Your wardrobe hero - the leather skirt

In the past 6 years of working with clients to improve their wardrobes and style, I have often turned to a leather pencil skirt to transform clients workwear style. Only last week on a personal shop I suggested to a client who works as a HR director for a bank to try out the Reiss leather pencil skirt to update her workwear image and style. Suggesting a leather pencil skirt is always met with apprehension and trepidation, but as soon as she tried it on she immediately fell for it’s buttery leather fabric, it’s flattering form fitting style and the sophistication it brought to her style. I often suggest the Whistles burgundy leather pencil skirt to move away from black and it can still be worn with black tights, but it is consistently sold out and is their best seller.

A leather skirt is a perfect addition to any woman's wardrobe. It's the same as leather jacket, it looks both feminine and edgy and has longevity. Yes it is an investment purchase, one you would never regret and one that will enhance your style for years to come.

But this season it seems that Leather is having a reinvention, in particular the leather skirt. This bottom garment has become a must-have piece to buy for your wardrobe, it’s out on the high street in various styles, lengths and colours.. It's a skirt what brings a bold fashion statement, no matter what top you choose.

I think this garment is a great addition to any wardrobe. Personally, I do love this bottom piece for its both edgy and feminine look. It’s a unique garment that comes in so many designs and details. All you need is to choose the one that will undoubtedly fit your everyday and special evening outfits. Here are some styling tips and ideas on how to wear a leather skirt in 2019.

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METALLIC LEATHER PENCIL SKIRT

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TAN MIDI SKIRT

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WRAP LEATHER SKIRT

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BURGUNDY LEATHER SKIRT

If you want more inspiration then check out my pinterest page - leather skirts 2019

The pink ladies

In 2019 pink is having a moment. It is being reclaimed, redefined and no longer a symbol of negativity but one of cultural positivity. The colour pink is traditionally used to represent babies, childhood and girls, but so far this season we have seen pink become the colour of woman power.

No more effective was this colour than at the Oscars last month. In 2018 the Oscar crowd wore all black gowns and outfits in a support to the #metoo movement. This year however our screen stars wore punchy pink like a uniform.

This particular hue has been named ‘Pink Peacock’ and it is a colour that cannot be ignored. It is one of the most striking spring 2019 colour trends – a shade so noticeable that few would dare wear it alone. Instead, it can be mixed with neutrals and turned into a work-appropriate option or alone in a fantastic dress for a wedding, evening event or bbq. On the runways it was never the intention so dumb this colour down by mixing it with others, so I say wear it bold and wear it bright.

While most of us cannot get away with wearing Molly Goddard’s pink frock like Killing Eve baddie Villanelle, here are some alternatives for you to shop for right now.

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Top pink pick’s

1. Asymmetric neckline dress, Ted Baker, £169

2. Clarissa Jumpsuit, Boden, £140

3. Satin pleat midi skirt, Topshop, £39.00

4. Unstructured wool coat, Mango, £79.99

5. Funnel neck oversized jumper, Whistles, £119

6. Kitten heel, AND/OR John Lewis & Partners, £85

7. Pink suit, Topshop, trousers £30, jacket £49

How to wear clashing colours

One of the big trends for 2019 that has been bubbling under for a few seasons is the art of clashing bright colours in one outfit. So whilst there are lots of khaki’s, rusts, browns and mustard’s around for utility is a big trend for this year, these clashing bright colours is the antipodean of utilitarian chic.

If it’s been a while since you embraced head-to-toe colour, step into the bright. The good news is that so long as you pick your shades carefully, you really can’t go wrong. And this is not about needing to buy a host of colourful clothes – I bet you’ve already got enough colour in your wardrobe to pull off a stylish clashing outfit. Creating great style often means breaking the fashion rules. Colours that clash can be worn together to design vibrant, eye-catching looks and styling. The only rules for mastering this look? Skip subtle pieces and stick with bold statement items.

Here I have some colour clashing ideas to inspire you to break the black habit.

For more inspiration check out my Pinterest board - clashing colours 2019

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Pink & Green

Try pairing green and pink together, and you might be surprised by how well-suited these two colours are. These two colours create a vibrant, eye catching combination that just works. For tricky colour clashes like these, use a darker contrasting colour to add a few little break up the look - for example black and white.

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Orange & Pink

This combo is anything but subtle. While a pair of hot pink trousers and an oversized tangerine top might not sound like they’d work together, they actually look modern and cool. These vibrant tones hit it off together in a seriously bold way.

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Red & Pink

Wearing red and pink together was once considered a fashion faux pas; now it's one of the coolest colour pairings. Valentino, Gucci, Céline and Balenciaga all sent red and pink looks down the runway last season. As did Victoria Beckham, who wore her a fresh-off-the-runway raspberry and maroon ensemble to run errands.

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Tonal brights

The easiest way to ensure your enthusiasm for colour comes over as effortless (rather than – oh, the horror – matchy-matchy) is to wear the same shades in different textures. Mix wool and cotton with velvet, silk and suede. The point is that if it’s all in a similar colour then the fabrics will play very nicely together. And then don’t be afraid to add clashing accessories.  

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Block colours

When you switch to block colours and forgo prints, the cut and fit of your clothing really come into their own. Meaning, you need to think about how the shapes of your clothes work together. As a general rule when you’re putting clothes together, if one part of the outfit is oversized or billowing then pair it with something tailored or fitted to achieve balance.

Whilst its all about re thinking the fashion rule book, ensuring you know which colours suit you the most comes before the styling. It is important to understand the right colours for your skin type, hair and eye colour, then we can identify the colours that suit you the best. We can then use these in your wardrobe, styling and shopping and you can start to feel confident about bringing colour back into your life. Don’t be shy about pairing different colours together you might not normally think about, just ensure that those colours are ‘right’ for you.

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Shopping inspiration for bright clashing colours

1. Whistles, Green ash full leg trousers, £139

2. John Lewis & Partners cobalt blue blazer, £120.00

3. &other stories Orange silk shirt, £69

4. Whistles Yellow oversized funnel neck knit, £119

5. Boden, Clarissa Jumpsuit, £140

6. Marc Jacobs snapshot bag, £285, Selfridges

If you want more information about colour analysis or styling head to the services pages or contact me for a consultation - nina@edits-styling.com

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