do you love it or loathe it?

You'll find few colours as divisive as pink. It's loathed as much as it is loved. It's been a colour that has been on trend for a number of seasons now and doesn't show any sign of going away for AW16. This season the big fashion houses sent it down the catwalks; Balmain, Preen and Chanel being at the forefront.

Although it's typically girly, there are plenty of pink tones out there that don't feel sickly sweet and crucially come in more grown-up silhouettes. There is definately a place in my wardrobe for pinks, the shades of pink that are in my Winter colour palette - Deep hot pink and Icy pink, two different ends of the pink colour spectrum. This season I'm looking for the paler more icy pink to add into my Autumn wardrobe that will sit with navy, burgundy and grey. For more pink styling inspiration following my pinterest board - pink reigns in AW16

In the coming months the high street will be awash with pink. Marks and Spencer have done a gorgeous pair of satin trousers that would suit all ages, Finery London's folded a-line skirt is for the brave and the beautiful, while River Island, Warehouse and Boden all have pink coats that are boyish in shape. But if you are new to pink then start off with the basics, such as a pair of pink shoes worn with skinny denim jeans or a tomboyish pink sweater. The item for me is the must-have pink coat, but with so many to choose from I'm in danger of having a sugary sweet powdery pink overload!

So perhaps it's time to channel your inner girl and give into the deliciously bubblegumness of the cool-girl pink this season. It's still going to be a hit for SS17, so invest now. Your wardrobe will thank you for it, so gone on...I dare you!

What to buy now in pink

1.  Jagger Coat - Sezane £250

2. Belshaw fold A-line skirt - Finery London £75

3. Limited Edition mohair jumper - Zara £59.99

4. Caged flats in leather - J Crew £168.00

5. Cedar street Magnolia cross body bag - Kate Spade £178.00

Style rules for transitioning into Spring summer

This week I finally went outside without my Winter coat on! Enough was enough, it's April and I was still wearing my winter scarf round my neck and sometimes even putting my woolie hat on. BUT then the sun came out and I feel I can finally move forward towards Spring style.

With it being so cold it's hard to make that transition from Winter to Summer without feeling the chill. So if the thought of trying to give your winter pieces a spring-appropriate umph is overwhelming, I'm here to share with you my style tips on how to transition your daily wardrobe from the big freeze to the well, slightly milder change without a complete wardrobe overhaul.

1. Double jacket

It's jacket season, but the key to keeping warm is layering your jackets up on top of each other. My favourite is wearing my black biker jacket underneath my khaki parka, leather is warm and always instyle as it can be teamed with anything. Bomber jackets are also good for layering, put your denim jacket on underneath one and you have two great layers to keep you warm. Failing the double jacket look, you can invest in a lightweight Summer duster coat that will see you through Spring, Summer at Autumn, my bright yellow one is my go-to piece for this time of year.

2. Layer-up

Layers, layers and more layers is currently my unofficial motto! So to ensure you beat the April showers and are prepared for glorious sunshine, in equal measure, use what you already have in your wardrobe to keep you warm underneath your lightweight jacket. Wear your stripe tee, with a denim shirt, thrown over the top is a sweater all worn underneath your bomber jacket.

3. Scarves

The key to transitional dressing is being prepared for all the elements – the Great British weather means having sunnies and an umbrella on you at all times. Ensure you always have an extra layer of warmth with a chic lightweight scarf – opt for neutral hues that are ready to be paired with any look, and tie around your bag when you don’t need it for an extra accessories injection.

Jigsaw floral print scarf, £49.00

Zara stripe cotton scarf, £17.99

Becksondergaard Scarf, The Dressing Room £65.00

4. Get rid of the winter boots

Pop those Winter boots back in the cupboard for next year and it's time to get the flats out. I am currently living in my trainers, brogues and loafers to update my look, but I can't wait to move into my ballerina flats and espadrilles when it does eventually get warmer (see next week's blog on Summer's hottest shoe trends). From lace-up flats, a now familiar sight on shop floors, to pretty scallop-edged pumps, there are numerous offerings to give your wardrobe an injection of femininity. If you’re after a more androgynous look, invest in a pair of tassel-detailed brogues.

5. Add some colour!

Desperate to ditch the black and winter hues in favour of something brighter but aren’t quite ready to go the whole hog in bold colours? Injecting colour into your wardrobe now will brighten up your mood and your style. Last week I blogged about colour and what colours can do for you if you wear the right ones. Add a touch of Rosa Quartz to your look. A hot colour trend this season (see last week's blog post), give the feminine tint an edge by teaming it with an otherwise monochrome look – from a pale pink coat to a candyfloss knit, it’s the perfect spring shade to bring your wardrobe up to date.

Cos Coat £150.00

Zara Asymmetrical blazer £69.99

Oasis paper bag trousers £40.00

how to add some colour into your wardrobe

For the first time, Pantone announced their colour of 2016 to be two colours instead of the one, ROSE QUARTZ and SERENITY. Interestingly Rose Quartz is a pink tone and Serenity is a blue tone.

As is wider society, fashion is also experiencing a gender blur which in turn has impacted colour trends, the way designers are showing their products and ranges that retailers are putting them out. Levi's has just announced a 'gender neutral' jeans range and if you go on Zara's website you will also see their genderless clothing collection 'Ungendered'. The 16 items range from T-shirts and sweatshirts to denim and Bermuda shorts — unisex basics in neutral colours, constructed from comfortable cottons and cotton blends. On the website, pieces from the inaugural collection are photographed on both a male and female model.

So back to colour, does this mean that as a society we are moving towards a more unilateral approach to colour which is coinciding with societal movements toward gender equality? Are we getting more comfortable with using color as a form of expression? We often use colour to express the way we are feeling, consciously or sub-consciously, and these two colours of the year "reflect a soothing sense of order & peace" say Pantone.

Colour can change your life. Fact.

Did you know that just by wearing the wrong colours in your clothes you're making yourself look:

- older
- more tired
- accentuating fine lines, wrinkles and dark circles under the eyes
- ill or 'under the weather'
- dulled skin, eyes and yellowing teeth

Wearing the right colours will instantly give you a healthier glow, a younger, fresher and more vibrant appearance and will help to 'take years off'.

So what are you waiting for? If you want to feel confident with your colour choices, want to break out of the 'wearing too much black' habit or just want to be able to express yourself with your clothes then...

Book your appointment with me now, it is the perfect timing for Spring. By the end of our time together you will have learnt all you need to know to about making the right colour decisions the next time you go shopping. And, did I forget to mention that once you've learnt which colours are 'you' you'll then be able to build a capsule collection of clothes that all mix and co-ordinate making the decision of "what goes with what" a thing of the past.

Or why not host your own colour party? In the evening with friends over a glass of wine or in the daytime over coffee and cake?

'STYLE RETREAT' - March events

I am excited to launch a new event inspiring women to invest time in their health, bodies and style.
'Style Retreat' is a 3 hour event hosted by myself, Sarah Aspinall from Ballet Body and Lauren Gayfer the 'Fairy food mother'.

We hope to be able to inspire you as a women to be healthier and happier going into spring.

This will include a introductory session to Ballet Body by Sarah where you will learn how to improve your posture, core control and range of movement in a 40 minute workout. This full body workout is appropriate for any age and or fitness level and no previous dance experience is necessary.

A Fairy Food Mother nutritional insight - Nutritional therapist Lauren Gayfer will be dispelling some of the myths around nutrition and healthy eating. With so many conflicting stories about what is and isn't good for you, Lauren will cut through the confusion and give you clear and practical tips on how to improve your energy and well being with food.

And from me, personal stylist, wardrobe and image consultant, I hope you will learn how to dress better with easy hints and tips that work for you everyday You will be shown how to dress for your body shape, how to have a healthy 'working wardrobe' and how to shop successfully. With My Spring Style Edit, you will discover what to buy for Spring to reboot your wardrobe.

We will be giving out great tips, hints, recipes and advice along the way. Please book your space on Thursday 17th March or Saturday 19th March asap to avoid disappointment.