Most of what I do as an image consultant is to help clients find their style at a point in their lives where they have grown up, perhaps got married, perhaps had children, perhaps got a good career, perhaps stays at home or perhaps does all of the above but has somehow lost their style way.
Let me introduce you to one of my clients Emma. Emma is 46, smart, funny, opinionated, successful, works hard and earns a decent salary. Emma likes clothes, dislikes her knees in short dresses, has a bit of disposable income to spend on a few luxuries, but isn’t up for blowing her hard-earned cash on "trendy items". Emma thinks spending loads on clothes is borderline madness – she’d rather go on a well-earned two-week holiday with her husband and young kids.
So where can Emma go shopping to buy that well cut dress for work, jeans and knitwear for the school run, and a few nice tops and accessories for when she goes out with the girls or date night with her husband? Has the high street forgotten about grown-up thirty, forty and fifty somethings?
Like most of us, Emma is far too busy to browse through endless crap online, she isn’t bothered about fashion trends or the latest “must-have” pieces – she just wants to look nice, feel good and not spend loads. Scrolling through thousands of shots of unattractive-looking clothes worn by extremely young models, when there’s homework to monitor, emails to catch up on and family diaries to manage, isn’t exactly a number-one priority.
We are a nation full of Emma's, we want to look great but don't know where to look to find great clothes for grown-ups. We’ve clearly got a long way to go before the high street sorts itself out but, until that happens, it helps to know where to look for clothes that won’t disappoint.
So to save you time I have done the hard-work for you and I would like to introduce you to my go-to brands that might just make your heart race and I hope to inspire you to indulge on some new clothes that will be right up your style street!
KITRI - https://kitristudio.com/
From a small team of creatives based in London. The brand started from the frustration of not being able to find well-made, distinctive designs without breaking the bank, they set out to create their dream pieces in the hope that other women will love them too. Great use of colour and fabrics, strong eveningwear collection containing timeless stylish pieces that flatter women's figures.
&other stories - https://www.stories.com/gb/
Founded in 2010 by a small group of creatives, & Other Stories grew from the wish to give women the freedom of expression through one brand. A one stop styling destination with collections from Paris, Stockholm and Los Angeles. From classic prints on shirts and dresses to the perfect knitwear for all occasions, this brand is top of its game.
Uterque - https://www.uterque.com/gb/
Uterque is part of the same group as Zara and was originally set up as an accessories brand in 2008. Since it was created, the company has evolved to include a carefully selected Ready To Wear collection in which quality materials and attention to detail are of the utmost importance. Their aim is to sell garments that are made to stand the test of time and are destined to become must-have items for any woman who values quality above all else.
Ganni - http://www.ganni.com/en
GANNI is a Danish fashion brand with a simple mission; To fill a gap in the advanced contemporary market for effortless, easy-to-wear pieces. From the perfect date-night dress to slouchy-chic Sunday knits, they design to please style-obsessed women everywhere. Their Scandinavian heritage is essential to their inspiration and believe passionately in designing quality fashion that can be worn in different ways to suit individual style.
