From Aztec to Zebra!

See in Spring with a Print.

When the sun appears we often look for ways to update our wardrobes for the coming season. As well as injecting colour, a quick and easy way to introduce a touch of new season style is to invest in a bit of print.

Every season there’s a focus on at least one print, with some - like floral and leopard print - seemingly never out of fashion. As soon as we strip ourselves of our winter safety blankets and wet weather-wear (a bulky coat, and warm comfortable clothes in deep colours), pastels and prints begin to appear in the shops. 

Every Spring/Summer, inspired by nature, prints make a comeback and this year is no different.  What is different this year though, is how we will be wearing it. Instead of a focus on one print, the trend off the catwalk, for women, is to wear bold clashing prints; and for men print is being modelled top-to-toe. Personally I love florals, butterflies and paisley, but I won't be wearing them altogether!

With neither look being for the feint-hearted (me included!), here are my top tips on how to wear print:

• Be careful with the size (and placement) of print you wear – an oversized print on someone petite will overwhelm, whereas a tiny print on a larger frame may seem to disappear.
• Make sure you wear prints in colours that flatter you (especially those nearest your face).
• If wearing bold prints are not your thing, accessorise instead – a handbag or hankie will work against blocked colours, ladies - paint your nails, and for total subtlety go for printed lining!
• Use print to draw attention to an area you want to show off (and away from areas you want to hide) – for example printed trousers will draw attention to your legs.
• Try teaming prints with neutrals or pastels, in fabrics such as linen, cotton and silk.
• If you do brave this seasons head-to-toe, clashing prints - pick at least one colour that features throughout.

So, that’s how to wear print but which ones are ‘on-trend’ this season?

For ladies – Another key trend this season is a look of the sea so go for watery prints in blues and greens, and shells; birds are the animal print to go for; vegetables replace fruits; and bold, arty graphics are also ‘in’.

For gents – This season, pattern is not for your ties only! The theme from the catwalk is 'be bold'. Wear the exotic (such as birds), camouflage (eg leaves) and paisley.

The great thing with prints is that there is one for everyone - from Aztec, birds and butterflies through to Zebra.  Whatever print you wear, and however you wear it – wear it with confidence and a smile.

What’s your signature print and how will you wear it?

Does look good, feel good always apply?

Sadly the answer is no, but the Good News is that most of the time it does. What we wear in terms of colour and how it makes us look is proven to have a strong psychological impact on how we feel, and in most cases our self-esteem and mood is heightened when we look good. So what makes the answer ‘no’.

Well, firstly we can wear something lovely and designed to make us feel better, but if we are not addressing the underlying issue then it’s not necessarily going to have the desired effect. Even so, it’s worth dressing ‘happy’ even if all it does is stop everyone wondering/asking if you’re ok, and you having to explain why maybe you’re not.

The other reason struck me after I recently met a lady at an event - she said that since having an image consultation she is scared to shop as she doesn’t want to get it wrong, and this was supported by a style consultant who said she’d met people who could only shop with their colour wallet. In other words (what I call) 'perfection pressure'.

Is the person looking back, authentically you?

I hope my clients have never felt this way (I’ve always had positive feedback except from partners who are scared about the bank balance!) so both situations struck me as sad because, as I’ve said - I believe that if women, and men, understand what makes them look good it will lead to them feeling better; and so, I conduct a consultation with this in mind. As such the whole point of a consultation is to help people enjoy clothes, shopping and the person in the mirror. In one-to-ones and in my training courses I remind people that the only thing that really matters is that when you look in that mirror, you like the look of the person you see, and recognise that person as AUTHENTICALLY (AND STYLISHLY!) YOU. 

I see my role as helping people by offering advice and solutions, not rule setting. I give my clients guidance, but make it clear to them that they have a choice. In fact I share with them my rule breakers   for example I know that ankle straps make me look petite and ‘warm’ colours aren’t in my palette but I like them so...  wear them sparingly, I don’t break all my ‘rules’ at once and I know how to compensate so you won’t catch me in an orange top at the same time as mustard ankle strapped flats!

We all look better in some colours and styles than others, but whatever the style rules, the main one is ‘if it doesn’t make you feel good, don’t do it... and if you break a few ‘rules’ – well, so be it! As Donatella Versace said “Fashion is all about happiness. It's fun. It's important. But it's not medicine” – Now style may be more serious, but it’s still not medicine, so:

- Be colour confident – Get Style Savvy - Enjoy shopping - 

- Own your style - Embrace being you! -

You should be able to say "I am so pleased with my purchases!" after a consultation.

My Springtime Style

I am loving the sunshine and hoping that it lasts, but it seems too early in the year for summer dresses, hot pants and flip-flops if you ask me - but maybe I’m just getting old because judging from the fashion on show on a recent shopping trip, it seems that I’m out-of-touch. However if, like me, you’re not quite ready to bare all just yet...here are my 

Top Tips for dressing at the moment!

• Get a hot new Hairstyle: It’s time to ditch the winter hats, and as we can no longer hide our hair under one, it’s a great time to have a hair makeover. Check out this article for some inspiration  http://www.ivillage.co.uk/celebrity-hair-trends-get-the-look/146452  If you’re thinking of dyeing your hair remember this might affect the colours that flatter you in terms of clothes and make-up.
• Do a Make-up audit: Talking of make-up, it’s also worth checking your make-up bag now too - I’m moving from my deep plum lippy to red. Also don’t forget you should get rid of anything that is out-of-date and up the SPF.  
• Up top and over: The daytimes are lovely and warm, but as the sun goes down and the evening cools you will need a lightweight cover up. Also, out of the sun or in open areas there can be a breeze. For me it’s time to get out my cropped denim jacket and an array of bright cardi’s.
• Lower level: Like I said, I’m not ready to expose my legs just yet... after a winter of tights, they need some TLC first! But it’s never too early for my linen trousers and coloured jeans are also very now. When I do ditch the trousers, Spring sees the outing of my denim skirt and coloured pencil skirts make an appearance.
• Dress-up: Maxi dresses are a great way to look girly and remain a bit covered-up.  I like them layered – maybe a t-shirt underneath and my denim jacket/cardigan on top (which also works with a summer dress). I also avoid all over black and shift to navy/grey/beige which look less harsh and are just as smart and versatile.
• Fetching feet: OK, so I have to get out of my boots but rather than go straight to sandals and flip-flops, I’m going with peep toe shoes. Coloured pumps also make for great Spring-time footwear.

Finally, this Spring is a great time for sherbet colours, floral prints and lace.

The main thing though, is to make sure you’re wearing the right colours and styles for you and have a closet of clothes that makes you feel as warm and bright as the Spring sunshine... so feel free to ignore me and wear your bikini now if you want to!

Me wearing a printed maxi dress, bright cardi' and peep toe shoes.

Happy birthday Barbie!

Today in 1959 the Barbie doll made her debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York, and she’s been going strong ever since.  

Some say she’s good, some have major issues but she should at least be recognised (especially so close to International Women's Day) for her staying power!

OK so she’s too skinny - even with her wider waist in later years - but Barbie, in other ways, demonstrates some great examples of ‘Girl Power’.  The same people who highlight that she is a bad role model for young girls with regards to her weight might also recognise that she sets a great example in other ways.

Here are seven reasons why? She's...

1.     A go-getter… is there a job (male-dominated included) that she hasn’t tried out?

2.     Independent: after all, she’s not conformed to marriage and leaves Ken in her shadow

3.     Re-invented herself to keep up with the times - that show's openness to growth, right?

4.     Resilient and bounces back from disaster (fairly often!)

5.     Appears to be a great friend to humans and animals

6.     Embracing of different cultures (appropriation?)

7.     Makes films that have a positive message

On a personal note, I’d quite like to have her influence, resources, an extensive wardrobe, and designers providing me with outfits for a 50^th birthday catwalk show.

In a week where the question has been raised as to whether we girls are too hard on each other, I say ‘Go Barbie’!

The Prince of Colour & Style

I’ve been doing a number of ‘developing confidence through colour’ and ‘defining your style’ events recently and was planning on using one of these ‘themes’ as the basis of a blog.  But it seems as if I’m meant to write about Prince instead (or is he still the Artist formally known as?!), because I find myself listening to “The most beautiful girl in the World” and finding out that there’s going to be a sing-a-long version of Purple Rain shown at a local cinema. So here goes:

“The most beautiful girl in the World” is on an album called “The Gold Experience” and suddenly I’m thinking about all the Prince songs featuring colours.  Personally, I can’t think of another artist who has done so many. I know of 11 Prince songs (I may have missed some?) that have a colour in the title, and these are:

“Purple rain”
“Little red corvette”
“Raspberry beret”
“Gold” (from “The Gold experience”)  
“Cream”
“So blue”
“Peach”
“Blue light”
“Computer blue”
“3 chains o gold”
“Starfish and coffee”

Hence why Prince is my ‘Prince of Colour’.

But it’s not just that I find many of his songs cool, and that he writes about colour - I actually do admire his style as he’s as ‘colourful’ with HIS style choices as his song titles.

Prince has been around longer than Madonna and changed image at least as often, you just have to look at his album covers to know that he is into how he looks. His suits are razor sharp, and he is not afraid to wear them in colour (often in unusual combinations). The man knows how to accessorise (from his guitar to pearls and elaborate rings) better than many women. With pattern & print, ruffles and polka dots, (not to mention his footwear!) he could come across as 'girly' (no bad thing) but somehow he just doesn’t - he just looks like a man who is confident enough to do his own style thing... And that style is pretty unique from the waistlines to heels (in which he looks comfortable and cool). 

He is one of my many style icon because he is fearless, creative, ‘fierce, colourful and individual (not really my style personality).

So here’s the thing, he actually captures the essence of colour confidence and defining your own style (which is where I started this blog)... Ladies – take note, Gents – don’t be shy if you need heels! but remember whilst imitation is the highest form of flattering for someone else, when it comes to you...BE AUTHENTIC.

 

The colour of romance

If you know me or have read my previous blogs, and have hopefully remembered that it’s Valentine’s Day today! you may be surprised that my colour of the moment is not red. Whilst as I’ve said before, red will be one of the hot colours of the season, I think the real colour of the moment is actually PINK. For me seeing pink blossoms are a sign that Spring is coming, and in terms of fashion that’s the season we’re in.

As with all colours it’s meaning and associations vary, but in the West, pink is often associated with femininity and romance, particularly in its pale form.  However that image doesn’t do it justice as it’s a colour with a huge range (raspberry, fuschia, blush, bubblegum and rose to name a few), which works well on men (yes it does) and women – in fact there is a ‘pink’ for every dominant colouring. It’s a colour that is often linked to health and wellbeing… physical (“in the pink”) and emotional (“tickled pink = happy).  It is a colour that makes me look and feel healthy (in the right shade) and is great with neutrals grey/black.

Though I’m not a huge fan of wearing pink, drink-wise I love it… glass of rose, chambord-based cocktail or pink champagne anyone?! It’s also the Colour of Breast Cancer Care – a charity for both women AND men, which Avon supports, so I see it as a charitable and inspiring colour….  

On second thoughts – I love pink (but only if it’s deep!)

Happy Valentines Day everyone xXx

What would you sacrifice for style?

This week I sacrificed my usually sane approach to clothes for the sake of style. Despite the chilling temperature and the risk of snow I went out in four inch, yes four inch, heels!

I was attending a CMB conference and the thought of not looking my best in a venue full of stylists was enough to make me compromise my ‘natural style personality’ and put it firmly behind my love of the dramatic! I hate being cold, and as I’m often running fashionably late I also like footwear I am mobile in. Wearing my leopard print heels instead of boots meant I risked cold legs (despite the thick tights), and there was no way in could run in these babies. Worse still I couldn’t tell if the people (women mainly) staring at me/my feet on the journey were admiring my outfit or thinking I’d lost my mind, as everyone else en route to South Kensington was in boots or trainers. However, on this occasion, the sacrifice was worth it because a number of my colleagues complimented my bravery and my look. 

Don’t be fooled though, it’s not as bad as it sounds – I didn’t abandon my senses completely... the shoes have rubber soles and I did carry leggings and socks for the journey home!

For me it was the right call, after all it didn’t actually snow whilst I was out on Saturday and my outfit gave me a confidence boost. 

But do you get it, or do you think I’m mad?

My next sacrifice will be comfort as I think I’m going to need a corset for my bridesmaid dress later this year (and I’m not prepared to give up food)!

So, back to my original question... what would you sacrifice for style?  

The shoes in question... Personally, I love 'em!