Undressed

The latest series called Undressed shown on Paramount Plus in Australia created and hosted by Kathryn Eisman was one of those series that I truly felt moved by. A show that focuses on asking the questions;

• What drives our fashion choices?

• Are we choosing clothing that reflects who we truly are?

During the series Kathryn meets with a diverse group of Australians to understand the clothing choices they make and how what they wear can impact how they feel about themselves and more importantly can allow them to hide from who they are for many different reasons.

Trying to uncover what is holding them back Kathryn has this unique ability to read people and understand what is behind the clothes. We all need to get dressed and I have always believed you should dress for you, find your style and be comfortable in your own skin.

Another question to answer is how do you break old habits and build your confidence? On the show each person’s story is different although very compelling. Being fearful of change or potentially removing barriers, for example wearing the same “uniform” that you go to every day because it is safe although it is not telling the story of who you are is a key story line.

This is the reason that personal styling was an attractive profession because I do believe what you wear can change how you feel. You have to get dressed every day, why not love how you look.

My favourite part of the show is the end of each episode where they are provided a new outfit that talks to their style and who they want to be with a mini style makeover that could include hair and make up. When they look at themselves in the mirror for the first time they love how they look. They were using words like “I am beautiful” and were emotionally moved by this enhanced version of them.

Firstly I recommend watching the show because it breaks down the psychology of people. Secondly I would say if you have been hesitant to change up your style or feel unsure what your style is, drop me a line always happy to provide advice and talk through any questions you may have.

Finding Your Personal Style

Having spent the past few weeks at numerous events and chatting to many men and women it seems as we get older you can fall into one of two categories. You gain more confidence in your style and clearly know who you are and how you want to dress. Or you have lost your way and are looking for inspiration to define your style now. You could be stuck back in a moment of time, yet your lifestyle has changed and your current look does not meet that brief.

The best place to start is to think about the following questions.

1. What is your current life style? How do you spend each day and what do you need or want to wear.

2. What style do you like on others that you are inspired by? It is not about being someone else, it is about idea gathering. Understanding what will suit you and your body shape.

3. What do you want your clothes to say about you? Your outfit will tell a story and you are the author so choose how you are presented.

Then from there take some time to review what is in your wardrobe and select the pieces that match the story and style you want to tell. Create a list of what is missing and then over time and when budget permits start your journey to evolve and update the wardrobe.

This is not about buying expensive designer clothing, unless that is your preference, this is about creating a style you feel stylish, comfortable and your authentic self in. It can be so easy to be stuck in a rut and go to the same pieces every day. We wear 20% of our wardrobe, 80% of the time. Challenge your self to change it up.

I love to find inspiration through people watching, social media channels like Instagram and Pinterest, in magazines (I am old school) and wandering through boutiques. If you need any assistance the personal styling world is filled with talented stylists who can help you along the way.

Finding your personal style might just be the refresh you need.

Size Is Irrelevant

Did you know that in Australia our clothing sizing is one of the most inconsistent in the world?

Every retailer has their own way of measuring for each size and often that revolves around one fit model and they then add or remove fabric length depending on the size. This is why very few people genuinely can buy off the shelf and have it fit perfectly without the need to alter.

We also know that you can be a different size across all retailers so my advice is always to try on prior to purchasing and if you ordered online then return or exchange if the size is not right. Items that don’t fit, don’t get worn and make for a waste of money.

If you do worry about size then I say cut the label out of the garment, so you never need to see it again. I promise no one will ever come up to you and say “I love that size 16 jacket you are wearing” instead they will say “I love that jacket”.

Size truly is irrelevant. Instead focus on the fit and the feel - select what makes you feel comfortable and confident and not choose a size that you think you need to be wearing.

Luxurious Leather Style Part I

Australian brands that have a focus on quality products whilst thinking about how their garments are made are incredibly important to me. It has been a pleasure to partner with West 14th a label inspired by the bright lights of New York City and designed in Bondi Beach. They focus on essential leather products that will last a lifetime. Think about those core wardrobe pieces you can proudly wear time and time again as they are classic and never date and even better are pure quality so they last.

Personally for me a wardrobe staple does include leather and what attracted me to the brand is that they produce in small quantities, create limited edition products and are encouraging the slow fashion movement, that is gaining strength. The philosophy of '“buy once, buy well” should be a motto we all live by. You will have their pieces forever and the return on investment will become so reasonable you will know it was the investment you needed to make.

This collaboration gave me the opportunity to style certain products three different ways, to show their versatility and how to style dressed up or down depending on what your plans are. This blog will be in two parts. Today I am going to introduce you to two gorgeous products.

The Soho Slouch Leather Trench was the first item and it was divine, beautiful soft leather easy to style. For these looks we played around with the trench with tights, ultimately wearing it like a dress with heels, work appropriate or heading out on the town, when the jacket remains on. Then next we styled it back with the Houston High Rise Legging also a West 14th product. Don’t be afraid to mix leather and leather together, we have broken up the look by the different colour tones and textures. The final look keeping it casual for brunch or lunch with denim jeans and a classic white shirt, I have added heels although street runners or a combat style boot would also complement. A trench can be styled in multiple ways; closed and belted, open and belted, open and belted at the back or draped over the shoulders versus being worn traditonally. This leather was soft so it was easy to push up the sleeves showing a little flash of the wrist and arm elongating the torso.

The next piece I focused on was the Park Avenue Pleated Skirt in a midnight navy colour and it skimmed across the body in my favourite length being midi, very lightweight which makes it ideal for all seasons. The skirt I wanted to tell a story of mix and match. First image it was perfect for the current Victorian winter weather, paired back with another West 14th jacket - Paddington Drape Jacket and paired with boots, easy to add tights if you need another layer. The old saying of black and navy cannot be seen together is not valid as they complement each other so well. Next we road test a more every day style the West 14th Bondi or NYC tee and street runners. I have tied the tee at the back although can easily be tucked or worn out and belted. The last image was a professional style showing you the versatility of the skirt by wearing a long sleeve tee and a scarf cinched in around the waist with the West 14th Long Island Extra Long Belt. This belt can be worn so many different ways and works with all body shapes.

Leather is not for just for special occasions, every day is special, it can alternate between masculine and feminine style depending on the cut and design you select. Stay tuned for the second part of this blog we show case two more pairs of pants and a jacket. Designs that suit all women.

You want your wardrobe to work hard for you then quality leather pieces will do that.

For further information about West 14th; https://w14th.com

Images by Indie Lane Photography

Jewellery Can Tell A Story

Jewellery is one way to complete an outfit. There are so many options to individualise your selection and define your personal style.

• Look for smaller brands with unique designs that are not made en masse - knowing you will not be wearing jewellery that many others will also own.

• Consider making this your “defining feature” where you might wear a certain necklace or ring every day that has meaning to you and becomes a signature look.

• Play around with different metals and do not be afraid to wear them together, gone are the days that gold and silver should not be worn at the same time.

• Layering of necklaces or bracelets can be a gorgeous way to create a focus and provide the option to wear more of your favourite pieces at once. With the necklaces you can create impact by wearing different lengths and include fine and chunky designs to create texture.

• Play it smart, during the cooler months if you are wearing many layers or a scarf or hat, an earring that hangs down can get caught up in your clothing, instead wear a fun stud design that is more secure. Or add a brooch to the scarf or hat for a different look.

• One trend that continues to be popular is wearing multiple earrings running down the ear. Here you can choose many mini designs and colours that tell a story. This will be dependent on how many piercings you have. Or go for an ear cuff that can be very striking and clip on.

• Ring designs are plentiful and a bold ring can be quite the feature. Look for rings that offer the correct sizing so they sit correctly on your finger and do not move around. The good news rings can be worn on all fingers including your thumb which gives you many options to find the right size.

Have fun with jewellery, it is an easy way to create your personal style and not break the bank - you can certainly invest in quality pieces although you can also keep it inexpensive by buying costume jewellery that can complete the look. Think about different designs and colours that can simply add a pop to your look that the traditional metal jewellery does not.

Jewellery - ErinK, Image by - Indie Lane

Five Ways To Add More Colour To Your Look

If you are someone who lives in one colour and that colour is black, I have a few ideas on how to add colour without feeling like a walking rainbow.

1. Start small and add one pop of colour although it can be muted and not bold. This can be done by adding an accessory - ideas can include belt, necklace, earrings, ring or a brooch.

2. A scarf is a simple way to add colour and also can add texture - first check to see how that colour looks up against your face, you want to be careful not to drain colour from your face by wearing a hue that does not complement.

3. As we age black can look quite harsh against our face, draining colour instead of providing the glow we may want. An easy fix is to move to a navy or brown colour tone.

4. Add your pop of colour in the form of a top or shirt where only the collar or sleeves are peeking through, allowing for a glimmer of colour to complement the rest of your look.

5. Make-up is another way to bring to life an outfit and what immediately comes to mind is a bright lipstick particularly red, pink or orange that adds a statement without having to change up your wardrobe.

Black is a safe and easy go to colour and it make sense to be a core staple in the wardrobe, although colour will create that pop that can bring to life an outfit.

Image: Indie Lane

Quality versus Quantity

There are a few golden tips to styling and one of them is go with quality over quantity each time you make a purchase.

When I refer to quality I mean how well is the garment made? Consider the fabric, the make and how it has been created and by who.

Today there is abundance of clothing constantly hitting the retail shop floor, so we are conditioned to think that our clothes should be discounted and in some cases is disposable. Quality clothing is usually more expensive, although worth the investment as they will last longer (provided they are cared for in the manner required) and can make you feel more confident because of how they are designed.

So often my clients have purchased a low cost item to find after a few washes that item has lost its shape or falls apart. Even though we feel like we are getting a bargain because it is cheap and on sale.

What does quality look like? Often high-end fabrics will last longer including the stitching, more stitches per inch to hold the clothing together more securely. The fabric is key, check the label before you purchase. You will find more expensive fabric (most of the time) are more comfortable as they will use more natural fibres, the synthetic fibres do not breathe as well. They will also work against the climate - will not keep you warm or cool.

One of my constant tips is about the ‘cost per wear’ and when you use that equation to work out how often you wear an item over a longer period of time. Invest in quality pieces and you will find you will buy less and select smart options that you can mix and match together. When you spend the money on an item you will make sure you wear it. Quality pieces can be a safe choice with classic style so that they never go out of fashion.

For my female followers - one classic quality dress that is well made and fits you well can be worn time and time again versus feeling the need to go shopping for each occasion and buying a $40 dress over and over again. Think about the environment - it will thank you.

When buying cheaper clothing the risk can be that you tell yourself “it did not cost that much so I can buy more” yet you may wear it once or a few times and it does not have a long life. Plus if you add up all the cheaper items you have bought you might be surprised that the ‘expensive jeans’ would have been a smarter investment being a true high quality and long lasting choice.

Budget is a factor although stop and ask yourself what do you wear on repeat that is worth investing in so when you get dressed you feel and look amazing.

Image: Polo Ralph Lauren at David Jones Melbourne

We Have All Done It - Poor Purchasing Decision

Let’s admit it - everyone will have made a poor fashion purchase decision at some point of their life.

Never intentional, although it is very likely you have hanging or folded in your wardrobe an item that you have never worn or worn once and do not plan to wear again.

Do not beat yourself up, because I am here to tell you as a stylist I also put my hand up and claim a few very poor decisions. Often they come from the following; invited to an event or an occasion and rush out to purchase “something”, not really sure what, although just “something”. Or you have purchased online not really certain how it will fit or look, and it arrives, it is not perfect, and you do not take the time to return it. Or you are in the mood to shop, determined to buy and do try on in store, and it is not quite right - guess what - it does not get better at home. Sometimes it can be as simple as wearing it and realising it does not sit right, its too revealing, its too transparent, its neckline does not suit your body shape - you get the picture, many reasons why an item does not cut it.

Put that decision behind you - remove that item from your wardrobe and either gift it to a friend, donate it to charity, or take the the time to sell it on a second hand website. Don’t hang onto it, hoping it will get better.

My recommendation is to keep the tag on an item once home, try on, move around, sit down and then if you are loving it - wear it. Otherwise it is not too late to return it and get your money back.

Myer Melbourne - Tommy Hilfiger

The Ultimate Closet Clean Out

With every new year our intentions reset - for some we set our goals and hope we will at least stay on track for the month of January. For others they will go about cleaning up their life - often that starts with health and wellness and then moves onto the house and our surrounds. This brings us to the topic for today of the ultimate closet clean out and truly how satisfying that can feel.

If you are on holidays and at home, this is the perfect time to dedicate a few hours to the clean up. What you will need is the patience to pull everything out of your closest or wardrobe and work through each item breaking them into one of the following categories.

1. Keep - items that you wear consistently and deserve a space in your closet. Think about how to hang or fold or store each item. Do you want to colour code? Do you want to keep items by season (handy if you are limited on space)? Do you want to keep in order by the type of garment? Then return each item to the correct location. If hanging - highly recommend velvet hangers - compact, means garments will not slide off and kind to your clothes unlike wire.

2. Unsure - this pile means you should try on and then work through why or why not it should stay. If the item needs to be repaired or altered or dry cleaned - create a seperate pile and make time to complete those tasks. If the item does not fit and altering will not assist or does not suit your style it’s time to say goodbye, that is a new pile. If you have not worn an item for over a year ask yourself if you are truly going to wear this piece again. Otherwise it is taking up expensive real estate in your closet. Note: for most of us we have been home due to COVID-19 and living in active wear or loungewear therefore the 12 month rule may need to be flexible.

3. Goodbye - this pile can be separated into sub groups. The first one is any items that are unwearable and should make their way into the bin. The second group is for items you would like to donate, there are many worthy causes that will take well cared for second hand clothing. The third group is for anyone who is struggling to let go of an item because of what you spent on it - then consider selling online or at a market. The second hand clothing resale was huge in 2020 and will continue as consumers become more conscious about their fashion footprint.

The key is to be ruthless and only keep what you wear and what suits your style. There is nothing more furstrating than sorting through piles of clothes that you do not wear. It is time consuming to have a wardrobe not work hard for you. Getting dressed should be painless and fun each day. A clean and tidy closet is the best place to start.

What closet dreams are made of.

Images: The Home Edit Pinterest

Accessories I Could Not Live Without

Accessories can bring an outfit to life and it can be done in the most economical way.

When I say accessories think: jewellery, scarves, belts, hair bling and bags although you can throw in shoes if that is another passion.

This is where you can create a look that talks to your personal style. You may have an item you wear every day like a necklace that is symbolic and sentimental to you. When I say economical I mean it, this is when you can shop the discount chains to find pieces that suit. Being mindful, quality is important if you want these pieces to last. Although I would say some of the commentary received for me personally has been on items that did not break the bank.

Costume jewellery is an easy one - think earrings, necklaces, rings and bracelets that can be about design, style or colour. It can be chunky or fine. It can be a true statement piece or the perfect everyday accessory.

A collection of scarves is handy to have. They can be worn in so many ways and often be the pop of colour you need in the winter months. There are the traditional woollen scarves truly meant for warmth although the lighter fabric ones can be worn all year round as well as being a great cover up if travelling or to create a statement can be tied to your bag. The long rectangle version can also be utilised as a belt.

Belts come in so many shapes and sizes and can be the ideal way to create the silhouette you need when wearing loose fitting layers. Belts can sit right on the hips, around the waist or even higher up underneath the breasts. Essential for me would be a black and tan belt. Think about what width will work best for your body shape. Even if you don’t need the belt to hold up the pants/jeans/skirt it can just be an easy way to create interest in any outfit.

Hair bling can cover hats, head scarves, scrunchies (yes they are back), headbands, hair clips and hair ties. This accessory can be very practical where you need your hair tied back and you can add a statement via a hair scarf or clips. The blinged-up hair clip continues this year from 2019 and again can be very affordable. Especially if you shop in the children’s wear section.

So I would say with bags this is where I personally am way more likely to go quality and make sure they are stored correctly so they can make it through year after year of use. Again so many different designs and styles and you just need to find what works best for you. I always look for a bag that can still carry the essentials - I think some are so mini now it is impractical as they cannot even hold your phone or a set of keys. Shop smart and you will easily be able to wear continuously.

If you would love advice on where to shop for these accessories drop me a comment or email me and I will be happy to provide suggestions.

Accessories - a simple way to bring your personal style to life.

Michael Kors - David Jones Melbourne