Today is the first day of the challenge set by my husband for me to go for seven days without wearing my favourite “wear it all the time” item of clothing - black jeans.  I had a new client today and spent the morning sorting out her wardrobe.  I’d normally chuck on my black jeans and a pretty blouse as it’s not unusual for me to end up scrabbling around on the floor searching for clothes at the back of the wardrobe.  But today that wasn’t an option...
Instead, I opted for this blue skater dress from Whistles teamed with shoe boots.  I’ve had this dress for a while and I’ve worn it loads, so I thought I’d change the look a little by wearing a peter-pan collar t-shirt underneath it.  I love the way it changes the look of the dress and makes it a little more girly. It does take some time to arrange it so it’s comfortable though.  The belt I normally wear with this dress vanished when I was rushing around on a shopping trip with a client.  It was one of those ones that just ‘pop’s’ together so I was bound to lose it eventually.  Anyway, I ran out of time to find another belt so had to grab this one, it’s a little too big for my waist so I tried to make a feature of it...I think it works?

Whistles dress Oasis t-shirt KG shoe boots


When I arrived home, the weather had gotten really crazy and I was frozen, so I layered my new favourite chunky jumper over the dress and added this scarf.  I’d forgotten how difficult it is to take decent photos inside when it’s dark so apologies for the poor photography skills.  I’m in the office all day tomorrow so hopefully I’ll be able to make the most of the daylight.

Marks and Spencer Limited jumper H&M scarf Topshop loafers

This post was my husband’s idea.  I was complaining to him that I have nothing to wear since I took my favourite black jeans to the dress makers to be repaired.   He just looked at me and said “you always wear them” then promptly challenged me to go for a whole week without them.  “It would make a great blog post!” he said.    


Favourite black jeans :)


As a personal stylist, confessing that I might be stuck in a bit of a style rut is pretty hard to say.  I spend my life pushing others out of their ruts, how can I possibly be stuck in my own!?  While I do wear most of the items hanging in my wardrobe and am the master of mixing and matching, I guess I do fall back on my black jeans far too easily if I don’t have time to pull together another outfit.  So, with this in mind I’ve decided to take up his challenge.  I’ve got a quieter work week this week, so hopefully I’ll have the time to document my journey daily. 

I’m actually a little nervous, not least because it means I’ve got to upload at least seven outfit posts, but also because it feels like I’m being tested.  I do think it will be a great thing for me to do though, and it might give me an insight into what my clients go through - but with only myself for advice! So, I’d love it if you got involved in this, I know I’ve got some very stylish readers so would love it if you shared your thoughts and advice or, even better, if you joined me! 

If you fancy gettng involved, have a think if there is something that you find yourself wearing again and again - a favourite item that you struggle not to wear and join me in my seven day style challenge.  Share your journey and your outfits!

Simply comment below and share your link so we can see how you get on.  Who's in? I start tomorrow, how about you?

Well, this is the final instalment of a three part feature that I pulled together for Andrew Jackson and his Viva Boudoir photography package. In the other two posts I talked about the importance of wearing the right underwear, and about how understanding your body shape and its proportions will help you make informed decisions about which underwear is going to be best for you.

Now I want to take this a step further and arm you with the information to go out there and choose underwear that will not only give you the support you need, but be flattering too.

For this you not only need to take into consideration your body shape, but also your bust shape. Everyone’s breasts are different in shape; some are closer together and some are fuller, so it’s really important that you choose the right shape bra to give you the best support and shape.

Bust shape

Full or heavy breasts that are full above and below the nipple.
Opt for a full cup, plunge or soft cup.  The key is to avoid styles that dig into the breasts and creating bulging.

Long/shallow breasts that are shallower on the top and fuller from the nipple down.
A full cup or firm balcony style will prevent wrinkling at the top of the cup due to it not being filled.

Body shape

Neat column shape with a small bust
Opt for styles that will add curves and softness to your shape.

Bra set Floozie by Frost French at Debenhams

Curvaceous hourglass shape with good sized bust
Opt for styles that enhance your fabulous curves and highlight your waist.

Ann Summers Ava bra and high-waisted brief

Broad apple shape with fab legs and good bust
Choose styles that enhance your waist and broaden your hips.

John Lewis Phoebe Lingerie

Pear shape with a tiny waist and small bust
Choose styles that highlight your waist and make your hips look narrower.

Presence longline bra Marks and Spencer

Accessories and enhancers

Don’t forget, there are plenty of bra accessories and breast enhancers that will help you to create the perfect fit and shape.

Accessories from Marks and spencer

Oh Leopard print, leopard print how I do love thee! Yes, my favourite kind of print is indeed the animal kind, but I know I’ve got my work cut out if I’m to persuade the rest of you to give it a go.
Despite what you might think, animal prints are actually quite versatile.  A pair of leopard print shoes can add some edge to a girly floral dress and a snakeskin bag will bring your LBD stampeding into this season.  But if you’re going to make this trend work for you, then you’ll need to consider your own style.  If you’re a classically chic dresser, then a simple belt will be the perfect way to introduce the print to your outfits.  If you prefer a quirkier style, then mix things up a little, why not clash animal with stripes?

I want to show you two very different ways of wearing animal print while at the same time  push myself out of the orange-brown-leopard-print-rut that I’ve got myself into (I’m always pushing clients outside their comfort zone, so I guess it’s only fair that I do the same to myself). This dress by Biba does just that.  While it’s very much covered in animal print, the colour and style is a little less obvious and dare I say it, sophisticated.

Dress – Biba available at House of Fraser Shoe boots – Hobbs Earrings – Vintage

I know this whimsical jumper from Topshop isn’t technically animal print, but it is a print of an animal so I think it I can get away with it.  It’s a refreshing take on the trend but has it got you reaching for the rail?

Jumper – Topshop Jeans – Topshop Shoes – Converse from Office

Pick up a copy of the November addition of Folio magazine to see this in print.

As a personal stylist I’m always learning and I love sharing my newly discovered tips and knowledge with my readers.  So when I was approached by fantastic local photographer Andrew Jackson to come up with some styling hints and tips to feature on his blog and help his clients look their best for their Viva Boudoir portrait shoot, I couldn’t say no!

It's essential you wear the right underwear everyday as it ensures your clothes fit correctly, and are the most flattering they can be.  But when you’re being photographed in your underwear it’s even, more important that you look and feel you best!

Here's part one of a three part feature I pulled together for Andrews’s blog, to help his clients find the perfect underwear, best fit and most flattering style for their portrait shoot. 

Part 1

Choosing the right underwear.

Thanks to the likes of Gok and Trinny and Susannah, I’m sure you’ve all heard about dressing to suit your shape, and some of you will know how to do this, but if you’re not wearing the right underwear it all goes to waste.  You’re underwear forms the foundations of your outfit.  If you don’t get it right, your clothes will be ill fitting and unflattering.

Before you can start to address what underwear you should be wearing, you need to undress and take an honest look at your figure.  Don’t use this as an opportunity to point out all the parts of your body that you’re unhappy with, instead (and it’s not as hard as you might think) put on a more positive hat and acknowledge your best bits.  For example, you might have a great waist, or fabulous legs. 

Next, look at your proportions.  Are your shoulders narrower than your hips?  Do you have a long body or long legs?  What do you need to do to balance out your proportions and create the perfect hourglass shape?  Once you’re armed with this information, you can start to make an informed decision about what underwear is not only going to give you the support you need, but be flattering too.

I’ll be discussing what underwear is best suited to which shape in part 3, but for now here are some hints to help you determine your shape

Neat column shapeColumn figures are fairly straight up and down.  Shoulders are in proportion to the hips and they generally have a small bust.

Curvaceous hourglass shape Hourglass figures are curvaceous with a generous sized bust.  Shoulders are in proportion to the hips and they generally have a small waist.

Broad apple shape Apple shapes are broader on the top half than the bottom half.  The waist is less defined and they generally have fabulous legs.

Curvaceous Pear shape Pear shapes are smaller on the top half than the bottom half.  They will have a small bust and a tiny waist.

In Part 2, we’ll take this information and start to talk about the best fit and how to achieve it

I’m regular reader of Arash Mazinani’s blog and recently read a post of his entitled ‘The A to Z of Me’. It was great to find out a bit more about the man behind those great posts and it prompted me to do one of my own. So, here goes…

A-Z

A. Age: 31

B. Bed Size: Queen

C. Chore That You Hate: Clearing up after my dog

D: Dogs: We’ve got a ball/teddy/squeaky toy obsessed Springer Spaniel called Hendrix.  He’s great with people but a little nervous around other dogs so I’m taking him to socialising ‘BOO!’ classes for scared dogs, I think it's actually making a difference!

E: Essential Start To Your Day: I can’t function without a giant cup of Yorkshire Tea; it’s the best tea around, and the strongest!

F: Favourite Colour:  That’s hard.  I wear a lot of black but really do LOVE colour.   I studied textile design at Uni and loved experimenting with different colour combinations in my designs.  My style was heavily inspired by nature so I guess, if I had to choose a favourite colour, it would be the oranges, reds, and yellows of the leaves turning in Autumn

Image thanks to Jonphong, Freedigitalphotos.net

Image thanks to Evgeni Dinev, freedigitalphotos.net

G: Gold or Silver: I’m definitely a silver person; gold doesn’t look great on me

H. Height: 5”4ish

I. Instruments You Play: I learnt to play the flute for about a year, and the piano, but I’m not very patient so it didn’t last very long 

J. Job Title: Personal Stylist

K. Kids: None yet

L. Live: Bath

M. Mother’s Name: Maggie

N. Nicknames: Nik Nik’s as about exciting as it gets

O. Over Night Hospital Stays: I’ve had a few.  When I was little I constantly had problems with my ears and throat, so had grommets put in and tonsils whipped out

P. Pet Peeves: It has to be people who wear trousers that are too short.  It just looks awful! 

Q. Quote From A Movie: Brian Johnson: Dear Mr. Vernon: We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it is we did wrong, but we think you're crazy for making us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us: in the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain, and an athlete, and a basket case, a princess, and a criminal. Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, The Breakfast Club

R. Right or Left Handed: Right

S. Siblings: I have a younger sister Katy, she lives in Buxton so I don’t get to see her much…I miss her loads

Katy and me in The Hatchet, in Bristol

T. Time You Wake Up: Around 7.30am.  I’m really not a morning person; it takes me ages to wake up properly.  I’d rather go to bed late and get up late

U. Underwear: I like to wear matching, it makes me feel good!

V. Vegetable You Hate: Parsnips…I can’t stand them, and peas are evil too

W. What Makes You Run Late: It’s an ongoing joke in the family that I always forget something or loose things...and I can’t really argue with that

X. X-Rays You’ve Had: Don’t think I’ve had any

Y. Yummy Food You Make: Moroccan style wraps.  Marinated Lamb, Humus Chili, Tabouleh…yum!

Z. Zoo Animal: Leopard…of course!  Also love Elephants

So that's me!

I spend a lot of time sorting out client’s wardrobes and helping them to build a hard working collection of clothes that they can develop each season.  I’m often faced with wardrobes bulging with less-expensive items that are tired and ill fitting and, in my opinion, not money well spent.  The key to getting the most for your money and creating the perfect wardrobe, is to have less items, that mix and match cleverly and to invest in the staple pieces - the items that are going to be worn again and again. 

Harvey Nichols, Bristol

Bristol is the ideal city from which to build this perfect wardrobe.  It’s always had a great selection of high street shops and independent boutiques, but until about three years ago there wasn’t much in the way of designer shops.  However, with the opening of Cabot Circus came Harvey Nichols, and with that came a strong following of other boutiques selling higher end designers,

True Religion flared jeans available at Harvey Nichols

Just up from Harvey Nichols is John Anthony, two floors of men’s clothing, for the guy who likes to be noticed.  Paul Smith is sold here, along with other quirkier names like Vivienne Westwood.  If you’re looking to add something a little more quirky to your wardrobe, then The Garment Quarter is the place to go.  It opened last year and stocks both womenswear and menswear.  It’s is a great boutique, offering edgier designers such as Twenty8Twelve by S.Miller and Comme Des Garcons PLAY.

Bristol really does have it all now!  Adding top end designers to the already eclectic selection of vintage, high-street and independent boutiques has put Bristol firmly on the map as a shopping destination and makes it the perfect place to invest in the perfect capsule wardrobe. 

Article recently writen for Guide2Bristol
Images thanks to Lisa Piddington

 

The show was testament to the fact that fashion at Cribbs Causeway is getting better and better, it’s well worth a visit whether you’re looking for the latest fashions or something a little more classic – there’s something for everyone.   I’m looking forward to taking my clients shopping there in the coming weeks.