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Box fresh sneakers wish list

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It is impossible to escape the style value of the humble trainer or sneaker. It has blossomed from being the preserve of the hardcore ‘sneaker freaks’ to a full blown style phenomenon. With new brands arising every season with fresh ideas and established brands bringing out new takes on their classics, reinventing the trainer has never been so colourful. Sneakers have moved out from the sports arena and exploded into popular culture as a fashion staple which can define which style tribe you belong.

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Here are my top tips when choosing your new trainers -

  • By simply adding some colour with your trainers, this can give your darker outfits more style with a pop of brighter colours.

  • Trainers don’t just work with jeans, they can look great with tailored trousers, dresses and skirts so have become more versatile.

  • If your trainers are patterned or coloured then go easy on other accessories as it will create too much busyness to your outfit.

  • Retro inspired and heritage sports brands will last longer and will prove timeless pieces in your wardrobe.

  • Trainers are not just reserved for daytime, don’t be scared to wear them with jazzier outfits such as sequins in the evening to pair down your look.

On my wish list this Spring is to buy a new pair of trainers, my Adidas Stan Smiths have got scuffs and marks all over them and my Converse high tops have seen better days even after a wash in the machine. I have been debating for a while now as to what to get, what serves me best, goes with my wardrobe, enhances my style and what I am willing to spend my money on. There is so much choice out there at the moment that it is hard to choose, so to help me out I have put them in categories to try to narrow it down to one pair.


CURRENT TRAINER CATEGORIES


HIGH TOPS


CLASSIC WHITE


LEOPARD PRINT


COLOUR INJECTION


SPORTS STYLING


CHUNKY TRAINER

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What's on my Spring want list...?

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Why write a list?

Every season I write a want list of pieces that I either need or want in my wardrobe. The definition of ‘need’ for me is when something is no longer wearable to the point that it has to be replaced because you’ve loved it and worn it so much. The definition of ‘want’ for me is something that I wish to have because it might fill a gap in my wardrobe, or perhaps its a trend item that I love or just something that is constantly on my mind when shopping for clients.

The reason I write a list is so that I don’t haphazardly buy things, this gives me a strategy to ensure that I don’t impulse buy, I don’t repeat buy something I already have and most importantly for me, that I don’t over buy. I tell alot of clients about my strategy to help them really think about what is in their wardrobe so that when you buy items they will fit in with the other pieces in your already own. Review your wardrobe, what have you loved wearing, what haven’t you worn alot of and what are you missing that will pull more outfits together?

“A great wardrobe is like a well-oiled machine that consists of interrelated parts that all work together, allowing you to mix and match freely and create a ton of different outfits that all suit your personal style.”

A common comment from clients to me is “I love fashion but I hate buying clothes”, if you have the tendency to feel over whelmed, stressed or anxious when shopping by having a list it will keep you focused and help you make the best choices for your style. The average shopper goes on a little shopping trip with a vague idea of what they want to buy and what they eventually take home is something that was on sale, something that caught their attention or something that they will never wear once home. By writing a list every season it will help you build a more cohesive wardrobe which will enhance your style and matches your wardrobe preferences.


What’s on my Spring 2020 list

I have been shopping alot for clients since January so my want list has come out of pieces I want to wear now to update some of my Winter pieces I have been wearing since October. A couple of pieces I have brought already, I do find it important to gradually buy the items on the list so you get to wear them and see how they feel in your wardrobe. Plus this list isn’t set in stone, I will constantly think about it and review it if something else catches my eye then it will knock an item off the list. I will always keep it to 5 items though and it’s a challenge to stick to them but I want to be mindful of consumerism and waste and I find by writing it down it gives me that focus.

1. WHITE JEANS - something I never thought I would buy but I have loved wearing these for the past couple of weeks with dark tops, coats and boots. The shape should be tapered, or barrel leg rather than skinny for an updated style.


2. TRAINERS - I am obsessed with trainers again right now and next week’s blog post will be dedicated to which pair I am going to buy as there is so much out there to love right now. My old Stan Smith’s are looking grubby and stained so I need a replacement for this Spring as I wear them alot to appointments and shopping trips.


3. CULOTTES OR TROUSERS - I am finding I wearing alot more different bottoms and love wearing the trousers I already own so I would like to invest in another pair that help with creating more outfits in my wardrobe for consultations, weekend wear and daily outfits.


4. WHITE SHIRT - this pretty white shirt trend I wrote about on last week’s blog post here - there are so much gorgeous options out there right now and a great way to update your wardrobe with a jumper over the top now and then to wear on it’s own when it warms up.


5. CHECK DRESS - I have tried on a number of different check dresses over the past couple of weeks and whilst I liked them, not enough to buy one of them. I don’t have a check dress in my wardrobe so feel this is something I would get a lot of wear out of in the Spring with tights and the Summer with sandals. I am just waiting for the right one to come along.

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Inject some Spring into your wardrobe with a new jacket

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OH YES I do love a jacket. And a coat. And a shacket. Oh and now an overshirt. Which is kind of a jacket if you layer it up over things or under your coat. Confused yet?

An overshirt has been something I have been getting men to wear for the past couple of seasons, but this lightweight jacket trend seems to of moved over to women’s high street retailers and is perfect for your first Spring purchase. Nearing to the end of January, the longest month ever, means a little payday reward and a new January Jacket will set you up for the coming weeks and months through Spring.

Here are my top 5 Spring jackets to shop for now -


Check jacket

Nice big bright checks, overshirt trucker style jacket with a collar or without will work over everything you currently have in your wardrobe and give it a fresh update.


Overshirt jackets

This is the trend I keep seeing everywhere right now, it’s just about finding the right one in the right colour. Essentially the same as the checks but in plain colours and oversized.


Quilted linear jackets

These are starting to have their moment where the puffa has been so big this Autumn the paired down, slightly more interesting version is out there. Take your pick of great shapes and colours for a new spin on a puffa.


Rain Mac

Come on we all need one of these in our life to save us from the crazy UK weather, isn’t it about time we invest properly in something that we also feel stylish in.


Boxy Jacket

This is the same trend as the overshirt but instead of being oversized it’s more of a fitted silhouette but still is the same shape.

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My best buys from Autumn Winter 2019

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As many of you know Autumn 2019 was a turning point for me in my style journey. My littlest one started school and after 6 years of working for myself as a personal stylist it was time to review my wardrobe with more gusto rather than methodically of recent years. I really did ask myself “do I REALLY like myself in this piece of clothing”. Then it either got sold, went to charity or I popped it back in my wardrobe. Autumn saw me invest money, time and knowledge of what I wanted my style to look like into my wardrobe.

But now we hit 2020, not quite Spring yet, but a transitional few weeks in the fashion / retail calendar when stores get refreshed, new pieces hit the shops and after Christmas I get excited about new styles, colours and fashions out there. It’s been a big part of my life since my career started and I can’t switch that passion for fashion off. So before I look ahead to the next season, I wanted to look back at what I had brought over the past few months and learn some lessons from the purchases I had made.

In this blog post I am going to look at my best buys of the past few months and in next week’s blog post I will share with you my lessons that I learnt that I will take forward into 2020. I want this exercise to set me up for the season ahead, make me aware of the positive buys vs the mistakes I made and to avoid those pitfalls again so that I am not wasting money or spending money on something that doesn’t fit my lifestyle.

Today I pulled out all the newer pieces in my wardrobe and thought about the things I love the most, the ones I wore the most and will enjoy wearing for years to come. I have brought more than any normal season for me (normally I limit myself to my 5 updates per season), but that was down to my circumstances, but I still made measured decisions based on what I wanted my style to be, and I wanted pieces to last me so that I wasn’t buying throwaway fashion.

I’m hoping that my list will inspire you to take a look at your wardrobe and reassess what you brought last season, looking at the good pieces and perhaps making note of some bad habits you might be in.


So here are my best buys from Autumn 2019 to inspire you to look at yours -


GRENSON NANNETTE BOOTS

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These boots were by far the best investment I have made in a long time. From the moment I brought them they have barely been off my feet. I wear them with everything and any outfit I put together looks different with these beauties on. They are not for everyone and a year ago I thought they weren’t for me, too chunky, too much hype, BUT now I cannot stop gushing (or wearing!) them. Investing in a great pair of boots that you love is an easy way to update your Autumn style.


ZARA EMBELLISHED JUMPER

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Zara always pulls some great knits out of the bag on the run up to Christmas that have something a little bit special on them. I dubbed this my Christmas jumper but I have worn it many times since Christmas and will continue to. With high street stores like Zara its worth investing a little bit more money into higher prices items because the quality is better, the embellishments are nicer and they will last you longer. I find that if I wait for something special to come along and spend more money on it then I love it more. This jumper has definitely been one of my biggest hits and I’ve only had it a few weeks.


KITRI STAR DRESS

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I felt so fantastic when I wore this dress. I snapped it up as soon as it came out online as I knew it was exactly the kind of dress I would love and it didn’t disappoint. I have only worn it the once, so I need to start wearing it a bit more often but I perhaps will leave it for more occasions rather than everyday, purely because I love it so much, it’s a dress that I will keep forever.


TOPSHOP WHITE JUMPER

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Topshop every year seem to get some pieces of knitwear just spot on and for me this was one of them. I love the cable styling, the length, its so soft to touch. Granted the colour might put people off but I have found that I’ve reached for it often as it’s one of the only lighter colour pieces of knitwear that I have in my wardrobe. It’s been great for layering over dresses, wearing with skirts and I can even tuck it in the front of my jeans - a fab all rounder.


WHISTLES PRINTED SKIRT

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I was on a mission to add a new skirt into my wardrobe this season as I detoxed a couple out of my wardrobe that didn’t fit me anymore. I ended up getting this one from ASOS with a discount code and I have worn it countless times. It is so versatile with jumpers, t-shirts, blazers, boots, heels and trainers I am sure I will be continuing to wear it when I ditch the tights in the spring.


&OTHER STORIES SPOT DRESS

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I had shopped this dress for a few clients on the run up to Christmas and knew how fabulous it looked on, so I ended up not being able to resist it for myself. It was a great Christmas day dress but one that’s easy to throw on in the daytime as wearing it with my Grenson boots or trainers really help dial the Christmas feel of it down. It’s so comfy so makes me want to wear it everyday.


ZARA BALLOON JEANS

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As many of my clients know I live and swear by Levi skinny jeans and for years I have not shyed away from them whilst recommending them to all my clients too. But I wanted to make a concious decision to change up my denim this Autumn so I tried the Zara balloon jeans. Granted they sometimes make me look a bit bigger in size due to the volume, but they are so comfy and if I tuck in a jumper and wear a belt then my eye is drawn to my waist rather than my hips so I am happier with my body proportions. It’s been nice to step away from the skinny jeans but I know they will always be a wardrobe staple whereas these potentially won’t be right for me next Autumn.


HUSH BLAZER

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I was so excited when I saw this blazer online at Hush, I pretty much live in blazers for my work appointments and wanted to add in a single breasted one that wasn’t as busy as my other double breasted check blazer that I have had for years. I waited for the right one to come along and when it did I couldn’t be happier. It is warm handle though so I won’t be able to wear in the Spring/Summer months as it will be too hot but hopefully I’ll get so much wear out of it before then that it won’t matter. A great investment piece.


WHISTLES ZEBRA JUMPER

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This jumper is a really nice lightweight knit that I can tuck into skirts and jeans, and with my obsession with green I loved the colour of it. This has certainly been a go to for me this season and a buy that I can always rely on when I’m stuck for inspiration on what to wear that day.


TOPSHOP OVERSIZED KNITTED JUMPER

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I have lived in this massive oversized roll neck jumper from Topshop. I have to say it is starting to bobble quite a bit now so I’m not sure how long it will last but I have loved wearing it over dresses, skirt, with my leather leggings and jeans, it’s just been an easy throw-on jumper but yet I feel stylish wearing it. I certainly got my money’s worth as I brought it with a discount code and couldn’t of spent more than £30 on it. A great buy but quality wise it probably won’t last too much longer.


So those were my 10 best buys of Autumn Winter 2019. It just happened to be 10 and whilst I have lots of other things I love in my wardrobe these items certainly stand out as my favourites, the ones I wore the most, I felt the most stylish in and were also pieces that I felt gave me a renewed sense of style.

I would love to hear what your favourite buys were last year, so please do share them with me.

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