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The Summer dress edit

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It’s been a while since my last blog post. I have been desperate to write one these past few weeks, but work has been super busy that it hasn’t given me alot of time for anything else.

As the temperatures are finally increasing it feels right to talk about Summer dresses. Dresses to wear now, through the Summer and in Autumn with some stylish layering ideas. Dresses are a go-to for me in the Summer months because they are comfortable, easy to wear, no brain power required, they can be dressed up or down, styled your way, cool and breezy and what I love most – they are flattering. And they can be your uniform too.

Dresses are a no brainer one-stop style solution, but they can also be a blank canvas to style your way. And I have found five styles to inspire you and your shopping…


DRESSES FOR SUMMER

THE SHIRT DRESS

Shirt dresses are so effortless and versatile. They can be worn loose and oversized for that relaxed vibe, whatever your shape, but are particularly favourable for skimming ‘mummy tagged’ middles. The shirt dress doesn’t grip, has a flattering v-style neck and depending on how much you like your legs, can be mini, midi or maxi. If you want to show off your curves or create/define your waist for a more sculpted silhouette, simply cinch the waist of the dress with a belt.


THE SPOTTY DRESS

Aside from the Zara dress (see above photos), polka dots are having a bit of a moment. Although to be fair they have never really gone out of fashion and are always a great print option.


THE MIDI DRESS

No longer old fashioned and twee and just worn by your Granny, midi dresses or tea dresses, the sort with a midi hemline, sleeves and in light, floral or print fabrics, are so easy to wear and so flattering. Just make sure the tailored point (seam/waistline) is at your slimmest part (under boobs or nipped at the waist), choose a hem that cuts you off at a good part of your leg below the knee, go button down for elongating shorter or wider torsos and keep prints smaller the more petite you are and vice versa and for the most flattering silhouette.


THE WHITE DRESS

A white dress is a timeless classic but can be completely impractical too. But the Little White Dress (LWD), is the only way you can ditch your black dress in the Summer time. There’s just something unapologetically summery and optimistic about this shade, be it lacy and whimsical, or linen and minimalist. Throwing one on signals that yes, the sun is going to shine.


THE WRAP DRESS

This shape has had an update, as it no longer exclusively ties at the side, but can be tied at the back or the middle. With its super slimming tie or knot waist, v-neckline and non-gripping A-line skirt it is universally flattering. It defines the waist and can add curves for more straight up and down figures, skims and slims over hips and bottoms for those conscious of this area. If you feel short in the torso, choose a deeper, plunging neckline to lengthen, and those with a bigger bust, the v-neckline and fit and flare style waist, will balance your top and bottom halves.

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Wanted: one disco ball

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The party season is here!

With it comes a potential mind field of party dressing issues from what to wear for the right occasion, to finding that perfect jacket, to not flaking in your heels half way through the night cos your feet hurt so much!

The best thing about this year is that party dressing is back big style!

From sequins, to fake fur, LBD’s and fringing it’s time to freshen up your party outfits with a bit of style and a whole lotta schizzle!

Channel your inner Kate Moss this Christmas…

Channel your inner Kate Moss this Christmas…

So if your December calendar is quickly filling up with Christmas parties, from cheesy office gatherings (the kind you’d rather skip!) to black-tie dinners and all-night New Year’s Eve parties. ’Tis the season for Christmas glitz, glamour, and three-dimensional sparkle, especially after a few years of “less is more” party dressing. If you need tips on how to dress for a party, then I would recommend you read Julien MacDonald’s article for elle.com where he breaks it down sequin by sequin - Julien MacDonald’s guide to glam dressing . But if you would rather add something new to your wardrobe that sparkles like a disco ball, then read my shopping choices of what you should be buying right now for the party season.


Party wardrobe essentials

  1. Dresses

Velvet embellished wrap dress, Topshop £99.00






If you want help with your party outfit this season, then I can help you shop for it with my 5 party pieces. Email me now to book yours in nina@edits-styling.com

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buy a skirt to update your style

We are currently mid way through the Autumn season, I have shopped the best pieces on the high street for clients and now the run up to Christmas parties starts to get going. But what if there was one thing you could buy to update your wardrobe rather than a whole outfit? The skirt trend has been getting stronger for a few seasons now and it is still the most wanted item out there. For me there are 3 skirts on the high street right now that are putting their best foot forward and it’s time to make your choice; are you a sequins kind of girl, a leather kind of girl or do you prefer a roaring leopard print skirt? The choice is yours…

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Sequin skirt

You are probably thinking this is the most un-versatile skirt to buy right now, but you would be wrong! Gone are the days of only wearing your sequin skirt to formal events. Sequin skirts (maxi, midi or mini) can be dressed up or down.  The sequin skirt is an effortlessly chic statement piece that easily transitions from day to night. Wear to brunch with friends, an art gallery afterward and to dance the night away. I love my sequin skirt, I can make a real statement when wearing it in the evening but also cleverly pair it down with my sweatshirts and trainers in the day. Who doesn’t love a bit of glitz and glamour in their wardrobe, see my picks below and update your wardrobe with a bit of sparkle.

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Where to buy your sequin skirt this season -

  1. Topshop, sequin stripe midi skirt, £65.00

Leather skirt

The leather skirt has been given a reboot for AW18, it’s midi and comes in lovely dark shades so it is still practical to wear with black tights and boots if you wish to. A leather midi is your ideal choice for Autumn; leather is warm, it works well with a heel, a boot or a pair of trainers, and can be versatile to wear day-to-night. They have become a wardrobe staple, something that is an investment piece that can be brought out year after year and will always look stylish. Simply add a roll neck, a sweater, a shirt, a t-shirt and then some boots. It’s the perfect chic to street update for your wardrobe.

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Where to buy your leather skirt this season -

  1. Whistles, Burgundy leather pencil skirt, £195.00

Leopard print skirt

As you well know Leopard print has been a winning print this Autumn, but it never goes out of style and will never date. Knowing how to wear leopard print comes down to this one simple, unwritten rule: Treat it like any black item in your wardrobe. Yes, this might seem counter-intuitive, but adding a little leopard to any outfit upgrades and harmonises a look. True, leopard print has often walked the line between flashy and luxurious, but it's been proven season after season that fashion can't get enough of it. After a summer of a leopard print skirt being the most popular skirt on instagram by the Australian brand Réalisation Par, don’t bother with dresses, tops or coats this season to update your style - the leopard print skirt is the long term investment piece for Autumn.

  1. Never Fully Dressed, leopard print wrap skirt, £59.00

If you want more inspiration then follow my pinterest board here - Skirts to update your wardrobe AW18

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How to style yourself & be environmentally conscious

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Autumn so far has been an interesting one for me style wise. I have been busier than ever with new clients and returning clients, helping people with their wardrobes, online shops, personal shopping and colour analysis consultations. Now that it is starting to feel more like Autumn weather wise, the knitwear is coming out of hibernation and coats are coming out of the wardrobes - next it will be hats & scarves! But my style this season has not been updated, I have yet to buy anything new for the season which is very unlike me.

This is down to a number of reasons; being too busy and focused on clients needs to think about shopping for myself; we are just finishing a house renovation so my head is focused on the new kitchen and extension; and I have been thinking about the impact that fashion has on the environment.

You may have watched Stacey Dooley’s eye opening documentary last week called Fashion’s dirty secret and if you haven’t, I highly recommend you find it on iPlayer to gain an insight into the reality of fast fashion and over consumption and the devastation it’s causing the environment.  It’s pretty tough going and not an easy watch, but a worthwhile one no less.

I love clothes and fashion and I have always worked in fashion. Going to factories in china, India and Europe were a big part of my life as a buyer for over 15 years. I have thankfully never seen such a massive environmental impact that the factories that were shown on the documentary, but of course that doens’t mean that it wasn’t going on then and is still going on now. But now working as a personal stylist I have been thinking about the impact that I am having but I honestly believe that using the services of a good stylist is not only beneficial to you but also the environment. 

How can WE play our parts in helping the cause but yet still be able to enjoy fashion and style?

Before you go shopping just because you fancy something new, ask yourself do you really need it or can you wear something you already own yet hasn’t seen the light of day for a while?  Can you style it up differently or even take it to your local tailor and make it into something else ie a dress into a top, a maxi dress into a skirt? 

Assess what is in your wardrobe already and look at what gaps you have rather than duplicating something you already own because let’s face it, you really don’t need  another stripey top! Invest in a piece that is going to enhance your collection and won’t end up months later wasting away in your wardrobe with the labels still on or worn once and never again.  

Instead of heading straight to the nearest shopping centre or high street, check out your local charity shops, they are treasure troves of amazing pieces at great prices. 

Don’t let your heart take over your head when shopping, if you find something you like, ask yourself, how many outfits can I make from this one new item.  If it doesn’t create at least 3 new outfits from your existing wardrobe don’t buy it otherwise you’ll find yourself on the financial merry go round of having to spend more and more money on new pieces to go with the other items in your wardrobe and needlessly consuming.  Remember “less is more”.  More clothes doesn’t create more choice, it just makes it harder to see what you already have which more often than not means you reach for the same few pieces again and again. 

Be mindful of where you spend your money.  If you can, invest in quality timeless pieces that will stand the test of time and please look after them. Get to know your local independent shops where more often than not the items are not mass produced but manufactured in smaller quantities and always ask yourself “do I really need this and why am I buying it”.  

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Over the course of these past few weeks I have been celebrating the fact that I haven’t brought anything new for the season and it’s been spurring me on to style up my existing pieces in different ways. This has been a great challenge for me to use pieces in my wardrobe i different outfits I haven’t worn before and I have loved doing it. It’s also given me time to think about what I really NEED this season in my wardrobe and so far I have come up with only 3 things from my normal 5 wish-list I do every season.

How asking a personal stylist to help you with your wardrobe has a positive environmental impact

I do believe that by hiring a personal stylist like me you can have a positive affect on the environment. Firstly I aim to get you making the most of your current wardrobe and showing you how to wear more of your clothes more of the time by combining existing pieces in new and exciting ways.  If I do take you shopping , it’s usually with a focused shopping list and mindful of the choices we are making for you and don’t suggest buying in vast quantities just for the sake of it regardless of the cost.

As your stylist I don’t making buying decisions based on the heart, I will only suggest something for you if it truly enhances your wardrobe, flatters your figure and is something you will wear time and time again. My aim is to get you to a place where you have a smaller capsule collection of clothes that all co-ordinate and work together everyday. My priority is to eliminate the need for you to constantly drip feed your wardrobe and ideally I’d like you to only shop twice a year, for autumn/winter and spring/summer. 

If we all made small changes to our shopping habits and became more mindful of what our spending is supporting, together we can make a positive difference and stop the mass consumerism that is destroying our planet and peoples lives. 

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