my five piece rule

One of the many reasons for detoxing your wardrobe is to slimline the amount of clothes you have. Often when helping a client, we will find the strangest things lurking in the bottom and back of their wardrobes! Items that perhaps haven't seen the light of day for years, items that have holes in them, items that no longer fit and the worst culprit of them all, old maternity items that are no longer of any use to anyone!

All of the above has to go!

But what happens after the de-clutter? How do you go about re-building your wardrobe?

Well I have the answer.

It’s all about building a wardrobe methodically and mathematically - My five piece rule...this is my formula for building the perfect 'working' wardrobe. The concept is pretty simple: start with a fabulous collection of good basics, spending more on the items you will wear most often and that will go with everything. Then, each season, invest in just five fashion‑forward statement pieces to update your look. The idea is that limiting your choice will make you think more about what you buy, so there will be fewer regrettable impulse purchases. Plus, you can invest more in high-quality pieces that you’ll love for years to come.

So now is the time to make your five piece list for Spring Summer. Think about your budget and stick to it and by writing the items down you can always refer back it to throughout the season - it will ensure you don't impulse buy without consulting your list first.

If you need some inspiration, here is my Spring Summer five piece list (some of which I have already brought!).

1. A statement Jacket - this is something that can be worn daytime with a t-shirt or evening with a slip vest. Embroidered jacket - Zara £69.99

2. Mirrored sunglasses - the newest trend in sunglasses is with mirrored lenses. Illesteva Leonard Tortoise with blue lenses - Oxygen boutique £175.00

3. Culottes - these will be perfect for the summer in the daytime as a substitute to jeans in the warm weather. I still haven't found my perfect pair as I don't want them too wide and I want them in a quality fabric, so here is how I would style them. See my pinterest board - Culotte's styling 2016

4. Stripe jumpsuit - been on my list since the beginning of the year and I still love it, tells me that it will be a definate purchase when it's nearer holiday time. Stripe cotton jumpsuit - Mango £39.99

5. Lace up sandles - this year it's all about tying up the leg with your flat sandles, I fancy a coloured pair on my feet, currently lusting after these pair from Aquazzura at Selfridges but at £415.00 for the pair need to find a cheaper high street version!

what to keep for 2016

How's the new year, new you going? Keeping up with your new exercise regime? Broken any resolutions yet? Counting down the end of dry January? I've pretty much broken them all and its not even Mid-January yet! But, I'm not going to panic, infact I'm getting rather excited over the prospect of a few spring pieces being in the shops over the coming weeks.

The roll into January means it’s time for a wardrobe clear out (see last week's wardrobe detox post for tips), if only to make space for those fabulous sales picks you found. But unless you got lucky on last weekend's lotto draw, you will need to roll this season’s trends forward into 2016. If you open your wardrobe on a Monday morning and can't find anything to wear, then I'm here to help with your new year, new style list. These are my top 5 items that I endorsed last season to keep and re-invent for this season! Plus a couple of new pieces to buy along the way, hell why not?!

To find out what stays in your wardrobe and what to invest in to see you through the next season, then read on...

1. Shirts

Last season I hailed the shirt as my 2015 hero, but the shirt trend doesn't seem to be going away, neither is my obsession! I brought a new fab pussy-bow shirt in the sale pre-xmas but could not resist my first spring purchase last week in Topshop. It was a case of lust-after, a "I have to have it now" moment! Sending hubby into Topshop Oxford street in his lunch hour sealed it's place in my wardrobe as my favourite item of the year (so far!). Within my wardrobe I love wearing my denim shirt underneath a cosy jumper or sweater with the collar showing out from the top. Added detailing such as the pussy-bow, piping or button detailing gives it a fresh new look tucked into jeans. Simple, stylish and suitable for any occasion. Bring to the front of your wardrobe right now and don't be shy in buying just another one for the new season as this is one that is tried and tested and still as relevant as ever. Check out my pinterest board for more styling ideas - My style hero

TOPSHOP HEART PRINT SHIRT £38.00

ZARA POLKA DOT SHIRT £25.99

TOPSHOP LONG SLEEVED HEART SHIRT £30.00

2. Dungarees

Reinvent your summer dungarees for the cold and blustery days with shirts, knits and boots. I like to wear mine with a long sleeved breton stripe underneath, this is the easiest way to freshen the look up. You could like Alexa Chung, wear your shirt under the dungarees, a plain white one would also look stylish. As it has now finally turned cold I suggest a polo neck, or any piece of knitwear to get the full wear out of them this season. Footwear is where I was struggling as they are so comfy with flats and sandles. The best piece of footwear is casual, so converse boots, new balance trainers or biker boots, all work with this look. To get even more creative with your 'dungers' winter styling then check out my pinterest board - Dungarees

3. Culottes

I have loved wearing my culotte jumpsuit this winter with a polo neck underneath, but I have yet to invest in a pair of trouser culottes. Long thought of as dowdy and unflattering, the cropped, wide pants are suddenly many designers' favourite style of 2015. The most stylish person wearing them this winter has been Victoria Beckham (see picture below), but as you can see she doesn't obviously either feel the cold or doesn't like tights! I on the other-hand love tights so as per my culotte jumpsuit I will just add tights to the outfit to keep warm! I think that we will see alot more culottes out on the high street in spring summer 2016 and that the fabrics will differ, such as leather, suede and even silk. I know my love affair with culottes will grow over the next couple of weeks, mainly for their transitional versatility and they can more flattering than wearing a skirt. Watch this space for my culotte challenge coming soon!

4. Midi dresses

You might not feel like it now in the current weather, but if you do prise yourself away from your cosy wooly jumpers, there are some great midi dresses around to elevate the style steaks. I have had my eye on this dress shape for some time and brought a knitted one from Finery London in the black Friday sales. I love it and have worn it loads to many different occasions from Christmas day, to kids birthday parties! It is comfortable, stylish and not too dressy. For summer I highlighted to printed midi dresses as a massive trend and I think this is only going to get bigger and also easier to wear for Spring Summer 2016. Check out my pick's from the new spring collections to buy now.

Warehouse Silk midi dress £120.00

&other stories animal print midi dress £79.00

Zara floral cami dress £29.99

5. Skirts

For me the skirt trend is just getting started. I even invested in another one in the sales from Warehouse in grey which I can't wait to wear! The look hasn't changed much since it fist came out last season, it's all about pairing the skirt with a more casual top, such as a sweater, polo neck or piece of knitwear. These can be cropped, or tucked in with ankle boots on the feet. As spring arrives, skirts will be worn with shirts and then into cami's, lingerie type tops for evening and summer. Don't be scared to buy a pleated skirt, because by summer 2016 they will be a wardrobe staple. For some more skirt inspiration check out the pinterest board - Skirts 2015-2016.

TOPSHOP PLEATED MARL SKIRT £30.00

Edits guide to your top 5 Spring buys

It might surprise you to know I really haven’t bought many clothes in the last 18 months. I didn’t bother much whilst I was expecting and since having my 3rd baby it's taken a few months and a season change to get back into the swing of 'making an effort'.

So a few weeks ago I decided to do a wardrobe detox on my own wardrobe. I took into consideration all of the advice I give my clients and tried most things on to decipher if they were worth keeping.

After I had removed all the pieces that I realised I would never wear again, didn't fit my lifestyle anymore and had no sentimental value, I wrote myself a 'wish list' of new spring pieces to add into my newly streamlined wardrobe.

Whilst compiling my 'wish list' I also considered the realisation that what I purchase needs to be more practical than before, and that more than ever, I am looking for a flattering fit and good quality. “Quite nice” just won’t cut it anymore. Plus I just don’t have the time or the inclination to spend a small fortune on alterations. So what I purchase has to be right for me, here and now and will last with 3 boys around. But perhaps with a few sparkly things thrown in too...

These are the things on my 'wish list', why don't you share yours with me too?

Top 5 Spring Buys

1. Culottes, Vero Moda, Atterley Road, £28.00

2.  White Shirt, Zara, £39.99

3. Denim dress, asos, £40.00

4. Statement 70s jacket, River Island, £60.00

5. denim dungerees, Paige Denim, Selfridges, £315.00