Why are shorts the hardest item to buy in the Summer?

June 7, 2021

SHORTS…Could they be the most difficult item in your wardrobe to buy and get right in the Summer?

It’s certainly one of the most asked for items from my clients, “can you find me a good pair of shorts?” …but with a long list of requirements; not too short, not too frumpy, not too tight round my thighs, can they not be high waisted? It is very tricky to find a good pair of shorts, but when you do you hold onto them for life. Mine are a VERY old pair of Topshop khaki (not even my colour that’s how old they are) shorts, a great fit, a great length, now covered in paint and marks and are only good for the garden and camping trips.

As temperatures are finally rising it is nice to have the option of having a pair of shorts to pop on, as easy as a pair of jeans. So why is it so hard to find the right pair? We all have body hang ups, we all have different body shapes so shopping for shorts can be demoralising and exhausting as it makes us focus on areas of our body we struggle with. We just want the perfect pair of shorts to compliment your figure and fit your body shape.

Tips on how to buy the right shorts for your body shape

If you are Athletic & toned (straight body shape) - you need to get slim fitting shorts with subtle fading and whiskers when buying denim shorts.

If you are curvy (apple body shape) - getting a high waisted pair of shorts are good for your body shape, with some stretch too.

If you are petite - make sure the style fits you properly otherwise they can very easily look too big, so form fitting fabrics are best.

If you have a small waist but a larger bottom (hourglass body shape) - Accenuate your waist, it’s your smallest part so higher waist styles like paperbag waists are best for your body shape.

Best shorts to buy right now

Mom fit high waist denim shorts, Mango, £19.99

2. Linen paperbag waist shorts, £55, &other stories

3. Navy gingham shorts, £29.00, Albaray

4. Black denim shorts, £59, Whistles

5. Soft chambray denim shorts, £39.99 Albaray

6. Stretch Chino shorts, £45, Hush

7. Pull on linen shorts, £12.99, H&M

8. Printed belted shorts, £69.00, Mint Velvet

9. White cutwork embroidered shorts, £27.99, Zara

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Spring jackets that everyone needs

May 4, 2021

I know the temperatures haven’t exactly been Spring like these past couple of weeks, but it will get there eventually and one of the hardest things to nail is finding the perfect Spring jacket. I get asked it every year by clients to find what will be the best jacket to keep you stylish when you can (finally!) pack your coat away.

One of my many wardrobe tips is to invest in a number of different jackets as a jacket can really change up an outfit. From a super casual denim jacket, to a cool leather biker, right through to the on-trend trench coat, anything and everything goes, just make sure you have a couple to hand so you can try a few different looks with the same outfit.

The transition from Winter to Spring and even Summer still requires quite a bit of layering in this country, and making the switch over from heavy Winter coat to lighter styles feels transformative. And while we are still freezing cold whilst braving it in a pub garden right now, it pays to be prepared for when that switch in temperature happens, and it will!

Whilst not every style suits every body shape or colouring there are always go-to styles that you are rely on. For me there are six key styles that dominate the season ahead. From the update on the shacket that you can start wearing now, to the overhauled denim jacket that's sticking around, get inspired by some Spring jacket shopping.

TOP 6 STYLES FOR SPRING

Denim jacket

Washed out black denim jacket, H&M, £24.99

Authentic Indigo denim jacket, Mint Velvet, £99

2. Printed jacket

Orna reversible quilted jacket, Hush @ John Lewis and partners, £119

3. Trench coat

Grey oversized tab sleeve trench, Palones, £185

4. Biker jacket

Cropped leather biker jacket, Selected Femme, £190

Leather biker jacket, All Saints, £319.00

5. Shacket

6. Blazer

7. Short jacket

Utility jacket, Whistles, John Lewis & Partners, £89.00

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Does your wardrobe make you feel 'meh'?

May 2, 2021

If like many people you are coming out of a year in style hibination and feel like your wardrobe doesn’t make you feel good about yourself, then please contact me for an appointment that with my help we can increase your confidence, make you feel more like yourself again and essentially change your life. Read on for some tips on how to change the ‘meh’ to a ‘yay’.

Now that we are home so much more than before and with a change of season in the air, you might have some time on your hands to tackle the unruly wardrobe that’s been nagging you for weeks. Whether it’s overflowing or just needs a quick re-organisation, now is a great time to do a spring clean and be stylish ready for any occasion that doesn’t involve wearing activewear or joggers.

Within every wardrobe there are cautionary shopping tales and lessons to be learned. A wardrobe detox can be cathartic but also overwhelming as we often have to confront these past mistakes, realise them to be able to move forward and shop in a better way. Know this though, with every wardrobe detox I do with a client that always say that it feels like a weight has lifted off their shoulders and when you end up with an organised wardrobe, you will also learn how to shop smarter in the future. Win win I say!

So, imagine a wardrobe where everything gets regularly worn, one where you can create the perfect outfit for the day ahead in a single glance. Nothing in there is redundant, no forgotten pairs of trousers are to be found crumpled in a heap at the back. No garment makes you feel “meh”. If your current wardrobe falls short of this sartorial utopia, then the time has come for a serious clothes clear out and re-evaluation of your style.

Letting go of clothes is not always as easy as it sounds. Some things have sentimental value and others feel like pound notes dangling from hangers. But don’t put it off for another week, now is the perfect time for a full refresh as the positive mental change in you can often be life changing. Saying goodbye to anything that doesn’t reflect your personal style and clothes that do nothing for your confidence provides you with a better way of thinking.

TOP TIPS TO BANISH THE ‘MEH’ FROM YOUR WARDROBE

Appraise every piece you own individually.
Ask yourself those hard questions you have been avoiding and listen to your inner voice. Does it make you feel good? Are there better things than this for you? When did you last wear it?
Try everything on.
It’s important to know what looks good and what doesn’t look good and try to work out why. Is it the shape? Is it the colour? There is no point in keeping ‘good’ black trousers because you spent a fortune on them 5 years ago if they no longer fit your body shape.
Be kind.
It’s so important to be kind to yourself during this process. We can easily spiral into a negative space where we focus on how much money you’ve spent, or how your body isn’t the same as it was pre 2 kids. It’s not you who is at fault if something no longer feels right, it’s just the wrong piece for you.
Focus on you.
Being honest with yourself about you and your lifestyle whether it be work, family, friends, hobbies, means that you can focus on what you need in your wardrobe better. That really nice suit you brought 7 years ago for a job interview you will never be worn again so why clutter up your space with it. If you own a dog and need dog walking clothes then use what you have that you don’t mind getting dirty, or worn and is comfy but put these away in a draw.
Analyse the results.
Once you put everything back in your wardrobe that fits you, that you love and that you wear then analyse what your wardrobe now looks like. Do you buy alot of the same thing? What are you missing to make up outfits? What do you have enough of? What gems have you found and can’t wait to wear again?

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5 outfits to bring you out of lockdown stylishly

March 28, 2021

You may still be living in joggers, activewear and anything else that is comfy, but the end is in sight and how are you going to dress as lockdown starts easing? Little did we know a year ago that we would still be in a lockdown but at least this time there’s a bit more hope on the horizon, so now is the time to start planning what you will be wearing in the coming weeks when you diary will finally be filling up.

There are many things we have all missed out on over the past year but in the coming weeks the temperature will increase, Spring has truly sprung with the evenings getting lighter so there will be more of a need to start re-wearing items in your wardrobe. So I have put together 5 outfits for possible things that you might be looking forward to doing (not just trips to the supermarket), things that perhaps 2 years ago were just part of our normal lives but now are slightly unsure of how to dress for them now.

It’s ok to feel anxious about coming out of lockdown, whether it’s worrying about what to wear, how to dress appropriately and how to get inspired about clothes again. Take a good look at what you have in your wardrobe, assess what you have, try things on and get to know your clothes again, this way you will understand whether you need to add some bits in to make new outfits or not. If you feel that lockdown has pulled you into a style rut, I hope these outfits give you some inspiration but if you need more help then please do email me for a chat.