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…

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.

Where to buy your sequin skirt this season -

1. Topshop, sequin stripe midi skirt, £65.00

2. Zara, knotted silver sequin skirt, £49.99

3. Anthropologie, Pink sequinned pencil skirt, £118.00

4. Warehouse, Ombre sequin pencil 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.

Where to buy your leather skirt this season -

1. Whistles, Burgundy leather pencil skirt, £195.00

2. Reiss, Green leather pencil skirt, £250.00

3. Iris & Ink, theoutnet.com, leather skirt, £295.00

4. Warehouse, button midi leather skirt, £149.00

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
   

2. Zara, Leopard print pleated skirt, £29.99

3. Marks and Spencer, Animal pleated midi skirt, £35.00

4. Ganni, Leopard print satin midi skirt, £230.00 Selfridges

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

How to style yourself & be environmentally conscious

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”.  

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. 

Life Magazine - Hertfordshire October edition

Read my latest article in Life Magazine, Hertfordshire edition, covering Harpenden, St. Albans, Radlett, Hadley Wood and Hertford. Pick up a copy locally or read here online - https://issuu.com/fishmedia/docs/life_mags_herts_oct18/74

Best Autumn pieces on the high street right now

These past few years since I have been working as a personal stylist I have tended to shop smart rather than buy throw away fashion like I did in my younger years when working in fashion buying. It is a mantra that I talk about when speaking to new clients, re-connecting with old ones and one of my tips I try and impart to them. I know if you shop smart and, for the most part, buy the very best quality you can afford, you’ll hit repeat on those pieces for years (and years and years). That’s certainly how I dress. I wear a handful of the same things over and over, updating when I need to.

In this blog I wanted to bring the pieces to you that I have been seeing alot of whilst shopping over these past few weeks that will ensure your wardrobe has staying power. The trick is knowing what you’re looking for: timeless silhouettes, high-quality fabric and flattering cuts. When these three come together, you’ve found a keeper. I like focusing on pieces that have longevity in your wardrobe and mixing them in with the very best seasonal staples and instant transformers.

So here is my top stylish Autumn pieces on the high street right now that you’ll love wearing this winter – then next winter and the one after that too.

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1. The smart coat

I love the fabric of this Herringbone tweed coat from Jigsaw. It’s such a great fit and a great silhouette that it flatters your figure even if you are wearing a chunky knit underneath it.

Single breasted herringbone coat, Jigsaw, £280

2. The perfect parka

I am always on the look out for the perfect parka for clients that are casual in style but not too sporty or not too ‘Mumsy’ looking! This Whistles parka is the perfect khaki colour, the fake fur goes really well and the fully borg lining will keep you warm.

Megan casual Parka, Whistles, John Lewis £189.00

3. Jeans

As many of my clients know I am massive advocate for Levi jeans, they are my go to and have been a winner for all clients I have worked with for 5 years. But I have started to explore some other brands, and the American brands are the better ones for fabric, cut and fit. I especially like at the moment these Madewell high waisted jeans from John Lewis.

High waisted jeans, Madewell, John Lewis £128.00

4. Trousers

For months now trousers are top of the list when it comes to shopping for myself and for clients. Everyone is steering away from everyday jeans and wanting to wear smarter, more comfortable trousers with trainers. I have found the best pairs to be from Me & Em, whether its smart joggers, wide leg trousers or some everyday trousers you can’t go wrong with the fit and quality of this brand.

Grosgrain stripe trousers, ME & EM, £129.00

5. The cable knit

I love it when it gets really cold and you need to wear your chunkiest piece of knitwear to stay warm. But you shouldn’t have to compromise on style when in knitwear and choosing something with a cable running through it ensures it looks more stylish and gives your knitwear personality. &other stories have a great selection of cable knits right now, my favourite has to be this polo neck one.

Oversized cable knit polo, &other stories, £79

6. The cashmere jumper

More and more we are looking for quality over quanity when we are buying items, yes we might need to spend slightly more money on something with better quality but it will last us longer. I am currently loving Boden’s cashmere jumper offering, this stripe one has got some great colours in it for brightening up your wardrobe.

Cashmere stripe crewneck, Boden, £130.00

7. The maxi dress

The maxi and midi dress were a favourite of mine this Summer and I have continued to wear some so far this Autumn, layered with blazers, my leather jacket and tights. But I have found the perfect dress from Baukjen which is currently on my wishlist!

Luna star print maxi dress, Baukjen, £189.00

8. The knitted dress

This piece is always very hard to find every season, so comfortable but can end up being very unflattering if not the right shape and style for your figure so tread carefully. I think this grey midi dress from Kin at John Lewis will never go out of style, but ensure you size right.

Contrast colour knitted dress, Kin, John Lewis, £79.00

9. Boots

I featured these boots on my Autumn ‘lust-after’ blog post back in September and they are still my favourite boots I have seen out there at the moment. I love the casual but formal feel of them, biker boots but can be worn dressed up too. These Kurt Geiger boots come in 3 colourways too.

Snail leather biker boots, Kurt Geiger, £169.00

10. The ultimate bag

You can never have too many bags in your life, as we navigate our daily lives we need large shoppers, cross body bags for hands free life, bags big enough for laptops, evening clutches…the list goes on. BUT there is an ultimate large shopper out there in Leopard print from Day Birger et Mikkelsen that is irresistible and needs to be added to your wardrobe pronto!

Leopard print shopper, Day Birger et Mikkelsen, £190.00

If you need help with your Autumn wardrobe, please contact me on email nina@edits-styling.com and we can discuss your needs, wants and how we can ensure your style has longevity.