The big coat edit

The clocks have gone back, the nights are darker and it's finally getting chillier! It's not all bad news though as you can now wear your winter coat, scarf and hat and style out the Winter months confidently. The other good news is that there is loads of sales on at the moment so it is the perfect time to buy a new Winter coat for the season.

Coats are a weakness of mine and a good coat can update your style very easily. In the northern hemisphere it also, sadly, happens to be the piece you will end up wearing most from October to March. So with that in mind, it is really important you spend time thinking about what you really need and want out of your coat. Practically speaking, there are two main issues that need to be considered when buying a new coat: one, as this is a big wardrobe purchase (possibly the biggest of the entire year), it has got to be spot on. I’m talking goes with everything, fits like a dream, is warm but not bulky and, importantly, looks a knockout. The second is getting all of that without spending the sort of money that would buy you a small car. Style speaking, think about colour, shape, trend and remember one size does not fit all - you're leopard print fur coat might be someone else's poison!

So to help you here is my AW17 winter coat edit with 5 new season's styles to pick from, including discounts where I could get them! Buy now and you will love wearing it everytime you put it on.

Follow my pinterest board for more coats inspiration - 2017 Coats Style

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1. CHECKED COAT

If there is one coat that sums up the season, it’s the double-breasted, checked, tailored style. A smash hit among fashion editors at Paris Fashion Week, this is all about 2017 power dressing. Try Whistles or Zara for crombie check coats or French Connection for smaller checks. This large check coat from Marks and Spencer currently has 20% off if you have a Sparks card.

Check coat £99, Marks and Spencer

Over-sized check coat, Zara, £159.00

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2. RED COAT

Red is the fashionable colour of choice this Autumn and I would suggest that a fabulous coat is one of the easiest ways to wear it. Check out M&S and Jigsaw (its signature wool “Grace” coat is pricey, but something you’d have for ever).  Fantastic for chucking over jeans or a grey jumper, as famous fashion designer Bill Blass once said, “When in doubt, wear red.” This Mango masculine coat is currently in the mid season sale for £39.99 - what a bargin!

Masculine structure coat, Mango, £39.99

Neon Rose Cocoon coat, ASOS, £75.00

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3. STATEMENT COAT

The beauty of a statement coat is that you can be wearing any old tat underneath it and no one would know. If your coat smiles, the rest of the world smiles along with you. And for this reason, this season’s panache for bold, jazzy coats is great news. If you’re not into the aforementioned red, then have a go at pink (this pink one form Boden has 25% off with code - DW33X4L4), green or colbalt blue. Or there’s my personal favourite, leopard print, always a great statement.

Suki British tweed coat, Boden £250.00 - get 25% off with code - DW33X4L4

Colbalt blue boucle coat, Reserved £59.99

Leopard print coat, Reserved, £49.99

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4. TEDDY COAT OR FUR COAT

My vote for comfort coat of the season goes to the bouclé slouch coat, aka “The Teddy”. Knobbly, bobbly and oh so cosy, this has a whiff of the 1960s, but has a very new-season nod to texture. Fur has also made a triumphant season return with this season seeing it being bolder than ever. Fun, colourful and not traditionally classic, faux fur is a great eveningwear alternative that will add a little wow factor to the plainest of looks. Check out Topshop and Zara for their Teddy coat's and Mango for some fun colourful furs. This tabacco number from Warehouse looks very appealing and has currently 30% off it online.

Teddy Faux fur coat, Warehouse £71.20

Faux fur coat in maroon, Mango, £79.99

5. THE POSH PUFFER

The coat that defined 2016. Although puffer coats might not be quite as significant as this time last year, they are sticking around and for good reason – they are incredibly toasty. If you’re worried about looking like the Michelin Man, then check out Whistles forest green velvet puffer, which is easy on the puff-factor, but still fabulously warm. Currently is on discount on House of Fraser, from £159.00 to £127.20. Or REALLY stand out of a crowd with this metallic gold puffer jacket from &other stories.

Velvet Iva Puffer Jacket, Whistles £127.20 House of Fraser

Metallic gold puffer jacket, &other stories, £125.00

where to find clothes you actually WANT to wear

Most of what I do as an image consultant is to help clients find their style at a point in their lives where they have grown up, perhaps got married, perhaps had children, perhaps got a good career, perhaps stays at home or perhaps does all of the above but has somehow lost their style way.

Let me introduce you to one of my clients Emma. Emma is 46, smart, funny, opinionated, successful, works hard and earns a decent salary. Emma likes clothes, dislikes her knees in short dresses, has a bit of disposable income to spend on a few luxuries, but isn’t up for blowing her hard-earned cash on "trendy items". Emma thinks spending loads on clothes is borderline madness – she’d rather go on a well-earned two-week holiday with her husband and young kids. 

So where can Emma go shopping to buy that well cut dress for work, jeans and knitwear for the school run, and a few nice tops and accessories for when she goes out with the girls or date night with her husband? Has the high street forgotten about grown-up thirty, forty and fifty somethings?

Like most of us, Emma is far too busy to browse through endless crap online, she isn’t bothered about fashion trends or the latest “must-have” pieces – she just wants to look nice, feel good and not spend loads. Scrolling through thousands of shots of unattractive-looking clothes worn by extremely young models, when there’s homework to monitor, emails to catch up on and family diaries to manage, isn’t exactly a number-one priority. 

We are a nation full of Emma's, we want to look great but don't know where to look to find great clothes for grown-ups. We’ve clearly got a long way to go before the high street sorts itself out but, until that happens, it helps to know where to look for clothes that won’t disappoint.

So to save you time I have done the hard-work for you and I would like to introduce you to my go-to brands that might just make your heart race and I hope to inspire you to indulge on some new clothes that will be right up your style street!

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KITRI - https://kitristudio.com/

From a small team of creatives based in London. The brand started from the frustration of not being able to find well-made, distinctive designs without breaking the bank, they set out to create their dream pieces in the hope that other women will love them too. Great use of colour and fabrics, strong eveningwear collection containing timeless stylish pieces that flatter women's figures.

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&other stories - https://www.stories.com/gb/

Founded in 2010 by a small group of creatives, & Other Stories grew from the wish to give women the freedom of expression through one brand. A one stop styling destination with collections from Paris, Stockholm and Los Angeles. From classic prints on shirts and dresses to the perfect knitwear for all occasions, this brand is top of its game.

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Uterque - https://www.uterque.com/gb/

Uterque is part of the same group as Zara and was originally set up as an accessories brand in 2008. Since it was created, the company has evolved to include a carefully selected Ready To Wear collection in which quality materials and attention to detail are of the utmost importance. Their aim is to sell garments that are made to stand the test of time and are destined to become must-have items for any woman who values quality above all else.

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Ganni - http://www.ganni.com/en

GANNI is a Danish fashion brand with a simple mission; To fill a gap in the advanced contemporary market for effortless, easy-to-wear pieces. From the perfect date-night dress to slouchy-chic Sunday knits, they design to please style-obsessed women everywhere. Their Scandinavian heritage is essential to their inspiration and believe passionately in designing quality fashion that can be worn in different ways to suit individual style.

STATEMENT KNITWEAR

Knitwear is making a strong statement for AW17. With alluring embroideries, powerful patterns and bold colours creating a stylish impact in cold weather wardrobes. From easy Autumn days to those chillier winter months, wearing statement knits has never been easier - just throw that sweater on!

Now the days are starting to feel chillier, it's time to think about the knits that you currently have in your wardrobe and what you want to buy to update it. See my pick of the high street and styling tips on how to wear your statement knits.

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Statement knits

1. The embroidered knit - Embroidery is showing no signs of slowing down for the new season, with intricate needlework patterns elevating the knits of now. Bring the trend into your AW17 wardrobe with this soft, grey marl jumper with exaggerated sleeves, detailed with trailing floral embroiders in a vibrant red hue. Style it with a pleated green midi skirt, completing the look with a fedora hat and black ankle boots. Monsoon, £69.

2. The bold knit - Colour blocking is the easiest way to make a stand-alone statement this season, with striking separates adding a burst of brightness to your AW17 wardrobe. Prove the theory with this red cable-knit jumper, tuck the front into the waistband of dark blue skinny jeans, wear with black biker boots for a stylish and upto date look,  Topshop, £39.

3. The "What are you saying?" knit - What's not to love about this jumper?! The Love jumper will perfectly complement everything from jeans to skirts. Layer it over a shirt for ultimate autumnal chic with jeans, or dress up with a pair of eye popping red heels for an evening out. Hush, £85.

4. The frilly knit - Frills have been a main stay of style over the past couple of seasons, so you can't go wrong with adding this style detail to your wardrobe. Frills ensure you have a feminine feel to your look but you can add a heavy weight belt, biker boots and a bomber to harden it up. Frill knitwear is also great for smartening up your workwear style with a pencil skirt or pair of fitted trousers, can be easily dressed up for the evening - this could be the most versatile piece in your wardrobe this Autumn.  &other stories, £69.

5. The sparkle knit - Sparkle and knitwear always seem to come out every Winter, but they make a great partnership for your wardrobe. Style your sequin and sparkle knitwear in the daytime with jeans and trainers for that laid back look, or in the evening add a pleated skirt and a leather biker jacket and you are good to go!  Mango, £35.99.

6. The cover-up knit - Long have we loved cardigans, but quite often it can be default dressing that isn't flattering, is normally frumpy and doesn't add any personality to your style. This season the cardigan is breaking out the box, but you have to be brave to wear one! Take the plunge and add tassles, cable knit, printed patterns and belts to over sized or pretty cardigans this Winter.  Zara, £79.99.

how to make your wardrobe work harder for you

What to wear now : Some outfit inspiration

The building blocks of a great wardrobe lie in those key pieces you can dress up or down with a few simple styling tips. From classic breton stripe tee's to a leather biker, everyday skinnies to a smart pencil skirt, up your cost-per-wear with these fail safe tips and breathe new life into your wardrobe.

Here I want to show you how to add in this seasons newest trend items into your wardrobe seamlessly. By using existing things you have in your wardrobe the new item will breathe new life into those pieces, update them and make you feel confident about buying the new piece for your wardrobe. Showing you how to style items up is an important part of my styling consultation, as you grow with confidence with your wardrobe then styling your wardrobe will become easier for you.

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The floral dress

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The leather mini skirt

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The check blazer

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The colour red