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What dresses to buy for AW19

September 24, 2019

The ‘Buffet’ dress has been hanging around all summer, whilst they are a shape that covers everything, it doesn’t mean it’s the right shape for your body shape. It does have the tendancy to make you look bigger, and hiding your smaller areas too. So what dresses should you be buying instead of this dress that you see everywhere, well I have some great updates for you for Autumn.

A good dress will make you feel good, it should make you feel confident and pulled together. It also requires very little thought as it’s just one piece of clothing, so all you really need to think about it what shoes to wear with it. Easy. Boots or trainers would be my answer, with maybe a bright or leopard print heel for an evening out.

I’ve picked 5 options that are getting me excited for the new season ahead; florals, monochrome, maxi, leather and shirt dresses.

FLORALS

Florals aren’t just for Spring. They are for all times of year. In Autumn/Winter, look for prints on a darker background, red is such a great colour for this time of year as it brightens up your wardrobe. It will also work well once you have to break out the 80 deniers.

Watercolour pansy print dress, LK Bennett, £325.00

MONOCHROME

An easy win whatever season, choose a print that never dates so spots, stars, hearts and so on. You can add colour through layers such as chunky knitwear or jackets, or through accessories. A great cross body bag or coloured pair of trainers always looks great off setting against the monochrome background.

William star-print midi dress, Stine Goya, Harvey Nichols, £210.00

Bell sleeve black & white dress, Topshop, £39.00

LEATHER

This season’s hottest fabric trend and translates so well into dress shapes. Good quality leather is expensive so make sure you are going to wear the dress more than this season. Leather never dates, think biker jacket and pencil skirts, just be careful about shape and length as you will want it to last. But there is nothing more sophisticated, fashionable and chic than this season’s leather dress choices. Top of my list!

Grey leather judo dress, Topshop boutique, £250.00

Darted leather shirt dress, Uterque, £290.00

CHECK

Checks have long been an Autumn favourite in shirts, trousers and coats, but this year the check dress is making a comeback in a more grown up way. The pattern is simple and easy so should work well within any wardrobe as along as you get your colours right. Pair with any length boot, biker or cowboy or with fresh white trainers for a more casual take.

Smocked plaid shirt dress, &other stories, £95.00

SHIRT DRESSES

Shirt dresses are a very easy way to look immediately smart at work, they bridge a gap between full-on suit and easy breezy too-casual dresses if you’re in a more corporate environment. You could pair with a heel or a smart boot for the office, but you can also dress them down with casual jacket a big boots for weekends.

Watercolour shirt dress, &other stories, £85.00

French Connection Carri shirt dress, John Lewis, £110.00

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What to wear right now

September 22, 2019

September is a tricky month to dress for, with its ‘hot one minute, cool the next’ weather; you leave the house in the morning wearing multiple layers, only to come back home with most of them stuffed in your handbag. The trick is to wear pieces that straddle the seasons, hitting that sweet spot between keeping you warm while being breathable and cooling too – and all the while looking super stylish. In other words, the holy grail of autumn fashion.
An oversized cardigan can be thrown over a long-sleeved floral dress , while a timeless double-breasted blazer in camel corduroy makes for a versatile lightweight jacket and faux leather becomes your new best friend. As it’s still warm enough to forgo socks, now is the time to wear your slip-on shoes – pair with a satin skirt and a white tee. Finally, there’s the boilersuit – a wardrobe essential that gives your wardrobe a style boost this September.

Re-spin your style with these key pieces which will go on to becoming the cornerstone of your Autumn style -

Boilersuit / Cargo jumpsuit
A jumpsuit is a wardrobe staple and can be worn all year round, layering a polo neck underneath or a fur jacket over the top. At this time of year the weather is just perfect to give it it’s own pedestal and chuck on a pair of trainers.

2.Leather culottes & trousers

Whether vintage, vegan, faux or the real thing, leather bottoms are an instant hit this Autumn. I have a pair of leather leggings that I have had for a number of years and also a pair of faux leather culottes that I am currently living in. This time of year they are great to wear with no tights, layering top layers such as blazers, or chunky cardigans or even a sparkly jacket.

3.Over-sized blazers

I love blazers and a new addition to my wardrobe is top of my AW list at the moment. There are alot of checks around , mensy styling and also double breasted. Wearing one over your dress, jumpsuit or with a pleated skirt will update your styling and keep that cold chill at bay in the mornings.

Multicolour check blazer, Whistles, £151.20 (currently 20% off)

Astrid puppytooth blazer, All Saints, £258.00

Wool oversized blazer, &other stories, £159

4.Skirts

Skirts have been a big staple of mine all Summer so no doubt I will continue to wear them through the Autumn but I need to update my style as I am getting bored of t-shirts and skirts. This is fine when I sling a blazer over the top, but now I want to add printed blouses, shirts, sweatshirts and soon knitwear tucked into my skirts. Just in time for the hiking boots too.

5.The chunky bright cardigan

Alot of my clients will tell you that I do NOT like a cardigan. I much prefer a jacket as a more sophisticated, versatile piece in your wardrobe. If you own a cardigan it’s normally a frumpy, lazy way of keeping warm, I like to educate clients on other ways to layer up in the Winter. But this season I am lusting after chunky, statement, coloured cardigans - with emphasis on the statement. The cardigan needs to bring something new to wardrobe and wearing it with dresses and skirts is how you bring freshness to wardrobe.

Wool blend puff shoulder cardi, &other stories, £75.00

Yellow cable knit cardi, River Island, £42.00

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How to be the best dressed guest invited

June 26, 2019

Whether you are a guest at a wedding this Summer, have a ball to go to, a big birthday bash or going to Ascot was your highlight of the season, you can’t ignore the fact that your outfit needs some planning.

Our quest for the best outfit for said occasions can start months in advance or just days beforehand. Choosing an outfit for such important, excitedly anticipated events can be stressful, time consuming and feel uninspiring.

The days of summer special occasions are not over yet, there is still time to find the winning dress of the season. So if the term occasionwear fills you with a fear of sequins, puff sleeves, sashes and crippling shoes, then be inspired by the items I have pulled together for a stylish belle of the ball, no frump invited.

A possible party dress for my big birthday bash in July. Dress from Olivia Rubin at The Dressing Room, St. Albans.

For me getting dressed up is all about embracing individuality, having fun, making an impact and flaunting your own brand of uniqueness. So many trends are happily coexisting at the moment that it’s near impossible to make a fashion misstep. But you don’t need to follow the trends to look fabulous, but you do need to know how to pull an outfit together that works. So embrace your inner sparkle, have fun with fashion and dare to take a few risks!

Here are my styling tips to think about where you'll be sure to make a dazzling statement no matter where you go -

Bold accessories

From sequins to feathers, statement earrings to oversized headbands, make waves with a big and bold accessory to set off your outfit.

Braided Velvet crown head band, £31.99, Maison Archives

Go all out

There's no time like a fabulous gala or event to wear your most extreme dress. Whether it's feathered, sequined, or bejeweled, don't hesitate to pull that baby out for your next party. Fashion girls would rather be overdressed than underdressed any day.

Satin fishtail maxi dress, £120.00, ASOS EDITION

Wear colour

Traditions at weddings are to never upstage the bride on her big day, but that doesn’ t mean you should shy away from colour or print as a guest. It is no longer bad taste to go bright, statement colours or clashing prints. If you are going to a ball, then black can be too boring, stand out from the crowd and be bold.

Charlene silk dress, £345.00, Rixo @Selfridges

Don’t wear trainers

Whether it be stilettos, kittens or block heels, a little extra lift is necessary when it comes to a more formal event. If notable enough, a pair of flats might work, but sneakers are a no-go.

Doriia leather & metallic kitten heels, £95.00, Dune London @Selfridges

Godiva embellished heels, £129.00, Kurt Geiger

Jumpsuits or trouser suits

Trends come & go but jumpsuits are now part of retailers yearly offer, they are even accepted at Ascot as of this year (2019). Jumpsuits and trouser suits are a chic, sophisticated alternative to wearing a dress, if you don’t want to show your legs, or want to wear something against the grain, you can be sure that a jumpsuit will serve you well for your event.

Pale blue jumpsuit, £55.00 (sale price), Monsoon

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The pink ladies

March 10, 2019

In 2019 pink is having a moment. It is being reclaimed, redefined and no longer a symbol of negativity but one of cultural positivity. The colour pink is traditionally used to represent babies, childhood and girls, but so far this season we have seen pink become the colour of woman power.

No more effective was this colour than at the Oscars last month. In 2018 the Oscar crowd wore all black gowns and outfits in a support to the #metoo movement. This year however our screen stars wore punchy pink like a uniform.

This particular hue has been named ‘Pink Peacock’ and it is a colour that cannot be ignored. It is one of the most striking spring 2019 colour trends – a shade so noticeable that few would dare wear it alone. Instead, it can be mixed with neutrals and turned into a work-appropriate option or alone in a fantastic dress for a wedding, evening event or bbq. On the runways it was never the intention so dumb this colour down by mixing it with others, so I say wear it bold and wear it bright.

While most of us cannot get away with wearing Molly Goddard’s pink frock like Killing Eve baddie Villanelle, here are some alternatives for you to shop for right now.