What dresses to buy for AW19

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.

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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.

Kensington dress, Hush, £75.00

Watercolour pansy print dress, LK Bennett, £325.00

Wild flower dress, Jigsaw, £160.00

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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

Polka dot dress, Zara, £49.99

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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!

Leather shirt dress, Arket, £290.00

Grey leather judo dress, Topshop boutique, £250.00

Darted leather shirt dress, Uterque, £290.00

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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.

Gestuz check shirt dress, John Lewis, £150.00

Smocked plaid shirt dress, &other stories, £95.00

Checked midi dress, Selected Femme, £90

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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

AM-PM Cargo shirt dress, Me&Em, £299.00

French Connection Carri shirt dress, John Lewis, £110.00

It's been a spotty kind of week

This week has been a mixed bag of weather, a mixed bag of activities now that the kids are off school and work has slowed up for the summer holidays and a mixed bag of life stuff happening too. What hasn’t been a mixed bag has been my outfits as this week, having got a bit bored of the temperamental weather, I decided to stick to a theme - SPOTS.

Some outfits are styled for evening and some for daytime. I have tried to use lots of my accessories that I own to use colour in my outfits. Accessories are key when it comes to building your own style and styling your outfits, starting with a good base of shoes and bags and then building on earrings, hair accessories, sunglasses and necklaces will all come with time. Some pieces I have owned for 10 years, others have been newer purchases for events this summer, sale purchases or gifts for my birthday.

So this is what my week looked like in outfits…

THE Zara spotty dress. I have dressed this up for evening using magenta pink that is from my colour palette (Winter), that I religiously stick to. Using accessories to make this monotone dress have some style personality.

Shoes from Topshop (sale)

Hairband from Maison Archives London

Bag from &other stories (Last year) - similar here

This outfit was also for the evening, but I had worn the skirt with a plain white tank top in the daytime as was a warmer day, so for the evening I added the yellow clutch bag from Whistles (sale) and my office sandals that I got last year but I give to so many clients because they are so comfy.

Skirt from & other stories

White tee from H&M (old)

Clutch bag from Whistles (sale)

Sandals from office

This was a day outfit, out with the kids on a sunny day to the park. The spot tank top is from Topshop and one of the oldest things I have in my wardrobe. It is quite short so I can wear it out with jeans but I can also tuck it in. I like to add a hairband when I am wearing this skirt as it gives it more attitude, the denim skirt is old from &Other Stories.

Denim skirt from & other stories, similar here

Spot tank top from Topshop (old)

Sandals from &other stories last year, but they have got them out again here

Red clutch from Kate Spade (present)

Embellished hairband from Anthropologie last year, similar here

Sunglasses from Mulberry

This last outfit was a daytime one, one where I went for lunch with a friend so I dressed up a bit. If I wanted to wear this out with the kids I would of put my white stan smith trainers on, changed my bag to a bigger one and perhaps thrown a jacket over the top too. Alot of these pieces are old from my wardrobe, but stand the test of time.

Bag from See by Chloe at My Theresa

Spot shirt from Zara (old)

Fake leather culottes from ASOS (old)

Leopard print sandals from Whistles (very old!)

The Summer dress edit

It’s been a while since my last blog post. I have been desperate to write one these past few weeks, but work has been super busy that it hasn’t given me alot of time for anything else.

As the temperatures are finally increasing it feels right to talk about Summer dresses. Dresses to wear now, through the Summer and in Autumn with some stylish layering ideas. Dresses are a go-to for me in the Summer months because they are comfortable, easy to wear, no brain power required, they can be dressed up or down, styled your way, cool and breezy and what I love most – they are flattering. And they can be your uniform too.

Dresses are a no brainer one-stop style solution, but they can also be a blank canvas to style your way. And I have found five styles to inspire you and your shopping…

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DRESSES FOR SUMMER

THE SHIRT DRESS

Shirt dresses are so effortless and versatile. They can be worn loose and oversized for that relaxed vibe, whatever your shape, but are particularly favourable for skimming ‘mummy tagged’ middles. The shirt dress doesn’t grip, has a flattering v-style neck and depending on how much you like your legs, can be mini, midi or maxi. If you want to show off your curves or create/define your waist for a more sculpted silhouette, simply cinch the waist of the dress with a belt.

Zebra print shirt dress, £159, Whistles

Printed shirt dress, £110, Selected Femme at Anthropologie

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THE SPOTTY DRESS

Aside from the Zara dress (see above photos), polka dots are having a bit of a moment. Although to be fair they have never really gone out of fashion and are always a great print option.

Polka dot tiered dress, £49, Warehouse

Polka dot tie waist dress, £95, & other stories

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THE MIDI DRESS

No longer old fashioned and twee and just worn by your Granny, midi dresses or tea dresses, the sort with a midi hemline, sleeves and in light, floral or print fabrics, are so easy to wear and so flattering. Just make sure the tailored point (seam/waistline) is at your slimmest part (under boobs or nipped at the waist), choose a hem that cuts you off at a good part of your leg below the knee, go button down for elongating shorter or wider torsos and keep prints smaller the more petite you are and vice versa and for the most flattering silhouette.

Fluro leopard print dress, £69, Warehouse

Printed midi dress, £85, & other stories

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THE WHITE DRESS

A white dress is a timeless classic but can be completely impractical too. But the Little White Dress (LWD), is the only way you can ditch your black dress in the Summer time. There’s just something unapologetically summery and optimistic about this shade, be it lacy and whimsical, or linen and minimalist. Throwing one on signals that yes, the sun is going to shine.

Cutwork embroidery dress, £49.99, Zara

White Lace midi dress, £110, &other stories

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THE WRAP DRESS

This shape has had an update, as it no longer exclusively ties at the side, but can be tied at the back or the middle. With its super slimming tie or knot waist, v-neckline and non-gripping A-line skirt it is universally flattering. It defines the waist and can add curves for more straight up and down figures, skims and slims over hips and bottoms for those conscious of this area. If you feel short in the torso, choose a deeper, plunging neckline to lengthen, and those with a bigger bust, the v-neckline and fit and flare style waist, will balance your top and bottom halves.

Snakeskin wrap dress, £250, Karen Millen

Floral wrap midi dress, £69, & other stories

How to shop your own wardrobe

I’ve been deliberately shopping my own wardrobe for a number of months now, mainly because my wardrobe for both Autumn/Winter and Spring/Summer is pretty good in terms of ticking all the boxes for what I need in my lifestyle. Some bits have cropped up like a new blazer for work appointments, a new coat for walking our new puppy and a new dress for Winter events. With all of these purchases I got them either in the sale or with discount codes and I thought about the purchases versatility many times over, and about how to wear them again and again. During this time I have learnt alot about reworking pieces that I own into new outfits and learnt that it is more of an attitude that leads to a naturally more sustainable way of life when it comes to shopping and spending money.

Don’t get me wrong, what I do for a living sees me advising men and women on what to buy for their wardrobes to make them feel good and more stylish. But I am always giving clients brands I know are great for quality, longevity and versatility so that you will keep these items for as long as possible in your life. That is what I have done with my wardrobe over the past 5 years, jumpers I am still wearing now are old Zara, Topshop and &other stories buys but paired over dresses, with skirts or tucked into trousers they look new again. I still have small holes in my wardrobe and there are going to always be things that I lust after because I love fashion and style, but I think personally I want to be more conscious about my spending, where I am spending and really thinking about whether I NEED it in my wardrobe.

During the past few months, I’ve learned a lot about the ins and outs and ups and downs of shopping your wardrobe so I have pulled together some tips for you to think about this January.

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Here are 6 simple truths about shopping your wardrobe

1. Shopping your wardrobe is an attitude

   Shopping your wardrobe is a way of thinking and feeling about your wardrobe that has you appreciating and using what’s there, not wishing for things that you don’t have. You can cultivate a ‘shop your wardrobe’ attitude overnight – there’s no special skills or steps required.  The main ingredient you need is a new lens or a fresh set of eyes to look at, and experience, your existing wardrobe through.

2. Shopping your wardrobe is about cultivating a working wardrobe

   This type of wardrobe is one filled exclusively with items that make you look good (if not great) and feel even better. This kind of wardrobe is created by being conscious about every purchase you make, so any new item coordinates with many existing items, and pays their rent in your wardrobe.

   A working wardrobe that you can shop in is full of items that suit your body, support your lifestyle, and express your mood and personality.

   A working wardrobe that you can shop in usually takes a while to develop and get right, years sometimes. This is where I can help you on your journey and believe me it will be worth it.

3. Shopping your wardrobe gives you a chance to find your personal style

   By bringing your focus solely onto the items that you already have, you have a chance to define for yourself what you truly love when it comes to clothing and style.

   When you shop your wardrobe, you have the opportunity to explore and liberate your own sense of personal style.

   You can’t tap into your true style when you’re always shopping in the stores as there is too much noise going on you can’t possible hear what your inner style voice is telling you!

4. When you shop your wardrobe, you make less shopping mistakes

   When you shop your wardrobe, especially if you do it for a while, you truly do liberate your sense of personal style.  You come to know – deeply and truly – what you love to wear, and what makes you look and feel great.

   So when you do choose to shop in the stores, you’re clearer.  You’re less susceptible to passing trends or compelling marketing and merchandising.  You’re more centred in your own style.

   So you make less purchasing mistakes.  Because you are so attuned to your personal sense of style, you have discovered, through a deep connection with your existing items, and trial and error, what you love – and what you don’t.

5. When you shop your wardrobe, you find out what you really love

   When you shop your wardrobe, you have a great opportunity to explore and discover what about your existing items really works.  What items make your heart sing and makes you truly happy.  What items make you feel most YOU.  And of course, what items don’t pass muster.

   You can’t do this if you’re constantly shopping and bringing new items into your wardrobe.  There’s simply too much noise.

   When you shop your wardrobe, you have the opportunity to evaluate items in your wardrobe by detoxing; reusing and recycling.

6. When you shop your wardrobe you will never say “I’ve got nothing to wear”

   When you shop your wardrobe and explore your sense of personal style, where you often wash up is with a cultivated and curated “working wardrobe”.  And this kind of wardrobe truly works for you.  You use it.  It isn’t a museum but a working and workable space, where every item in it ‘earns its rent’.

   Your wonderful working wardrobe may have 26 items in it or 66 or 1066 – it’s not the size that counts, it’s whether every single piece is working for you.

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Consider this….

All of the above is achievable but if the idea of it scares you, you don’t know where to start or you want to the help of a professional then I can get the results you are after by booking a consultation with me.

I encourage you to consider a period where you only shop your wardrobe – whether it’s a week, a month, or longer.  You may be surprised and delighted at what you discover.