Quick, Easy Ways to Amp Up Your Personal Style
When you know you look good, you feel good and your confidence soars.
So ladies, follow these few simple tips to elevate your personal style and enjoy the compliments as they flood in - it will make you feel great.
1. Make friends with your neutrals
Whether navy, grey or taupe is your thing, make sure most of your everyday outfits are based on these easy shades and minimise the decision-making before you've had your morning coffee. They all coordinate with each other, leaving you to play with adding a pop of colour if you wish.
2. Have fun with accessories
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These can elevate the ordinary to the extraordinary and really add a bit of personality to an otherwise plain outfit. Just think of the impact a statement necklace makes over a plain white Tee. Earrings are huge at the moment, and don’t have to be expensive (check out Charlotte Knapman for some lovely colourful ones). Try a stack of bracelets (Charlie and Chesca have a great selection), or add in a scarf - just look online for hundreds of ways to wear it. It’s worth investing in a variety of accessories in some of your favourite colours and will make your wardrobe go further.
3. Go for points
Rounded toes have their place when it comes to trainers or flip flops but beyond that please heed my advice and opt for a more pointed shoe. Whether they are sky-scraper heels or comfy flats, a pointed shoe elongates your body, makes your legs look longer and gives you a sleeker, more elegant look. The Carvela Comfort range or Sargossa offer extra wearability and M&S are also good for their wide fitting range and anything with their ‘Insolia’ soles are super-comfy. An almond toe can be a great compromise if things are a bit of a squeeze.
4. Add a lip
This one requires little explanation but I will confess that in days gone by I have successfully styled out the school run wearing a long coat covering my PJs, sunglasses concealing a rather jaded complexion and a fabulous slick of colourful lippy. Kate Moss swears by it and so do I!
5. Layer for interest
We don’t have the best weather here in the UK, and I know we would all love to see the sun with his hat on a bit more regularly, but the upside of this is that us Brits get to have more fun with our layering. Stylists frequently refer to ‘the third piece’, and for good reason, as often a coat or jacket really makes an outfit. For example, a floaty summer dress is in my mind a whole lot more interesting when its toughened up with a leather biker jacket. Equally, Jeans and a simple tee suddenly start rocking when a well cut blazer is added (if you’re on a budget, Zara blazers are cut superbly). In my bulging wardrobe, most of my favourite items are jackets, as they are the finishing touch and can create such an impact.
6. Know your body type
Take the time to understand your body shape and research which clothes flatter you most. This will take pounds off you no matter what your actual dress size. Don’t be a fashion victim, be choosy with the new trends and choose the ones that make you look great.
7. Invest wisely
You certainly don’t need to spend a fortune to look great, and a head to toe designer look can not only look unimaginative, but can scream fashion victim! Instead, mix and match investment pieces with high street and vintage finds to develop your own style. One item I do not recommend buying cheaply are jeans as they so quickly lose their shape (and yours). Put time aside to shop for jeans that really suit your build in a good quality denim that doesn't require washing after each wear. One pair of fabulous jeans is worth numerous cheaper pairs. Selfridges’ Denim Studio is a great ‘one stop shop’ for selection and service.