Keep your style up-to-date with these easy styling tips

Ever feel like you are stuck in a rut with your style and out of touch with current fashion? How often do you want to look good but struggle to find the time to put your energy into your image? Perhaps you are always buying and wearing the same things and it leaves you feeling frumpy and dull...FEAR NOT! You are not alone in these feelings.

It is hard to maintain an up-to-date style and juggle our busy lives. It’s no secret that your image affects the way you feel about yourself – when you look good, you feel good. Perhaps your wardrobe is an over-full nightmare, leaving you frantically searching for an outfit every morning that ends up not letting you feel your best. You don't know where to start when pulling outfits together because nothing ever fits and you don't have the time to think about accessorising. 

If the any of the above is resonating with you, then I am here to help! I recognise the hurdles that come with personal style in our everyday lives and have put together some easy to follow style tips for all the busy women out there.

1. How to use accessories in the right way

If you’re in a rush to get ready in the mornings, or don’t have all day to plan your outfits, then accessories are your saving grace! A monochromatic outfit or understated dress sense can be changed drastically by simply changing accessories.

Adding a piece of statement jewellery to a well-fitted pair of trousers and shirt can entirely transform the look. Changing up the jewellery and wearing the same outfit with different jewellery can give you multiple different looks.

Jewellery isn’t the only avenue to explore when it comes to accessorising. Scarves are a classic and feminine way to add flair to a simple outfit, and gives you the opportunity to add a pop of colour to neutral outfits.

2. Less is more

Minimalism is a trend that will never go out of style and how simplicity can be key in pulling off any outfit.

When putting together an outfit that follows the notion of less being more, it’s important to keep in mind that neutral colours work best, staple items are key, quality is better than quantity and that fun is still welcomed!

This concept works from choosing the colours to wear, doing a wardrobe detox to de-clutter items you no longer wear, buying into staple items in good quality fabrics keeping accessories to a minimum. This will all help you to achieve a simplistic, less is more kind of style

3. Wardrobe detox

If you’re fighting an over-full wardrobe every morning, you’re definitely not making the most of the little time that you have for style. An over-full wardrobe is a symptom of impulsive buying habits, keeping items that aren’t right for your body and holding onto mistake purchases because you feel guilty about the money wasted.

A cluttered wardrobe is the easiest way to feel discouraged about your style. Now the weather is getting warmer it is the perfect time to perform a wardrobe detox. Set aside some time and go through each item, getting rid of what is no longer useful. Use a full-length mirror to check yourself in the items you try on, and get rid of anything that is unflattering or that no longer fits. This includes all mistake purchases, and things you are saving 'just in case'! 

4. Shoes are the key to your style

Shoes are essential whether we’re passionate about them or not. Some wardrobes have shelves and shelves of shoes. Other people may have a style or two that they favour and buy over and over again, keeping their selection to a minimum. 

A bright pair of heels, a printed pair of loafers or a vibrant pair of sneakers can change up an outfit instantly. It can show you have thought about your outfit from head to toe and the finishing touches are key. For me the investment in shoes seasonally is key to your style and keeping it up-to-date.

If you’re finding it tough to keep up with the above as well as a busy home life, you’ll be happy to hear that there is an answer to your problems. Working with me will help you change the way you see yourself, and make getting ready every morning an enjoyable experience that doesn’t take up too much time. Get in touch now! Nina x

how to get out of a rut & feel inspired again

Getting stuck in a rut happens to everyone. Especially at the start of a new season, you start to get bored with what you are wearing and don't know how to change your shopping habits.

If you have ever felt nothing but intense boredom at the sight of your wardrobe and wished you could just throw it all out and start from scratch, you know what it feels like to be stuck in a style rut. A most miserable place where clothes you once loved and felt inspired by, now just seem dull and underwhelming.

The key to getting out of a style rut is to break through old thinking patterns and the comfortable, monotonous routine you have built up for yourself, put on your creative hat and immerse yourself in new inspiration.

The best way to get out of a rut is to get some outside help. Most people only wear about 10% of the clothes in their wardrobe, so it is easier for somebody else to see the gems in your wardrobe than you can. I'll go to a client's house who has said "I have nothing to wear" and after I spend a couple of hours editing her wardrobe and putting new looks together she realises that she has a lot of great outfits waiting to be worn. 

Read Jane's experience -

" I have to admit I had reservations about the wardrobe detox and styling session my husband had brought for me for my birthday present. I thought my wardrobe didn't need editing because I don't own alot of clothes but it turns out I was wrong! Having Nina give a fresh eye is pretty revealing; for starters I had no idea I owned so many pairs of jeans (18!), but rarely wear more than 3 pairs of them. I also discovered I am seriously lacking in items that make up outfits together and Nina was really helpful with her styling tips on how to utilise what I have in my wardrobe and what I need to fill the gaps. It was such a thrilling and enjoyable process, and much less exhausting and over whelming when you are not the one pulling everything out. I loved Nina's easy technique, as I sat on my bed answering questions such as, "Do you wear it?" and "Do you love it?" at no point did I feel under pressure to ditch anything or embarrassed by some shopping mistakes. Afterwards I felt exhilarated, buzzing and confident about my clothes and what choices I wanted to make when shopping in the future based on Nina's appraisal of my wardrobe. The follow up email with Nina's edit of item updates and wardrobe gaps is a great starting point for my shopping trip and will ensure that I make better-informed purchases rather than panic buys. I have recommended Nina's service to all my friends and can't wait for them look and feel better about themselves too."

Here are some tips you may want to try, as the smallest changes can also create big results-

1. Assess one part of your wardrobe - such as your jeans - spend some time trying them on, looking in the mirror and asking yourself some questions, such as; "When did I last wear these?", "Are they flattering for my figure?" or "Do I feel good in them?". You might find a pair that you had forgotten you had and you can incorporate back into your wardrobe again.

2. Take a style risk - do you need a new pair of trainers or bag or scarf and feel bored of the same things you normally buy? Then take more of a risk with your accessories purchase, perhaps buy the brightly coloured trainers over the blue ones, or a bright yellow bag instead of a black one, or even a over-sized leopard print scarf instead of a grey one. Just by adding one thing different it can rejuvenate your look and make you feel more confident.

3. Try shopping in a new store - Go in and walk around, or go online and take a browse. Perhaps is somewhere you've not shopped in years or somewhere some recommended, you might be surprised what you like and how the style could influence your outfits and looks.

4. Give yourself a pep talk - You need to be prepared to feel differently when you’re coming out of a rut. When you try on something that’s out of your comfort zone, you may feel nervous, or excited!  This is the time to pause and have a conversation with yourself. What’s stopping you from wearing this new style, colour or accessory? Maybe this new look is the real you; the part of you that’s wanted to be expressed for a while. Give yourself a chance. Don’t put the brakes on. Experiment and have fun. 

5. Find someone to help -  I’d love to help support you in finding ways to get out of your rut.

it's not you it's me!

Tips on how to let go of unnecessary wardrobe clutter

I have been detoxing wardrobes for a number of years now and in this time I have come across some pretty crazy reasons as to why people hoard clothes. But there are three main ones that I come across time and time again that people use to justify their tendency to hoard. If you want to clear out your wardrobe, but feel over whelmed but the thought of starting the process then contact me now for my help.

If you can relate with these comments, then read on for my tips on how to tackle these reasons:

" I MIGHT WANT TO WEAR IT AGAIN SOMEDAY"

As a rule of thumb, if you haven’t worn an item in the past year it’s unlikely you’ll suddenly want to start wearing it again any time soon. But if you really can’t bear to part with a few of your pieces just yet, try this little trick: store them in a box under your bed (or anywhere but your wardrobe) for a trial separation. You can always retrieve an item if you want to, but it’s much more likely that you’ll forget about most of the stuff in that box after a few months, and you can then get rid of it during your next wardrobe detox. 

"THAT TOP/BAG/PAIR OF SHOES REMINDS ME OF SOMETHING"

Pieces that remind you of a happy time in your life but that you no longer wear aren’t really clothes anymore. They are keepsakes so treat them as such. Store them in a designated place somewhere in your home, but not in your wardrobe. And remember, your memories aren’t attached to objects. 

"I SPENT ALOT OF MONEY ON THAT!"

Many people consider the act of not wearing or using something expensive, whether it’s a pair of shoes or a bottle of fancy shampoo, to be wasteful. But really the money is already spent, so there’s nothing left to waste, except for your energy and wardrobe space. The only way to recoup at least a portion of the money you originally invested in your clothes is to sell them. Selling un-wanted clothes is good for your wallet and the environment too. Not only are you keeping your old clothes from becoming landfill, you are also helping someone else buy used instead of new, which reduces the carbon footprint left yearly by the fast fashion industry. Every little helps!

If you want to clear out your wardrobe, but feel over whelmed but the thought of starting the process then contact me now for my help. Would you rather have a jam-packed wardrobe that you have to dig through each morning to find something to wear, or a smaller but perfectly curated wardrobe full of pieces you truly love? For me that’s an easy choice! By detoxing your wardrobe you will get rid of clutter, redefine your style and make a little money to spend on a few new key pieces for the season. 

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