Taking time to detox and recharge your wardrobe

Every January I write a blog post on detoxing your wardrobe. It always feels like the perfect time to de-clutter after the chaos of Christmas. January is a month for taking stock and planning for the year ahead. Refocusing on yourself is a great resolution and by starting with your wardrobe it can give you a renewed sense of self confidence and excitement for the year ahead. Re-organising your wardrobe can be a daunting task, and despite knowing you’ll feel better once it’s done, it can be difficult to know where to start.

Start by giving yourself the time to do the detox, from my experience when working with clients I allow for 3 hours, but you might need more if you are on your own. Pull out everything that you want to go through, it might just be seasonal clothes or everything you own! Once you are ready to make a start you will need to ask yourself these questions when looking at the items in your wardrobe:

1. When was the last time I wore it?

2. Does it fit me?

3. What can I wear it with?

4. Does it need mending/altering/dry cleaning?

5. Do I love it?

There are many reasons why you might not have worn something for a long time and it's very tempting to hang onto clothes that remind us of a period in our lives, but your wardrobe should reflect the person your are now so LET THEM GO. Your wardrobe should reflect and represent your personal style, but if you are not sure what that is then starting with de-cluttering your wardrobe will help give you some direction. By loving everything you have in your wardrobe it will give you the confidence to own your own style and less of an effort when pulling outfits together. If styling isn't your strong point then having your wardrobe organised will make your wardrobe work harder for you so that getting dressed in the morning isn't as stressful.

If this still seems daunting, then hiring me, a Personal Stylist to help guide you through the process is one of the best investments you can make. Not only do I bring my creative eye to your wardrobe, giving life to your old clothes, I can also help you work through your wardrobe objectively. It’s very easy to underestimate the emotional connection we have to our clothes and having someone there to help make those decisions without judgement (and the desire to help you look and feel your best self) is an investment worth making. 

If you are still unsure then read Helen's testimonial that you can find on my website-

"I booked a ‘wardrobe detox’ with Nina. I was excited and nervous at the prospect but really wanted to give it a go. Nina advised me to gather all my clothes (even those lurking in boxes in the loft!) in order that we could do it properly. We spend 2.5 hours detoxing my wardrobe, Nina was brilliant providing lots of tips on colour, cut, fit, and material. She also helped me put together some new outfits from my wardrobe that I wouldn’t have thought of before. It was a very therapeutic exercise – I soon got into it and was quite ruthless – I ended up with 3 bin bags of clothes for the charity shop and a lot of empty hangers!"

If you would like some help with your wardrobe then book your detox with me now- nina@edits-styling.com

Online shopping mistakes to avoid

How not to get caught out when shopping the sales this holiday period.

We are a nation of online shoppers. Be it on the commute to work, inbetween playdates at the park or Sunday-night sofa-slouching, if there are card details and wi-fi to hand we can turn it into a bona fide shopping opportunity. Between 2015 and 2016, the average online weekly spend grew 22 per cent, while this year it is predicted that 1.61 million of us globally will use e-commerce, with it taking just six minutes to place an online order.

There is no doubt that online shopping is a wonderful thing, not only for its utility (anything that facilitates the acquisition of new stuff without having to leave the house is saintly), but for its cheering abilities. Who hasn’t found solace on Zara’s sandal page during a particularly crappy day? But what happens when it all goes wrong?

Earlier this month, Dee Lewis caused a Facebook meltdown when she posted pictures of the dress her daughter had ordered online for her prom. What was undoubtedly supposed to be an elegant creation of the Beyoncé 2015 Met Gala ilk turned out to be a badly fitting see-through body stocking with what looked like tissue paper stuck on the bum and a curtain stapled to the hem. Needles to say, it was not as advertised.

Lewis’ shoddy prom dress is just one of many #onlineshoppingfails that have recently been doing the rounds on social media. There is a lesson to be learnt and valued...be careful what you click for.

But while these mishaps undoubtedly have a funny side, online shopping mistakes are incredibly annoying, not to mention it can be expensive. How many items do you have hanging in your wardrobe that were brought in the sale but you never wear?

So, in the interests of saving us all time, money and sanity, I’ve rounded up the best online shopping tips that I divulge with clients on a weekly basis. I want you to be able to shop the sales with confidence and only buy clothes that you love! Happy shopping!

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DON’T BUY ANYTHING UNLESS IT’S PHOTOGRAPHED ON A PERSON

I don’t buy anything I can’t see on a model. Even though the model is nowhere near my size or height, it still gives me a better idea of size, fit and proportion than something that is shot flat or on a mannequin. This rule even applies to bags and earrings. Same applies with the next rule...

WATCH THE VIDEOS

I always watch the videos on sites like ASOS, Gap and Matches to get a better idea of how the fabric moves, real-life colour and how something sits on the body. Usually, if I'm dithering over the photos, the video makes my mind up for me.

SHOP WITH A LIST

Always have a list in front of you when shopping in the sales that way you will not over-buy, buy the wrong items and get distracted by shiny things that you do not need. Consider what your wardrobe really needs and then go for it!

SIZE DOES MATTER

When shopping online (or indeed in a shop), do not buy anything that you're going to slim into. You won't. And even if you do, you'll have looked at it too many times and will want something new. 

WARDROBE STAPLES

Now is the chance to by those wardrobe staples that you always covert when shopping online but just can't bring yourself to buy because perhaps they are too expensive or they aren't 'sexy' enough. This is the BEST time to buy them! That amazing leather biker jacket will feel so much more stylish if brought in the sales. A pair of new skinny jeans in a different wash, you will thank yourself everyday you brought them. You can never go wrong with buying black Winter boots in the sale, wears per purchase are huge!

CHOOSE THE CHEAPEST DELIVERY OPTION

Read the terms and conditions and only ever buy things that you can return and get your money back on if it doesn’t work. (For example Reiss only give you store credit for your returns). Always go for the cheapest delivery option – if you’ve already spent £20 getting it to you, it can be tempting to think, “I might as well keep it,” even if it’s not right (if something doesn’t fit, send it back before you even think twice). Also, don’t be influenced by tags that say things like “selling out soon”. These are lies that sites use to push you into making a purchase.

STAY SOBER

Do not do drink ’n' shop in the evenings. A client did just that and bought some yellow culottes which were God-awful in the cold light of day. It is best to shop first thing in the morning, when you have a clear head rather than in the evening with a glass (or 2) of wine in hand!

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Got it? Great. Time to put that all into action. But if you just can't face scouring through the sales then let me do the hardwork for you with your online sales Edit. Email me now to get yours before everything sells out!

Style rule breakers: how to wear navy and black together

Recently I have been asked a lot by clients and friends for inspiration on how to style navy. What other colours can it be worn with and the ultimate style question is can you wear navy and black together? The answer is YES! It has long been considered a winning colour formula, dark navy and black and both from the same colour category (Winter), so sit tonal well together. But if you are still hesitant at this coupling of colours, then read on and take note.

If you’ve ever found yourself staring in the mirror asking, “Can I wear this navy blazer with these black trousers?” or “What colour shoes and tights go with this navy dress?” You’re not alone.

However, the old sartorial rule that cautioned against wearing black and navy together, has no real merit. The truth is, most neutrals look great together, like white and beige, black and white, white and navy … You get the idea. These colours usually make up the foundation of our wardrobe, so it’s only natural that we’d wear them together.

Whether in a single garment or combined in a head-to-toe look, black and navy blue look ultra-sophisticated together. It’s dark without being gothic, and sleek without being too stuffy. Adding the dark blue shade can soften the look of a harsh all-black edit, whilst still nailing a cool winter style. Consider it as low maintenance styling at it's best as you most probably own both colours in your wardrobe, all you need is some styling inspiration. Follow my pinterest board for more style ideas - Navy & Black

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Shop for black and navy

1. Blouse with neck tie, Zara £39.99

2. Wool sweater with silk insert, Sandro £209.00

3. Peacock sequin embellished dress, Reiss £350.00

4. Rokka Navy mid heel boot, Kurt Geiger £169.00

5. Navy velvet tux jacket, Jigsaw, John Lewis £230.00

Disco jumper fever!

Sequins, embellishment, embroidery and glitter - anything that sparkles and shines on your jumpers should be your mid-season purchase.

At this time of year, I usually spend most of my day scrolling relentlessly through every party dress the high street has to offer. Granted, it is part of my job to find clients the perfect dress, top, skirt or outfit combo for their Christmas social occasions coming up. But from the beginning of the Autumn I feel there has been a shift into the day-to-evening jumper and just about everyone has one to offer. 

The knits I’ve been coveting in place of dresses are a whole lot more decadent than your run of the mill chunky cable knits. In fact, I’ve christened them "disco jumpers" because they look like they’re made for just that – dancing the night away. In both comfort and style, I might add. And when Gucci starts a trend luckily it gets embraced wholeheartedly by the high street and now, the Gucci pipe dream has been replaced by the entirely more feasible likes of Topshop, Uterqüe and &other stories.

The reason I love these jumpers so much is that you can put them on with jeans or a pleated midi skirt for a jazzy daytime outfit that also works for drinks in the evening. A stylish but also comfortable outfit will be music to your ears! So now your jeans and jumper combo will look anything but basic.

Let the shopping commence....

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1. Ruffles tricoloured sweater, £78.00, Uterque

2. Renata stripe jumper, £70.00, Boden

3. Graduated roll neck jumper, £36.00, Topshop

4. Sweater with coloured sequins, £39.99, Zara

5. Fashion sparkle jumper, £285.00, Bella Freud