away these things in a suitcase and store them until it starts to get warmer. Now, nicely fold the clothes you keep and tidy your wardrobe. It feels more spacious already right!

3. What do to with the clothes you don't wear

Some pieces may have some value left in them, depending on the brand so sell these pieces on Ebay or Facebook. A bit lazy? Your niece/sister/cousin will always be happy to have some of your clothes. Want to do a good deed? You can give your beloved clothes to a charity shop! All you have to do is walk in with the bag of clothes and hand it to the till.

4. Filling the gaps

Now you can see what you have in your wardrobe and you can identify any gaps that you need to fill to pull outfits together. Make a shopping list and stick to it. If you often spend money on things you don't end up wearing then shop smarter. Before buying a piece refer back to your list and be honest with yourself on whether you will actually wear it or not. If you do bring the item home, if after one week you haven't worn it, take it back to the shop before your refund expires. No shame, you have one month to decide, take advantage of that!

5. Less is more...

Even if you have a large wardrobe or even dressing room, you don't have to fill it. Go through your wardrobe every six months when the seasons are changing and asses whether you have worn the item or not. If not pack it away, sell it on Ebay or give it to charity - you will feel much better afterwards so it's a win win situation.

If you need help with organising your wardrobe then I have plenty of experience in editing wardrobes big and small, this is a recent testimonial from a client-

" I cannot recommend Nina highly enough!  We met last week to do my colours and then to de-tox my wardrobe and I feel so much better now about how I look.  I finally have a wardrobe of clothes that suit me and colours that complement me, rather than a hotchpotch of items gathered over many years that I will never wear again.  Nina was kind enough to be available for me on email when I went off to Westfield to get my "must-buys" from the list she gave me, giving me advice on items to avoid and her views on the colours I'd chosen.  I was stuck in a major rut until last week - my confidence had been rock-bottom and I just felt dowdy.  Now I feel energised and have the confidence to go bolder and to carve out a style for myself.  Thank you Nina! xx "

Contact me now for your Autumn Winter appointment - nina@edits-styling.com

Edits guide on how to look stylish for a weekend away

edits styling notes

A quick getaway no longer means just tossing a couple of items in a bag anymore and jumping on a plane. Packing for a short trip just might be more difficult than packing for a longer one because you need to be prepared to have clothing and shoes for both day and night. Trying to fit everything you need into a small suitcase can be quite a challenge - unless you know what to pack.

My hubby and I are off for our first mini break in years and are getting on a plane with carry on, so perfect packing is essential. Having not packed for just myself and no kids for a number of years it's got me thinking about what to pop into my bag. So I thought it would be best to come up with a strategy before I started tossing clothes into my mini case!

Here are my strategic packing rules for a mini break -

• Make sure you have a good idea of what you'll be planning on doing throughout the break so that you know the appropriate clothing to bring. If you're spending a weekend in the country, you probably won't need a fancy dress and dancing shoes. Likewise, if you're going to spend the bulk of your time at the beach or lounging poolside, you probably won't need to bring long trousers. Checking out the weather beforehand is also a must!

• One key idea to rememberis to try to take clothes that can do double duty, especially shoes. Shoes can be heavy and bulky, so it's good to take as few pairs as possible. Take one pair that can go from day to night and a second pair that you can use as slippers, like flip flops. Because they're flat, they'll pack nicely, and you'll still look stylish any time of the day.

• The name of the game for clothing is versatility. Look for clothes in your wardrobe that can do double duty by pairing in different ways. It also helps to have clothes that can be dressed up or down. A pair of basic black trousers or jeans can be the base for many kinds of tops, for example. You can also change your look just by changing your jewellery. Packing a few select pieces of jewellery can help change your look, which can be important if you're wearing the same outfit twice.
• Learn to pare down the amount of items you need for your daily beauty regime to just the essentials you'll need over the span of two nights. Also be sure to pack mini-bottles of your beauty products. They'll not only fit better into a small bag, but they'll get through security at the airport.

I am hoping these hard-fast rules will help me when packing in the 20mins I have inbetween school runs, washing, working, cooking etc etc! Oh well, who doesn't want to go shopping on a mini break anyway?!!

Bon Voyage! x

Where to shop right now

When working with clients on a weekly basis, I always get asked where to shop. Alot of women have perhaps lost their way with the same stores they shop in and want to be introduced to new online or high street stores. They are always surprised when I mention Topshop..."I haven't shopped in there for years!", "I'm too old for crop tops and hotpants!", is normally the response I receive until I go onto explain about Topshop Boutique.

What is the difference between Boutique and their main lines? Firstly the price. Yes it's more expensive, but only marginally.

Secondly, it has a more grown up feel to it. With cleaner lines, sophisticated shapes, stylish colours and prints and more of a Scandinavian feel to it.

Thirdly, alot of it is made in Britain.

Me in my Topshop Boutique printed top which is now sold out

The brand has a cult following and sizes often sell out really quickly, so you have to be committed to buying because if you go back the next day it could be gone!

Here is what I would buy from their range at the moment. Take a look and see for yourself, it might be worth a trip to Topshop after all.

Topshop Boutique Top 5 picks

1.  Wide Leg black culotte's £85.00

2. Ruffle peplum cami £40.00

3. Off the shoulder black dress £69.00

4. Triangle neckline tee £28.00

5. Off the shoulder white cotton dress £68.00